Chief Gets Emotional As Villagers Access Safe, Clean Drinking Water

It was a historic moment for an emotional Turaga Na Ratu of Sawakasa as he saw his people drinking safe, clean water for the first time yesterday.

Ratu Paula Namosimalua Loco could not hold back his tears as he watched the Minister for In­frastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Jone Usamate commis­sion the joint rural water scheme project.

Minister Usamate opened the tap, drank from it and passed a glass of water to Ratu Paula to drink at Sawakasa Village.

“Our prayers have been an­swered,” the chief said.

“All my 70 years of living here, we have been sourcing our drinking water from boreholes and we really struggled.

“Today, I thank the Government and its leaders and we pray that God will continue his blessings upon them.”

Meanwhile, the rural water scheme project supplies water to three villages, a settlement and Lo­doni Primary School.

The project was an investment of $179,000.

“It’s an investment we are happy to make, because from clean water flow many benefits that keep us more productive and resilient to environmental hardships,” Mr Usa­mate said.

More than 800 people will benefit from the improved water system.

The project was part of Fiji’s Five-year and 20 years National Devel­opment Plan setting an ambitious target of the nation having 100 per cent access to safe drinking water by 2030.

Currently 78 per cent of Fiji’s pop­ulation have access to safe, clean water. Edited by Percy Kean

selita.bolanavanua@fijisun.com.fj