Labasa jetty road upgrade agreed

An agreement was signed recently to upgrade the access road to the Labasa Fisheries Station. 

The deal was formalised at the Ministry of Fisheries office at Macuata House in Labasa between the Ministry of Fisheries and Forests and Olympus Trading and Construction Pte Limited. Acting Permanent Secretary Saimone Tauvoli officiated on behalf of the ministry. 

The Labasa Jetty Office serves communities in Macuata, particularly Kia Island, which has three villages that rely heavily on jetty access for fisheries activities. 

At present, access via the Jetty Office Road is limited, forcing communities and agencies to use the main jetty entrance to load goods and equipment. This route is also used daily by agencies such as the Fiji Navy, Water Police and Biosecurity Authority of Fiji. 

Olympus Trading and Construction has been awarded the contract and brings experience in road construction projects in the Northern Division. 

The upgrade is expected to benefit the Northern Fisheries Office, the Kia community and other agencies that depend on the access road. 

Last week, Mr Tauvoli also visited the proposed site of the new Cawaro Fisheries Station in the North, following earlier meetings at the Fisheries office in Labasa. 

The Cawaro Fisheries Station project was initiated after requests from communities in Tikina ko Udu and parts of Dogotuki. 

Many fishers in Macuata Province, including those from Udu, parts of Dogotuki, Tikina ko Tawake, Cikobia and areas of Namuka, rely on fishing as a primary livelihood. 

The station is intended to improve access to jetties and roads and provide fishers with reliable ice supplies to help preserve their catch and other marine products.