Namosi Provincial Council Works With Authorities On Village Footbridge

The Namosi Provincial Council has completed scoping the relevant works required to begin with rehabilitating the damaged footbridge at Narukunibua Village.

The bridge was damaged only two years after it was built in 1994. Since then village headman Ro Seru Leone claimed villagers and students have had to wade or swim to the other side of a river when making their way to their respective destinations.

Council administrator, Laisenia Tui, said they had two priorities for Narukunibua Village.

“We have scoped their bridge and have forwarded the report to the relevant authorities,” Mr Tui said.

“We are hoping to have this in the next financial year. We have to do their River Bank Protection and their footbridge. The engineers have already done their work.”

Ro Seru said: “The bridge was built in 1994 by a Japanese company, but it was damaged in 1996.

“We were happy when the foot- bridge was built, but unfortunately two years later it was damaged after heavy rain.

“There is a second bridge and when the weather is good the Ru- ral Service Licence (RSL) vehicles can use it,” Mr Leone said.

“But, when it is raining heavily and that bridge gets flooded all RSL vehicles can’t cross. The children have to swim to get to the other side of the river.

“We are concerned about the children because their safety is paramount. We want to avoid accidents.

“We hope that the Government will help us. Sometimes parents only let the secondary school students go to school because they know how to swim. The young ones stay at home.”

There are 17 primary school stu- dents, 11 in secondary and two vocational students from Naruku- nibua Village. The students attend Namosi Primary School or Namosi Secondary School.

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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