New community road improves access to schools, markets and health services

For years, families in Naisaumua Village carried produce to the roadside, children walked difficult routes to school and elderly residents faced challenges accessing health services. That changed yesterday with the opening of a new community access road.

Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Mosese Bulitavu commissioned the 400-metre Naisaumua Community Access Road, a project worth more than $50,000 under the Ministry's Community Access Roads, Footpaths and Footbridges (CARFF) Programme.

The road will benefit more than 360 people from over 70 households, providing a vital second access route that improves mobility, emergency access and evacuation during natural disasters while offering a safer connection for homes located further from the village's main track.

Mr Bulitavu said the project reflected the Government's commitment to improving rural infrastructure.

"This new road will make it easier and safer for families to travel, improve access for emergency services when they are needed most, and strengthen the village's ability to respond during natural disasters. It is another example of the Government's commitment to ensuring that no community is left behind," Mr Bulitavu said.

Village headman Nemani Qase said the road would transform daily life for residents.

"This road is a blessing for our village. It provides a direct connection to the main road, making it much easier for our children to get to school, for our farmers to transport their produce, and for our elderly and persons with disabilities to access health services. We are grateful to the Government for responding to the needs of our community," Mr Qase said.

For village elder Mere Baleiwasawasa, the new road means an end to years of carrying heavy loads to the roadside before finding transport to market.

"When I used to sell vegetables at the Suva Market, we had to carry our farm produce on our backs all the way to the main road before we could find transport. Now vehicles can come into the village, making it much easier for us to take our produce to the market. This road has made life easier, especially for women, and we sincerely thank the Government for this assistance," Ms Baleiwasawasa said.

The new access road is expected to improve transport, emergency response and market access for the Tailevu community while strengthening the village's resilience during disasters.