Students miss school as bridge remains unreplaced in Ra

Ra Provincial Council chairman Kiniviliame Salabogi has questioned why long-standing concerns over a washed-away bridge in Nailuva remain unresolved, saying either officials had failed to act or had not been listening to the people they serve.

“Either somebody was sleeping on their job or they have not been attending to the concerns of the people they serve,” Mr Salabogi said.

He made the remarks during the 2026 Ra Provincial Council meeting at Nanukuloa Village yesterday after concerns were raised by Nailuva mata ni tikina (district representative) Farasiko Osea.

About 100 tikina representatives, village heads, Turaga na Tui Navitilevu, Ratu Emori Bolobolo, and Turaga na Ratu Natauia, Ratu Sakiusa Taukena attended the meeting.

Mr Osea highlighted the difficulties faced by about 200 villagers and students who are forced to cross a river to access transport to school.

“During heavy rainfalls, villagers can’t cross the river, students miss school and the sick can’t reach the hospital,” Mr Osea said.

“FRA requested a letter of consent from the landowners, but there is only one landowner and one mataqali owns land on both sides of the river. A letter of consent from the landowners was sent last year.

“The small bridge was washed away during Cyclone Winston, and from that day until now people have been crossing the river on foot.

“During fine weather, the carrier transports students across, but when the weather is bad they swim across to catch the carrier on the other side. During flooding they are unable to attend school.”

Fiji Roads Authority representative Ilikini Davui said the authority had received the letter regarding the concerns only two weeks ago.

He said the request had since been referred to FRA headquarters in Suva.

Mr Salabogi directed the Ra Provincial Administrator’s Office, led by Dausiga Nakarawa, to look into the matter.