Vocea Launches Bua Water Project

Residents of a settlement in Bua in the Northern Division have a reason to celebrate Christmas after the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development commissioned a borehole water project this week.

The Assistant Minister for Rural, Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Jovesa Vocea, commissioned the $26,000 project at Droca Settlement on Thursday.

Resident Rahimat Shah couldn’t hold back his tears saying decades of requests had come to an end for 10 homes in the settlement.

About 60 people live in the settlement.

“For so many years we have been drinking water from the well and collecting rainwater, especially during the wet season,” Mr Shah said.

“Other days we would use water from the irrigation for house chores and bathing.”

The 57-year-old father of four children recalled that there were some days they would be without water.

“We would go to the mosque and pray for rainwater when other water sources dried up,” he said.

“Imagine some of us would walk more than a kilometre to get water from other sources.”

He thanked the Government for considering their plight and also fixing the poor road condition making it possible for the children to go to school safely.

Meanwhile, Mr Vocea said this project was a part of the Government’s commitment towards achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG) N0.6 which aimed to achieve access to water and sanitation for all.

“I hope you will be able to enjoy the good supply of water that has been provided for you,” Mr Vocea said.

“I have been told you had also provided some assistance such as in the form of labour to complete this project.”

Droca Settlement members during the commissioning of the Borehole project on December 21, 2023 Photo: DEPTFO News

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