Nawaikama villagers on the island of Gau are asking anyone who is willing to listen when they will have a proper crossing.
And one of the reasons for their asking is that 79 students of Nawaikama Primary School have to walk across 13 coconut tree trunks laid across a mangrove swamp with lengths of bamboos tied together for railings. This tricky crossing has an added element of danger when it rains.
For the past 50 years, children have had to, when it rains heavily, cross the 110-metre foot crossing travelling to and from school.
During heavy rain the carrier which usually provides transport does not run run because of the adverse road conditions.
Villagers said there was no transport for almost two weeks as the road was in a poor condition.
Village headman Vetaia Tuisinu said they had been informed two years ago the Japanese Government had provided funding for the construction of the crossing.
He said they were worried that during heavy downpour their children had to cross the crossing and the risk of them slipping was high.
“Imagine if it is high tide and there is heavy rain, we can have multiple cases of drowning if they slip and fall into the water.”
He said they have had to repair the crossing because heavy rain often caused flooding and thus the crossing is usually washed away.
It can be confirmed that on March 5, 2015 the Japanese Government gave $175,993 in to the government central account for the construction of the foot crossing.
Two years on and there still has been no word on the construction of the crossing. Commissioner Eastern Luke Moroivalu stated work should begin before May of this year as they have been awaiting the document on the memorandum of understanding which is being vetted by the Solicitor-General’s Office.
“The RFMF engineers had to re-scope the project because the initial scope was done by an individual and not the RFMF engineers.
“For a government capital project to be carried, there should be an MOU drawn and signed in this case between the Commissioner Eastern and the RFMF engineers.
“The Solicitor-General’s office is currently vetting the MOU before it is signed by the two parties. Upon receipt of the MOU, the permanent secretary will release the funds to RFMF engineers and the work will commence.
“The Commissioner Eastern’s office is currently waiting for the finalisation of the MOU before it is submitted to permanent secretary for Economy to release the funds.”
Mr Moroivalu said the funds were still with the Ministry of Economy awaiting all necessary formalities to be completed before it was released.
He said once the Solicitor-General finalised the MOU and Ministry of Economy released the money, it would take about two months for the RFMF engineers to purchase the materials and organise the logistics to the island.
Chain of events
February 4, 2015 — Japanese Government approved the funding of Nawaikama foot crossing project.
March 9, 2015 — Japanese Government gives $F175,933 for the construction of the foot crossing.
March 26, 2015 — Commissioner Easter confirms receiving the money.
March 6-August 3, 2015 — Was the project date from start to finish as submitted by the RFMF engineers. RFMF engineers stated project can be done in 107 days at a cost of $175,956.21
August 17, 2015 — Commissioner Eastern confirms the engagement of RFMF engineers.
October 10, 2016 — Ministry of Economy approves the request by the Commissioner Eastern for the engagement of RFMF engineers.
March 13, 2017 — Commissioner Eastern informs this newspaper they’re still waiting for the MOU which is still being vetted by the Solicitor-General’s office.
