An article published in The Fiji Times on April 26, 1998, detailed the hardship faced by families in Veisari as ongoing water shortages disrupted daily life.
“If the children had not called out and chased after the water truck, it would have driven past, leaving the family without water for the second time,” the report stated.
As they began carrying buckets and containers of water back to their home, an elderly resident of Veisari stared straight ahead and said, “It’s hard. Hard, I tell you. It’s hard.
“It wouldn’t have been so bad if we were without electricity. We can light a fire outside, but for this, we need water.
“It’s okay if it’s just a husband and wife; they’d manage. But here there is my son, his wife, my son-in-law, my wife, me, and our four grandchildren.”
Their home was situated along Veisari Road, some distance from the Queen’s Highway. That area had always experienced water cuts. They would have water for two weeks, then go without.
“All these Public Works Department workers are doing their best. They don’t mind working overtime, but the real problem is with the minister,” the elderly man said.
“He is the problem. He must think ahead. We have been experiencing this issue for two years now, and they still haven’t rectified it.
“We have to go to town for shopping and other things, so we must make sure someone is home when the water truck arrives again,” another resident, Joe, said.
“If they send water at 10pm, then that’s when we have to collect it.”
He said his family had to use as little water as possible to make it last.
