Today’s headlines focus on developments involving The People’s Alliance party and a strike by staff at the University of the South Pacific.
They make the front page!
As party members, those with ministerial portfolios come out with their take on a rumoured split within, and staff members of USP go on strike today, we look forward to developments with great interest.
We also reflect on the dilemma hundreds of families living along Khalsa Rd in Nasinu are facing with their ongoing water supply issues.
They want the Government to resolve the water problems they have been experiencing for more than two years.
Our report on Page 5 today is on residents claiming that while water cut problems in their area had worsened this year, no attempts had been made to resolve it.
They spoke out about their challenges.
They spoke about how it impacted their daily lives and that meant a negative impact on preparing students to go to school for instance.
It meant having to live with stinky toilets, and dirty clothes because they just did not have enough water.
They claim their children sometimes have upset stomachs and many miss their showers.
They spoke up about having to prioritise water for drinking, cooking and washroom use.
They spoke about depending on rain water.
In the face of that, the Water Authority of Fiji had advised residents on Wednesday to store enough water to last at least two to three days when it’s available and while they still had the time to do so.
WAF said it would monitor the situation and take necessary action to ensure minimal impact on residents.
Now that is well and good.
The challenge WAF has right now is to come up with a solution that will take away the frustrations of those impacted by ongoing water challenges.
In saying that, we reflect on the revelation back in September that about $35million had been allocated for the Princes Rd Water Infrastructure Project, and earlier this month, there was a three-day water cut notice, paving the way for work to mitigate a “big risk” in Waila, in terms of providing and sustaining supply to about 40 per cent of the population!
Speaking in Parliament on the $35m project, Minister for Public Works and Infrastructure Ro Filipe Tuisawau said it would address water supply issues in the Suva to Sawani region and would start in late November and extend over 24 months.
Ro Filipe said the initiative sought to resolve the ongoing water crisis affecting areas such as Tamavua, Wailoku, Samabula and Raiwaqa.
The Tamavua Water Treatment Plant, he said, a crucial component of the water supply system, operates at 75 million litres per day, surpassing its designed capacity of 60 million litres per day.
We say people pay for water in their pipes.
They expect delivery of good clean water whenever they turn the tap on.
There is an expectation that when water cuts happen, they are immediately addressed, and water flows again with less delay.
Disrupted water supply is more than an inconvenience; it impacts daily life.
We hope the lines of communication stay open between the Government and the affected residents, ensuring their needs and concerns are addressed.
In the face of the political developments and strike action, the ongoing water crisis also deserves our attention.
We are dealing with quality of life here.
Swift action and effective communication can mean positive outcomes for those impacted.
