A FORGOTTEN road has turned the Naitasiri Provincial Council meeting into a platform of appeal, with villagers calling on Government to see first-hand the daily hardships they endure.
This year’s council meeting was deliberately taken to Nasoqo — the last village in Naitasiri — to highlight the poor road conditions from Monasavu to Tavua.
District representative Ratu Aporosa Navakaroko said the condition of the road had left the community cut off and crippled by high transport costs. “All we ask is for you to come and see for yourselves the struggles we face daily on our roads, and to have a proper discussion with us as government service providers,” he pleaded with government authorities.
“It’s only when you travel here that you will see the hardships we face. When you come here, you will witness for yourself the hardships that this area faces because of the road.
“Please, we humbly ask that you keep in mind our struggles when you return to government offices, because this road has been forgotten for too long.”
He said bus fares to Tavua or Suva now cost $40, making it nearly impossible to sustain livelihoods or develop businesses and agriculture.
“The road that runs from Monasavu to Tavua is completely damaged and the high transport costs are directly caused by the poor condition of the road.
“There are many things we want to do to develop this area, but progress is not possible due to the worsening state of the road.”
Even new trucks, he said, broke down within a year under the punishing conditions.
“A truck leaves for Tavua with passengers, but by the time it gets there, it goes straight to the garage. The next day the cycle repeats,” he said.
Ratu Aporosa also called on Government to prioritise connecting Naitasiri and Ra through a proper road network.
“If this connection happens, it will change our lives,” he said.
Villagers push for high school
VILLAGERS in the Naboubuco district of Naitasiri have renewed calls for a secondary school to be built in the area to cater for the growing number of students graduating from Nabobuco District School.
District representative Ratu Aporosa Navakaroko said Nabobuco District School had the highest student population in the province, with more than 300 children enrolled every year.
“We have brought this issue to the provincial council many times,” he said.
“This is one of the largest primary schools in Naitasiri, and the number of students keeps increasing every year. Quality education is becoming harder to provide under the current circumstances.”
Plans are underway for three infant schools in nearby villages to allow younger children to start school closer to home before progressing to the district primary school in Naqelewai.
But Ratu Aporosa said this would not solve the problem, as students completing primary education still had to travel far to attend secondary school.
“This is the next step in our children’s education journey,” he said.
“We are asking for a proper secondary school to be built here, complete with classrooms and teachers’ quarters. This will give our children a chance to continue their studies without the burden of travelling long distances.”
He said discussions had begun in the district, with hopes that government would respond positively to their plea.
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro, who attended the meeting, said Government could consider the request once a proposal and supporting documents were submitted
