TWO years ago, five houses in the village of Wainigadru in Cakaudrove succumbed to strong wind brought about by Hurricane Tomas.
Two of the five households were reconstructed with both families officially handed the keys to their new houses by Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama on Tuesday.
Proud new homeowner and Wainigadru native Uate Driti was lost for words as he was handed over the key of his new house by Commodore Bainimarama as part of the military's housing rehabilitation program in the wake of Tropical Cyclone Evan.
Mr Driti, 47, said since the cyclone hit their village in March 2010 he had been living in his brother's house with his six children and his mother.
"Since my brother was an army officer who was staying away in town we requested if we could use his house since we did not have any other place to stay in," said Mr Driti.
As confirmed by the Ministry of Information the houses cost $15,000 each and the total costing of the five homes was $75,000.