Students of Conua District School in Nadroga have had to use a concrete post as a crossing to reach school for the past several years.
This ended last week after the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Inia Seruiratu commissioned a $20,000 foot-crossing that would improve accessibility for them.
The project was funded under the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management’s Community Access Roads Footpaths and Footbridges (CARFF) program and will also involve the installation of a solar light to ensure the safety of residents at night.
Mr Seruiratu said the project supported the education of children living in the settlement.
“This project is very critical for the community here, particularly for the safety of children because of the threat from the rising creek and most importantly for them to attend school continuously despite the weather condition,” he said.
For Iliesa Labalaba, a resident at the settlement said the commissioning of the foot-crossing was an exciting day for those living at Nawamagi.
“In the past, we used to face a lot of difficulties during the rainy season because accessibility was hard.
“Our children used to be affected because they use this crossing to get to school.”
Mr Labalaba said the new foot-crossing had eased a lot of burden for them.
“This new foot-crossing will help us in moving around, especially the women who use the crossing daily to get to the river to collect freshwater mussels for consumption at home and for sale to provide for our daily livelihoods.”
