Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, and Assistant Minister Hon. Jovesa Vocea, pose with villagers of Naikorokoro in Rewa following the commissioning of their foot-crossing last Friday.

SUVA – Residents of Naikorokoro in Togalevu, Rewa no longer have to risk their lives crossing a river to get to school or to access basic services.

This follows the completion and handover of their newly upgraded foot-crossing by the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management’s Self-Help Programme (SHP).

Naikorokoro Settlement women’s group leader Ms. Elina Keve expressed her appreciation to Government for the timely and much needed assistance, saying the help by Government would help address some of the major safety concerns that they had as a community.

“The crossing we previously used was damaged by strong currents during a period of adverse weather in 2021. Following that we have always had to cross the river by foot to get to and from the village. At times when there was a flood, our children will miss school. For us, we either just cross the river or we trek down the river to where our transport is parked to get to our destination. It was really hard,” said Ms Leve.

“But we are grateful to Government for this assistance and we thank them a lot for this great help. It will really help us a lot, especially our children.”

The foot-crossing was completed at a cost of more than $15,000. The project is intended to provide a sustainable and safer access for 108 residents of Naikorokoro.

In handing over the project, Hon. Ditoka said it was Government’s hope that the community would take good care and maintenance of the assistance by Government. He also encouraged the villagers to consider starting up income generating projects as the foot-crossing would enable them to reach their markets.

Caption: Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka presents a completion certificate for the Naikorokoro Foot-crossing project to its village headman last Friday.

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The Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management is responsible for implementing development strategies that bring Fijians living in rural and maritime regions the same level of access to essential services and economic opportunities as anywhere else in the country. We coordinate and implement the Fiji Government’s rural and maritime development initiatives with a mission to empower Fiji’s rural sector. We also spearhead disaster risk reduction initiatives at national and sub-national level including disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. We have offices for each of Fiji’s 14 provinces including Rotuma, leading the Fiji Government’s rural development and disaster risk management operations.

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