Linking Bridge a new way forward for Navuso Community

Features - Fiji Government Online (www.fiji.gov.fj)

Linking Bridge a new way forward for Navuso Community
Apr 30, 2008, 09:43

Relief is in sight for the people of Navuso after years of waiting and tolerating transport difficulties.

With the help of the People’s Republic of China and Fiji Government, a new bridge is to be built which will greatly ease daily commuting hardship for the villagers, who, for years, have had to endure punt rides along the Waimanu River.

Navuso Bridge site

The project was initiated in May 27,2002 with the signing of the Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement between Fiji and China.

Further progress on the project was made when diplomatic notes were exchanged between the two governments in November 2004. In August last year, the official signing of the bilateral agreements was done in Beijing, China.

The bridge which will link the Princess Road and Navuso Village, will be 104.5metres long and 9.1meters wide, collated with 5 x 20 meters span length.

Designed by the First Highway Survey and Design Institute of China, the bridge is constructed by China Railway Wuju (Group) and is expected to be completed in about 12 months.
The Interim Government upon coming into Office in January 2007 resolved to fast track the implementation of this important project.

This was largely in recognition of the hardship and difficulties faced by the people of Navuso.

Given the importance of the project in terms of livelihood and improving the living standards of the people of Navuso, the Office of the Prime Minister took overall responsibility for its implementation.
It worked tirelessly in resolving outstanding matters such as land for construction, site leveling, re-diversion of public access road, provision of water, electricity and telephone to the project site including temporary installations of a 100KVA Distribution Transformer by the Fiji Electricity Authority.

The Interim Government also assisted the Chinese partners to process customs declarations and custom clearance plus exempting taxes, duties & levies for plants, machineries and materials brought by the Chinese Technical Team to be used for construction work.

Navuso Bridge Plaque

It also facilitated entry procedures such as obtaining work permits, for the Chinese technical personnel. All in all about $250,000 was spent on preparatory works before the ground breaking of the project.

Works and Transport Minister, Mr Timoci Lesi Natuva said it was a long time coming for the Navuso people to finally start this project and for that he thanked the Chinese government for helping to fund and construct this project.

Mr Natuva was adamant that the project, when completed, would alleviate a lot of difficulties and transportation problems faced by the people of Navuso.

“The project is testament of the friendship between Fiji and the People’s Republic of China,”Mr Natuva said.

People’s Republic of China’s Charge de Affairs al Interim to Fiji, Fei Ming Xing said China is happy to see that its assistance over the years has contributed to Fiji’s economic development and improvement of the living standard of the people of Fiji.

“The People’s Republic of China believes the Navuso Bridge will further symbolize the close links our two countries enjoy both at bilateral and multi-lateral level,” Fei Ming Xing said.

Mr Fei Ming Xing said China and Fiji are geographically far apart, however, the traditional friendship between the two nations has been in existence for a long time.

The Turaga na Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takieveikata was honoured to witness the historic occasion and thanked the Interim Government and the People’s Republic of China for playing their part in the project.

“On behalf of the Province of Naitasiri and the people of Navuso I am honoured to be here to witness this historic occasion of laying the foundation of this new bridge,”Ratu Inoke said.

“I would like to thank the People’s Republic of China and the Interim Government for their kind assistance which we are about to witness a very significant and symbolic gift in the form of a brand new bridge to ease commuting and transportation difficulties of the people of Navuso.”

Ratu Inoke said this bridge would also benefit the Methodist Church Agricultural School, which is situated next to Navuso Village.

“There will be no more waiting, no more wasting time and no more getting wet while crossing this Waimanu river, the groundbreaking today will bring many opportunities to the people of Navuso,” he said.

“It is our prayer as and when this bridge is completed, there will be changes in our daily lives, our children will experience new development and our duty is to set them a precedent of improving their education standard.
“Muainase Agricultural School has been badly affected for years due to poor condition of transportation and this is also an opportunity to raise the level of commitment to this school for developing young talented people in Naitasiri in terms of farming technique that could encourage them for better utilisation of our land with growing demand of farm produce to our local market.”

He said he believes in a year’s time when this project is completed, it will strengthen to the lives of his people, the church and especially education which he believes will brings them hope to their our young people

Minister for Works and Transport Mr Timoci Natuva, People’s Republic of China’s Charge de Affairs al Interim to Fiji, Fei Ming Xing, Turaga Na Qaranivalu, Ratu Inoke Takiveikata

“I thank the Interim Government and the Government of China for this development and as we are delighted to be here on this historic groundbreaking ceremony I believe not only the people gathered here today experience joy of heart for this project but the next generation will surely benefit from this assistance.”

The Interim Government is implementing similar programmes in other rural areas to help alleviate difficulties faced by ordinary members of the public and in turn improves their living standards and lifestyle. This includes the construction of new roads, upgrading of existing roads, proposed construction of a new Naqali Bridge, and re-construction of the flood damaged Irish crossing in Balevuto, Ba.

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