ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Suva: Work on the building of two bridges on King's Road on Viti Levu's eastern coast has been initiated following a ground breaking ceremony at the sites on Friday.
Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama officiated at the ceremony of the Naqia and Wainiboa bridges in Wainibuka on the Kings Road.
Funding for the two bridges is provided by the ADB with the total amount of $9million.
Commodore Bainimarama said the two bridges would be built by the Chinese Railway Fifth Group.
“This is the same company that successfully built the Naqali Bridge,”Commodore Bainimarama said.
Landowners from the Yavusa Rara and Yavusa Bure accorded the Prime Minister a traditional itaukei ceremony of welcome.
Sixty-seven-year old Taitusi Nawaqabuli of Naqia village praised Government for the initiative.
“This is a very happy occasion to the Yavusa Rara and the Yavusa Bure because these bridges needed to be replaced. They were built way back in 1930,” Mr Nawaqabuli said.
“The bridges are prone to flooding and many lives have been lost because of accidents on the two bridges, “he added.
Commodore Bainimarama acknowledged that the Wainibuka area had always suffered from flooding, loss of food crops and loss of school days for children during natural disasters.
“This is why Government is prioritising developments in this area. I fully understand the suffering that you’ve been experiencing for decades,” Commodore Bainimarama said.
“I encourage local residents to take advantage of the opportunities that will become available after the completion of these bridges.
“Excess to these bridges along with the completion of the sealing of the Kings Road will no doubt provide numerous opportunities including economic development for all Fijians.”
The economic counselor at the Peoples Republic of China Embassy in Fiji, Mr Cai Shuizeng said the two bridges will take one year and six months to complete.
“We have 20 Chinese workers and the majority are locals,”Mr Shuizeng said.
Mr Shuizeng said the Chinese workers are happy to be associated with the friendly people of Naqia who are very corporative with the project.
Suva: Work on the building of two bridges on King's Road on Viti Levu's eastern coast has been initiated following a ground breaking ceremony at the sites on Friday.
Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama officiated at the ceremony of the Naqia and Wainiboa bridges in Wainibuka...
Suva: Work on the building of two bridges on King's Road on Viti Levu's eastern coast has been initiated following a ground breaking ceremony at the sites on Friday.
Fiji Prime Minister Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama officiated at the ceremony of the Naqia and Wainiboa bridges in Wainibuka on the Kings Road.
Funding for the two bridges is provided by the ADB with the total amount of $9million.
Commodore Bainimarama said the two bridges would be built by the Chinese Railway Fifth Group.
“This is the same company that successfully built the Naqali Bridge,”Commodore Bainimarama said.
Landowners from the Yavusa Rara and Yavusa Bure accorded the Prime Minister a traditional itaukei ceremony of welcome.
Sixty-seven-year old Taitusi Nawaqabuli of Naqia village praised Government for the initiative.
“This is a very happy occasion to the Yavusa Rara and the Yavusa Bure because these bridges needed to be replaced. They were built way back in 1930,” Mr Nawaqabuli said.
“The bridges are prone to flooding and many lives have been lost because of accidents on the two bridges, “he added.
Commodore Bainimarama acknowledged that the Wainibuka area had always suffered from flooding, loss of food crops and loss of school days for children during natural disasters.
“This is why Government is prioritising developments in this area. I fully understand the suffering that you’ve been experiencing for decades,” Commodore Bainimarama said.
“I encourage local residents to take advantage of the opportunities that will become available after the completion of these bridges.
“Excess to these bridges along with the completion of the sealing of the Kings Road will no doubt provide numerous opportunities including economic development for all Fijians.”
The economic counselor at the Peoples Republic of China Embassy in Fiji, Mr Cai Shuizeng said the two bridges will take one year and six months to complete.
“We have 20 Chinese workers and the majority are locals,”Mr Shuizeng said.
Mr Shuizeng said the Chinese workers are happy to be associated with the friendly people of Naqia who are very corporative with the project.
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