22 students of Koroilailai Settlement will no longer have to use coconut trunks to cross to and from their homes to get to their schools after the commissioning of a new footbridge at Korolailai Settlement in Wailoku that will provide a safe and easy crossing for the students about 60 people in the area.
While officiating at the opening of the footbridge Deputy secretary Development Cooperation in the Office of the Prime Minister, Sakeasi Waikere says that the students will now have a safer route to get to and from school.
He also identified the construction of the 12‑metre foot crossing project during his visit to the community in July this year.
Waikere says that after using coconut trunks the people later installed power poles to allow for crossing but this too was risky because there were no railings. There were cases of children falling in the stream and it was difficult to cross to the other side of the village in rainy weather.
The Office of the Prime Minister provided $3,252 for the project under the Melanesian Vasu iTaukei Development Fund.
Meanwhile, Waikere also handed over a new boat and engine to Salatieli Ratumainalutu of Wairua Settlement, Tamavuaiwai yesterday.
The boat and engine, valued at about $17,000, would be a means of transportation for Ratumainalutu during his daily fishing trip to support his extended family’s livelihood.
Ratumainalutu owned a boat and engine that was swept away during Tropical Cyclone Winston last year.
The assistance was given under the Small Grants Scheme of the Office of the Prime Minister.
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