Addressing the deteriorating road conditions and lack of basic services in the upper section of Saioni Settlement in Valenicina, Lami is now a priority.
This has been highlighted to fijivillage News by Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau when asked about what is being done for the people in the upper section of Valenicina who have had to live with poor road conditions for many years.
Valenicina is a 20 minute drive from Suva City.
Tuisawau says he has directed teams to assess the situation and review the progress of earlier inspections carried out in the area.
He also acknowledged the serious impact poor infrastructure is having on the livelihoods and living conditions of residents, particularly families living in informal settlements.
Tuisawau says access to basic needs such as roads, water and electricity must be looked at urgently, while also considering legal and infrastructure-related challenges as the government moves forward with long-term solutions.
The residents in the upper section of Saioni Settlement had shared with fijivillage News that they have spent years fundraising to repair damaged roads themselves while continuing to live without reliable water supply and electricity.
Community representatives, Mereoni Naimawi and Silina Tavodi told us that the poor condition of the settlement’s access road remains one of the community’s biggest struggles, especially during periods of heavy rain.
The Fiji Roads Authority confirmed it recently carried out another inspection of the area and found the road to be generally in fair condition.
However, FRA acknowledged that a 130-metre steep concrete section leading to the upper part of the settlement has experienced isolated pavement settlement, making it difficult for low-profile vehicles to safely access the area.
The authority says sealing works for the road have been included in its longer-term five-year planning programme, while repairs to the worst affected sections are expected to be carried out under routine maintenance works.
Tuisawau says ministry teams are continuing to look into the issue as concerns remain over the daily challenges faced by residents living in the hillside settlement near Lami.
