New $4m Toga Bridge to benefit villages of Muana, Vunisei and Navatuyaba in Toga

It is a memorable day for 640 villagers of Muana, Vunisei and Navatuyaba as the new $4 Million Toga Bridge has officially been commissioned today.

While officiating during the opening of the new bridge, Minister of Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau says today is not only a day of celebration but it also marks a new beginning for the lives of the people of Toga and a promising future for their children.

During the official program, villagers in the District of Toga held a traditional ceremonywith a qaloqalovi presentation and a sevusevu was presented symbolising the respect of the Vanua of Toga Qavoka to one of the Chiefly members of the Roko Tui Dreketi clan.

The Minister says the new bridge is a critical project that was long overdue and one that was long awaited by the people of Toga.

He says coming into his Office as the Minister for Roads, he has made it a priority to speed up the process of delivering this project to ensure that it comes to fruition.

He adds after the groundbreaking ceremony that was held in January last year, today the people of Toga Qavoka must be delighted that their prayers have been answered.

Ro Filipe says the old low-level crossing was not suited to the ambition of the communities because during heavy rains, it would flood and become un-crossable and has affected the movement of people, students to school and also farmers had to make multiple trips to transport their produce to the market.

He says the bridge is strong enough to support the weight of heavy trucks and it is safe enough to serve as a reliable connection between communities and the rest of the nation because it is built to a climate-resilient standard.

Meanwhile, the Muana Village Headman, Rupeni Yabakivou says they will no longer need to worry about their 39-year-old bridge which had caused many problems for the villagers.

Yabakivou says they are looking forward to the new horizon for the future generation of Toga in the Rewa Province.

While speaking to fijivillage News, Yabakivou says he hopes that there will be more development provided by the Government in the coming years.