Minister for Public Works Ro Filipe Tuisawau has dismissed criticism by Opposition MP Ketan Lal over the state of Fiji’s roads, saying Lal’s comments are politically motivated and lack evidence.
Lal had said that investing in rural roads while ignoring our national highway infrastructure is like trying to fill a leaking tank, short-sighted and ineffective, and says Fiji’s highways urgently need repair, citing potholes, poor drainage, excessive speed humps, and a lack of modernisation.
While responding to this, Ro Filipe says the government has significantly increased funding for national highways through the Fiji Roads Authority, with over $300 million allocated for maintenance, resealing, and upgrades.
He adds that this is part of a broader strategy to ensure improved infrastructure, particularly in rural areas.
The Minister says the reinstated Public Works Department is also playing a key role in restoring local capacity that was dismantled under the previous government.
Ro Filipe says many community roads, including those leading to schools and health centres, were previously overlooked, and his Ministry is now upgrading routes in maritime zones like Matuku, Vanuabalavu, Bua, Ovalau and Koro.
He says PWD had to be rebuilt from the ground up after losing machinery and technical expertise, and the government secured a loan of over $50 million to support the effort.
He adds that FRA and PWD are now working in coordination to avoid duplication and improve delivery.
When asked if the infrastructure rebuild will be completed before the next election, Ro Filipe says major components will be in place by the end of next year, especially in road maintenance and government property upgrades, however, full completion will take longer.
Ro Filipe is urging the public to be patient, noting that upgrades in roads, water, and energy services, particularly in rural areas, require skilled labour and materials, which take time to procure.
He says the government is not building bureaucracy but focusing on effective service delivery to improve the livelihoods of everyday Fijians.
