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Fiji

Fiji: North road repairs to cost over $ 1m

Cabinet noted today the progress of the Works Ministry in restoring the road access to Savusavu and Labasa and other rehabilitation work on roads and bridges that are to cost some $1.4 million.

Regional Development Minister, Ilaitia Tuisese informed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase and his Cabinet today that $1,435,000 will be needed for rehabilitation road works around Labasa and Savusavu that were damaged by landslides and floods brought about through Cyclone Ami.

"The access between Savusavu and Labasa had temporarily been out of service due to land slippage at one end of the Vunivesi bridge," the Regional Development Minister said.

"Public Works Department personnel are currently working on repairing the bridge."

"Damages were also sustained by the Taveuni jetty which has just returned to operation after a major washout."

Meanwhile, telecommunication technicians are working on the restoration of telecommunications facilities in the Northern Division with 50 per cent of work completed.

Communication from the North was disrupted due mainly to damages sustained by the Telecom Fiji's Delaikoro radio station dish antenna in addition to the cable damages sustained by the Labasa and Savusavu telecommunication exchanges.

The Nabouwalu link in Bua was affected due to cable and line faults adding to the eight stations that were out of contact due to damages to antennae systems and the unavailability of electricity but restoration work continues in Matei on Taveuni, the Labasa Town area, Lasonia, Navakasiga and Navakamasisuasua. In Lau, four stations were not operational.