RFMF builds homes including Rabi

[Stacey King]

December 6, 2012 | Filed under: Fiji News | Posted by: newsroom

$2.4m project helps Thomas families

By TALEBULA KATE

One hundred and forty-one families from Vanua Levu who were affected by Tropical Cyclone Thomas in 2010 will have brand new homes after the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Engineers receive funding for the project.
According to Captain Lui Tubuna of the RFMF Engineers, the project, which is their biggest so far, will cost over $2.4 million and will be implemented in the New Year.
“The RFMF was requested by the Ministry of Provincial Development to implement the project,” Captain Tubuna said.
“Upon approval by Headquarters RFMF and Headquarters Engineers, we were handed a list highlighting the affected individuals from the respective districts and provinces,” he said.
Captain Tubuna said the list was from a previous survey conducted by the ministry. He said they used the list to do their own on-the-ground assessment to determine the exact number of houses to be constructed.
“Upon completion of this ground assessment, we compiled and substantiated costing for the implementation of the project which was then forwarded to the ministry with the cost totalling more than $2.7 million,” Captain Tubuna said.
The project, which will be in three phases, mainly covers the provinces of Cakaudrove and Macuata.
The tikina of Rabi in Cakaudrove recorded the highest number of houses to be built at 28 followed by Tunuloa at 20 and 16 for Cakaudrove mainland.
The RFMF Engineer Battalion have been undertaking major projects from 2007 to 2012, some of which are school renovations, building constructions, cyclone rehabilitation, road upgrading and sea walls.