Prime minister apologises

SUVA – Fiji’s Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has offered a heartfelt apology to all Fijians for water issues affecting the country.

During the Water Authority of Fiji’s awards night he said situations faced at the beginning of the year were the result of a collective failure over more than 50 years not to invest in new water infrastructure.

“To the many Fijians affected by the dramatic recent disruptions to both the Suva water supply and the collapse of the pipe taking waste to the Kinoya Waste Treatment Plant, I want to make a humble apology,” Bainimarama said.

“You have suffered in a way that pains me as your prime minister.”

He said it was particularly heartbreaking for him to see the effect of the sewerage rupture on the environment and those living around the affected foreshore.

He gave his assurances the problem would be fixed saying while it would be a massive undertaking, the work would be done.

Bainimarama also thanked WAF staff members for their efforts in times of crisis saying they had all worked and made sacrifices to continue supplying water to the people of Fiji.