It is a historic day for the people of Naitasiri today as the new Naqali Bridge should bring a new hope to the province as it will link them to the world and the rest of Fiji.

Those were the words of Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama when he officially opened the $8 million Naqali Bridge today.

Speaking in the Fijian language to more than 1,000 people from the province of Naitasiri, Commodore Bainimarama said this bridge will now enable the 11 districts of Naitasiri who live past Naqali to be able to get their produce to the markets in time and also transport those who are sick to the hospital and the struggle they used to face in the old bridge will now be a thing of the past.

The old Naqali Bridge was always the first bridge that used to get flooded during heavy rain, and this used to result in the people living on either ends stranded until the waters receded. 

Commodore Bainimarama said this is not the only assistance they will provide to the province of Naitasiri as they are planning to also get electricity in the near future to the villages who are still without power.