Residents of Wainigasau Settlement in Veisari, near Lami, have expressed serious concerns regarding health issues stemming from dust generated by vehicles traveling on the Queens Highway. This problem has reportedly persisted for the last three months due to ongoing roadworks on a short section of the highway.
Vasemaca Tabaleka noted that heavy daily traffic creates significant dust from the unsealed portion of the road, which affects not only her household but also numerous families in the area. She mentioned, “Our windows and doors are kept closed from morning until night because of the dust. Our children are also suffering; our house feels like a garage whenever dust comes in through our windows.”
At 50 years old, she raised concerns about the traffic situation, particularly for young children who are exposed to dust while traveling to school early in the morning. “We asked them whether they had obtained the coal tar needed to complete the roadworks. They told us that the coal tar had not yet arrived from China. It’s been three months — still nothing,” she stated.
Seni Tabaleka, a long-time resident of Wainigasau for about 30 years, highlighted that children are becoming ill due to the dust. She observed, “People, especially our children, are getting sick. They have coughs and breathing issues — ailments that we never experienced before. We close our homes and curtains and just stay inside.”
Attempts to reach Minister for Infrastructure Ro Filipe Tuisawau and the Fiji Roads Authority for comments have gone unanswered.