A long-awaited bridge is moving closer to completion in Bilalevu, easing a decades-long struggle for families who must cross a dangerous creek to reach the local cemetery. For generations, relatives from Bilalevu and nearby communities, including Loma, Qereqere, Navula and Tavuto, faced isolation during heavy rains when floodwaters would cut them off from their loved ones’ final resting place, sometimes forcing mourners to drive as far as Koromumu Cemetery in Sigatoka.
Shiu Pratap, Secretary of the Bilalevu Cemetery Committee, recalled a painful incident when a flooded creek kept relatives from crossing and saying their goodbyes. “The creek was flooded, and a family had brought their deceased here for burial. Most of the relatives couldn’t cross. It was devastating,” he said.
Now, with government support through the Multi-Ethnic Grant Program, that hardship is easing. A bridge is being constructed to provide safe, reliable access to the cemetery, ensuring families can bid farewell to their loved ones with dignity, rain or shine. “This bridge means families will no longer risk their lives crossing the flooded creek just to say their final goodbyes. It gives our loved ones the dignity they deserve,” Pratap added, thanking the Ministry of Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry and Minister Charan Jeath Singh for backing the project.
The project is being delivered under a one-third and two-thirds partnership arrangement, reflecting a joint government-community effort to address pressing local needs. More than 500 households from Loma, Qereqere, Bilalevu, Navula and Tavuto stand to benefit from the new bridge, which is much more than infrastructure—it’s a lifeline that will allow families to farewell their loved ones together, come rain or shine.
Permanent Secretary for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and Sugar Industry, Dr. Vinesh Kumar, urged other communities to apply for the grants scheme, noting that projects like this strengthen accessibility and deliver lasting benefits.
This Bilalevu bridge project is part of a broader national pattern of rural infrastructure improvements. For example, in Ra, the Naseyani Bridge was completed after seven years of construction, at a cost of about $3 million, dramatically improving safety for Nananu and Naseyani villagers and restoring bus services. In Namosi, a 60-meter suspension footbridge for Saliadrau Village was funded by the Japanese Embassy and the Fiji Government, with a total of FJ$618,000, and is expected to boost access to healthcare, education and markets for residents—including schoolchildren, pregnant women and farmers. And in Bua Lomani Koro, a $1.3 million suspension bridge is under construction to serve more than 800 villagers and multiple schools, building on a wider government focus on equitable rural development.
The government has stressed accountability in grant-funded projects, with ministry staff conducting site visits and requiring regular reporting to ensure outcomes match community needs. The Bilalevu bridge stands as a tangible example of how targeted grants, paired with local leadership, can transform daily life and preserve the dignity of cherished traditions.
What this means: The Bilalevu project not only improves access to a cemetery but also reinforces community resilience and cohesion by showing that rural needs are being addressed through collaborative, accountable action. It also aligns with a broader trend of improving safety, education, healthcare and economic opportunities across Fiji’s rural areas.
Summary: A new one-third/two-thirds funded bridge in Bilalevu will connect families to their cemetery, ending dangerous crossings during floods and supporting more than 500 households. The project reflects a wider government-community effort to boost rural connectivity, following similarly transformative bridges in Naseyani, Saliadrau and Bua Lomani Koro.
Evaluation: Positive and hopeful; the article highlights tangible benefits for communities and a credible, ongoing national initiative to improve rural infrastructure.
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