Gravel dust a health issue | ‘People, especially our children are getting sick’

RESIDENTS of Wainigasau Settlement in Veisari outside Lami have raised concerns about serious health issues from dust caused by vehicles travelling along the Queens Highway. The residents claimed that the issue has persisted over the past three months because of the prolonged roadworks on a small stretch of the highway. Vasemaca Tabaleka said with the heavy daily traffic, dust from the unsealed part of the road not only affected her household, but many of the families living along this stretch of road.

“Our windows and doors are kept closed right from the morning until the night because of the dust,” she said. “Our children are also suffering, our house feels like a garage whenever dust comes in through our windows.” The 50-year-old said traffic was also a problem as young children travelling to school in the early morning would be affected by the dust.



“We asked them whether they had gotten the coal tar to finish off the roadworks. They said the coal tar had not arrived from China. “It’s been three months — still nothing.

” Seni Tabaleka, who has been a resident at Wainigasau for about 30 years, said children were getting sick from the dust. “People, especially our children are getting sick, they are coughing and breathing issues, sicknesses that we never used to have before. “We close our homes and curtains and just stay in the house.

” Questions sent to Minister for Infrastructure Ro Filipe Tuisawau and Fiji Roads Authority remained unanswered..