Fiji's Public Works Department targets 3-year recovery period

Fiji's Public Works Department (PWD) faces a two-to-three-year road back to full capacity, according to Public Works Minister Ro Filipe Tuisawau. He informed Parliament that the department is actively engaged in rebuilding its skills, resources, and systems, which have declined over years.

The minister detailed the ongoing efforts to restore the PWD's workforce, replace aging equipment, and re-establish its crucial role in monitoring the quality of public infrastructure projects. "In the reinstatement of PWD, it is not a simple process because you will need the resources and also the skills," Tuisawau explained. "So, this does not take 12 months to rebuild. It takes maybe two to three years to bring it up to full complement, but of course you have pointed out one of he weaknesses, which is the oversight and monitoring."

To bolster these rebuilding efforts, the government has secured $12 million worth of road construction equipment from Japan. This machinery is currently under procurement and is expected to arrive in the first quarter of next year. Additionally, road depots in Labasa, Taveuni, and other rural areas are undergoing upgrades to enhance operational support. The PWD is collaborating with the Ministry of Rural and Maritime Development to improve community access, farm roads, and rural roads, with a stated goal of enhancing overall infrastructure quality while simultaneously expanding access for rural communities.

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In the reinstatement of PWD, it is not a simple process because you will need the resources and also the skills. So, this does not take 12 months to rebuild. It takes maybe two to three years to bring it up to full complement, but of course you have pointed out one of he weaknesses, which is the oversight and monitoring.