25 Sep 2002

Fiji government says water supply problems to continue

10:13 am on 25 September 2002

Fiji's prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, says the country's water supply problems will continue for some years.

Speaking in parliament, Mr Qarase has blamed previous governments for not embarking on a capital programme that was supposed to have started in 1985.

He says the government will try to solve the water supply problems in the Suva-Nausori corridor, which houses about a quarter of the country's population, within its five-year term.

But in the meantime, there will be continuing water problems.

Fiji's west, which houses much of the tourism industry, has also been plagued with water shortages as well as some islands where schools and hospitals have had to be closed in recent months,

Development work by Fiji's Housing Authority has also been held up because of water shortages.