Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad says the Government is prepared to offer assistance to those impacted by flash flooding in the Western Division should the need arise.
His comments come in the wake of continued criticism of the coalition Government by members of the Opposition party, who claimed affected people in the Western Division had not been provided any assistance.
However, reports from the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) this week highlighted that no major damage was recorded and that members of the Commissioner Western’s team were on the ground and ready to assist.
In echoing the sentiments, Prof Biman said even as the country was going through a rough patch in weather, the Government had its people in the NDMO on the ground.
“I’m told by the Minister responsible, Sakiasi Ditoka, that the Commissioner Western and all the civil servants in the Western Division are working very hard. And that’s a difference,” he said.
“We are letting our senior civil servants, people responsible, people who know what needs to be done, to do the work.
“We’re not like the previous government who would parade themselves, taking pictures trying to help people. We are not in that kind of mode. We believe in the work of the civil servants and those who know what needs to be done.
“We have got constant reports from the Minister responsible and damages are minimal, but we are keeping a close tab on any assistance that might be needed.”
Prof Biman said the ministry in charge and the NDMO office were all prepared in the event that there was a need to help.
“So all this mischief by Frank Bainimarama and some of his former ministers, I mean, these guys can’t understand that they are not in government.
“They know what is required, what needs to be done, but you can see some mischief, a large majority of them, I think are decent about it.
“Those who have been ministers, they know that this is a Government which has been in power for only two weeks.”
