EVERY morning, commuters arriving at the Suva Bus Stand for work and school are confronted with a reality that unfolds after dark — a growing number of people seeking shelter there overnight because they have nowhere else to go.
A regular commuter, who catches the 6am bus from Nasinu said the number of people sleeping at the bus stand appeared to be increasing again, following a lull when police patrols at the facility were stepped up.
“It’s heartbreaking to see,” she said.
“These are people, not rubbish to be swept away. I see young boys, even teenagers, fast asleep on the benches with just cardboard and a blanket.
“Where are they supposed to go when the buses stop running?”
She said the response should protect both public safety and the dignity of those seeking shelter.
“They need help, not eviction,” she said.
“We all want a clean and safe place to catch our bus, but we also can’t pretend we don’t see them.”
Another commuter, who has used the bus stand for more than 10 years, said the situation was becoming increasingly visible.
“In the mornings you see them fast asleep on the benches. I feel for them, but the stand also needs to be safe and hygienic. Right now, it feels like no one is taking responsibility. Moving people on without alternatives will not solve anything. They are Fijians too. You can’t just move them on and expect the problem to disappear. They need a place to go,” he said.
Suva City Council chairman and acting CEO Tevita Boseiwaqa said homelessness was a complex national social issue that could not be solved by the council alone.
Police confirmed that a joint enforcement team involving the Fiji Police Force, Suva City Council, Social Protection, Fiji Roads and iTaukei Affairs had been established, with operations to be carried out in phases.
Authorities are also working with the Salvation Army under the KAWAI program.
Street dweller spotted in Suva City.
Picture : Timoci Dawai
