Opposition Leader and Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu is calling on the Government to activate the DISMAC (Disaster Management Committee) machinery and civil society organisation (CSO) networks, including religious bodies and NGOs, to distribute food rations and assist the needy during the Suva-Nasinu-Nausori curfew.
“As our nation continues to face unprecedented challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we must utilise the DISMAC machinery and CSO networks,” said Ratu Naiqama.
“They have the expertise, experience and demonstrated efficiency in national, divisional and community disaster and emergency relief work.
“The Ministry of Economy does not have the capacity or the networks on the ground to handle food ration distribution effectively, as already seen in the first 56-hour curfew two weeks ago when 100,000 calls were made to the 161 helpline, which crashed, but less than 5000 food rations were distributed.”
Ratu Naiqama said this critical task was clearly beyond the capacity and outside of the core role of the Ministry of Economy.
“It is unfortunate that the efficient and effective machinery already in place to address distribution of emergency relief supplies has been disbanded or weakened by an attempt to reinvent the wheel.
“The Government should seriously consider activating the existing DISMAC machinery supported by CSOs such as the Red Cross, religious bodies charitable arms and other NGOs to take the lead role in the distribution of rations through their cost-effective and efficient networks that are already on the ground.
Ratu Naiqama said it was time everyone worked together at this critical time.
