I refer to the above article and my sympathy goes to Akapusi Tuifagalele, director of National Disaster Management, for having to defend Government in its failure to put together a credible and sustainable reconstruction and rehabilitation program for the victims of Cyclone Winston. He says that “the process is continuing although it is a bit slow. But we have to be just patient in terms of that”.
This is the same director who stated two weeks after the cyclone in a Fiji One TV news statement that the reconstruction of houses will take three years.
I believe that is the timeline and it explains the absence of proactive initiatives to carry out a credible review and reassessment of its stated policy and strategy for reconstruction and rehabilitation to meet the demands and expectations of the people of Fiji particularly those directly affected.
Why is Government asking the people affected to be patient? They have very little option. Why is it slow? Isn’t this supposed to be urgent so that people can be placed back into a position so that they can get on with their lives? Does the Government have money to meet the demands? Are the suppliers of materials giving correct information to Government? What legal arrangements were entered into with the suppliers if any? If money has been paid out, how much and the details of the supplier in each case?
I suggest that the relevant permanent secretary and the minister responsible give the people of Fiji a clear statement of the status of the reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts and the way forward.
I believe sooner or later complaints may be lodged with the relevant institutions to have the whole saga investigated.
