GOVERNMENT is assisting Kamlesh Lata, a woman whose story was highlighted in yesterday’s The Fiji Times front page.
Permanent secretary in the Prime Minister’s Office, Yogesh Karan says, however, there was an issue in the article which needed to be clarified.
“We sympathise with the challenges Ms Lata is going through,” he said.
“But, we would like to correct an issue in the story.
“Ms Lata claimed she tried to see the Prime Minister this year, however, our records show that she visited our office in 2019 and not earlier this year as stated in the article.
“Nevertheless, we are looking into her concerns and have written to the Water Authority of Fiji to investigate how her water bills are in the vicinity of $70.”
Mr Karan said he understood the challenges that Ms Lata was going through and Government was looking into her issue.
Ms Lata is partially blind and lives with her 33-year-old epileptic son, Amitesh, and 30-year-old daughter Archana. Archana used to be the family’s sole breadwinner until she lost her job as a supermarket employee during the COVID-19 crisis.
The family survives on a monthly $55 poverty assistance payment from the Social Welfare Department.
Meanwhile, Housing and Community Development permanent secretary Sanjeeva Perera issued a statement yesterday saying HART residents who featured in The Fiji Times on Thursday, May 7, and Friday, May 8, 2020, only paid $5 a week or $20 a month in rent and not $42 as stated.
“The ministry would also like to reiterate that rent payment for all HART residents have been put on hold from 20 March of this year and will continue to be so, amid the COVID-19 pandemic and effects of Tropical Cyclone Harold,” he said.
Mr Perera said HART chief executive officer Paserio Furivai and his team had been working closely with the Water Authority of Fiji and Energy Fiji Ltd on special bill payment arrangements for residents according to the COVID-19 budget response.
“HART, over the past weeks, has distributed food rations donated by individuals and organisations.
“Whilst HART prioritises families of single mothers with little children, families of those with special needs and senior citizens, they continue to work with community leaders, in identifying those who are in need and work towards providing the much needed assistance.”
Mr Perera said HART residents would also be assisted by the Veilomani Food Bank initiative.
