Lautoka City will pilot the termite control program that the Government announced in January.
Assistant Women’s Minister Sashi Kiran said a pilot program, which would include a complaints register, would be implemented first in the Sugar City because many homes had been badly infested there.
Ms Kiran told the recent National Federation Party working committee meeting in Lautoka, termite infestation must be brought under control.
“It’s taken us this long talking to consultants and experts, support and learning along the way, and we are putting all the processes in place,” she said.
“We’re starting the pilot in Lautoka with the Lautoka City Council where we’ll map while the Government is working on a baiting program, so we’ll bait all of Lautoka.
“For termites, it’s very important that there is baiting and control. Termites live underground and during swarming season, they just come out flying but the queen is actually underground and lays 1000 eggs a day for 25 years and it’s very important that those colonies are killed.”
The minister said there was no database to monitor where the infestations were, and that around 5000 people whose homes were infested reported the matter to the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji.
“We need to understand where they are to be able to bait it first to destroy it.
“When the colonies die, then you can repair your house, that makes sense. But if there is a colony under your house, then if you repair it, it’ll still continue to do damage.
“The taskforce is also looking at how we can provide relief packages safely.”
