A TOTAL of $3.8million was spent on rehabilitating termite-infested houses in the Western and Central Divisions.
Termite Taskforce co-chair Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office Sakiasi Tubuna said the funds were spent on a total of 775 houses.
“This accounts for 448 applications approved in the last fiscal year and 327 approved in the current financial year,” said Mr Tubuna.
He said in addition, the Government was also expanding its termite baiting program outside of Ba, Lautoka, Nadi, Labasa and Nakasi.
“In terms of the bating program, Flick Hygiene Pte Ltd has been engaged through the government Tender Board to provide 1000 households with a baiting system.
“This baiting system focuses on eliminating existing termite colonies through the deployment of bait stations particularly around risk infested areas.
“In alignment with the necessary programs and guidelines, applications received under the Termite Subsidy Program will be provided with termite baiting services on a first come first serve basis.”
Taskforce co-chair Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Sashi Kiran said following the success of the baiting program, more communities would now be included under the initiative.
“Now it is about getting people to register,” said Ms Kiran.
“We want to find out first the extent of where the AST has reached so we are encouraging people to come forward and register their properties with the Taskforce or with the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji. There will be no cash assistance provided. This will be purely baiting.
“If they don’t bait their homes their homes will collapse.”
Meanwhile, Flick Hygiene executive director Mohammed Zakariah confirmed the company has received approval from the Ministry of Agriculture last Friday to allow for mass distribution of the bait to hardware stores across the country.
Mr Zakariah said each bait would cost about $30 to $40.
