CHILDREN OF THE FLOOD
PM brings smiles to flood-affected children at evacuation centre
Raijeli Waqavou said she knew her prayers had been answered when she met Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday. The Nasautoka Village baker was sitting in her flood and wind ravaged home when she saw Mr Bainimarama arrive to inspect the village. Mr Bainimarama was in the Wainibuka to visit some of villages hit by rain and floods brought by Tropical Depression 04F. Ms Waqavou, 48 and mother of six children, had been yearning for help to revive her bread making business since it got damaged by Tropical Cyclone Winston in February. “I did not know where to go so I prayed and prayed and hoped for the best,” she said. Her heart jumped when the PM’s Personal Staff Officer (PSO), Captain Isireli Tagivakatini, told her the PM wanted to see her. Mr Bainimarama offered to help her restart her business and told her to come to Suva to fill the necessary papers. “My prayers have been answered. I thank God and the Prime Minister,” she said.
Despite the floods, this was a great Christmas gift for her, she said. She started her small bakery in 2011 and supplied bread to the village. She used to earn between between $200 and $300 a week.
“I was using firewood to heat the ovens.I now wish to convert to gas because it will be a lot easier,” she said.
Government initiatives praised
A chief’s wife says Government initiatives are benefitting villagers in disaster preparedness. Biusalia Manuapai, 48, the wife of Tui Wailevu, Ratu Savenaca Bosenawainibuka, thanked Mr Bainimarama for the vision and foresight in conducting training workshops at village. She said Government agencies had helped in changing people’s mindset to be prepared for the worst scenario. This was evident in the recent rain and floods brought by Tropical Depression 04F. From the youth to the adults, everyone knew what to do in organising the evacuation of the most vulnerable, the children, women and elderly to higher ground and safety in the face of the impending floods. “The training had kicked in,” she said. She said that was why everyone was safe in the five villages under the Tui Wailevu’s jurisdiction. The villages are Wailotua No 1, Wailotua No 2, Dakuivuna, Natokalau, Malabi. She praised the Government’s policies and services, particularly Mr Bainimarama’s leadership.
Children of the floods
Mr Bainimarama brought smiles to the children of the floods at Nasautoka Primary School evacuation centre yesterday. He took time to chat to them about their education. He shared jokes and lifted their spirits. He also encouraged them to take education seriously.
Christmas cheer
Nasautoka villagers loudly applauded Mr Bainimarama yesterday when he told them they would get electricity connected by June next year. They said they had been waiting long for power to come to them.
Mr Bainimarama held a talanoa session after he was traditionally welcomed in Nasautoka.
The villagers also told him that their water dam was damaged and affected their water supply. He said the raw material would be supplied to allow them to repair the damage. He encouraged villagers not to wait for the various agencies to do the work. He said if they were able to do the work and supplies were provided, then they should go ahead and do it.