PM not happy with cases of poor service delivery
Bainimarama calls on public servants to step up, give correct information, prevent abuse and corruption
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama was not pleased when he could not get the location of three evacuation centres in Rewa and one in Serua in a briefing yesterday.
He was also not happy with the water delivery after he received calls that water was not reaching those affected.
He told the National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) briefing in Suva that: “It's just up to the drivers where the truck delivers to. I don't want to hear that kind of attitude. That is abuse of authority of drivers. So the WAF should see that it does not happen,” he said.
“We need to keep the public informed about progress on water, road and power restoration. They need to be informed.” NDMO director Anare Leweniqila said 75 kerosene primus stoves were delivered to Votua Village, in Ba.
Now Mr Bainimarama wants kerosene primus to be delivered to the affected families who really need them.
Mr Leweniqila told the Fiji Sun that the delivery of primus was the responsibility the Assistant Minister for Agriculture Viam Pillay.
Mr Pillay said they had distributed about 250 primus stoves so far.
“172 stoves have been distributed to Votua Village. We have supplied to 22 families that were affected in Nasolo Village today. The communities and villages which were not able to be completed today, we will work throughout the weekend to distribute the stoves, a gallon of kerosene and cooked food,” he said.
Communities and villages covered on Wednesday and Thursday were: Maururu junction, Vatuloaloa Stage 2, Nasade, Talaya, Moto, Nadrau, Kumkum, Naruku, Toge Settlement, Waivutu Settlement and Marinitawa Settlement. Communities and villages yet to be covered: Toge Village, Yalebuka, Namosau, Yalalevu, Natutu, Nawaqarua, Raviravi seaside, China Town and Karavi, Vunisamaloa, Vaqia, Tivoro Lane and Naburotolu. Mr Bainimarama asked NDMO to give correct information about the cyclone survey. He said this would stop the abuse of funds during rehabilitation work. “Accurate information on the number of homes that are partially destroyed and completely destroyed should be given,” he said. “It should not be like TC Winston where there was abuse of funds because of lack of information that came out of TC Winston.” The same, he said, should be done in Kadavu.
He reminded Government officials of his warning in yesterday’s Fiji Sun on abuse.
“Be mindful of abuse. It will not be tolerated. Inform all Government officials that are out there in the field regarding the issuance of rations including the delivery of water.” Some, he said, were calling him for the delivery of water not reaching them. Drivers decided where the truck delivered to. Mr Bainimarama said he did not want to hear that kind of attitude.
“That is abuse of authority of drivers.” He urged the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) to ensure it did not happen again. On Wednesday he said he was in Tavua. He said the National Fire Authority (NFA) workers were trying to move out people living in evacuation centres so they could clean up the school to be used again. However, some in settlements and villages could not return to their homes overnight. “Their homes and surroundings maybe damaged and need clean-up by the National Fire Authority.”
He said they wanted them to vacate schools but their settlements and villages should be cleaned before residents could go back.