Fijians Praise Govt For Cyclone Relief CARE

Fijians from all walks of life have applauded the comprehensive relief package – the Cyclone Assistance Relief Effort for Fiji, or CARE for Fiji – announced by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on Friday night.

CARE for Fiji would benefit an estimated 150,000 Fijians impacted by Tropical Cyclones Josie and Keni.

One of the worst affected villages in the flood-hit areas was Nasolo in Ba. Nasolo headman Mosese Volavola, 45, said: “We see that the assistance is coming our way. About 20 homes were underwater. 100 people lost their goods and electric appliances in that storm. They say, they need the assistance badly. CARE for Fiji will benefit them in a big way.”

Tiana Duvaga, 32, a sugar cane farmer in Moto, Ba, said, “My farm is 12.5 acres and has always been affected when it floods. CARE for Fiji sounds good. It will help relieve some of the pressures.”

Sunil Kumar, 45, a driver of Nadovi in Nadi said: “I use to have a farm in Momi few years ago. The farmers would love this initiative. I understand what’s going in their minds right now, they need a turnaround. “The Government has done a great job to keep us Fijians moving forward. It shows it is compassionate and thinks of all the people.” In the Sigatoka Valley, Deo Chand, 54, a market vendor and supplier of vegetables to the resorts on the Coral Coast said, “Our area of the Salad bowl was affected with flooding. For the next three months we will be affected with the crops in the area where we have about 500 farmers. The assistance from the FijiFirst Government gives us hope for the future.”

The Care for Fiji initiatives include HOMES-CARE, FARMS-CARE, SUGARCANE-CARE, LEASEHOLDERSCARE, WELFARE-CARE, and ETRANSPORT-CARE.

It helps a wide range of people to recover from the cyclones and rebuild.

The Government has done a great job to keep us Fijians moving forward. It shows it is compassionate and thinks of all the people. Sunil Kumar Nadi resident