ALSO READ Ineligible recipients granted amnesty

Audit teams from the Ministry of Economy are undertaking random verifications and spot checks for households and individuals and several cases of suspected abuse have already been referred to the Fiji Police Force for investigation

As made clear on numerous occasions, Government’s comprehensive cyclone relief package, CARE for Fiji, is only intended to assist those Fijians directly impacted by Tropical Cyclones Josie and Keni. Through the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, the Fijian Government has already reached thousands of affected Fijians with much-needed assistance through CARE for Fiji, but we have seen some reports of abuse across the country.

Audit teams from the Ministry of Economy are undertaking random verifications and spot checks for households and individuals and several cases of suspected abuse have already been referred to the Fiji Police Force for investigation. Those Fijians who were not affected by TC Josie or TC Keni, but who have already applied and received assistance under the CARE for Fiji programmes will be granted amnesty until May 27, 2018, to return their electronic cards, or any other form of assistance received, to government officials.

The amnesty period applies for all ineligible recipients under FarmsCARE, Homes-CARE, eTransportCARE, Leaseholders-CARE and Sugarcane-CARE.

During this amnesty period, electronic cards that have already been spent by an ineligible recipient must also be repaid in full. Abuse of CARE for Fiji Programmes can include, but is not limited to, misrepresentation on application forms, members of the same household attempting to separately register for the same assistance programme, the reselling of assistance materials, or the spending of electronic cards at unauthorised vendors.

Electronic cards granted through Farms-CARE can be returned to any agriculture office in the country. All other CARE for Fiji electronic cards, or other forms of assistance, can be returned or refunded at any social welfare office in the country. All questions regarding the return of electronic cards can be directed to the CARE hotline 2273.

Those Fijians who were not affected by TC Josie or TC Keni, but who have already applied and received assistance under the CARE for Fiji programmes will be granted amnesty until May 27, 2018, to return their electronic cards, or any other form of assistance received, to government officials. The amnesty period applies for all ineligible recipients under Farms-CARE, Homes-CARE, eTransport-CARE, Leaseholders-CARE and SugarcaneCARE.

The Fijian Government urges any ineligible CARE for Fiji recipients to take advantage of this amnesty period, as otherwise the consequences for abusing any CARE for Fiji programmes can be very serious.

Under the False Information Act 2016, any false information given to Government for the purposes of receiving a benefit is an offence punishable by law, and may result in a requirement to repay the benefit, a fine of up to $20,000 or an imprisonment term of up to 10 years or any or all of the foregoing.