Positive Reception At Announcement of Free Bus Fare For Senior Citizens
Several senior citizens have praised Government for putting people first. This was after many of them were told that they would not have to pay the usual 50 per cent concession on bus fare travel. This is because it is now free for them.
Principal Welfare Officer Older Persons Unit Dilitia Baleinabuli relayed this news to senior citizens while speaking at the Senior Citizen week celebration organised by Fiji Muslim League and Fiji Muslim Women’s League Makoi Branch yesterday.
“Senior citizens holding the purple card will not have to pay the 50 per cent concession they usually do because now they don’t have to pay anything,” Ms Baleinabuli said.
“All they have to do is to take their birth certificate and a passport photo to Social Welfare where they will be given a form to take to Vodafone. It will be for a $40 value of mobility for a month. This has started on October 1. Senior citizens from the age of 60 are eligible.” Jamida Bi, 60, of Narere said she was shocked when she heard about the free fare.
“I am glad that the money I usually use for my bus card will be used for other things. I was surprised because it was the first time I heard about it,” Ms Bi said.
“I thank the Government for coming up with this idea and I thank them for thinking of us. The Gov- ernment always put people first and there are no words I can say that would be enough to show how grateful I am.”
Mariem Bibi, 72, of Narere said Government was a blessing for Fiji. “What the Government has done for us is more than enough and now the fare for the senior citizens is free, $40 a month is more than enough,” Ms Bibi said.
“I will now go and apply. I am glad the chief guest has told us this because we wouldn’t have known if she didn’t.”