PM Rabuka commends communities for heeding to warnings
PRIME Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, has commended communities affected by the recent floods in the Western Division for working well with the Government by heeding the advisories.
The Head of Government made this observation while visiting flood affected areas and the evacuees at St Andrews Primary School where he distributed food rations.
Government officials had also distributed food rations in Barara, Naisoso, Nasau, and Navakai in Nadi. PM Rabuka was accompanied by the Divisional Commissioner Western, Apolosi Lewaqai, during the distribution of the food rations to those who have been in the evacuation centre as they prepared to move back home for Palm Sunday.
Speaking to those affected at the evacuation centre, PM Rabuka said “this has been a great honour and duty to be performing for the Government of Fiji but the government can do only so much”. “There are a lot people can do for themselves, and they have been doing that by giving up their home to accommodate those that have been affected worse than them to make them comfortable and sharing food they brought from home to the evacuation centres until the Government started assisting after 48-hours.”
“I hope you will enjoy whatever little the Government has been able to bring to you. You are not the only one affected by the bad weather condition, there have been others who have received assistance from the Government and all we try to do is make everybody’s life a little easier,” he added.
“Very soon we will get back to normal activity but the Commissioner Western has earmarked ration distribution to areas where members of the community should appreciate and utilise it.,” he added.
PM Rabuka also visited the impacted sites where infrastructures and bridges were damaged making the road inaccessible to the public.
He was also provided with an update by the Fiji Road Authority engineers at the site on repair works for the new bailey bridge.
Meanwhile, the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development, National Disaster Management Office, Sakiasi Ditoka also visited flooded affected areas in the Western Division. Minister Ditoka held a talanoa session with those affected at the Naevuevu evacuation centre in Sigatoka where he addressed issues on poor drainage. He assured them that the Coalition Government will do its best to address issues raised by them.
Minister Ditoka visited flood affected areas in Ba, Nadi and Sigatoka where food rations were also handed to evacuees.