We should all be considering the importance of insurance
…there has been little or no talk about the role insurance can play to safeguard the future of Fijians - be it property insurance or health insurance.
We have seen devastating cyclones ravage the country almost every cyclone season for the past few years.
We have seen the millions of dollars being used in rehabilitation efforts, we have seen the millions of dollars of damage each natural disaster has left behind and the bill gets bigger every time.
While political parties have been quick to name the Government assistance as freebies and at the same time have been critical of the delays in the rehabilitation process, the fact remains that no Government can afford to spend millions or billions of dollars mitigating the effects of natural disasters. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has said this openly in Parliament. One more thing he has talked about, which politicians have not shown much interest in, is the importance of insurance. Government has already implemented insurance schemes in the sugarcane farming communities. Government has also had in-depth discussions with the insurance council on how low income earners can afford insurance as well.
FijiFirst has been in discussion about a scheme whereby a person can, for example, insure their roof and money for it can be paid out in the event the roof is blown away during a cyclone.
Insurance can play an important role even in our healthcare. Around the world national insurance schemes are in place. Fiji needs to consider that for our healthcare as well especially when we have taken a step to move toward public-private partnership of major hospitals.
While we have had a lot of talk and discussion on race and land especially from the Opposition side, there has been little or no talk about the role insurance can play to safeguard the future of Fijians - be it property insurance or health insurance.
More serious discussion needs to be held and the Opposition needs to become modern in their approach for Fiji. FijiFirst has taken a very modern approach to Fiji and has made some bold decisions for the benefit of Fijians.
There is a lot to insurance and it is also the opportunity for all insurance companies to come to the negotiating table in good faith and help Fiji and Fijians safeguard their future.