Do your job, stop side stepping issues: Usamate

Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate has told Minister for Finance Biman Prasad to “do your job and stop side-stepping issues”.

Mr Usamate was responding to Mr Prasad who commented on the condition of Navua Hospital. Mr Prasad had earlier said the structure lacked a completion certificate.

He claimed the wiring was not done properly and faced electrical issues.

Mr Usamate said as Mr Prasad poured scorn on the hospital, he needed to remember that it was conceived and developed at a time, when few countries were friends of Fiji.

“China was one country that was

prepared to assist Fiji. People who were part of government then, were not allowed into Australia and New Zealand, and even family members were banned from entering these two countries,” Mr Usamate said.

“There was little assistance from our traditional friends at that time. The new Navua Hospital addressed two key issues. It replaced the old Navua Hospital that was always under threat when flood waters rose.

“Secondly, it was a key part of our drive to Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a key SDG. It brought health services closer to our people, keeping the cost of services affordable. Despite its challenges, Navua Hospital and others like the much-criticised Keiyasi Hospital have done that.”

Mr Usamate said Navua Hospital played a key role in the COVID-19 pandemic, and has provided a useful role of addressing overflow issues from Suva.

Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary Doctor James Fong said the hospital’s electrical network did not meet the needs of the electrical system.

This included the capacity to accommodate a pump necessary for the provision of water.

The Navua Hospital was opened in 2014 after it had been constructed with an $11million grant from the People’s Republic of China. Chinese Ambassador Zhou Jian when asked about the completion certificate said they did not have full details on the completion certificate of Navua Hospital because it was a long time ago. Mr Zhou said China had always been at the forefront to provide help and support in terms of development and infrastructure and would continue to do so.

-Jone Salusalu