SODELPA MP Adi Litia Qionibaravi’s motion that parliament calls on government to fund the rebuilding of village community halls and churches which were used as evacuation centres and damaged by Cyclone Winston has been defeated in parliament.
Adi Litia says thousands of lives were spared in the rural communities because they had found shelter in the churches and community halls during Cyclone Winston.
While speaking on her motion, Adi Litia says it is not certain that the government will look at the needs of the villagers and communities and move to repair the churches and community halls damaged by Cyclone Winston.
She says all they know is that the focus is on schools, health centres and homes to be built to cyclone standards.
Adi Litia says a SODELPA government will bring back the Public Department Works depots in rural and maritime areas to rebuild after a natural disaster.
She also says that they will strengthen the military engineering team to assist in the rebuilding process.
Meanwhile Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made it clear that the government side will not speak on the motion as this should not be entertained.
Sayed-Khaiyum says the government policy is that the rebuild effort is through budgetary allocation.
He says you cannot bring in a motion that has got budgetary implications after a budget has been passed.
He says the government is rebuilding schools to the tune of 242 million dollars of which 63 schools have been earmarked to double up as evacuation centres.
Sayed-Khaiyum says there are about 77 buildings.
He says there are 16 schools in Ba, 3 in Cakaudrove, 4 in Lautoka, 8 in Ovalau, 13 schools in Ra, 5 in Tailevu, 5 in Taveuni, 7 in Tavua and 2 in Yasawa.
There is also budgetary allocation for the construction of 4 evacuation centres in Ra, Tailevu and Korovou.
These are Early Childhood Education Centres.
He says they oppose Adi Litia’s motion as it should not have been brought up in the first place.
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