Ali tells Kumar to behave like a worthy leader

Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali has called on the Local Government Minister, Premila Kumar to back her statements that prostitution has surfaced in the Public Rental Board flats, and Ali has also asked Kumar to behave like a worthy leader and to stop vilifying the people.

Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre Coordinator, Shamima Ali has called on the Local Government Minister, Premila Kumar to back her statements that prostitution has surfaced in the Public Rental Board flats, and Ali has also asked Kumar to behave like a worthy leader and to stop vilifying the people.

This follows Kumar’s response to Ali’s statement.

Kumar had said that once again Shamima Ali has reacted as if she is the only chosen one to talk on the subject of feminism and highlighting issues affecting women.

This followed the call by Ali for Premila Kumar to have some respect and be more considerate while making public statements after Kumar said that she has been informed that prostitution has surfaced in the PRB flats.

Ali had said these are wild allegations and can have devastating impacts on women who are already marginalized and live in the low-income flats.

However Kumar reminded Ali that as a woman, she understands the peculiarity of problems of not just these women but also others who are facing problems socially and economically.

The Minister says highlighting such problems publicly does not in anyway shame any section of society but rather boldly raises awareness that such issues are around us and we should all cooperate to address these rather than gaining mileage out of these. Kumar says she made the statement about the problems of prostitution and other ills such as drinking alcohol in stairways, drug peddling, people living in flats having their own properties, overcrowding in flats, damaging properties and the fear in which tenants have been living in PRB flats, after carefully understanding the issues raised by the tenants. She says these problems have been there for some time, and as Government, it is their responsibility to transform these living places or flats so that it becomes safer for not only women but also for children, elderly and most vulnerable members of society.

Kumar says they should not be lectured on the feminism and economics behind women who are facing problems. She says neither should they be lectured about vilification and traumatization of women. She further says that as a Government Minister, it is her duty to transform lives so that they can break the cycle of poverty, violence and inequality and not to create a hype.

The Minister says the fact of the matter is, unlike an NGO that can afford to sensationalise on the ills that affect our society, as Government they have the responsibility to address these issues which comes with actions.

She says it takes courage to acknowledge that there is a problem and to actually then do something to address the problem. Kumar asks Ali how can she assume that prostitution is only with women.

Kumar says unlike Ali, she has no intention of sensationalising and keeping abject women in a perpetual state of crisis. She says enough of the arm chair criticism, and pot shots on the sidelines will not transform these housing areas.

The Local Government Minister says the fact that the state provided these tenants subsidized flats and continues to develop more flats, is in itself evident that Government is looking after them and it does not want these flats to become unsafe and a threat to women, children and elderly.

She says she will continue to highlight these problems and work with her fellow Ministers and other institutions to make these flats safer and comfortable for tenants.

Following Kumar’s comments on Ali’s statement, Shamima Ali says this is a virulent and very personal attack, and very unbecoming of a minister.

Ali says in a democracy the people have an absolute right to question and comment on public office holders. She says the minister should stop obfuscating the issue and answer the questions on what research did she do and where is the data.

Ali says she stands by her statement.