Allow FNPF members affected by TC Yasa to withdraw funds to help in rehabilitation – Prasad

The National Federation Party says massive rehabilitation is needed to rebuild lives and is calling the government to authorize FNPF to allow withdrawals by members affected by the cyclone, to help in the rehabilitation of homes and purchase basic household items.

Party leader Professor Biman Prasad says FNPF should also allow members not affected by the disaster or impacted by COVID-19 to withdraw funds to help immediate relatives who are not members of the Fund like cane growers, farm labourers and villagers.

He says the government should also approve a house rehabilitation package with minimum assistance of $5,000 to re-build badly damaged and destroyed homes, and this assistance must be in the form of cash.

Prasad says the sugar industry has taken a battering as the sugarcane crop in Labasa and Seaqaqa cane districts have been destroyed adding a massive crop rehabilitation package is needed in the form of direct assistance to growers.

He is also asking the government to deploy RFMF engineers to inspect and repair badly damaged schools and infrastructure essential for basic services like water supply and health facilities.