CSO Alliance calling for govt to tell Fijians about their plans

The Fiji CSO Alliance for COVID-19 Humanitarian Response says cabinet ministers need to come forward now and tell Fijians about the plans they have in store for people after the latest COVID situation.

Fiji Women's Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali say they understand that the Prime Minister and other Ministers cannot enforce laws, regulations or oversee public health matters as legislation empowers the Permanent Secretary for Health to do so but the government can still soothe the pain of the people.

She says the only minister who has come out publicly to help is Parveen Bala who was seen distributing masks and they thank him for showing some compassion and being considerate.

Ali says adds all our leaders must be visible, vocal, generating hope and showing compassion for the people.

femLink Pacific Executive Director Susan Grey says Nasomo Village of Vatukoula is now into their 11th day of a state-ordered lockdown with no movement and support.

Grey says women community leaders in Ba are receiving daily requests for food rations as many of them are employed in Lautoka and Nadi and are locked out of their areas of employment.

FRIEND Fiji Founder and CEO Sashi Kiran says the poor and less fortunate particularly in containment areas need food, medicine and monetary assistance.

She says they have families who have come from the islands to attend events and are trapped due to the last minute curfew and other restrictions with many living in very unhygienic and compromised conditions.

Kiran adds they need a decisive plan of action on what the government is doing or will do immediately to alleviate the plight of those who have been hit the hardest.

Fijivillage has received confirmation that government ministers are part of the daily COVID-19 meetings with the Ministry of Health.

The Ministry of Economy initiated the food assistance program in the Suva-Nausori lockdown zone over the weekend which was funded by the government.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa says they are currently assisting more than 80,000 Fijians through their Social Welfare programs.

Vuniwaqa says these are ongoing programs which have not been affected by the pandemic.