Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says a sustained period of lockdown with rigid enforcement measures seems to be the only way out of the COVID crisis as the number of infections rise alarmingly in the country.
Last night Fiji recorded 83 new cases of the virus with 11 of unknown origin, unconnected to the current clusters.
He says the virus is spreading with Naitasiri recording 4 cases and Tavua one case.
Chaudhry says the decision to relax border controls was a wrong move as evidenced by the rapid rise in new cases each day in the Suva to Nausori corridor.
He says cases have also emerged in the Western Division, creating fear among the people there.
Chaudhry says our hospitals and even the Health Ministry Headquarters have not been spared from its onslaught.
He also says there are huge gaps in the enforcement of the anti-COVID protocols by the authorities.
Meanwhile, in a statement, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says COVID-19’s hold over Fiji will dissipate.
He adds it will weaken and the light at the end of the tunnel will glow brighter and brighter. The Prime Minister says let us recall together that light broke through some of the darkest moments in the history of our country because we Fijians stood united.
He adds even in the division, we conquered. Bainimarama says we chose to look on the brighter side despite the challenges, despite the crisis, despite the chaos that had gripped our country in times past.
He says we chose to believe that in the midst of every crisis lies great opportunities.
Bainimarama adds he mentioned last week that he will not be bullied by fear and nothing has changed.
He says he will continue to stand firm and he is confident that he will not be denied his salvation from this crisis.
The Prime Minister says you will not be denied your salvation and Fiji will not be denied its salvation from COVID-19.
Bainimarama adds he says this because we – Fiji – have mastered difficulties before.
He says we mastered those difficulties and we won opportunities.
Bainimarama says some point fingers at our frontliners and disciplined forces.
He says some have questioned their decision to lift movements around Fiji, even though they will all be done under very strict COVID-safe protocols.
The Prime Minister says some have questioned the efficacy of the vaccine.
He says those people see difficulties in every opportunity to set us free.
Bainimarama adds he sees opportunity in every difficulty.
The Prime Minister adds when the outbreak this year started, they were swift to advise villages to implement lockdown measures, including no maritime movements.
He says given this opportunity, 12 yaqona farmers from Koro partnered with Taki Mai which earned them $34,056. Bainimarama says in the midst of COVID-19, they saw an opportunity to earn.
He says they were visionary, they had the foresight, they had a positive attitude and more importantly, they believed.
The Prime Minister stresses that we can grab that same attitude instead of limiting ourselves to others’ views and comments.
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