FRIEND Fiji CEO, Sashi Kiran says businesses in the formal sector opening their doors to fully vaccinated people at 70% capacity from tomorrow is really good news because people can start supporting their families again but the informal sector is not expected to pick up immediately.
Kiran says sick people, cancer patients and the informal sector may need a bit of hand-holding for some time.
She says they will try to look after that vulnerable population because poverty and food poverty was an issue even prior to the pandemic.
Kiran says they will be distributing over 1,000 vegetable packs to families in extreme need in Suva, Nadi and Lautoka for the next five weeks.
The CEO further says people are learning to survive by their wits in the West and many people are looking at options such as traditional food processing methods.
Kiran says many people are getting support from remittances as well but districts like Nadi have been badly smashed and people have had to re-look at their needs.
She further says islands like the Yasawas have already been impacted by the disappearance of the tourism industry and they cannot come to the mainland to sell seafood.
She says for this reason cash flow has really stalled and it is a struggle for the people to meet their very basic needs.
Kiran has also highlighted once borders reopen, the Fijian diaspora who want to visit their family here may return.
She says this may be good for the economy in a way but that may not fill the hotels and resorts as it may mean that people are going to their families and supporting them.
