Stop calling poverty assistance programs freebies or vote buying – Seruiratu

Minister for Defence and National Disaster Management, Inia Seruiratu has called on the opposition to stop calling poverty assistance programs freebies or vote buying while SODELPA MP, Niko Nawaikula says he sees poverty is still going up despite the programs.

While speaking on the 2016/2017 Annual Report of the Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Seruiratu says the ministry does not work in isolation as when it comes to poverty reduction, it is a whole of government approach.

Seruiratu says they will continue with the programs that assist the poor, and will not focus on people like Nawaikula who are focusing on potholes.

He also says the incidence of poverty in Fiji in 2002/2003 was 35%, rural poverty was 40% while urban poverty stood at 29%.

Seruiratu says in 2008, the incidence of poverty was 31% and in 2013 it was 28.1%.

According to the 2019/2020 Household Income and Expenditure Survey, the incidence of poverty is 29.9%. This is pre-COVID-19.

Seruiratu says people should not be selective as the poverty rate had gone down.

He says in Vanua Levu, the poverty rate was 53% but it is now 42%.

Seruiratu also says put aside the COVID-19 pandemic, people should look at the cycle from 2002 and how many disasters hit Fiji. He says the poor are the most vulnerable during the disasters.

However Nawaikula says poverty has increased.

He also says despite the reduction of government revenue in the budget, the decline is still 50%.

Nawaikula says we will all suffer as government debt will rise to $8 billion this year.

He also says the roads in Fiji are full of potholes despite spending more than $1 billion.