There were some lapses in the delivery of food when COVID-19 cases increased significantly – AG

Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says there have been some lapses in the delivery of food to people in isolation and this happened when COVID-19 cases increased significantly.

However, Sayed-Khaiyum says people have the Prime Minister, his and other Ministers contact numbers and as soon as people complain, they put it through the system and they have got a group of people that address this.

He stated this after SODELPA MP, Lynda Tabuya raised that the number one complaint from families in home isolation is that the packs reach them very late. She says these packs reach the families towards the end or after their isolation.

Meanwhile, the Government has so far spent more than $5 million in the supply and distribution of household packs to families in lockdown areas and in home isolation.

Sayed-Khaiyum says this is in addition to $350 million already spent by the Government for COVID-19 related expenditure to assist Fijians through unemployment benefits, concessional loans, $90 payout, $50 payout and other assistance.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds $12 million has been set aside in this financial year for the supply and distribution of household packs program to cover the basic needs of Fijians in lockdown areas and home isolation.