WAF says Leawere falsely claimed that the Free Water Initiative and Rainwater Harvesting System Programs were no longer active

The Water Authority of Fiji Chief Operations Officer, Seru Soderberg says SODELPA MP Mikaele Leawere falsely claimed in Parliament that the Free Water Initiative and Rainwater Harvesting System Programs were no longer active.

WAF has urged politicians to be responsible and not spread incorrect news.

Soderberg says applications for the Free Water Initiative and Rainwater Harvesting System Program are still being accepted, processed and Fijians have been assured that assistance will be provided to all eligible applicants.

He says under the Free Water Initiative, 92,500 litres are provided free of charge annually for Fijians whose total household income is below $30,000 per year and 33,066 Fijian households are benefitting from the initiative as at 31 October, 2021.

Soderberg says as for the Rainwater Harvesting System program, water tanks are provided to Fijian households who face water shortages in rural areas and intermittent supply areas, provided they have constructed a good base and have a guttering system ready.

He says 11,824 Fijian households are benefitting from the program as at 31 October, 2021.

Soderberg has urged everyone, including Members of Parliament, to check with WAF and verify such information before making these types of claims to avoid spreading misinformation and misleading Fijians.

He says such false information being spread in parliament does grave injustice to the hundreds of our hardworking ground teams who sometimes work 24/7 to get water to needy Fijians.

Soderberg added that a person in need may believe this false information and this may stop them from applying for this important subsidy program.

While responding to the President’s speech in parliament Leawere had said that one of the many promises made by this Government was to import fossil fuel, refine the same and sell it at a controlled price to local petroleum companies through a state owned enterprise. He says seven years down the lane, nothing has happened in that regard and fuel prices are skyrocketing today.

Leawere went on to say what happened to the free water and electricity or free medical scheme, and the truth is that people are asked to buy generators for electricity and water tanks, and given the regular power outage and water cuts, our rural communities suffer in silence.