Government has spent $127.1M to assist 37,077 families to rebuild and complete their homes after TC Winston - Vuniwaqa

Government has spent $127.1M to assist 37,077 families to rebuild and complete their homes after TC Winston - Vuniwaqa

By Vijay Narayan
08/03/2018
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mere Vuniwaqa

The government has spent $127.1 million to assist 37,077 families to rebuild and complete their homes after Tropical Cyclone Winston.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mere Vuniwaqa confirmed this in parliament after SODELPA MP Salote Radrodro asked Vuniwaqa on any further actions being taken by the government to assist the victims of Cyclone Winston who are still living in tents for over two years now.

Vuniwaqa says 23,985 victims who were affected were provided with either $1,500 for damaged roof, $3,000 for roof and partially damaged homes and $7,000 for destroyed homes. 

$86.2 million was used in phase 1 of the Help For Homes Initiative to assist these victims and the building materials have been fully delivered. 

3,810 victims were assisted in Phase 2 with a value of $16.6 million while 9,282 victims were assisted with a budget of $24.3 million last year.

772 beneficiaries were assisted through reimbursement of their funds to the total value of $2.5 million. 

These people either took out soft loans or advances from their employers to rebuild their homes while the initiative was implemented.

Vuniwaqa says the supply of building materials is nearing completion as per their record however they are mindful of certain short supply and no supply of materials mainly due to beneficiaries being unable to be contacted on time, geographical location and logistical issues.

She confirms that the first phase of the verification of beneficiary against items delivered as per invoices and delivery documents is expected to commence from May 2018. 

This will be taken up by a special unit of the Ministry of Economy.

SODLEPA MP Niko Nawaikula then raised the issue that 10 recipients in Taveuni had their building materials taken away when complaints were filed against them and they want their materials returned to them because the DPP has not laid charges in the last two years.


Niko-Nawaikula

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the independent audit team is doing the assessments and they cannot tell the DPP what to do.

0% buffered00:00Current time00:00


Aiyaz-Sayed-Khaiyum

SODELPA MP Mosese Bulitavu then said that the government’s system is not working well. 

0% buffered00:00Current time00:00


Mosese-Bulitavu

Sayed-Khaiyum says the opposition cannot accept the fact that majority of the people have their homes completed and he also says that the assistance provided in the past was only done in selected villages.

0% buffered00:00Current time00:00

FEATURE NEWS
Ratu Tevita Mara says being a leader is to uplift people’s lives
Being a leader is to uplift people’s lives. That is the comment from the newly installed Tui Lau, Sau Ni Vanua O Lau and Tui Nayau, Ratu Tevita M...
8 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Police special constable charged with assault
A Special Constable has been charged with one count of Assault Causing Actual Bodily Harm after he allegedly assaulted a man in Suva last ...
7 hours ago

Fijians to benefit from faster First Home Initiative Grant processing with new digital portal
In a major step to improve housing services, the Ministry of Housing has launched Fiji’s first digital portal for the First Home Ownership ...
7 hours ago

Evangeline Kumar – from walking the tightrope to now doing solo hair hang act during VOU Fijian Flying Circus
The VOU Fijian Flying Circus now underway in Suva is not only dazzling crowds with flips, drama, juggling, the Fijian village clown and Fijian flair, ...
8 hours ago

China donates $100,000 worth of aid to Lau following Tui Nayau installation
Following the installation of the Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua o Lau, na Tui Lau, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara, the Ambassador of China to Fiji, Zhou Jian, ...
8 hours ago

Charge against Bainimarama amended in sacked Police officers case
The charge against former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, in the case where he is charged alongside former Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho for ...
9 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Professor Prasad on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show will focus on the 2025/2026 National Budget.
2 days ago

Tui Nayau and Tui Lau Installation
The ceremony for the installation of the Tui Nayau Sau ni Vanua o Lau will be held tomorrow, while the installation ceremony of the Tui Lau will be held in Tubou on Thursday.
4 days ago

CFL 40th Birthday
CFL’s 40th Anniversary celebrations to culminate with free concert at Albert Park on ...
6 days ago

TOP