Accident Compensation Commission makes first ever compensation payment

It is a historic day for Fiji as the Accident Compensation Commission made the first ever compensation payment to the family of a 7-year-old boy who had died in a road accident in February.

The late Samuela Rokoura’s mother Avisaki Vuki Lomani received the payout of $75,000.

Samuela died in a road accident after he was hit by a car driven by a man in Khalsa Road.

While presenting the cheque, Acting Prime Minister and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told Lomani, that the money in no way can replace her child, but it is one way of the society saying that you have suffered a tragedy and we would like to help you out in some way.

Sayed-Khaiyum says previously she would have faced difficulties in getting compensation.

Sayed-Khaiyum says that the person involved in the accident has not been charged as yet.

He says there were some people present at the event who were victims of accidents and unfortunately to date have not been compensated because of the old scheme.

He says previously when people hired lawyers, they found that lawyers would sometimes take 50% of the compensation as their cost.

Sayed-Khaiyum says they took a step to limit the percentage that lawyers could take out as fees from compensation to 10% adding that if lawyers want to receive more than 10% they will have to justify it.

He adds that the government has given a grant of $1 million to the Accident Compensation Commission and from 1st January to date, they have collected $2.6 million through the levy paid by motor vehicle users to LTA as opposed to paying third party insurance.

Samuela Rokoura’s mother, Avisaki Vuki Lomani says nothing can replace the void in their lives however she is thankful to the government for the initiative to support the families of accident victims.

She says she will use the money to set up a trust fund for Rokoura’s two siblings for their studies and also use the money to buy memorial monuments for Rokoura.

Commission CEO Parvez Akbar says because the past legislation has been repealed, they can pay out compensation to affected families much more quickly, rather than having the grieving families be stuck in a seemingly endless cycle of waiting and disappointment.

He adds the Act provides for a no-fault compensation without having to prove fault or negligence.

The event was attended by members of Parliament including Ministers and SODELPA MPs.