We cannot police it if people are using their unemployment assistance to buy alcohol - AG

Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says they cannot police people if they are using the $360 government unemployment assistance to buy alcohol.

Concerns have been raised by some people that they saw a number of people who received their payment, crowding up in shops and supermarkets over the weekend to buy alcohol.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the assistance is given with the intention that people do not have the same level of income that they used to have before COVID.

He says some people are buying alcohol but there are some people who may be buying junk food and they cannot police that as well.

He adds they know that majority of the recipients are appreciative of the fact that they have received the assistance.

As of yesterday, government has paid out $83.8 million to 232,893 Fijians under this scheme.