Fiji’s Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management Sakiasi Ditoka has cleared the air on social media attacks launched at him in the past week for not being physically present in the Western Division at the height of flash floods.
In response via a post on his social media Facebook page, Mr Ditoka says divisional commissioners and all their senior officials are always ready to do what needs to be done during national emergencies.
He said all the arms of government in their divisions converge under their leadership and “they will take whatever necessary actions to address the emergency facing them at the divisional level”.
“If and when a State of Emergency is declared, then I, as mandated by law, will chair the appropriate committee to coordinate the national response. Until then, the Commissioners have full charge of their divisions,” Mr Ditoka said.
“As the minister responsible, members of the public would be pleased to learn that I consistently receive briefings from the learned commissioners regarding their respective divisions all the time and especially when weather patterns and systems require a raising of the alert levels; sometimes hourly briefs.”
Mr Ditoka said systems and processes, developed over time, were in place to guide their decisions.
He said political leadership did not always need to be in the limelight for work to get done.
“Oftentimes, it’s best that that space be given to our hardworking public servants to do what they are fully trained and qualified to do.
“They’ll know when an issue or a situation needs a nudge at the political level and that’s when we politicians are expected to earn our money.
“This Coalition government is not into micromanaging our civil servants. As the Hon PM allows us, his ministers our space, we allow them likewise theirs.”
Mr Ditoka had copped social media attacks for visiting people on Vanua Levu who were still living in tents after losing their homes to the devastating wrath of TC Yasa and TC Ana.
