OPPOSITION parliamentarian Ro Filipe Tuisawau says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama “should get off his high horse and immediately reorganise the COVID-19 assistance package” to address the desperate situation faced by Fijians who were employed in the tourism industry.
Ro Filipe made the comment in reference to an article in The Fiji Times on April 2 by former flight attendant Phyllis Vatucawaqa which highlighted the plight they were in.
“I call on the Government to immediately establish a special tourism workers relief assistance taskforce to immediately conduct a survey in the Nadi/Lautoka areas of former employees,” he said.
Ro Filipe said the taskforce should assess those in immediate need of urgent assistance “as some might only be paying bills from the current package with nothing left for food; especially for children.
“That needs to be identified immediately and regular food assistance organised.
“The taskforce should then move to other areas such as Sigatoka and the Yasawas.
“Some laid off employees may have moved to their village or plan to but they also need to be facilitated via Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and Agriculture.
“These workers have contributed to our tourism sector over the years and more needs to be done.”
Ro Filipe said he noted that China had just given $1 million in humanitarian assistance last week towards education, agriculture and fisheries.
“A portion of this should go to food assistance for our laid off tourism workers such as Ms Vatucawaqa.
“It is noted that, so far, in the 2020 -2021 financial year, loans of $329m and grants of $98m have been received by the Fijian Government.
“These exclude the loan package of $1 billion from the World Bank Group and the ADB loan to Fiji Airways of $US65m ($F131.7m)for financial obligations and operations.”
Ro Filipe said Government must restructure its expenditure and redirect funds to those in desperate situations.
“The PM, ministers, PS and executives of government entities must take further pay cuts on a scale of 20 per cent to 40 per cent.
“Grants to Fiji Broadcasting Corporation ($11m), Walesi ($10m) and for vehicle leasing ($21m) must be reduced.
“About $700m can be saved by government expenditure rationalisation.
“A portion of this can be directed to rations for unemployed tourism workers, including those in Fiji Airways to ease the burden.”
Questions sent to the Prime Minister’s Office on April 2 and again yesterday on the comments made by Ro Filipe remain unanswered.
