Disaster Management Minister Sakiasi Ditoka says it is concerning to see the rate at which people dispose their rubbish in Fiji. In his official visit to flood-prone areas in the Western Division this week, the minister indicated that this seemed to be the attitude in some flood-prone communities.
This rubbish, the minister shared, filled up drains and waterways during heavy rain and therefore, contribute to excessive flooding in communities
. Mr Ditoka said Fijians would need to change their thinking and attitude towards the way they treat their environment.
“I think the most concerning thing is the attitudes of people in some places, how they dump their rubbish and this sorts of things,” Mr Ditoka shared.
“But as far as helping the community, I think we will need a lot of cooperation from the ground and we just want to come in and see for ourselves the reality on the ground.
“So that when we are sitting at our desks, we know exactly what we’re talking about and we can form the pictures in our minds.”
Mr Ditoka explained reports of recent flooding from the four main divisions were still coming to his office. He also shared that the teams on the ground were also monitoring damage assessments and his ministry would only be able to indicate damage value once assessment is finalised.
“We are still not out of the woods yet and we ask that everybody be prepared, still not out of the disaster season yet. “So please be prepared and store up on essential supplies.”
