Suffering in silence – Former Fiji Airways staff member pleads for immediate help

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Phyllis Vatucawaqa . Picture: BALJEET SINGH

A FORMER Fiji Airways flight attendant says hundreds of her colleagues who lost their jobs and those who were working in the tourism industry are in a very desperate situation and in need of immediate help.

Phyllis Vatucawaqa made the emotional plea to national leaders during the Fiji Civil Society Organisation Alliance for COVID-19 Humanitarian Response two-day listening forum last week in Nadi.

She said she had decided to be the voice of hundreds of Fijians in the Western Division who were laid off work a year ago and continued to struggle today as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“A lot of us are suffering in silence, some crying behind closed doors, doors they can’t even afford because rent cannot be reduced and there are some who cannot come out and say ‘there is nothing for us’,” she said.

Ms Vatucawaqa said most of the laid off workers were once the frontline of the country and had given their best to ensure visitors to Fiji enjoyed their stay.

“I am willing to be the voice of those who cannot speak out and need help. It took me a lot of thinking just to be here and to say it’s about time people in Fiji understand what we are going through after COVID-19 hit a year ago.

“We were once the frontline workers of this country and it frustrates us to see that more attention has been diverted to other things like travel bubble and not those that are suffering, why?”

She also shared that her Nadi home got broken into a few weeks ago and the only thing stolen was food.

“Our valuables are still there and our farm equipment, only food was stolen and this goes to say people have resorted to these options just to keep alive and that’s so sad because this is a basic necessity –– food.”

Ms Vatucawaqa also called on national leaders and policymakers to invest in resources available in the country so those who lost their jobs could go back to the land and work to earn a living.

CSO Alliance executive and Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre co-ordinator Shamima Ali thanked the former aviation industry worker for speaking out on behalf of those who continued to suffer in silence.

She said the resilience of the women spoke volumes because of the struggles they continued to face.

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