Government has failed to address the problem or provide support to families affected by termite infestations – Kiran
National Federation Party provisional candidate Sashi Kiran says the government has failed to address the termite infestation problem and provide subsidies or assistance to sufferers in their homes in Ba, Nadi and even on Vanua Levu.
Kiran says government neglect has caused millions of dollars in damage and destruction to homes in Lautoka since the Asian underground termite invasion 10 years ago.
She says this has been an ongoing crisis for more than a decade, with termites slowly eating away the wood in homes, weakening infrastructure and leaving families little opportunity to find resources to rebuild. Kiran says homeowners in Denarau and urban areas can afford to hire private pest control companies, while the vast majority of homeowners cannot afford it and rely on Fiji’s underfunded Biosecurity Agency.
She says when people complain to BAF, it takes BAF months to show up to inspect the damage and months to take action to deal with it.
Kiran says families cry out when they see their homes collapse before their very eyes.
She also says that those who can’t afford to rebuild live with wormlike larvae falling through their roofs and walls as they eat and sleep and come to terms with their fate.
Kiran says many neighboring countries have adopted some solutions that we can learn from, there needs to be a strict wood treatment program and more resources made available to treat infested homes and other buildings.
She says that in order to act, we need local government that listens to people’s needs, and that means an elected city council.
We have sent questions to the Minister for Local Government, Premila Kumar and BAF. You still have to answer.
