Social welfare recipients nationwide expressed their frustrations yesterday regarding the late notice and poor communication from the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection about the delay in their August allowance payments.
In Suva, recipients arrived as early as 7 am from locations including Vunidawa in Naitasiri and Namosi, expecting to receive their payments to buy essential groceries. Similarly, elderly individuals traveled from Yasawa to Lautoka, waiting since Friday for their scheduled allowances.
Despite enduring the heat, with some recipients in wheelchairs, they remained hopeful that by midday, the payments would be credited to their accounts. The allowances were expected to be deposited the previous day.
At 12:57 pm, the ministry released a statement acknowledging the delay, attributing it to the transition to the new financial year. The ministry apologized for any inconvenience caused, stating, “We understand the importance of these payments to our beneficiaries and kindly request your patience as we work diligently to clear all outstanding payments within this week.” They assured recipients that all efforts were being made to ensure that the allowances would be available by the end of the day.
In Suva, 74-year-old Sanimili Baleivunimaqo traveled by carrier from Nasevou, Namosi, arriving at 9 am only to discover that her payment had not been deposited. “I was looking forward to buying groceries because I live in the highlands and everything is expensive,” she remarked, expressing her disappointment after spending her last $20 to reach Suva, leaving her with only $5 for the return trip.
Similarly, Manieta Tunivono from Vunidawa expressed her frustration upon learning about the payment delays upon her arrival in the city. “This is very upsetting for most of us who traveled from far distances,” she stated.
In Lautoka, 72-year-old Jaoti Tiqe, who traveled from Yasawa, mentioned that recipients who arrived from the islands had been waiting since Friday and planned to stay until 4 pm in hopes of receiving their payments.
Another recipient, Manueli Sovau, appealed to the government not to delay funds for the elderly, expressing concern about the distress of elderly individuals waiting in the sun. Tomasi Rabuka, president of the Lovu Golden Oldies organization, noted that many recipients traveled long distances without having breakfast and would potentially need to find accommodations if delays persisted, as they could not afford bus fare back home.