Social welfare recipients across the nation expressed their frustrations yesterday regarding a late notification and inadequate communication from the Ministry of Women, Children, and Social Protection about a delay in their August allowance payments.
In Suva, recipients arrived as early as 7 a.m. from locations as distant as Vunidawa in Naitasiri and Namosi, anticipating their payments to purchase essential food items. Similarly, in Lautoka, elderly individuals traveled from Yasawa since the previous Friday, waiting for their allowances that were expected to be disbursed yesterday.
Despite braving the intense heat, some vulnerable individuals, including those in wheelchairs, held out hope that the payments would be available by midday, as the funds were meant to be credited to their bank accounts.
At 12:57 p.m., the ministry released a statement to notify recipients of the delay, citing the transition to the government’s new financial year as the reason. The ministry acknowledged the significance of these payments for beneficiaries and apologized for the inconvenience caused. They requested patience and understanding as efforts were made to resolve all pending payments within the week, assuring that every attempt was being made to expedite the process so recipients could receive their allowances by the close of business that day.
In Suva, 74-year-old Sanimili Baleivunimaqo traveled from Nasevou, Namosi, before dawn, anticipating her allowance. After waiting for seven hours, she learned that her money had not yet been transferred. She expressed her disappointment, stating, “I was looking forward to buy groceries because I live in the highlands and everything is expensive. People like me in our 70s have a hard time traveling, and for this to happen, it’s just not right.” She ended up with only five dollars to return home after making the trip with her last twenty.
Manieta Tunivono, also from Naitasiri, faced a similar situation upon arriving in Suva, where she was informed of the payment delay. “This is very upsetting to most of us who traveled from far distances,” she remarked, adding that this had disrupted her shopping plans and travel plans due to bus schedules.
In Lautoka, 72-year-old Jaoti Tiqe noted that individuals from the islands had been waiting in town since Friday. “We will wait again today. We are hoping that we will receive the money,” she said.
Another recipient, Manueli Sovau, made a heartfelt plea to the government regarding delays, expressing concern for the welfare of the elderly waiting in the sun. Tomasi Rabuka, president of the Lovu Golden Oldies, emphasized the challenges faced by social welfare recipients living with disabilities and the long distances some traveled, often without having breakfast. He warned that if payments were further delayed, some individuals might need to find places to stay overnight due to the lack of bus fare back home.