The National Council for Persons with Disabilities has announced a new business continuity plan designed to maintain essential services during staff shortages and natural disasters. This plan includes centralized cloud storage for sensitive financial documents, role-specific access to critical files, and real-time data sharing among its offices in Suva, Lautoka, and Labasa.
Acting Director Jone Robanakadavu emphasized the importance of these digital upgrades while presenting to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts during discussions on the 2021-2022 Audit Report concerning various statutory authorities and independent bodies. He highlighted that the council’s digital reforms aim to enhance resilience, ensuring that operations stay uninterrupted during emergencies.
Robanakadavu stressed that in the disability sector, effective data collection is vital, especially during disasters. The collected data is crucial for communicating needs to government agencies and other organizations to assist persons with disabilities effectively.
Committee member Naisa Tuinaceva addressed concerns relating to past performance issues linked to inefficient handover processes and ambiguous operational guidelines. In response, Robanakadavu explained that the continuity framework is part of broader reforms initiated in 2018, aimed at improving governance and transparency in Fiji’s disability sector through new compliance policies and digital tools.
This initiative to bolster digital resilience aligns with ongoing efforts within Fiji to enhance infrastructure and accessibility for people with disabilities. Previous discussions have highlighted that nearly 50% of infrastructure projects in Fiji do not adequately accommodate these individuals, pushing for further audits and reforms.
The optimism surrounding this business continuity plan and broader reforms represents a significant step towards creating a more resilient and inclusive environment for all citizens in Fiji, particularly in the face of challenges posed by natural disasters and societal changes. As these systems are put into place, there is hope for a future where all individuals, regardless of their abilities, can thrive and access necessary support in times of crisis.
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