According to Adi Finau Tabakaucoro, president of Soqosoqo Vakamarama iTaukei, there is a pressing need to reconsider how poverty is assessed in Fiji. In a recent statement to The Fiji Times, she emphasized that the common focus on income does not adequately capture the lack of essential needs experienced by some individuals and communities.
Adi Finau highlighted that the Fijian government currently implements over 40 social protection mechanisms, more than any other nation in the Pacific islands, to aid those in need. She pointed out that these programs include social welfare support, transport vouchers for the elderly, and assistance for rural populations without steady income. Adi Finau believes that critiques regarding poverty often stem from the understanding of these supportive measures and the responsibilities of the government to address such challenges.
She contrasted the situation in Fiji with that of countries like Bangladesh and the Philippines, where extreme poverty manifests in slum conditions with limited access to clean water and food. According to her perspective, individuals who find themselves living on the streets in Fiji often do so by choice, preferring the independence it affords them over the constraints of living with family. There are public facilities available to support them, which she asserts reflects positively on the country.
In terms of healthcare, Adi Finau noted that every area and island within the maritime provinces has access to a health center, usually staffed with at least one nurse. She posed a rhetorical question regarding whether any other Pacific country could claim the same level of healthcare infrastructure, underlining the importance of community utilization of these resources.
She concluded by reiterating that the government has a fundamental responsibility to ensure that all citizens have access to vital needs including water, food, shelter, education, employment, and infrastructure.
This perspective not only invites a more nuanced conversation about poverty in Fiji, but it also serves to highlight the strengths of the current support systems in place. By focusing on both the challenges and the resources available, there is an opportunity for a collaborative effort to address poverty more effectively in the future.
Summary: Adi Finau Tabakaucoro argues for a shift in how poverty is assessed in Fiji, emphasizing the need to focus on the lack of basic necessities rather than just income. She noted the government’s extensive social protection programs and the overall access to health care across the country, suggesting that individual choices also play a role in the poverty narrative. Finau calls for a collaborative effort between communities and the government to fully leverage available resources to meet the populace’s basic needs.
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