Many of Suva’s most vulnerable residents have missed out on their $7 monthly family assistance allowance due to a backlog in processing vouchers at the Suva Welfare Office. This backlog has persisted for over three months.
The increasing number of recipients arriving at the Bayly Clinic’s welfare office has strained resources and nearly led to the clinic’s closure. The welfare department acknowledged the backlog, which has been present since July 1978, citing a severe staff shortage as the primary reason.
Shirly Hemming from the Bayly Clinic reported that the clinic has been overwhelmed by a surge of individuals in dire need who have been unable to receive their family assistance allowance. The clinic is already providing weekly food packages to 240 needy families and feels unable to turn away those seeking help. However, it now finds itself in a critical situation.
To accommodate the additional demand, the clinic has had to reduce its supplies of rice and dhal. Mrs. Hemming indicated that the welfare office receives just $750 monthly from the Bayly Trust and is already resorting to its reserve funds. She warned that, at the current rate, the clinic could only sustain operations for another four to five months before potentially having to shut down.
Mrs. Hemming also noted seeing stacks of voucher books awaiting signatures at the Government Suva Welfare office, suggesting they have been processed but not finalized.