A total of 760 homeowners dealing with termite infestations have each received $5,000, while 15 others have been awarded $3,000 as part of the Coalition Government’s assistance program for affected families. Sashi Kiran, co-chairperson of the Termite Taskforce, stated that Asian Subterranean Termites (AST) have been a significant issue in the country for the past decade, causing extensive damage to various homes.
In Lautoka, the presence of AST has had a detrimental impact on property values. Kiran mentioned that this pest has also spread to the Northern Division and Nakasi. So far, a total of $3.83 million has been disbursed to 775 applicants. The Lautoka City Council has facilitated the processing of these applications, which were later verified by Biosecurity of Fiji.
Additionally, the Coalition Government has initiated a pilot assessment and baiting program in Lautoka, with plans to expand this initiative to other regions based on the insights gained from the initial phase. Kiran emphasized that the lessons learned from Lautoka will be critical as assessments are conducted nationwide to address this issue.