WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21, 2015 40 PAGES $1.00 VIP OUTSIDE VITI LEVU $1.50 VIP THE FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN THE WORLD EVERY DAY SOCIAL TIMES ALL THE FUN AND GLAMOUR Details >> Pages 15,16,17 and 18 NO POLICE PAYOUT Details >> Page 3 Hope for some relief Taniela Sucu and Mateo Taridovu of Vunisaleka in Narere with their children on an unused fishing boat docked on the edge of the river which they can’t fish in. A restriction zone was established on the Matanikorovatu fishing grounds since December and this has affected the livelihoods of the fishermen. Picture: JOVESA NAISUA By DAWN GIBSON and ATASA MOCEITUBA THE Social Welfare Ministry has confirmed it will be able to provide some relief to families affected by the December 6 sewage spill in Suva. That relief, however, would not be immediate. The statement by permanent secretary Dr Josefa Koroivueta came in the wake of concerns by people affected by the spill, of the difficulties they faced more than a month later. The main trunk line carrying untreated waste from parts of Suva to the Kinoya treatment plant had collapsed following adverse weather conditions, sending raw sewage into the Wainivula river. What do you think? Dr Koroivueta said the most important issue was the health impact of the spill, however, the ministry would be happy to help families sometime in the future. Many families affected by the spill claim they are struggling to make ends meet after the spill closed off most, if not all, of their income sources. With schools opening their doors this week, there are a number of children who will not be entering a classroom because of the financial problems their families face as a result of the sewage spill which now prohibits fishing in identified waters. “I think the imminent issue would be looking at the health impact in those particular areas and we can certainly look at Email timesnews@fijitimes.com.fj the longterm effect when it affects their livelihoods,” Dr Koroivueta said in an interview. “So, we’re dealing with families that may be deprived of their source of income — from fishing or from other marine-related industries — and certainly they can be looked at, but not in the imminent future right now because we don’t class them under any form of poverty because we believe it’s only a temporary consequence.” However, he said if families felt strongly enough about their plight, they could apply to the ministry for some relatively immediate assistance. “If they felt strongly that they should pursue it because they basically don’t have call 3304111 or any other source of income, then they can do so. But the criteria for poverty assistance is very rigid because we only target the poorest of the poor and their families, and of course the disabled and the disadvantaged.” Families living within the Vunisaleka settlement in Laqere, for instance, have had to make sacrifices to make ends meet, with a few of them keeping children from school and trying to grow crops within their swampy compounds. Makereta and Paulo Radovu are grandparents to five children, none of whom are in school.  Continued on PAGE 3 web https://www.facebook.com/fijitimesonline INSURANCE EX-LAW ENFORCERS QUERY BENEFIT PAGE 7