Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has assured villagers on Ovalau Island who were affected by Tropical Cyclone (TC) Winston that help would arrive at their doorsteps.

During his tour of the island yesterday, he asked them to be patient with Government as many villages had been affected.

“The priority for Government right now is water, food and rebuilding of homes for all those affected,” Mr Bainimarama said.

He said while food rations had been delivered Government was now buying carpentry tools for them to use in rebuilding their homes and also supplying tarpaulins for them to use.

The PM said houses damaged would be replaced by Government but in the meantime they could build make-shift shelters to move into.

“I can’t promise when the new houses will be built,” he said.

Visiting those at Levuka Public School evacuation centre, he was told that they had been pressured to move to their settlement.

The headman of Korovou settlement, Jimi Tuwai, said 18 families were at the school with another nine from Nadevo Settlement.

“There were 27 families totalling 124 people at the school.”

Mr Bainimarama told them not to move until they received tents to build in their settlements.

He assured them that some tents had arrived but had been given out to damaged schools.

The Prime Minister reminded all the affected villages in Ovalau that politics should not be used as they started to rebuild.

As for the $1000 from Fiji National Provident Fund, he said members at the settlements also qualified if they were eligible.

Edited by Manasa Kalouniviti.

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