Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama will be making a special announcement tomorrow.

Speaking to evacuees at Balata Primary School in Tavua yesterday, he said the announcement would be about Government housing assistance for houses damaged and partly damaged by Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He said Government had already announced that they were responsible for building and repairing the houses that were damaged by the cyclone.

From the survey made, he said about 30,000 homes were damaged.

The PM said some people had started their rebuilding and some were waiting for Government.

The PM’s announcement would inform home owners when the Government would start the rebuilding.

He told the people of Balata Settlement that there were too many houses to be rebuilt and there was a lack of manpower.

For home owners, he said, it would be better for them to rebuild their own homes.

He said that would be part of his announcement on Saturday.

Mr Bainimarama had earlier told that Fiji Sun that home owners could also be given cash to buy their housing materials and start their own rebuilding.

The Prime Minister said for the affected people they needed to be patient with Government.

Balata advisory councillor Balbant Singh told the Fiji Sun yesterday that they had completed their survey and the report was with the Tavua district officer Maria Keavoli

He said some had started their own rebuilding.

Mr Singh said they were happy that the Prime Minister would be making the housing announcement and for them they would carry out their own rebuilding.

“We’re not going to wait for Government’s contractors,” he said.

Mr Singh thanked the Prime Minister for his visit and said he had brought smiles to all those at Balata Settlement.

For their food rations, he said they had all received theirs.

The Prime Minister intervened and said for those that still needed food rations they had to give their names to Mr Singh and he would contact the DO or the Commissioner Western.

Today the Prime Minister will be visiting those affected by the cyclone in Nadi.

Edited by Manasa Kalouniviti

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