‘I realised that waiting for Government to assist would take some time and by then all my belongings would be damaged further’

A  Lautoka cane farmer says people should not wait for Government help to rebuild  after recent natural disasters.

Mohammed Feroz Khan, 53, of Vakabuli Paipai, had the roof of his house blown off. But straight after Cyclone Winston he repaired the damage with available resources.

His family had to huddle against the wall and crawl on the floor to seek shelter under the dining room table during the height of cyclone  .

To complicate matters further for the family, all their furniture, including settees, mattresses and pillows and other valuables were soaked.

“I realised that waiting for Government to assist would take some time and by then all my belongings would be damaged further,” he said.

“I know the assistance from Government was there but I decided not to wait and started to re-build the damaged portions of the house and put new roofing on.

Mr Khan said he did this with a loan from family members which totalled close to $16,000.

“Government had to help a lot of people and this was going to take time so I decided not to wait and repair the house.

“People should learn to start repairing their houses and the Government will see you doing this and assist you further.

“Too many people just sit and wait for Government to assist,” he said.

Mr Khan said he had heard that Government would reimburse money spent on the house and was hopeful this could happen.

“I have to repay the loan I took from family members.”

Vitogo Paipai advisory councillor Shamshad Ali said he had advised Mr Khan to keep his receipts in case Government reimbursed him.

“All I told him was to hold on to the receipts and if Government does ask for it he has it.”

Edited by Paula Tuvuki

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