Hare Soko Can Now Access FNPF Savings In Rotuma

Hare Soko could not with­draw his Fiji National Provident Fund savings because he did not have a bank account where it could be depos­ited.

Travelling to Fiji from Rotuma would cost him hundreds of dol­lars by boat and even thousands by plane.

With irregularities in shipping services, he had lost hope of en­joying his retirement money.

However, that changed when the Rights, Empowerment and Cohesion (REACH) project team visited his village.

The team included more than 10 organisations that were on the island to offer Government and non-government services to the people of Rotuma.

Many people said it was a relief having to not think of travelling to Fiji to attend to their queries.

Mr Soko opened his new bank account with the Bank of the South Pacific.

Mr Soko worked in a fishing vessel his entire life and retired a few years ago. He is now 56 years old.

“Today I got to hold my bank card today and I’m so happy about it. We use the BSP bank here to withdraw money and I look forward to receiving what I had worked hard for during my working days, he said.

He said the FNPF would facili­tate the transfer when they get back to Fiji.

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