Crisply labelled homemade chutneys, coconut flour and herbal teas line the shelves at FRIEND s headquarters near Lautoka, on Fiji s main island of Viti Levu.
The charity (its full name is Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises & Development) works on alleviating poverty in the country, helping people to believe in themselves using their natural skills and resources, according to founder Sashi Kiran.
Its role is all the more important now with tourism at a standstill because of the Covid-19 pandemic. When tourism went, something like 150,000 people lost their jobs, Kiran said. About half of the population has been impacted when you take into account their dependants.
Siteri Sauvakacolo
Police officers wear masks while patrolling the streets of Lautoka City. Picture: BALJEET SINGH
POLICE officers in Lautoka have to wear masks and gloves while on duty. Divisional Police Commander West Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Surend Sami said the directive came into effect when the first COVID-19 community transmission case was announced over the weekend.
He was responding to Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development (FRIEND) director Sashi Kiran’s observation that some officials were moving around in public without wearing masks.
“It’s also concerning to see overloading in mini-vans,” Ms Kiran said.
“It has not yet sunk into our communities the dangers of COVID-19. There is a need for mass education.
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