Who is responsible? Glaring lack of clarity over Fiji operation to remove street dwellers
Despite reports that efforts to remove street dwellers were a collaboration between Fiji's police and government, there remains a disconnect over who is responsible for what.
Fiji authorities are providing conflicting reports about a nationwide operation to remove street beggars and dwellers, leaving questions unanswered about the support available for those affected. The agencies involved have struggled to clearly define what services they offer, who is responsible for providing them, and what happens to individuals after they are relocated from public spaces.
This lack of clarity has raised concerns among civil society organizations that the enforcement effort may be moving forward without proper support systems in place.
In August, The Fiji Times reported that Lautoka city rangers were issuing warning notices to individuals engaging in persistent begging or obstructing footpaths, stating that such behaviors could result in enforcement actions. The operation is described as a joint effort between the Lautoka City Council, Fiji Police, and the Women, Children and Social Protection Ministry.
However, repeated inquiries from RNZ Pacific to clarify the operation's workings, trigger points for warning notices, consequences for non-compliance, available support programs for street dwellers, and each agency's role have gone unanswered by the ministries and police.
Lautoka City Council's chair and CEO, Ratu Tevita Momoedonu, stated that there is no forced relocation and that people are not being forcibly removed from the streets. He described the initiative as welfare-led, profiling street dwellers and offering them relocation to shelters and rehabilitation services. However, when asked about the support programs offered by the ministry, Momoedonu pointed out that the council's responsibility lies in profiling, while the welfare and relocation aspects fall to the ministry and police.
When contacted for clarification, the Ministry's office declined to comment on its role in supporting street dwellers or the programs offered to people being moved from public spaces. The police commissioner, Rusiate Tudravu, stated that police are present to ensure safety and may use necessary force if required, but he did not provide detailed explanations regarding the use of force or the powers of police in these situations.
In Nadi, another similar operation, "Operation Loloma," is underway, described by social worker Mohenesh Singh as an effort to take beggars off the streets and provide them with alternative livelihoods. Singh's pamphlet outlines the process of profiling and screening street dwellers and developing individual case plans to address their needs. However, RNZ Pacific's attempts to contact Singh for further details about the support offered to street dwellers were unsuccessful.
Civil society organizations working on the issue expressed frustration over the lack of communication and coordination between agencies involved in the Lautoka operation. The Fiji Council of Social Services executive director, Vani Catanasiga, said that the absence of clear roles and communication between the involved parties could exacerbate the harm already faced by vulnerable individuals.
She described the operations as "optics-led" and sympathized with authorities trying to make a difference, but emphasized the importance of addressing the coordination challenges to ensure the well-being of those affected.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Pacific's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
