Can we please stop the blame game and finger-pointing? The damage has been done and the people will face the consequences of a failing infrastructure system for months to come.

Minister for Works, Infrastructure and Transport Olo Fiti Vaai was quick to distance himself from the national power crisis claiming the failure on the part of the Electric Power Corporation of not informing him of the extent of the damages. He did this to explain his trip to Fiji.

Olo said he would call for a commission of inquiry but into what? Will the commission find out why we are having the outages or why scheduled maintenance did not take place leading to more than one generator giving up or will it show how the lack of direct investment from the government in infrastructure led to the dark days/nights we are in? It would be interesting to find out what the commission of inquiry would reveal.

We also hope that the process is transparent and done in the open so the public gets ringside seats. That is something for later but right now we are faced with a massive task. There is a need for an overhaul of the entire grid and generators and a serious re-look at the direction the power infrastructure should head.

It is a difficult pill to swallow that Olo was not informed about damages to the Taeleaga hydro-plant and one of Fiaga’s generators. According to Olo, EPC informed him that once the overhead lines from Fiaga to Fuluasou were done it would address issues with the underground cable and the power supply should be steady.  

“I have received different information on the current situation and an inquiry will find out exactly what is happening. Engineers claimed they had placed orders with finance in 2023 and nothing was done. Having the right information is crucial so that decisions can be made beforehand whether we need to purchase more generators to address the issue…I need to be given the right and proper information to advise the cabinet on what needs to be done,” Olo said.

Olo is the minister responsible and it is highly unlikely that he was not being briefed about what is a national crisis. If we are to take Olo’s word that he was not given proper information then this shows a major lapse on the part of EPC and the MWTI. Someone is not doing their work properly, especially when the nation is in a crisis. Heads need to roll so such things do not happen again.

By now Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataafa must have been briefed. According to EPC, urgent action is required to purchase the generators. The cabinet needs to convene at the earliest and approve what EPC has asked for so work can start on the new generators.

In the interim, major businesses like hotels and supermarkets can use their generators until the leased generators from New Zealand arrive. There is a need for the business community and the whole country to work together to assist in areas within their means to ensure electricity distribution can reach all stakeholders.

“I kindly seek the assistance of major businesses that utilise major loads to use their standby generators to run their operation in the next three to four weeks so that EPC can distribute power to other parts of the country,” Olo has requested the public.

We also urge the price control authorities to ensure that solar lights, batteries, candles and lamps are priced accordingly to stop businesses from manipulating the situation to make the extra tala as they are so used to. People are already paying a high cost.

This is a national crisis and everyone has to band together. The ruling party is already divided and the same will not work for the people.

Have a safe and blessed Sunday.