An organization representing people living with disabilities in Rakiraki has claimed that the district administration there, has stopped giving them access to their office which is located inside a government building.
As a result, members of the Rakiraki branch of the Fiji Disabled Peoples Organisation met under a TREE today to discuss issues concerning them.
About 30 members gathered here today for their monthly meeting – they are associated with the NGO, Fiji Disabled Peoples Organisation.
They used to have a meeting place in the Provincial Administrators building with tables, chairs and computers that were provided by their parent body.
This group claims the Provincial Administration in Ra has stopped them from using that office.
“Consider us as equal people with the perfect people. We want equality, we want to be treated as equal. That’s what I plead with the government and the HOD here in Ra, please look at us as people,” said Inoke Ulutegu – Rakiraki Branch President.
Ulutegu says their organization looks after the welfare of about 4 hundred disabled people in Ra – adding they too need to meet and discuss issues affecting them.
“We are part of the population of Ra and we need to be viewed as people. Whatever has happened to us, we did not ask for it. Some of us are born with it and some has come with sickness. We ask the government that we want to be recognized as people.”
Ulutegu says they will continue meeting under this tree until government provides them with a place to gather.
“We have no place to have our meetings. If we have to get a place for our meeting then we have to pay for it and we have no funds. We ask the government, please the disabled people are disabled.”
The Provincial Administrator Ra Elimi Rokoduru has said he had offered another venue for this group to have a meeting, adding he doesn’t have space to cater for 30 people.