The authorized vendors for Governments food voucher programme signed the contract for the months of July to December 2010 yesterday at the Social Welfare Headquarters.

New World, Morris Hedstrom supermarkets along with Waimaro Investment Holding Limited signed the 6 months contract to be the authorized vendors for the food voucher programme.

Permanent Secretary for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Govind Sami thanked the vendors for their services provided through the food voucher programme.

Waimaro Cooperative has a client base of about 500 people and will provide providing the services in the greater Tailevu North areas.

Sami has reiterated that food vouchers will not be released without valid ID cards and only in the case of a third party redeeming the vouchers, approval would be needed from the Senior Welfare Officer.

He adds they have made arrangements for all their clients to get their ID cards, and have in fact gone and given out printing machines to their divisional/district offices to ensure that people get their ID cards.

Sami said the contract is from 1st of July to the 31st of December 2010 and each of the food vouchers is valid for 60 days but the food vouchers for December 2010 can be redeemed as late as January in the following year.


Story by : Ana Naisoro