Poverty in Fiji will be greatly reduced if we start to use whatever resources available to the maximum.
Professor Vijay Naidu of the University of the South Pacific's Development Studies department while addressing participants at a consultation workshop on the definition of poverty yesterday reiterated the need for proper use of resources such as land.
Professor Naidu spoke of the pre-colonial period where poverty was not in Fiji as those back in the days would use any available land on a communal basis.
He added that though government has pumped millions into poverty alleviation projects, poverty levels are still on the rise, stressing that this is due to the reason that people cannot access opportunities such as land.
Naidu said that many people in Fiji live in Poverty Denial Syndrome where they basically deny that poverty exists in their community.
He stressed that people need to move out of this mind set and start taking on jobs where they get their hands dirty.
The one day workshop organized by the Prime Minister’s Office will come up with a standard for the definition of poverty in Fiji.
Maximize resources stresses professor
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