Fiji is a land of contradiction and therefore a closer study needs to be done to address the issue of rising poverty numbers.
Executive Director for the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation Dr Howard White while addressing Government Ministers and Heads of various Department said that poverty is defined in many forms and it does not necessarily mean the lack of money.
He stressed poverty may be in terms of the lack of access to medical supplies, the lack of education and even the access to proper food.
However, Doctor White said with tourism being a major industry in the country and statistics showing between 30%-40% of the population below the poverty line, a different approach needs to be taken to address the issue.
Meanwhile, the Poverty Eradication Unit at the Prime Ministers Office yesterday revealed Government had between 2000 to 2008 forked out $1.5 billion to pro-poor programs and that close to 40% of the people in the country live below the poverty line which means that they earn less than $35 a week.
The International Initiative for Impact Evaluation has been approached by Government to look at the stats and find new ways to address the issue of Poverty in Fiji.
Poverty defined in many forms
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