Like a pest it is eating away slowly from the inside out until it’s too late.
The termite infestation in Lautoka which has spread to Labasa is slowly but surely having an effect on the economic well being of the people and the economy.
As teams are dispatched to contain the infestation in the Labasa area, latest statistics obtained by Fijivillage show that in Lautoka, 11,723 homes were surveyed and 991 were found to be infested.
Out of the 25 schools surveyed, 17 were infested and dusted by the Bio-security teams, while out of the 2,441 trees inspected, 1,202 were infested with termites and are being treated.
State authorities are tasked with replacing the affected timber from the houses as part of the rehabilitation process at the expense of taxpayers and it has been confirmed that four families have been forced to abandon their homes as it was deemed unsafe.
The four families are now living in a government quarters until they can move to a permanent residence.
Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Colonel Mason Smith said the real toll of the infestation on the economy is yet to be ascertained.
And the costs to combat the infestation is expected to rise with teams heading to Labasa to assess the situation as eight homes are already confirmed to have been infested by the termites.
Story by: Roneel Lal
