Fiji – Salesians overtook lockdown and typhoon times

05 May 2020

(ANS – Suva) – While the world's major economic and military powers are among the countries most affected by COVID-19, other smaller nations for various reasons have managed to better contain the spread of the infections. This is the case in Fiji, where there were just 18 sick people, with zero victims. Restrictive measures have also been adopted there, however, and there have been other problems. The Salesian community in Suva, the capital, offers us an account of how it has spent the past few weeks.

When the first corona-virus case was confirmed by the government, on March 19, the Pacific Regional Seminary immediately went into lockdown, including all the affiliated colleges (that is, the Columbans, MSC's, Picpus Fathers, Vincentians, SM, SMSM's and SDB's).

We have been having classes online. The week before the lockdown, the lecturers were given special workshops on how to teach online... but it is taking me a while to get used to it. How true the old saying, “You can't teach an old dog new tricks.” While the brothers are coping well with their online classes, they also commented that with this online teaching they have more assignments than when they have normal classes. Often, the students and lecturers have to put up with poor (or, at times, no) internet connections and/or frequent power cuts.

To add excitement to these already exciting times, a category 4 cyclone Harold, after devastating the islands of Vanuatu, passed by Fiji and left a trail of damage. Around 4 am on Thursday, April 9, there was an incredibly loud roar as the strong winds snapped branches off branches and uprooted trees, it shook the buildings, blew away the roofs of houses and destroyed many homes. It was a very frightening moment. Thank God, all the confreres are safe and the damage is minor. Two days of clean up followed, and, until Saturday night, we were without any power.

Fr. Mika Leilua is patiently overseeing the daily progress at the building site. With the restrictions on the workforce, the number of workers at the site has been reduced to 20, plus the foreman. Work on the project was progressing slowly... now, the progress is even slower. But, we live in hope! A big thank you to Fr. Mika for his dedication to the parish and his great work on supervising the project.

“If Fiji keeps the course, it will be able to confidently rank itself among the nations leading the world in stomping out coronavirus,” said Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, adding Fijians must keep vigilant in the war against the virus.

However, based on this situation, the Fijian government has decided to ease some of the restrictive measures since last days of April. From the evening of Saturday, the nationwide curfew, which started from March 30, will begin at 10:00 p.m. and go until 5:00 a.m. local time. From April 26, Fiji resumed all passenger inter-island travel, by air and sea. And from 27, allowed social gatherings of 20 people or less. Nightclubs, swimming pools, cinemas and gyms, however, will remain closed. Schools will remain closed as well until June 12.

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ANS - “Agenzia iNfo Salesiana” is a on-line almost daily publication, the communication agency of the Salesian Congregation enrolled in the Press Register of the Tibunal of Rome as n 153/2007.

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