Issue No: 213; 20 November 2000
There is an ongoing exodus of professionals from Fiji.
Today's Daily Post reports that since 19 May, 30 doctors have resigned. Nurses have also been leaving Fiji in large
numbers citing inadequate pay as their reason. A week before the terrorists struck, nurses had organised a protest march
against purported low pay, though the march was well attended by those later found to be involved in terrorist
activities. In August, the nurses suffered a 12.5% pay cut without any protest.
Responding to the mass resignations, Health Ministry's Permanent Secretary Luke Rokovada told the Daily Post: "all this
puts us in great stress. All of them of course have migrated to take up jobs abroad".
END 20 November 2000