Trustee awareness urged for vulnerable citizens

Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar is calling for greater public awareness regarding the functions and services of the Fiji Public Trustee Corporation Limited. Kumar highlighted that many ordinary Fijians lack a full understanding of the importance of making a will and the protective role the Corporation can play in safeguarding their assets and well-being.

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We are increasingly hearing painful stories of elderly parents who, after transferring their assets, later face neglect, financial hardship, or abuse of their own, abuse by their own family members.

This lack of awareness, Kumar stated, has become a significant social issue, contributing to family disputes and increasing financial vulnerability among retirees and other at-risk citizens. She questioned why the Fiji Public Trustee Corporation is not more widely recognized and promoted as a vital institution for social protection. "We are increasingly hearing painful stories of elderly parents who, after transferring their assets, later face neglect, financial hardship, or abuse by their own family members," Kumar shared.

Kumar emphasized that the trustee should be viewed not merely as an administrative body handling estates but as an integral part of the social safety net. "Just as we recognize the importance of FNPF in protecting retirement income, we must also recognize the importance of Fiji Public Trustee in protecting family assets, dignity, and the wishes of vulnerable citizens after death," she asserted.

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Just as we recognize the importance of FNPF in protecting retirement income, we must also recognize the importance of Fiji Public Trustee in protecting family assets, dignity, and the wishes of vulnerable citizens after death.

Minister for Women Sashi Kiran confirmed that her ministry is actively working to inform rural communities about the roles of various public and private sector organizations. Kiran explained that their outreach teams travel to remote areas, bringing together multiple service providers, including those from the public, private, and intergovernmental sectors. These teams offer services related to birth, death, and marriage registrations, alongside legal aid and public trustee assistance, ensuring ongoing support throughout the year.

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So, we have a reach group that takes awareness and services to the most disadvantaged, the most interior areas. For example, we had one in the city on the outer islands. And what that does is takes many service providers, both private sector, public sector, intergovernmental. So birth, death, marriage, for example, the team goes and our social protection team goes, legal aid team goes, public trustee team goes.