Budget Reactions

Finance Minister and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said sale of government assets shares will begin next year and they intend to earn about $507.3 million.

Sayed-Khaiyum said they are looking at a public private partnership by divesting shares in Airports Fiji Limited, Fiji Electricity Authority, Fiji Ports Corporation Limited and Government Printing.

He added talks will begin soon on how government will sell these assets.

There is good news for those people who are currently earning two dollars per hour or less as from next year the National Minimum Wage Rate will increase to $2.32 per hour.

An extensive market research has revealed that people can afford to pay this wages.

This has been increased from $2 per hour which was set last year.

There is also good news for police officers as they will receive their back pay next year.

Sayed-Khaiyum said police officers have been granted this back pay after a Job Evaluation Exercise was conducted a few years back with the Fiji Correctional Services, the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and Police.

He also said when the Fiji Police Force had their pay increase last year, a percentage of that increase was not reflected in their allowances.

Sayed-Khaiyum said $2.4 million has been allocated for this payment.

Opposition Whip, Ratu Isoa Tikoca said that the 15 members of the Opposition did not vote after the first reading of the budget when a motion was called for the consequential bills because they believe that the parliament session was disorganised.

Tikoca said they oppose consequential bills to be brought in with the appropriation bill on National Budget Day although the consequential bills like amendments to the VAT Decree and the Income Tax Act would need amendments through a bill.

He refused to comment on whether the opposition accepts the 2015 National Budget.

However Opposition Leader and Shadow Minister for Education Ro Teimumu Kepa have welcomed most of the education reforms that the government has outlined in the 2015 National Budget.

Ro Teimumu also showed her support for the government’s initiative to extend free education to the pre-school level.

National Federation Party Leader in parliament, Biman Prasad has called the 2015 National Budget as a show of boring economics.

Minister for Education, Mahendra Reddy said they are excited about the reforms that have been announced to bring back quality education that people want.

Health and Medical Services Minister, Jone Usamate said there will be a significant expansion in the number of doctors, nurses and allied workers which will improve their service delivery at hospitals and health centers.

Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Pio Tikoduadua said a lot of the money allocated for roads is going into backlogs, primarily bridges and jetties.

Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Sofia Akbar said 2,000 children are currently under their care and protection program and with the increased funding they are looking at an increased number of children that will be targeted.

Akbar added that on the other hand there are more than 17,000 families benefitting from the poverty benefit scheme which includes cash and food vouchers.

Minister of National Security and Defence Timoci Natuva has acknowledged another increase in the Fiji Police Budget.

Natuva said the Ministry wants the Police Force to be well equipped.

The Government has come through with its elections promises and has addressed the issue of stability in policies as requested.

Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation Chief Executive Officer Nesbitt Hazelman said the Federation is happy with next year’s budget allocation.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of FMF Foods Limited, Ram Bajekal said they are happy not to hear anything shocking or surprising in next year’s National budget.

Minister for Tourism, Faiyaz Koya said the major part of the tourism budget is taken up by marketing.

Minister for Agriculture, Inia Seruiratu said that one of the key areas is to replace the older farmers with the younger generation. He said that is why the Government is again encouraging the young farmers to take advantage of Fiji’s vast agricultural potential. 

The scholarship program has been allocated $500,000 for next year.

The Consumer Council of Fiji Chief Executive Officer, Premila Kumar said they are glad that there will be a review in the Ministry of Health.

You can check out the 2015 National Budget updates and photos on our website, fijivillage.com and on our facebook account, fijivillage.com