Coalition govt is determined to improve the living standards of our people – Rabuka

Coalition govt is determined to improve the living standards of our people – Rabuka

By Rashika Kumar
Wednesday 28/06/2023
[Photo: Business Link Pacific]

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says the coalition government is determined to improve the living standards of our people, but there are grave challenges confronting us.

While delivering the State of the Nation address ahead of the 2022-2023 National Budget announcement this Friday, Rabuka says these challenges include the debt burden, economic constraints and structural challenges that will take time to resolve.

He says the reality of Fiji’s fiscal crisis demands that we “bite the bullet and take the bull by the horn.”

Rabuka says we know that we will continue to face greater turbulence in the near future.

He says the economic headwinds will now intensify due to ongoing conflict in Europe, geopolitical rivalry and global uncertainty.

The Prime Minister says trust and support of the people are critical to the government’s efforts to resolve the challenges.

Rabuka says at the beginning of 2020, just three years ago, the pandemic disrupted our lives and many lost their lives and livelihoods.

He says our people faced tremendous hardship due to border closures and travel restriction and no one was spared.

Rabuka says that period is one of the darkest moments in living history.

He says the tourism industry was the most affected and more than 120,000 people lost their jobs as a result and thousands of small businesses closed-down.

He says some remain closed to this day.

Rabuka has paid tribute to those who have worked tirelessly to get the industry back on its feet.

He says the last government had played an important role in its management of the crisis.

The Prime Minister further says effects of climate change include more frequent and severe natural disasters.

Rabuka says we have seen this since 2016 and this will continue to disrupt our lives.

He says we, in the Pacific are the most vulnerable and therefore, we will bear the full brunt of climate change in times to come.

Rabuka says today, the world is facing many more new challenges.

He says the war in Ukraine is causing uncertainty and global geopolitical rivalry is playing out visibly in the Pacific and as a nation, we are facing these challenges simultaneously.

Rabuka says together, we have worked hard to restore confidence and uphold the trust of our people, including our Pacific family.

He says since their first day in government, they have worked tirelessly to improve relationships with the government’s development partners.

The Prime Minister says while their political rivals with their rhetoric is that the coalition government is too slow, he says he is proud to say their achievements over the past six months have been progressive.

Rabuka says some may consider these achievements as minor but he firmly believes they are significant in building the foundation for the nation to progress as a truly democratic nation.

He says these achievements include legislative reforms, review of public holidays to truly reflect our multicultural and multiracial society, reinstatement of the Great Council of Chiefs in recognition of their role in nation building and to ensure unity of our people, convening of the National Economic Summit after 15 years, civil service reforms - raising Retirement Age from 55 to 60 years and removal of contract-based appointments in the Civil Service, review of National Security Infrastructure and the establishment of an Education Commission and the Fiji Law Reform Commission.

FEATURE NEWS
US Secretary of Defence to make historic visit to Fiji
US Secretary of Defence Lloyd J. Austin III will depart this week for a trip to Fiji, Australia, the Philippines and Laos, to participate in a series ...
14 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
FICAC received 39 complaints last month with 12 under investigation
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has confirmed that they received 39 complaints last month where 12 complaints were ...
24 minutes ago

Passengers have the right to receive taxi receipts - Consumer Council of Fiji
The Consumer Council of Fiji is reminding members of the public that all passengers have the right to receive a receipt for their taxi ...
25 minutes ago

Over $200,000 paid to 2023 flood victims through Pacific Insurance Climate Programme - RBF Governor
Following the flooding in early 2023, more than $200,000 was paid to the affected people through the UNCDF's Pacific Insurance and Climate Adaptation ...
30 minutes ago

Few roads in Central and Eastern Divisions closed due to heavy rain
A few roads in the Central and Eastern Divisions are closed due to flooding from recent heavy rainfall. The Fiji Roads Authority says Vatuwaqa ...
1 hour ago

Power restored after lightning strike at Monasavu causes power disruption in Central and Western Division
Energy Fiji Limited has confirmed that power has been restored in areas affected by power outages in the Central and Western Divisions this ...
2 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Sporting federations demand answers from FASANOC
National sporting federations who are part of Fiji Association of Sport and National Olympic Committee or FASANOC, are still calling for answers and ...
5 days ago

Continuous Radiology and Pharmacy services are now expected at Government Hospitals
Serious concerns are being raised by the public as the Ministry of Health has decided that radiology services and pharmacies at Government hospitals ...
5 days ago

Ratu Wiliame Katonivere declines Presidential nomination after an internal audit and investigation report
Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere decided to decline Rabuka's nomination of him to serve a second term ...
6 days ago

TOP