Dialogue Fiji wants 20 cents per litre tax on fuel removed

Dialogue Fiji wants 20 cents per litre tax on fuel removed

By Dhanjay Deo
02/07/2021

Dialogue Fiji is calling for the removal of the 20 cents per litre tax on fuel.

Executive Director, Nilesh Lal says this tax was imposed at a time when the global crude oil prices had reached record lows but has since increased more than two-fold.

Lal says the higher fuel price is pushing up the cost of doing business and having an inflationary effect on consumer prices which affects demand negatively.

In its budget submission, the civil society organisation says government should increase the Ministry of Health’s budget allocation to 5% of GDP to ensure appropriate levels of resources are available to reduce mortality rate due to the pandemic.

Lal further says government should also negotiate another round of repayment holiday for home mortgages with banks, to save homes and negotiate a 6-month moratorium on repayments for loans to small and mid-size enterprises, with lending institutions.

He says soft loan facilities should also be established to support affected businesses.

Dialogue Fiji has further submitted that focus should be on growing existing sectors which have potential for immediate expansion and whilst agricultural sector has the greatest potential to expand, critical hurdles such as land tenure issues remain unresolved and unaddressed for years.

Lal says Fiji has failed to attract foreign investment into the sector which can bring in new skills and technology, and lead to the establishment of agricultural business which can do production at commercially viable and internationally competitive scales.

He says government needs to now exhibit willingness to engage in a national dialogue with relevant stakeholders and influencers, such as opposition political parties on the land issue and civil society organisations like them can play an important role in facilitating this.

FEATURE NEWS
Couple to appear in court today for alleged sextortion
A couple will appear in the Suva Magistrates Court today after being charged in relation to a case of alleged sextortion. Police say on the 30th of...
4 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Re-offending rate dropped before COVID but rose again after – Sigavou
Fiji Corrections Service Principal Corrections Officer Jone Sigavou says the percentage of inmates re-offending and reintegrating into the community ...
56 minutes ago

Fijian national charged over alleged indecent exposure on flight
A Fijian national will appear in the Brisbane Magistrates Court today after being charged with allegedly indecently exposing himself on a domestic ...
1 hour ago

2025/2026 National Budget is short-sighted and debt-heavy - Chand
The 2025/2026 National Budget is short-sighted, debt-heavy, and dangerously out-of-touch with the real needs of the Fijian people. While opposing ...
3 hours ago

Qiolele grateful to Yellow Ribbon Project as he now earns an income through painting
Inmate Aisake Qiolele is grateful to the Fiji Corrections Service for the Yellow Ribbon Project as he now has a source of income by selling his ...
3 hours ago

18-year-old student's bail hearing for alleged murder set for July 23rd
The 18-year-old high school student who allegedly caused the death of a man in his 20s at an apartment complex in Suva earlier this month will have ...
3 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
2025-2026 National Budget Debate
Parliament has officially passed the 2025–2026 National Budget, with 75 percent of Members of Parliament voting in favour of the budget, matching ...
1 hour ago

Professor Prasad on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
The show will focus on the 2025/2026 National Budget.
9 days ago

Tui Nayau and Tui Lau Installation
The ceremony for the installation of the Tui Nayau Sau ni Vanua o Lau will be held tomorrow, while the installation ceremony of the Tui Lau will be held in Tubou on Thursday.
11 days ago

TOP