Fiji’s smart borrowing has been widely endorsed - PM
Our promise to the cane farmers will be delivered – Bainimarama

Fiji’s smart borrowing has been widely endorsed - PM

Our promise to the cane farmers will be delivered – Bainimarama

By Vijay Narayan
Monday 27/07/2020
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama.

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says Fiji’s strategy of smart borrowing has been widely endorsed, including by the United Nations.

While speaking in the 2020/2021 National Budget Debate, Bainimarama says Fiji’s multilateral partners see the prudency behind all of the budgets.

The Prime Minister says these are institutions run by actual economists, with whole teams dedicated to reviewing our economy, and they trust Fiji. He says that is why they have stood with Fiji through this crisis.

Bainimarama says the Opposition can shut their eyes to these global realities all they want and the Prime Minister says he really does not care.

He says he puts his stock in the international economic experts over failed former professors.

The Prime Minister says anyone with eyes can see that every dollar of the well-structured, carefully targeted two-billion-dollar stimulus package in this budget has been allocated to save the economy, to serve people, to sustain jobs and to create new ones.

Bainimarama says the budget gives help where it’s needed most, granting $100 million in direct government unemployment assistance.

He says this assistance is allocated not only to those whose jobs have been lost but to those who are working on reduced hours.

Bainimarama then gave an example that he could announce there is a cure for COVID-19 but the Fiji Times will still have a front page story of Biman Prasad.

He says the newspaper company and the Opposition Leader keep talking about debt servicing payments but fail to highlight that the debts were mostly accrued prior to 2007.

Bainimarama says the social security they have built over the years remains, free education is funded, social welfare payments are being paid, subsidised transportation to school continues and free textbooks are paid for.

The Prime Minister says the government won’t be slashing the salaries of the civil servants they need to help put this economy back on its feet and to support the people who have suffered the most, much to the disappointment of Biman Prasad.

Bainimarama also says that the government has promised cane growers a guaranteed price per tonne of 85 dollars for three full seasons. He says that promise will be delivered.

He says the first three payments of the third season will be paid at $70 per tonne, but in the fourth and final wash-up payment, they will make up the full amount of $85 per tonne, as they always do.

Bainimarama also says they have provided nearly $300 million in direct support to cane farmers over the past seven years.

FEATURE NEWS
Drua women defeat Brumbies 21-15 in Lautoka
The Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua women have defeated the Brumbies 21-15 in Round 3 of the Super W competition. Both the Drua and Brumbies started th...
52 minutes ago
LATEST NEWS
2,000 Social Welfare recipients to receive climate risk insurance from SUN Insurance
In a significant step towards enhancing financial resilience, 2,000 social welfare recipients in Fiji will now have access to micro parametric ...
2 hours ago

Cabinet approves National Housing Policy 2025-2030 to address housing challenges
The Cabinet has approved the National Housing Policy 2025-2030. The policy has been developed following a review of the 2011 policy. It ...
2 hours ago

Free Medicine Scheme for Northern Division people
The Ministry of Health is bringing a great opportunity to the people of the Northern Division through its Free Medicine Scheme. A team from the ...
2 hours ago

Millions of Indians celebrate Holi
Millions of Indians are celebrating Holi, the festival of colors. The spring festival symbolizes the victory of good over evil and marks the end ...
6 hours ago

FICAC receives 43 complaints with 11 recommended for investigation
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has confirmed that they received 43 complaints last month where 11 complaints were ...
6 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
Reverend Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Watch the General Secretary of Fiji Evangelical Fellowship, Reverend Simione Tugi on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
16 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and William Parkinson
Chairman of Communications Fiji Limited, parent company of FM96, LegendFM, VitiFM, Navtarang, Radio Sargam, fijivillage and PNGFM, William Parkinson ...
17 days ago

fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan and Adi Tulia Nacola
The candid interview focuses on Nacola, coming from a chiefly family and being a daughter of a Minister who was ousted in the 1987 military coup, her ...
17 days ago

TOP