We are looking at close to half a billion dollars worth of direct assistance to Fijians after the second round of $360 unemployment assistance - PM

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says if we add the next round of the government’s $360 assistance, interest rate subsidy, subsidized electricity, water, food rations and access to general practitioners, we are looking at close to half a billion dollars worth of direct assistance to Fijians.

Bainimarama says the government has provided $343 million in direct cash assistance to affected Fijians, which includes $205 million top-up for the FNPF COVID-19 unemployment assistance, $10.6 million for the $90 cash assistance, $21.4 million for both rounds of the $50 cash assistance and $106 million for the first round of the $360 cash assistance.

He says this assistance has helped about 300,000 Fijians so far through the COVID-19 pandemic.