#FijiFirst is the most progressive Government: Record 9 consecutive years of economic growth #Fiji’s economy has doubled in size in the last 10 years. We have a sustained real GDP growth, meaning our continually growing economy is now stronger than ever. Prosperity is now shared with real improvements in the lives of all Fijians. We have reduced income inequality and provided social wages and education free. Lowest unemployment in 20 years The unemployment rate today stands at 4.5%, which is lower than it has been since the 1990s, thanks to FijiFirst job creation efforts. Lowest tax rates in Fiji’s history Fijians earning below $30,000 don’t have to pay Tax. At the same time, we have the highest tax collection due to better compliance, and smart targeted taxation. #FijiNews #FijiPol #TeamFiji
The Minister for Waterways and Environment, Mahendra Reddy, says they are looking at ways of tougher enforcement of anti-litter laws to counter the negligent manner in which people dispose of their rubbish. The move comes after findings by the Fiji Roads Authority that blocked drains and culverts influence the high frequency of flooding in urban areas. And with the cyclone season already here, expect more rain and flooding as a result of these littering problems. “We want to enforce the Litter Decree, but before this we want to for the urban settlements and housing area we want to ensure good bins are provided for them throughout,” said Mr Reddy. “There are a lot of places where there are still no bins. “We don’t want to prosecute or charge people without providing them with alternatives. “Within the next two months, we will start doing surveys and within the next two months we want to place bins in places where there is densely-populated area.” Mr Reddy said settlements such as Wailoku, Kali Place and Sakoca and Caubati were some of the areas where the ministry had placed these rubbish bins. They were now looking forward to providing more bins in these areas. “For areas such as Waidamudamu, Vuci and Raralevu, we will have to provide bins in all those places. “We have to go big time now to provide bins and then we have to come up with an agreement that they will have to sign contracts to empty these bins on a regular basis. “We are looking at two to three into this operation where we want to cover these areas.” After this, the ministry will go on the media to enforce the litter decree to the public. “Anyone found throwing litter into our waterways will be subjected to the litter decree and the penalties. “We will also look at litter Police on the roads on a part-time basis.” There is a big plan coming in regards to litter and blockage of our drains and waterways. Through the Fiji Sun anti-litter campaign, it has been noted that rubbish from households and commercial zones have either been dumped directly into drains or left near drains and as a result the rain washes it into the drains. Vatuwaqa resident Balram Singh: “My houses gets flooded whenever it rains. The culverts are blocked by rubbish and debris and water overflows and flood roads, houses and gardens. “We need help from the Government to clean the drains. I am also appealing to people not to throw rubbish near and in drains because it would cause problems when it rains. But who will police it to make sure that this happens?” FRA chief executive officer Jonathan Moore said: “People should dispose of rubbish in appropriate places. “We can’t be having dumping of rubbish on the sides of the road, it all gets washed into the drains and blocks all the culverts and floods the roads.” For the 2018-2019 National Budget, the FRA was allocated a budget of $563.1 million. From this, $69.5 million is allocated for an ongoing maintenance programme as part of the FRA’s attempts at preserving and improving Fiji’s road assets. The expenditure includes cleaning of blocked drains and culverts. “The Central Division is the most affected division because there is a lot more rain and it is heavily populated. “We do not have any regulations or policies that can deter people from throwing rubbish in the rains but we can only advise them to make right decisions.” #FijiNews #FijiPol #TeamFiji
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama bidding our troops in Lebanon farewell. #FijiNews #TeamFiji #FijiPol
The Fiji National University will be constructing a new four-storey complex for its College of Business, Hospitality and Tourism Studies. While officiating at the contract signing this morning, Education Minister, Rosy Akbar, says the complex will consist of 14 classrooms with a 350 plus student capacity lecture theatre. Akbar says providing proper facilities and good relevant programmes that are targeted towards supporting economic growth will continue to uplift the quality of graduates and ensure a smarter #Fiji. The Minister adds the building will provide students with state-of-the-art facilities and access to modern technologies. She says the building will also be equipped with modern ICT facilities and will have access to free high-speed Wi-Fi for online learning. Government has allocated $19 million to FNU as capital grant in the 2018-19 National Budget for various projects which includes this investment spread across three years. FNU Vice Chancellor Professor Nigel Healey says the new complex is an integrated “one stop shop” for student services which will provide centralized student academic support enabling easier access to student information and enrolment. The project is expected to be completed by mid-2020. Source: FBC News #FijiNews #FijiPol #TeamFiji
The Accident Compensation Commission of #Fiji yesterday paid out $225,000 to family members of three accident victims. Commission chief executive, Parvez Akbar, says while the monetary value cannot replace loved ones, it can be used for a worthy cause. Akbar says during the difficult times, the money will help in easing financial burden for these families. ”We know that no amount of compensation can bring back your loved ones. However, it is something that we hope will assist during the difficult time. I am thankful that we have a no fault scheme.” Recipient, 26-year-old, Wainisi Takayawa, who lost her daughter on July 5th says she hasn’t decided on how to use the money received. Second recipient, Ane Senibua says she lost her husband in a hit and run accident in Nadi and thanked the ACCF for their assistance. Recipient, Vilikesa Natabala says he lost his seven-year-old daughter in July and will use the money to buy a piece of land to remember his daughter by. So far the commission has paid out $950,000 in compensation and three other applications have been processed. Once this is paid, the amount will go up to $1.2 million. News source: FBC News #FijiPol #FijiNews #TeamFiji #FijiFirstFamily
Members of Parliament at the Induction workshop for processes in Parliament. #FijiPol #FijiNews #TeamFiji
Members of a landowning tribe in Nadi have praised the Prime Minister and the 2013 Constitution for enabling access to land belonging to them after 44 years of struggle. The head of Yavusa Vucunisai in Nadi, Rusiate Waqa, praised the FijiFirst Government for hearing their grievances. “The FijiFirst Government is the only government that recognised our 44 years of struggle to get access to Yavutu Maqalevu land in Nadi.” Mr Waqa blamed the disestablished Great Council of Chiefs and the previous constitution that rejected and did not recognise their claims, even though documents from the iTaukei Land Commission confirmed that the land or Yavutu Maqalevu belonged to them. “In 2004 Niko Nawaikula, the then iTaukei Land Trust Board lawyer, told us that the 1997 Constitution did not entertain our grievances, but it did not stop us from trying to access our ancestral land Yavutu, which was under the Director of Lands,” he said. “We were rejected by previous government, but not rejected by God who created the formation of this FijiFirst government that brings the idea of the new Fiji … that is security, stability, inclusiveness and no one is left behind. “The 2013 Constitution rescued us to where we are today. As the process of the reversion of Yavutu Maqalevu is concerned, that is the approval from TLTB Board chaired by the Prime Minister and under the Solicitor-General’s Office for vetting. “The members of Vucunisai all over Fiji and abroad were happy that their identities are now recognised through the 2013 Constitution and the lost tribe of Nadi will be relocated to where they were originally from. “We met the Prime Minister at RFMF in Nadi during one of his visits to the West and we gave our letter of grievance and he told us to go to Suva with all the documents. “He even gave me his mobile number and told me to text him when I arrived in Suva.” Mr Waqa said that he did all that the Prime Minister advised him to do and that’s where everything started from 2016 until today. “Most of us iTaukei are not reading the 2013 Constitution, but are swayed by lies of other people who don’t even put food on our table,” he said. “God will never call you to an assignment without giving you the provision necessary for accomplishing it that is what happening right now to our elected government which will move and shake us up for the next four years.” Mr Waqa said they are happy and thanked the Prime Minister and the Attorney-General for not rejecting their grievances for 32 years of struggles to access their land. #FijiNews #TeamFiji #Fiji #FijiPol
One of the key initiatives of FijiFirst party in its manifesto was improving the Young Entrepreneur Scheme (YES). This year, the scheme has been made better. This scheme was a brainchild of FijiFirst Government and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum where young graduates applied for a grant of $20,000. Now, the maximum grant one can receive for Government to set up their own business is $30,000. Also, previously people up to 30 years of age could access the grant, now Government has reviewed the age and people up to 40-years-old can apply for this grant and get the money they need to start up their own businesses. One other change Government has done to the scheme is to allow those who do not have formal qualification such as a degree the opportunity to apply for this grant. Some of the recipients of this grant includes Rishesh Sharma, a young engineering graduate who is now a farmer in Lautoka who farms using hydroponics. Another recipient, Adelene Tutu, who is a mother of four finally said her grant was used to launch a fitness app, a first for Fiji. Get Lean Fiji operates via a mobile application and delivers meal plans and 35-minute workouts for users across all geographic locations in Fiji. Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism, Housing and Community Development Premila Kumar said: “YES programme was looked after by the private sector so it was their recommendation that we remove the restriction on non-graduates and increase the age to 40,” she said. Ms Kumar encouraged all youths to take advantage of the programme and become job creators rather than job seekers. The successful recipients will also undergo mentoring and training before they start their businesses. #FijiNews #FijiPol #TeamFiji
Violence against women and children can become a real hindrance to economic development of our country, says the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation. Mereseini Vuniwaqa, during the celebration of the 16 Days Activism Programme at Natuvu Park in Savusavu, said women victimised through violence lost many economic opportunities that could have been achieved. The minister said the time that could have been spent in earning a living for oneself was spent on being victimised through violence. “Statistics show that more than 70 per cent of women in #Fiji have suffered some form of violence in their lives,” she said. “It is imperative for everyone to take a stand now and speak about the issues being faced.” She believes the active involvement of people would lead to more awareness on the issue. “The Government lays out laws and policies, but we need a concerted effort from everyone to get the national statistics down,” she said. “The “Man up” programme implemented by the ministry is vital because it involved men’s active participation in reducing gender-based violence. It is a campaign that is calling out to all men,” she said. “But majority of the times, it came from the women on the issues pertaining to them. “The man up campaign is asking for the male voice to talk about violence against women and to advocate against it.” The minister also acknowledged the work of male dominated institutes in the country for taking the programme seriously and speaking about it. “I also ask all the men of Cakaudrove to join us in the fight against violence,” she said. #FijiNews #FijiPol #TeamFiji
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