Mr Speaker, Sir,
There have been many calls for a Budget for the people. I believe that is what we have delivered.
I have with me a 40-page print-out of the speech by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance. It’s an outstanding blueprint for progress in the coming year, extending the initial effort starting in 2023.
Every page of the new Budget is devoted in one form or another to the people – to their overall welfare and needs, to the betterment of their families; to improving services to them, defeating poverty, opening up opportunities for prosperity, protecting their environment and overcoming the other challenges we face.
It’s all here Mr Speaker.
Several hundred pages of support documents are also dedicated to getting things right for the people. Some of the language is “officialese” in tone and the statistics not easy to follow.
But the intent follows the same path as the Budget: how life in Fiji can be improved so the people attain as much happiness as possible.
The Government’s responsibility is to lay the platform and foundation for the people to build for themselves a
healthy, happy and prosperous life. As the old adage goes; “You can take horses to water, but you cannot make them drink.”
A village in Nadroga asked the Alliance Government to assist them with some farming implements when they
were adjusting from sugarcane to foodcrops farming. While presenting the implements, the late Dr Kuruisaqila asked the villagers; “Muju kua ga ni kerevia vua na Viagwane na PM, na Jui Nayau, malama I lovonia, hamakinia, cavusia me qei vajubunia na kemutu tavioka!” Ma…!
The bare figures in the Budget often hide the larger human impact. For instance, I looked at the section about electricity subsidies and free water for households on low income. The electricity initiative involves $10 million divided among 55,000 households (about $181.80 per Household). The benefits, therefore, will be widely felt. Similarly, the free water project for around 40,000 households will reach many individuals. (About $200 per household and equal to the ‘Back to School’ Grant per child).
The huge increase in the Social Welfare budget last year to $200m, continues in the new budget to bring relief to approximately 100,000 people. There are many other examples of financial support to make daily living a little easier for those in need. (About $2,000 per Social Welfare Beneficiary).
The new National Development Plan for charting Fiji’s way ahead for the next five years is officially the People’s Plan. It will complement the budgets going forward. About 20,000 citizens took part in consultations prior to its drafting.
So there should be no doubt about our commitment to doing right by the people.
I warned during the elections that the obstacles we would face in office were formidable. And so, it has proved.
But that is what we signed up for; we are not deterred. We have had our setbacks and made errors. That happens with all governments.
When I survey the economic, social and political landscape in its entirety I see the profile and vision of a new Fiji, the country of our dreams. I will not have time to talk in detail about that today.
I can just say Fiji has been wounded Mr Speaker, but those wounds can be healed. We can do this together. All of us … starting here in this House.
The people of Fiji are awakening to a compelling truth: although we are divided by language, customs, and traditions; we nonetheless share something that binds us; something that should make us brothers, sisters and neighbours. We belong to Fiji. These islands are home to us all.
Mr Speaker, touching briefly on the foreign affairs aspect of my portfolios, we now have diplomatic relations with more than 182 countries. Those relationships and how we manage them are of vital importance and I will mention something about that
soon.
Just recently there were claims we were falling down on the job. This came amidst all the ups and downs of
democracy, attendant controversies, and robust exchanges of opinions.
I’m not aware of any democratic government that does not face accusations of incompetence or poor management.
I remind the House again that during the elections in 2022, I anticipated an incoming government would face enormous difficulties, loaded with frustrations; and it would take time to get things right. There is no way in the world we could overcome these in the first 18 months in office.
However, I can say with confidence we are steadily getting a grip on the virtual reconstruction of the country. Perhaps we need to be more effective in communicating that.
Mr Speaker, I planned to share with the House a list of what I see as just some of this Government’s success stories. Because of the speech time limitations, I won’t be able to address these. But hopefully some of my colleagues will take over part of this task.
I briefly share with you now the story of the project that will transform Vanua Levu. We pushed hard to achieve agreement with development partners that would enable us to proceed. Complex negotiations with the World Bank produced confirmed funding of approx. $302.6 million over 10 years. In a related initiative, the Government of the People’s Republic of China agreed to provide $300m for road upgrading. That was a success of our diplomacy. And we thank China for its willingness to support us.
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) may finance rehabilitation of bridges and jetties.
The broad scope of the plan will improve virtually all the island’s infrastructure. We expect that at least 60,000 Fijians, particularly women, will benefit from new jobs; there will be a substantial boost to farming. Protection of natural resources will be central, especially through 30 locally managed marine protected areas. It’s estimated that with private sector investment
coming in, the total volume of finance will increase to $1 billion.
Mr Speaker, for many months I have been pursuing a unique project called the Ocean of Peace. It does not have a direct bearing on this year’s budget, but it is nonetheless of huge importance for our country and for the Pacific Islands Forum nations.
It is essentially a mission to promote peace, not only as a virtue in itself but as a source of prosperity in our region and a symbol of hope in a world teetering on the edge of calamity. I have raised it in a number of local speeches including one last week, at the Kadavu Provincial Council meeting. When I’m ready I intend to make a full address on this peace project to the natio and to this House. I will be calling for broad support for the initiative.
Finally, I feel duty-bound to call for the House members to become part of a Parliamentary Keep Fit Project! It is important for the nation to set an example of maintaining good health and basic fitness. (When the young nurses and the doctor came to do the
last screening outside the Large Committee Room a few months ago, they were embarrassed to tell me that at 104kg, I was regarded as Obese according to the Universal Bio-Mass Index Scale. I think that at 98kg, today, I am still regarded as Obese, or at least, Overweight!
I am assuming that you, my colleagues, will be very eager to join in, and I intend to raise the matter with the House Business Committee.
Thank you, Mr Speaker.