Skilled workers shortage worry
A growing shortage of skilled workers in Fiji is causing concern among members of the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation (FCEF), and they want Government to increase the number of countries covered under its
Budget
Regional airlines “in the dark” on Fiji’s new airport management deal
The Fiji Government’s controversial decision to award the management contract for Airports Fiji Ltd (AFL) to its national airline, Fiji Airways, has intensified fears that a “conflict of interest”
Fiji is fully booked until October
Fiji’s 13,000 hotel room- inventory is fully booked until October, signalling a strong post-COVID comeback for the tourism sector. Speaking at a Reserve Bank of Fiji-organised post-budget discussion, Fiji Hotel
Tonga Parliament passes largest annual budget
Tonga’s Parliament passed the 2022-2023 annual budget this week, reports Tonga Wires. Totalling $764.7 million pa’anga (US$328.36 million), it is the Kingdom’s largest ever annual budget. According to the Tonga
Additional COVID funding postpones aid cuts
Faced with the prospect of another cut to aid while the COVID-19 pandemic continues – and in some ways intensifies in our region – the government has again reached for the “temporary and targeted” lever to avoid
A fraying lifeline: chronically under-funded and lacking resources
Pacific islands health care faces the crisis of a lifetime The COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t just highlighted the Pacific’s fragile health systems. It’s amplified the central role that public health plays in all
Fiji’s new budget: significant fiscal challenges
The task that the Fiji government has faced since the onset of the COVID-19 crisis has been challenging, involving difficult choices and adjustments. Despite rising case numbers and deaths, there is an obvious tension
No progress on Fiji bubble until COVID is controlled: Australia
Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific says Australia will want to see COVID cases under control in Fiji before any commitment can be made on a travel bubble. When Fiji’s Minister for
Fiji, the World Bank and debt
When Fiji’s Minister for Economy delivers his budget address this evening many eyes will be on figures around the country’s debt-to GDP ratios. This week, Pacific Islands Forum Economic Ministers were preoccupied
Cook Islands passes budget
Cook Islands parliament has passed what Prime Minister Mark Brown has dubbed “a budget of revival.” The US$212 million budget includes an additional US7.7 million allocation for government agencies than was
Aust gives another F$42.5 million to Fiji for budget support
Australia has supplied Fiji with direct budget support, vaccines, rations for front liners, funds for NGO emergency food distribution, medical supplies including thermal guns and other forms of support in responding to
Worry for PNG business leaders
At a brief sitting of Papua New Guinea’s parliament in November – with all Opposition MPs absent – the James Marape government passed its 2021 Budget, before abruptly adjourning until next April. Treasurer Ian
Australia boosts Pacific aid allocation
The Australian Federal Budget delivered last night has increased aid to the Pacific. An extra A$211 million has been allocated to COVID-19 response in the form of grants, agreed in negotiations with recipient countries,
Fiji budget ‘lacks compassion’ says NGOs
As the 2020-21 Fiji Budget debate has commenced in parliament, a number of community organisations have expressed their concern about what they describe as the lack of compassion in the Budget. “It’s not only
Fiji Budget wrap
Fiji’s 2020-21 National Budget will see the Government attempt to spend its way out of the COVID-19 induced recession. “Barring drastic intervention, our economy may never fully recover; not this year, not next
Fiji budget preview: expansionary budget anticipated to stimulate spending
Fiji’s Minister for Economy will deliver the government’s 2020-21 budget today, just 4 months after an emergency F$1 billion ‘Covid mini-budget’. It comes as the Reserve Bank of Fiji has projected a contraction
20% suspended pay for Fiji cabinet, MPs
Suspending 20 per cent of pay for government ministers as well as all members of the Fijian Parliament formed a key part of Fiji’s COVID 19 response budget handed down in a special sitting that ended a short time ago.