Investing Where It Matters
The Government would need to invest more than $50billion over the next 20 years to achieve everything set out in Fiji’s 20-year National Development Plan.
This includes both funding for capital expenditure and expenditure for the provision of social services. To finance this, the Government will need to mobilise its domestic revenues, both tax and non-tax, and access international financial resources, including funding from multilateral development partners. Another way outlined in the National Development Plan is to undertake self-funding of projects by State Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and municipal councils which will complement funding from the central government. Financing through private sector partnerships and climate finance will increasingly be a core source of financing.
WHAT MORE IS NEEDED
High Quality Healthcare System. There are plans to raise the doctorto-patient ratio to 1 doctor per 1000 people. Government will continue with the free medicine scheme to assist low income households.
Investments in the construction of new hospitals, health centres and nursing stations will continue. Inventory management will be improved, and other opportunities will be explored to ensure that drugs and consumables are available at all times. Government is already working software through which the Ministry of Health and Medical Services will be able to monitor drug stocks nationwide.
A major focus moving forward will be to ensure that Fijians can take advantage of specialised tertiary care in Fiji rather than having to pay high medical bills overseas.
WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT
Focus is also placed on women in the Plan. Emphasis will be placed for Police and the courts to appropriately attend to gender-based violence in all its forms. Such is the confidence in these initiatives that 100 per cent reporting of these crimes is expected. Women’s access to education will be supported, as will their desires for fulfilling employment and career advancement. Women who choose to have children will be adequately remunerated for paid work and will be able to continue to advance their careers if that is their wish.
PROTECTING CULTURE, HERITAGE AND NATURAL ENVIRONMENT
Our language, food, festivals, rituals, arts and traditions, which hold essential intrinsic value, will be preserved.
Local culture and heritage will be promoted as part of our vibrant tourism industry. Intellectual property rights for protection of traditional knowledge will be developed and strengthened.
There will be an increased focus on proper management of our forests, mangroves and coral reefs because of the complex natural biodiversity that these systems support.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Government will ensure a safe, secure and stable Fiji guided by the National Security Strategy. The rule of law will be upheld and the Constitution will be protected.
Adequate resources will be allocated to prevent and appropriately respond to domestic and transnational crimes, border security and access to justice.
Responsive security forces and Police, together with an adapting legislative and policy framework, will support a strong approach to the administration of justice and maintenance of the rule of law. Fiji will also continue its role in UN Peacekeeping missions.
Financing through private sector partnerships and climate finance will increasingly be a core source of financing.