AUST GIVES $17 MILLION

A deal where $17 million (AUD$12m) will be made available to Fiji as a direct budget funding by the Australian Government was penned yesterday.

Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Australian High Commissioner John Feakes signed the deal.

Of this $4.18m (AUD$2.9m) will go directly to the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, and $288,380 (AUD$200,000) to the National Disaster Management Office.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the funds would be given directly to the Ministry of Economy.

Mr Feakes commended Government’s approach to deal with COVID-19.

“Fiji moved quickly and decisively when COVID-19 first appeared. The Government was prepared to make the tough and necessary decisions, the Ministry of Health planned and executed their action well and as a consequence Fiji is on the cusp of being declared COVID free,” he said.

“The challenge for Fiji and many other countries including mine is to channel a path to economic recovery. I have every confidence in the Government’s ability to do so. This is a Government with a sense of purpose.”

SHALVEEN CHAND