National Budget countdown
Government has started to guarantee loans for small and micro enterprises as well as loans to SMEs
Government has given out more than $30 million so far to those who have lost their livelihoods due to pandemic COVID-19.
Apart from this, Government allowed the Fiji National Provident Fund to relax its guidelines allowing people to withdraw from their general accounts.
And, Government has started to guarantee loans for small and micro enterprises, and also providing loans to SMEs for their business venture to assist in stimulating the economy, and most importantly to provide Fijians the opportunity to run successful businesses.
When the national budget is announced in coming weeks, Government would no doubt want to push forth further assistance to those who need.
But the question here is to identify those who are in need and how to weed out those who are trying to take advantage of the situation.
The Ministry of Economy no doubt has a mammoth task on hand. While Government would want to help those who need it, there have been several instances where people have tried to cheat the system.
For example, when Government tried to assist people post-TC Winston, hundreds of Fijians who were not affected tried to beat the system and get the assistance. Many succeeded in doing so. This is a poor reflection on our society.
Those who are in a position to make ends meet should know that there are people who desperately need assistance.
By cheating the system, those people are robbing others of the opportunities that Government is making available.
If Government decides that they will give out money to those who used to sell at roadsides but are not able to do so given the increase in people working reduced hours, what guarantee is there that those who have not been selling on roadsides will not lie to get assistance? It would take State more resources to prosecute those who lie to get assistance.
What is the solution?
Basic honesty should be the norm, and it should without saying that only those who genuinely fall in any criteria Government sets out should apply for assistance.
At the end of the day, it comes down to each individual to be truthful.