Reset and Recover: 2020-2021 National Budget Today

The 2020-2021 National Budget is expected to set the stage for our economic recovery.

When the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum takes the floor in Parliament at 7.30pm, his statement will outline how Fiji will attempt its recovery after the devastating impact of COVID-19 and TC Harold in the last financial year. A number of policy changes are expected. This will be to ease the burden on businesses and on individuals in these trying times. But, the confidence in Fiji is still high in the international community. The Asian Development Bank has approved $430million policy-based loan to boost investment in Fiji’s private sector to help the country’s economy cope with, and rebound from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The direct budget support from the Australians is also a clear sign of their confidence in Mr Sayed-Khaiyum and his team.

While the focus no doubt will be on how the economy will recover post the pandemic, we need to also keep our focus on climate change and its continuing devastating effects on Fiji.

Fiji does not have the luxury to put climate change rehabilitation and adaptation measures on hold while we fight the COVID-19 pandemic’s blow to the economy.

The sea-levels will not stop raising to give us time to end our fight with COVID-19.

Villages will continue to face the impacts of climate change and the need to put resources on that front is also a continuing factor.