Labasa Businesspeople thank Govt for the peoples budget
This abasa Chamber of Commerce thank Government for a peoples budget. Chairperson Satish Kumar said a sign of relief had come upon them after the budget announcement past Friday by the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in Parliament.
“The budget is for everyone as it meets everyone’s expectation during this ongoing COVID-19 crisis,” Mr Kumar said.
“Whether you’re a businessman, a consumer or a student, budget 2020-2021 is for everyone.
“This is the best budget four our people and for our country and it is the only way forward to revive our economy.”
Mr Kumar said the reduction on certain items and on stamp duties would help the people afford the goods.
“When the duties are increased, the economy definitely comes down but when it is reduced, the consumers will be able to buy the goods at affordable prices.
“The reduction of stamp duties on second hand cars and allowing of cars to come into Fiji will cost us less and will be cheaper for our people and in the process companies will employ more staff, thus providing employment opportunities.
He further added that one of the most affected industry was the pine industry as it brings in bigger dollars.
“The business community and the medium and large enterprises will survive.
“The upgrades of the hospitals and schools will definitely uplift the businesses here in the North as well,” he said.
Labasa Tourism Association
The budget has given the tourism industry to recover after the peak effects of the pandemic.
Labasa Tourism Association chairperson, Paul Jaduram said the budget has been the best and it was time for the business industry to be considered.
“The budget has allowed is to work in it by re- employing our workers, reducing rates at affordable prices for our services,” Mr Jaduram said.
“The impact of the pandemic has led us to reduce our prices and with the budget too, we will reduce the rates further.
Having worked for the tourism for more than 40 years, Mr Jaduram says that it is a service providing accommodation for all travelers such as civil society, locals traveling in to attend family functions.
“Unlike for Savusavu, tourists are those traveling from abroad but for Labasa most of our tourists are our local travelers.
“With the tax reductions, we can promote now for the local rates as we have the facilities . There are 130 rooms in the eight hotels in Labasa.
“There were four hotels that were closed during the COVID but with the budget they will surely reopen,” he said.
Mr Jaduram said that food and beverages were costly and local tourists could not be able to afford such luxury.
Tourism operators will consider making changes to their cost structures permanent. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum in the budget announcement said that as an immediate effect of the tax cuts, tourism operators are expected to drop the price structures of rooms, food and alcohol.
$87.1 million was allocated to the Ministry of Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport for the 2020-2021 budget.