A-G Stresses Importance of Changing Way We Do Things
There is a change in the status quo – in the manner we interact, in the way we travel and how we conduct business. In addressing Natabua High School Year 13 students, the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayedupdated the students on the way the Government had recalibrated its focus to meet the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The A-G informed the students of the COVID-19 Economic Recovery Framework and encouraged them to read it as it sets out all the plans and details of the Government.
“We cannot predict how this virus affects people because the information is still coming out on this and we cannot say when the vaccine will come about- it could be three months, six months or even three years. Therefore, the way we interact with each other, the way we do business, the way we travel and the manner in which we travel will need to be recalibrated,” he said.
Another key message, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted, was the need to increase homeownership in Fiji especially for the younger population and this was being addressed in the 20202021 National Budget.
“A lot of people in Fiji, when they are young they feel they should not buy a home and they should buy a home in their 30’s or 40’s but what we are trying to do is get you young people to own a home very quickly, even when are single- as a lot of you feel that we should own a home when we get married or when I have children, but we want to change that culture,” he said.
He said Government wanted young people to start thinking about it as soon as they start thinking and “the only way we can do that is by reducing the cost of buying a house”.
“That is one of our key efforts through the budget- in the budget, we have said that anyone who earns less than $50,000if you are building your first home, we will give you a $30,000 grant- not a loan- as long as you are building your first home.” He also encouraged them to think about strata housing as another option to homeownership.
As this is the last year for these students before they move towards further education and a career, the A-G encouraged them to enter professions they are passionate about rather than one where they were being coerced into or simply following the crowd.
The forum saw interactive discussions from the students. They were keen to know about any change in TELS and Toppers scheme and the A-G advised them to pursue what they are good at and choose a career of their choice.