‘Trust and Confidence the Fastest Way to Recovery’
In 2020, the Department of Environment facilitated $376 million from business in Fiji through permitting processes. And, in the first quarter of this year alone the department has already facilitated more than $647m.
This was confirmed by the Permanent Secretary for Environment, Joshua Wycliffe. He said the department had facilitated nearly twice as much as what was made in a whole year last year.
“In these uncertain times the department has embraced a prudential role through lifting the confidence of the business. After all, maintaining trust and confidence during financial downturns are the quickest path to recovery,” he said.
“The ministry has encouraged the department to lift the confidence of the businesses through collaboration, being transparent, higher levels of engagement, giving businesses an opportunity to provide constructive inputs into our processes.”
Mr Wycliffe said they had provided business stakeholders transparent processes.
In instances where there have been issues, mechanisms have been put in place, which allows stakeholders to seek review of processes.
He added the revenue through some of processes has risen. For example, the Environment Impact Assessments (EIA), in 2016-2017 the revenue collected by the department was a little over $200,000.
• In 2017 to 2018 it rose to $500,000 2017 -2018.
• In 2018 to 2019 the revenue collected including the Environmental Bond was $2.5m.
In the 2019-2020 financial year the revenue collected including the bonds by the Department was $1,2m. “If you go to see the revenue including the bonds, (apart from the year 2016 – 2017) have shown an increase. For this financial year, the revenue collected (including the bonds) stands at $1.8m,” he said.
“These figures showcase to some extent that the ministry’s regulating for recovery approach is working and showing results ensuring sustainable development at the same time.”
• the permitting