Borrow beyond your means

MR A: “Raica qo!” as he pointed to page 13 in The Fiji Times of Monday, 12th April.

Mr B: “Cava ya tavale?” he asked inquisitively, as he put his sunglasses down on the shop counter.

Mr A: “The Pine Group made a lump sum payment of $2.2 million to the Fiji Government,” he replied pointing to the page.

“Here is the interesting bit, my brother,” he added leaning forward, “by doing so, it finally settled in full, the $12 million loan it took from Government, way back in the ’90s.”

“Bro, the Pine Group is now debtfree.”

“It’s the first time since it was established over 30 years ago that it is debtfree and to do it, when times are hard during this pandemic crisis, is quite an achievement. Vacava that my brother!”

Mr B: “Wow! Trues up! Dua saraga na ka o eratou, like uncle say, can’t believe!”

“Io tavale, sa rawata ya, e dua ga na kabani, vaca na economy nei viti, e rawa ni da debt-free talega?”

Mr C: “What is he asking bhaiya?”

their friend queried, as he settled himself behind the counter.

Mr A: “He said that one public enterprise is able to become debt-free and asked, what about our own economy, can we become debt-free also?”

Mr C: “That’s a very good question bhaiya.

“I cannot answer as to what the Government should, or should not do, but in business, I think you should only borrow, if you have a plan to properly service that loan,” he added. “You should not really borrow beyond your means to repay it back within the required time frame.”

“And looking at his friend, he said in a louder voice,” and some of us have dinau that they don’t pay back on time, what say bhaiya?”

Mr B: “Oso, sa tu mada na leqa ..... ,” his voice trailing away, as he headed for the door.

EDWARD BLAKELOCK

Admiral Circle, Pacific Harbour