Monday – 31St August 2020
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PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD MONDAY, 31ST AUGUST, 2020 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … … 1597 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … 1597-1598 Presentation of Papers and Certain Documents … … … … … 1598 Presentation of Reports of Committees … … … … … … 1599-1605 (1) Review Report on the Madrid Agreement, Madrid Protocol and Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property - Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence (2) Review Report of the Office of the Auditor-General 2019 - Standing Committee on Public Accounts (3) Review Report on the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the Involvement of Children in Armed Conflict - Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence (4) Review Report on the Office of the Prime Minister 2016/2017 Annual Report - Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights Ministerial Statements … … … … … … … … … 1605-1619 (1) COVID-19 Unemployment Assistance (2) Role and Functions of the Land Use Division Public Health (Amendment)(No.2) Bill 2020 … … … … … … 1619-1620 Pharmacy Profession (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … 1621-1622 Television (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … … 1622-1625 Companies (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … … 1625-1627 Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … … 1627-1630 Citizenship of Fiji (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … 1631-1632 Passports (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … … 1633-1635 Housing Authority 2015 Annual Review Report … … … … … 1636-1652 Ministry of Defence, National Security & Immigration 2016 Bi-Annual Review Report (January-July 2016) … … … … 1653-1662 Suspension of Standing Orders … … … … … … … … 1662-1663 Special Committee of Inquiry on the Impacts of Drug-Related Abuse … … 1664-1685 Questions … … … … … … … … … … 1685-1706 Oral Questions (1) High Average TCTS Recorded by FSC (Q/No. 91/2020) (2) Shipping Accidents on Fiji Waters (Q/No. 92/2020) (3) Repayment of the Global Bond – US$200 million (Q/No. 93/2020) (4) Drug Shortage for Chronic Diseases (Q/No. 94/2020) (5) Update on Health Facilities & Personnel – COVID-19 Cases (Q/No. 95/2020) (6) Toppers Scholarships Priority Areas & TELS Categories (Q/No. 96/2020) (7) Update on Government Shipping Franchise Scheme (Q/No. 97/2020) (8) Update – FNPF Unemployment Assistance (Q/No. 98/2020) Written Questions (1) Medical Service Update (Q/No. 99/2020) (2) COVID-19 $40 Million Allocation (Q/No. 100/2020) (3) First Homeowners - 2019-2020 Housing Grant Scheme (Q/No. 101/2020) (4) Land Lease Payments for Forest Reserves (Q/No. 102/2020) (5) National Toppers Scheme and $35.5 Million Budgetary Allocation (Q/No. 103/2020) MONDAY, 31ST AUGUST, 2020 The Parliament met at 9.31 a.m., pursuant to notice. HONOURABLE SPEAKER took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Sugar Industry and Foreign Affairs Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications Hon. Lt. Col. Inia Batikoto Seruiratu, Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing Hon. Parveen Kumar Bala, Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations and Youth and Sports Hon. Mereseini Rakuita Vuniwaqa, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Dr. Mahendra Reddy, Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Environment Hon. Rosy Sofia Akbar, Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Hon. Cdr. Semi Tuleca Koroilavesau, Minister for Fisheries Hon. Osea Naiqamu, Minister for Forestry Hon. Faiyaz Siddiq Koya, Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Hon. Jone Usamate, Minister for Infrastructure, Meteorological Services, Lands and Mineral Resources Hon. Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete, Minister for Health and Medical Services Hon. Premila Devi Kumar, Minister for Local Government, Housing and Community Development Hon. Alexander David O’Connor, Assistant Minister for Health and Medical Services Hon. Veena Kumar Bhatnagar, Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Hon. Vijay Nath, Assistant Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Hon. Alvick Avhikrit Maharaj, Assistant Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports Hon. Alipate Tuicolo Nagata, Assistant Minister for Employment, Productivity, Industrial Relations and Youth and Sports Hon. Jale Sigarara, Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Maritime Development Hon. Viam Pillay, Assistant Minister for Environment and Rural Development Hon. Joseph Nitya Nand, Assistant Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Hon. George Vegnathan, Assistant Minister for Sugar Industry Hon. Selai Adimaitoga, Assistant Minister for iTaukei Affairs Hon. Mosese Drecala Bulitavu Hon. Mitieli Bulanauca Hon. Viliame Rogoibulu Gavoka Hon. Dr. Salik Ram Govind Hon. Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa Hon. Sanjay Salend Kirpal Hon. Inosi Kuridrani Hon. Dr. Ratu Atonio Rabici Lalabalavu Hon. Ratu Naiqama Tawake Lalabalavu Hon. Mikaele Rokosova Leawere Hon. Ratu Suliano Matanitobua Hon. Niko Nawaikula 31st Aug., 2020 Communications from the Chair 1597 Hon. Vijendra Prakash Hon. Professor Biman Chand Prasad Hon. Lenora Salusalu Qereqeretabua Hon. Adi Litia Qionibaravi Hon. Major-General (Ret’d) Sitiveni Ligamamada Rabuka Hon. Aseri Masivou Radrodro Hon. Salote Vuibureta Radrodro Hon. Simione Rokomalo Rasova Hon. Jese Saukuru Hon. Rohit Ritesh Sharma Hon. Lynda Diseru Tabuya Hon. Lt. Col. Pio Tikoduadua Hon. Ro Filipe Tuisawau Hon. Peceli Waqairatu Vosanibola Absent Hon. Ratu Tevita Navurelevu MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Mr. Speaker, I beg to move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Friday, 31st July, 2020, as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I beg to second the motion. Question put. Motion agreed to. COMMUNICATIONS FROM THE CHAIR Welcome HON. SPEAKER.- I welcome all Honourable Members to today’s sitting of Parliament. I also welcome all those watching the live broadcast and the live streaming of today’s proceedings from the comfort of their home, offices and mobile phones. Thank you for taking an interest in your Parliament. Handing-Over Ceremony - CWP Fiji Group Honourable Members, later today during the morning refreshment’s break, there will be a handover ceremony by the Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP) Fiji Group to the Fiji Red Cross Society. For the further information of all, the CWP Fiji Group comprises of all 10 women Honourable Members and is chaired by the Honourable Deputy Speaker. The handover ceremony will take place at the Big Committee Room and I invite all Honourable Members to attend. 1598 Presentation of Papers & Certain Documents 31st Aug., 2020 Parliament Live Streaming – You Tube Channel On a final note, Honourable Members, despite the indefinite deactivation of the Parliament’s Facebook live streaming, I am pleased to inform Honourable Members that effective from today’s Sitting, the Parliament’s live streaming will also be available on You Tube. Members and viewers can access this channel by visiting the You Tube page and typing in ‘Parliament of the Republic of Fiji’. Thank you, Honourable Members. PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND CERTAIN DOCUMENTS HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I now call upon the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications to table his Report. You have the floor, Sir. HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the Pacific Fishing Company Pte Limited 2018 Annual Report to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Pacific Fishing Company Pte Limited 2018 Annual Report to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. I now call upon the Minister for Infrastructure, Meteorological Services, Lands and Mineral Resources to table his Reports. You have the floor, Sir. HON. J. USAMATE.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the following Reports to Parliament: (1) 2011-2013 Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources Annual Reports; (2) August 2016-July 2017 Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources Annual Report; and (3) August 2017-July 2018 Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources Annual Reports. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Reports to the Secretary-General. (Reports handed to the Secretary-General) Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the following Reports to the Standing Committee on Natural Resources: (1) 2011-2013 Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources Annual Reports; (2) August 2016-July 2017 Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources Annual Report; and (3) August 2017-July 2018 Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources Annual Reports. Thank you, Honourable Members. We will now proceed to the next Item. Honourable Members, I now call on the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence to table his Report. You have the floor Sir. 31st Aug., 2020 Presentation of Reports of Committees 1599 PRESENTATION OF REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Review Report on the Madrid Agreement, Madrid Protocol and Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property - Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence HON. A.D. O’CONNOR.- Thank you Mr. Speaker Sir. Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am pleased to present the Committee’s Review Report to the House. On 28th May, 2020, the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji referred