Thursday – 3Rd September 2020
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PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD THURSDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2020 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … … 1909 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … 1909 Presentation of Reports of Committees … … … … … … 1909-1917 (1) Review Report of the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2017/2018 Annual Report (2) Review Report on the COP 23 Presidency Trust Fund Second Semi-Annual Report 2017 (3) Consolidated Annual Review Report on the Ministry of Agriculture 2014 &2015 Annual Reports (4) Annual Review of the National Fire Authority 2013 Annual Report (5) Review Report on the Provincial Councils Volume 2 Report Ministerial Statements … … … … … … … … … 1917-1926 (1) Fiji Airways Fleet Acquisition Public Health (Amendment)(No.2) Bill 2020 … … … … … … 1927-1935 Pharmacy Profession (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … 1935-1940 Television (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … … 1940-1942 Companies (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … … 1943-1953 Immigration (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … … 1954-1963 Citizenship of Fiji (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … 1963-1970 Passports (Amendment) Bill 2020 … … … … … … … 1970-1974 Suspension of Standing Orders … … … … … … … … 1974-1975 Adoption Bill 2018 … … … … … … … … … 1975-1987 Ministry of Youth & Sports 2016-2017 Annual Review Report … … … 1987-1993 COP 23 Presidency Trust Fund 2nd Semi-Annual Report 2017 … … … 1993-1999 Inquiry into the Financial State and Overall Viability of Fiji Airways … … … 1999-2015 Inquiry into Freehold Land Held by FSC… … … … … … … 2015-2026 Questions … … … … … … … … … … 2027-2038 Oral Questions (1) Passage of Heavy Goods Trucks - Residential Subdivision (Q/No. 127/2020) (2) Progress on the National Tree Planting Initiative (Q/No. 128/2020) (3) Policies to Reduce Urban Drift (Q/No. 129/2020) (4) VSAT Stations and Tsunami Sirens (Q/No. 130/2020) (5) COVID-19 Economic Downturn - Assistance to Businesses (Q/No. 131/2020) (6) Environment Rehabilitation Nurseries (Q/No. 132/2020) (7) Anti-Doping Tests for Local Athletes (Q/No. 133/2020) (8) Update on the Current Foreign Reserves and Liquidity Level (Q/No. 134/2020) Written Questions (1) Land Development Projects Under iTaukei Land Development (Q/No. 135/2020) (2) Employment for Toppers and TELS Graduates (Q/No. 136/2020) (3) Commercial Export Licences Approved from 2018 Todate (Q/No. 137/2020) THURSDAY, 3RD SEPTEMBER, 2020 The Parliament met at 9.35 a.m., pursuant to adjournment. HONOURABLE SPEAKER took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT All Members were present, except the Honourable J.N. Nand. MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Mr. Speaker, I beg to move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Wednesday, 2nd September, 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 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. Honourable Members, I have been advised that there are no papers for presentation today. Honourable Members, I now call on the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, the Honourable Viam Pillay, to table his Report. You have the floor, Sir. PRESENTATION OF REPORTS OF COMMITTEES Review Report of the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2017/2018 Annual Report HON. V. PILLAY.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I am pleased to present the Report of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs on the Annual Review of the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2017/2018 Annual Report. The review was undertaken in accordance with Standing Order 109(2)(b), which mandates the Committee to look into issues related to health, education, social services, labour, culture and media. The review looked at nine key areas covering the period from 1st August, 2017 to 31st July, 2018 conducted into the Ministry’s administration, structure, budgetary allocation, programmes and activities, policies, challenges, highlights, priorities for the coming years and its implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Committee first met on 10th and 11th March, 2020, to deliberate on and formulate questions pertaining to the 2017/2018 Annual Report of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. We were 1910 Presentation of Reports of Committees 3rd Sept., 2020 unable to conduct a public hearing with the Ministry due to COVID-19 restrictions put in place around the country when the hearing was scheduled to take place. In order to comply with health directives and social distancing measures in place, the Committee requested for a written response from the Ministry in lieu of an annual review hearing. Following our deliberations on its written response, we wrote to the Ministry of Youth and Sports requesting for further clarifications on other related matters. Upon receipt of all relevant information from the Ministry on the Committee’s queries, the Committee compiled its findings on the Annual Report and subsequently endorsed its report in the latter part of August. At this juncture, I wish to thank the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ms. Jennifer Poole, and her staff for their assistance in this review process. I also extend my gratitude to my Committee colleagues, namely: Honourable George Vegnathan (Deputy Chairperson); Honourable Alipate Nagata; Honourable Salote Radrodro; and Honourable Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu, for their contributions. Finally, I thank the Secretariat for the assistance provided during the Committee deliberations. On behalf of the Standing Committee on Social Affairs, I commend the Review Report on the Ministry of Youth and Sports 2017/2018 Annual Report to Parliament and request Honourable Members of this august House to take note of the Report. Thank you Mr. Speaker, Sir. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) HON. V. PILLAY.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order 121(5), I hereby move a motion without notice: That a debate on the content of the Report is initiated at a future sitting. HON. G. VEGNATHAN.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I second the motion. HON. SPEAKER.- Parliament will now vote. Question put. Motion agreed to. Honourable Members, I now call on the Chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, the Honourable Alvick Maharaj, to table his Report. You have the floor, Sir. Review Report on the COP 23 Presidency Trust Fund Second Semi-Annual Report 2017 HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights was referred the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Annual Report 2018. The Committee was mandated to review the Annual Report and table its findings back to Parliament. This Report will provide the findings and recommendations of the Committee with respect to the issues noted from the contents of the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Annual Report 2018. This Report is divided into three main parts, as follows: 3rd Sept., 2020 Presentation of Reports of Committees 1911 (1) the introduction; (2) Committee’s observation and findings; and (3) the recommendations. The Committee reviewed the Annual Report and identified a few pertinent issues, which were then brought to the attention of the Commission and discussed extensively. Some of the main areas of discussion, which were noted by the Committee, are as follows: the Commission’s work in upholding the Bill of Rights as stipulated in the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, and one such good example is the ‘human rights wall’ in police stations; the work by the Commission in regards to investigating rights abuse cases and utilising all the institutional mechanisms at its disposal; the belief in understanding freedom of expression and democratic dissent and the need for conversations to be held between stakeholders even if there are opposing views; the contribution by the Commission towards the Universal Periodic Review; and the resources necessary for the Commission in achieving its strategic plan. At the conclusion of the review, the Committee commends the great work carried out by the Human Rights Commission, but also recommends the following for consideration by the Commission, as it believes would assist the Commission in its work and services: the Committee recommends that support be given to ensure the realisation of the Commission’s Strategic Plan at the earliest possible time; and the Committee reiterates what it believes is a paramount way forward for addressing the numerous human rights and other related issues that exists in Fiji, and that it is highly recommended that there be a National Dialogue for stakeholders, including Parliamentarians, for a better understanding on human rights and all other key issues and differences. At this juncture, I would like to acknowledge and thank the Honourable Members of the Justice, Law and Human Rights Committee, Hon Rohit Sharma (Deputy Chairperson), Hon. Ratu Suliano Matanitobua, Hon. Salik Govind and Hon. Mosese Bulitavu, for their deliberations and input, the Committee secretariat, the public who accepted the invitation of the Committee and made themselves available to make submissions and for taking an interest in the proceedings of the Committee and Parliament. On behalf of the Committee, I commend the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission Annual Report 2018 to the Parliament and seek support of all the members of this august House for the recommendations by the Committee. HON. SPEAKER.- Thank you. Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, pursuant to Standing Order 121(5), I hereby move a motion, without notice: That a debate on the content of the Report is initiated at a future sitting. HON. R.R. SHARMA.- Honourable Speaker, Sir, I second the motion. 1912 Presentation of Reports of Committees 3rd Sept., 2020 HON.