WEDNESDAY AUGUST 5, 2020 l 16 PAGES l ISSUE 12 VOL 11 l WWW.FIJI.GOV.FJ Fijijj Focus Veniana Nacolarara receives her wood burning efficient cook stove from Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum at Kalokolevu Village. More pictures on pages 8-9 Photo: FELIX LESINAIVALU Fijians urged to join climate change battle ‘WORK ‘ FELIX LESINAIVALUTOGETHERenvironmentally-friendly way of cooking Programme in Fiji. One of the 78 women, “It is good that this initiative also helps their food. Around 78 women residing in Veniana Nacolarara was thankful to have combat climate change because it does not IJIANS living in Kalokolevu Vil- Kalokolevu Village are set to benefit after received the wood burning efficient cook emit greenhouse gases,” Ms Nacolarara lage, almost 18 kilometres west of receiving the ‘wood burning efficient cook stove and to contribute towards addressing FSuva, will have a more efficient and stoves’ under the Improved Cook Stove climate change. CONTINUES ON PAGE 3 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj NATIONAL MATTERS phone: 3301806 INSIDE Seruiratu: No neglect of maritime transport MEREANI GONEDUA HE Minister for Rural and Maritime Development YOUTH REBUILDS TInia Seruiratu has stressed that statement of Government ne- SHATTERED DREAM - 15 glecting maritime transportation FIRST LOCAL REGISTRATION is wrong. In fact, Minister Seruiratu while FOR MOBILE E-PASSPORT -14 speaking in Parliament highlight- HEALTH BUBBLE ‘ABLE TO ed that there is a budget alloca- tion of $61 million for the design, HANDLE RISKS’ - 13 investigation, construction and maintenance of bridges and jetties CAREFIJI APP ‘VITAL’ TO in the current budget. CONTAIN COVID-19 -12 “For the past two years FRA has spent in excess of $50 million on bridges around Fiji and $8 million UOTE OF THE WEEK Q on jetties in maritime areas. “The Naroi, Moala roll-on-roll- off jetty has been repaired follow- ing the devastation of TC Harold and the jetty is now fully opera- tional. FRA has an ongoing pro- gramme to deliver new jetties at Voreqe Bainimarama Koro, Makogai, Moala, Nabuke- ru, Wainiyabia and Vunisea and We won’t be slashing the they are working closely with salaries of the civil servants, we ADB/World Bank on the replace- need to help put this economy Minister for Commerce, Trade, Tourism and Transport Faiyaz Koya and Minister for Defence, National Security and Policing, Rural and ment of jetties at Natovi, Nabou- Maritime Development Inia Seruiratu during a break in the 2020-2021 National Budget debate in Parliament last week. back on its feet and to support walu and Savusavu.” Photo: AZARIA FAREEN the people who have suffered Minister Seruiratu highlighted the most. that in this ‘new norm’ period, the but is not limited to: $5m with the tional Security and Policing ing smarter.” new budget aims to show Fijians Ministry of Rural and Maritime highlighted that even though the The Minister also highlighted Voreqe Bainimarama that regardless of the current situ- Development and Disaster Man- Ministry headquarters budget has that the Ministry is very grateful Fijian Prime Minister ation, services and development agement; $18m with the Min- decreased by 2.7 per cent through for the $200,000 increase in the will continue. istry of Agriculture; $79m with the allocated total budget of $13.8 budget allocated to the Aftercare NUMBERS He stated that the Fijian Govern- the Ministry of Infrastructure; Million, it will not hinder the de- Fund. ment is not only supporting MS- $3.6m with the Ministry Fisher- livery of our ‘normal’ services. “This increase will accommo- $61,650 MEs but also investing heavily ies; $4.1m with the Ministry of “Prior to the Budget announce- date allowances for additional into the Rural and Maritime Pro- Forests; $1.8m with the Ministry ment, I held discussions with my recipients. The injection of such The amount distributed in grammes across all sectors. of Lands and Mineral Resources; Permanent Secretaries and senior amount is timely and appropriate, royalty payouts to more than “In the 2020-2021 financial year and $9m with the Ministry of officials within both my portfolio as this will ensure that the neces- Government plans to invest a total Health and Medical Services.” Ministries that our approach in sary support and assistance ex- Fijians in Vatukoula, 100 of $144 million in the Rural and Minister Seruiratu who is also the next financial year will not be tended to our deserving Service- bringing to approximately Maritime sector. This includes the Minister for Defence, Na- about working harder but work- men and women will continue.” $6.5m the amount distributed to landowners and landowning units around the country. Govt removes data levy TWEET OF THE WEEK to aid development NANISE NEIMILA different manner and to keep things simple for ture development, however, with these funding the telecommunications industry and support a streams and close coordination with the tele- HE Government has announced under long-standing commitment. communication industry partners, we are confi- the 2020-2021 National Budget address “To streamline the sector’s regulations, we dent we are able to further cement our standing the removal of the data levy under the have opted to remove the data levy instead in- as a telecommunications hub.” Premila Kumar @PremilaKumarMP T Telecommunications Act. crease the current 1.5per cent of the percent- “Essentially, the law is that they have been Preparatory works for 5 settlements This was announced by Attorney-General and age revenue-based telecommunications licence paying for all these years since the Telecommu- Wakanisila, Sakoca, Tavela, Tore and Minister for Communications, Aiyaz Sayed- fee-prescribed in accordance with the Telecom- nications Authority of Fiji (TAF), they pay 1.5 Field 4 are nearly complete and will be ready for the commencement of Khaiyum, while speaking on the Telecommuni- munications License and Regulations 2012 and per cent as Gross Turnover to the TAF Fund be- civil works in this new financial year. cations Budget Amendment Bill 2020 in Parlia- two per cent.” cause it has been used to connect black sport.” This will benefit 588 households. ment last week. “Form this two per cent, 1.5 per cent of the So, the removal of the data levy will basical- The data levy was, the A-G said, the levy in- percentage point would be collected as normal ly mean for the additional 0.5 per cent will be #formalisation #informalsettlements troduced last year to set up a distinct funding with the remaining or the additional 0.5 per cent directed to the trust fund which is also supple- #TogetherWeCan mechanism to support projects aimed at nation- will be funneled into the development fund to mented with the increase of 1.5 per cent to two CONTACT al development in relation to information and ensure continued development of our telecom- per cent and will further develop connectivity Publisher: Deborah Weiss communication technology. munications infrastructure and projects.” for telecentres that have been setup around the Sub Editor: Prashila Devi Manager Vernacular: Viliame Tikotani He explained that the revenue collected from The A-G also highlighted that the budgetary country. Virendra Lal the data levy went into the Telecommunications allocation for this sector will include mapping The Government through the Ministry of North office: Level 3 Macuata House, Labasa West office: Level 1 Ratu Nauliano House, Koroivalu Development Trust Fund established under the projects to further clarify the black and brown Communication has identified areas around Fiji Telecommunications Trust Fund Regulations spots of internet connectivity which are areas as black spots meaning areas that need connec- Contacts: Suva: 3301806 / West: 6700086 / 9905965 2016 for the continued development of Fiji’s where there is no mobile connection which is tivity and this includes Lau, Macuata, Lomaiviti North: 8811276 / 9905971 telecommunication industry. black spots or pockets of unconnected areas in as well as a few places in Kadavu and Naitasiri. Fax: 3305139/3304663 [email protected] However, according to the A-G, the Govern- between which are the brown spots which have For brown areas that have been highlighted, a @FijianGovt ment has had discussions with the telecom com- intermittent reception. boost will be given to improve connectivity. Fijian Government visit us at www.fiji.gov.fj panies and they have agreed to continue but in “These areas will need significant infrastruc- 2 Wednesday, August 5, 2020 email: [email protected]; @FijianGovt; Fijian Government; visit us @ www.fiji.gov.fj phone: 3301806 NATIONAL MATTERS “Work together’ FROM PAGE 1 Govt abolishes said. “We are also delighted with the new and improved way to cook our meals more efficiently.” Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama with acting Commissioner of Police She added that the initiative also business licences Rusiate Tudravu. Photo: SUPPLIED helps Fijians living in Kalokole- FELIX LESINAIVALU “There has also been a coordinating effort through vu Village because they suffer the Ministry of Commerce, Trade and Industry in from the threat posed by climate BOLISHING the Business Licensing re- respect of making sure that we get approvals done Acting top change. gime will make it easier for ordinary Fijians really quickly.” “Women in this village mostly Aand people living overseas to do business The 2020-2021 National Budget also states that cop pays PM cook with firewood, and with this in Fiji. any of the businesses or any initiatives that will at- modern firewood stove, it has Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Ai- tract the incentives that has been announced in the courtesy visit brought modernisation into the yaz Sayed-Khaiyum emphasised that the Govern- Budget will work closely with the Ministry of Econ- village,” she said. ment has seen many of the developed economies omy and Fiji Revenue and Customs Service to hold RIME Minister, “This will definitely change the there is an ease in doing business after the countries hands to get those developments up and running.