PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES DAILY HANSARD MONDAY, 17TH FEBRUARY, 2020 [CORRECTED COPY] C O N T E N T S Pages Minutes … … … … … … … … … … 334 Communications from the Chair … … … … … … … 334-335 Presentation of Papers and Certain Documents … … … … … 335-337 Presentation of Reports of Committees … … … … … 337-343 Ministerial Statement … … … … … … … 343-352 Hon. Dr. M. Reddy - Update on 2020 Fiji Agricultural Census Review Report on FPCL 2016 Annual Report … … … … 353-370 Review Report on the 2014-2016 Annual Review of the MEPIR Report … … … … … … … 371-400 Suspension of Standing Orders … … … … … … … 401 Special Committee – Review of Maritime/ Outer Island Development Programmes … … … … 402-433 Questions … … … … … … … … … 434-445 Oral Question No. 01/2020 - Dialysis Machines Question No. 02/2020 - Consumer Protection in the Market Question No. 03/2020 - 2020 Outbreak of Diseases & OHS Question No. 04/2020 - Non-Compliance of Employment Laws Question No. 05/2020 - Update on Sale of Government Assets – 2019-2020 Question No. 06/2020 - Climate Change in the Livestock Sector Question No. 07/2020 - Ownership of Minerva Reefs 0- Update Question No. 08/2020 - Parenthood Assistance Payment Scheme Written Question No. 09/2020 – Sustainability of Pine Industry Question No. 10/2020 - Breakdown of Treated and Untreated Piped Water Provisions Question No. 11/2020 - Rehabilitation Works - Schools Damaged by TC Winston MONDAY, 17TH FEBRUARY, 2020 The Parliament resumed at 9.30 a.m. pursuant to adjournment. HONOURABLE SPEAKER took the Chair and read the Prayer. PRESENT Hon. Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama, Prime Minister and Minister for iTaukei Affairs and Sugar Industry 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 Foreign Affairs 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, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment 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 Foreign Affairs 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, Rural and Maritime Development, 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. Jone Usamate, Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Hon. Ashneel Sudhakar, Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Hon. Dr. Ifereimi Waqainabete, Minister for Health and Medical Services Hon. Premila Devi Kumar, Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, 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. Mitieli Bulanauca 334 Communications from the Chair 17th Feb., 2020 Hon. Mosese Drecala Bulitavu Hon. Viliame Rogoibulu Gavoka Hon. Dr. Salik Ram Govind Hon. Anare Jale 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. Ratu Tevita Navurelevu Hon. Niko Nawaikula Hon. Vijendra Prakash Hon. Prof. B.C. 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. Ro Filipe Tuisawau Hon. Peceli Waqairatu Vosanibola Absent Hon. Lt. Col. Pio Tikoduadua MINUTES HON. LEADER OF THE GOVERNMENT IN PARLIAMENT.- Mr. Speaker, Sir, I move: That the Minutes of the sitting of Parliament held on Friday, 22nd November, 2019 as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed. HON. A.A. MAHARAJ.- Honourable 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 the first sitting period for the 2020 Session. 17th Feb., 2020 Presentation of Papers & Certain Documents 335 I also welcome members of the public joining us in the gallery and those watching the live broadcast and the proceedings on television and the internet. Petitions from the Opposition For the information of Honourable Members, I received three petitions from the Opposition and I am still considering and reviewing these petitions. Once I take a decision on these petitions, I will inform Honourable Members accordingly, and it is most likely to be in the next couple of days perhaps tomorrow morning. PRESENTATION OF PAPERS AND CERTAIN DOCUMENTS HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I now call upon the Prime Minister and the Minister for iTaukei Affairs and Sugar Industry, Honourable Josaia Bainimarama, to table his Report. You have the floor, Sir. HON. J.V. BAINIMARAMA.- Thank you, Honourable Speaker. Honourable Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs’ Annual Report for the year 2016 to 2017 to Parliament. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Report to the Secretary-General. (Report handed to the Secretary-General) HON. SPEAKER.- Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs’ Annual Report 2016-2017 to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs. I now call upon the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications, Honourable Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, to table his Reports. You have the floor, Sir. HON. A. SAYED-KHAIYUM.- Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. In accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the following Reports to Parliament: 1. Fiji Electoral Commission – 2018 Annual Report; 2. Reserve Bank of Fiji – August 2018-July 2019 Annual Report; and 3. Office of the Auditor-General – Report on Performance Audit on Management of Traffic Congestion. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Reports to the Secretary-General. (Reports handed to the Secretary-General) HON. SPEAKER.- Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Fiji Electoral Commission – 2018 Annual Report to the Standing Committee on Justice Law and Human Rights. Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Reserve Bank of Fiji – August 2018 to July 2019 Annual Report to the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs. 336 Presentation of Papers & Certain Documents 17th Feb., 2020 Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Office of the Auditor-General - Report on Performance Audit on Management of Traffic Congestion to the Standing Committee on Public Accounts. HON. SPEAKER.- Honourable Members, I now call upon the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations, Youth and Sports, Honourable Parveen Bala to table his Reports. You have the floor, Sir. HON. P.K. BALA.- Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. Mr. Speaker, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present the following Reports to Parliament: 1. Ministry of Youth and Sports – Annual Report for 2017-2018; and 2. Fiji National Sports Commission – Annual Report for August 2017-July 2018. Thank you. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the Reports to the Secretary-General. (Reports handed to the Secretary-General) HON. SPEAKER.- Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the following Reports to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs: 1. Ministry of Youth and Sports – Annual Report for the year 2017-2018; and 2. Fiji National Sports Commission – Annual Report for August 2017-July 2018. HON. SPEAKER.- I now call upon the Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts, Honourable Rosy Akbar, to table her Reports. You have the floor, Madam. HON. R.S. AKBAR.- Honourable Speaker, Sir, in accordance with Standing Order 38, I present to Parliament the following Reports: 1. Fiji Museum – Annual Report 2015; 2. Fiji Museum – Annual Report 2016; and 3. Fiji Museum – Annual Report 2016/2017. HON. SPEAKER.- Please, hand the reports to the Secretary-General. (Reports handed to the Secretary-General) HON. SPEAKER.- Under Standing Order 38(2), I refer the Fiji Museum Annual Reports for 2015, 2016 and 2017 to the Standing Committee on Social Affairs. I now call upon the Minister for Industry, Trade, Tourism, Local Government, Housing and Community Development, Honourable Premila Kumar, to table her Reports.