Tuberculosis vaccine could help protect health workers from COVID-19
A century-old vaccine used to prevent tuberculosis will be trialled on thousands of Australian doctors and nurses in an attempt to protect those on the frontline of the C
Author: Vijay Narayan
COVID-19 Response Budget: Audio Visual Industry
Processing of new provisional applications for the Film Tax Rebate as well as pending payments will be suspended until further notice. The provisions under the Income
Tax collections projected to be $1 billion lower than expected
Overall tax collections are projected at $2.022 billion for the 2019-2020 financial year. This is expected to be lower than the original budget by $1.058 billion, a de
COVID-19 Response Budget: Tax and duty changes
To assist the medical sector during the COVID-19 crisis, importation of the following items will be exempt from Import VAT: -Hand sanitizers and antibacterial hand wa
Opposition MPs should have been in parliament in the 1st place - Speaker of Parliament to Opposition leader
Speaker Ratu Epeli Nailatikau stressed to Opposition Leader Sitiveni Rabuka that parliament is a workplace and the opposition MPs should have been in parliament in the fi
Dr Waqainabete stresses to Nawaikula to stop lying to people, the govt did not bring COVID-19 to Fiji
Health Minister Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete has stressed to SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula to stop lying to people and made it clear that the government did not bring COVID-19
COVID-19 Response Budget: Tertiary Loans
For students repaying Tertiary Education Loans, all repayments will be suspended until 31st December 2020, providing these working Fijians around $10 million dollars in i
COVID-19 Response Budget: Sugar
$50 million has been allocated to the Fiji Sugar Corporation for Cane Delivery Payment. The government is in the process of acquiring FNPF and FHL’s shares in t
Urgent COVID-19 Response Needed
Minister for Economy and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says under the crushing weight of this pandemic, our economy is projected to contract by 4.3% this year, an
COVID-19 Response Budget: Donor Fund Set Up
Sayed-Khaiyum says a COVID-19 Donor Fund has been set up. New Zealand has pledged $3 million and Australia has pledged a total of AUD $12 million. In the wake of COVID
COVID-19 Response Budget: Education
The government will add another $20 million to the education budget to cater mainly for teachers’ salaries now that the total number of teachers working in the cou
COVID-19 Response Budget: Elderly Travel Allowance Reduced and to be reviewed in 3 months
The Travel Allowance for the elderly reduced from $40 to $20 per month. Sayed-Khaiyum says the government expects the younger people in the family to assist in doing e
COVID-19 Response Budget: More Initiatives
To offer serious mortgage relief for homeowners, the government will also be reducing stamp duty rates for Fiji resident taxpayers for mortgages from 1.7% to 0%. Forei
COVID-19 Response Budget: Fuel duty to increase by 20 cents per litre
The Minister of Economy has announced that the government will be raising revenue by increasing the fiscal duty by 20 cents per litre for fuel. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum say
COVID-19 Response Budget: Health and COVID-19 Response
Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has also announced a $40 million top-up for the Health Ministry. Sayed-Khaiyum says this is for more masks, ventilators, set
COVID-19 Response Budget: Water and Electricity
Energy Fiji Limited will now fully match the government’s existing 50% subsidy on the first 100 units of electricity for all of its subsidised customers. This i
Relief for loan and hire purchase payments for those who have lost jobs and are on reduced hours
Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says there will be deferred loan repayments for six months for any Fijian who has lost their jobs or had their hours reduced.
COVID-19 Response Budget
Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has tabled the Supplementary Budget with a $1 billion COVID-19 stimulus package./+ARTICLE-257715+ARTICLE//+ARTICLE-257718+ARTICLE
RBF makes $60 million available for loan facility for businesess affected by COVID-19
The Governor and Chairman of the Reserve Bank of Fiji Board Ariff Ali states that the RBF will expand its Natural Disaster and Rehabilitation Facility and raise it to $60
COVID-19: Akbar pleads for all teachers to act as gatekeepers for their communities
Education Minister, Rosy Akbar is strongly pleading with all teachers to act as gatekeepers of their communities and help share information on the preventative actions ou
Female police inspector who had shown symptoms of COVID-19 tests negative
The result for the female Police Inspector who had shown symptoms of COVID-19 after returning from overseas, has tested negative. Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho h