Budget 2025-2026

Residents of Nakasi are urging the government to extend the operating hours of the Nakasi Health Centre to 24/7, so they don’t have to travel to CWM Hospital.

This concern was raised during a budget consultation with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, held in Davuilevu, Nakasi.

A resident also raised his frustration over the misuse of ambulance services, claiming that the ambulance is hardly seen parked at the Centre for more than two and a half hours a day.

He stressed the importance of having an ambulance on standby as emergencies such as heart attacks can occur at any time.

We have sent questions to the Ministry of Health.

Calls are being made to allow schools run by faith-based organisations to charge admission and enrolment fees to help maintain the schools, and for the Government to increase the Free Education Grant for primary and secondary students, as it is currently insufficient to cover infrastructural development, capital works, and refurbishment.

While speaking during a public consultation on the Education Act 1966 at the Fiji National University, a representative of the Indian Association of Fiji and lecturer in Education at FNU says they would be happy if the grant for the primary school goes up to $250 per child and a different amount for different levels for secondary school students.

She also says the Indian Association of Fiji, which owns three schools, finds that there is a discrepancy in the salaries of head teachers and principals.

The representative says primary schools are more holistic, with children at formative ages and greater responsibilities for the head teacher; however, when salaries are compared, head teachers are paid significantly less.

She further says the quality of education can only increase if the quality of teachers improve and there is a need for the aptitude test for English to continue as the medium of instruction in all schools is English.

She also says the school management, especially in faith-based schools, be given more authority in decision-making and financial matters as they are not getting as much money from the government.

The representative also says school managers should receive allowances to acknowledge their voluntary service and help them in their transport needs.

She also submitted a proposal for the enforcement of the Teacher Protection Policy.

The Ministry for Education is looking forward to a positive budget for the retention of teachers and to continue the social assistance to students to allow them to attend school.

Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro says they are also hoping to see the infrastructure development of schools, which they are earmarking to undertake.

Radrodro says they are hoping that the processes would improve in terms of forwarding projects to the contractors.

The Minister adds that they need to first check the conduct of repairs and maintenance of schools.

Radrodro says they also hope that the new budget will assist in continuing the TVET programs for schools.

The 2025/2026 National Budget will be announced on the 27th of this month.

As we get ready for the 2025/2026 National Budget announcement at the end of this month, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Prasad says when addressing the cost of living, both taxation and income must be considered.

Professor Prasad has told fijivillage News that the focus should not only be on the government’s support through tax relief, but also on how income levels can be raised.

When asked about public expectations for the upcoming budget, he stresses the 2025–2026 National Budget will focus on continuing some of the strong social policies introduced in the 2023–2024 and 2024–2025 budgets.

Professor Prasad adds they have 22 items that have zero VAT, increased cane prices, increased civil servants’ pay, and raised the minimum wage.

The 22 items on zero VAT include flour, rice, sugar, canned fish, cooking oil, potatoes, onions, garlic, baby milk, powdered milk, liquid milk, dhal, tea, salt, soap, soap powder, toilet paper, sanitary pads, toothpaste, kerosene, cooking gas and prescribed medicines.

The Deputy Prime Minister also says he has no comments on the Commission of Inquiry report on Barbara Malimali’s appointment as FICAC Commissioner, as he is currently focused on the delivery of the budget.

The 2025–2026 National Budget address will be delivered by Professor Prasad in Parliament on the 27th of this month.

A Lautoka farmer is requesting the government to allocate specific funding for the construction of boreholes in the Viseisei area as part of the upcoming 2025–2026 National Budget.

Speaking to fijivillage News, Shalendra Raj is currently transporting water from Saweni to Viseisei.

He emphasised the potential of agriculture, saying that under every lump of soil lies money.

He explained that land holds great value and opportunity, but for this potential to be realised, people need proper support and assistance from the government, which includes access to resources such as seeds, tools, training, and financial aid.

Raj says he purchased his farm in Viseisei, Lautoka four years ago, and at the time, it was nothing more than a bare and unused piece of land.

He says he took it upon himself to develop it into a productive agricultural plot entirely on his own, without receiving any financial or technical support from the government.

The Lautoka farmer says he is hopeful that the government will introduce more grants in the upcoming National Budget, specifically aimed at supporting sugarcane farmers.

He believes such grants would provide much-needed financial relief to farmers who are facing rising production costs, unpredictable weather conditions, and market uncertainties.

Raj explains that building a borehole is a costly undertaking, often beyond the financial means of small-scale farmers like himself, and that despite his efforts to manage his farm, the lack of a reliable water source remains a major challenge, especially during dry spells when crops require consistent irrigation.

The Saweni resident believes that having better access to water through boreholes would significantly benefit farmers like himself by improving irrigation and supporting agricultural activities, which are vital for the community’s livelihood and development.

He explains that he is not seeking free financial aid or handouts but rather support through accessible loan schemes that farmers can apply for in order to invest in essential agricultural infrastructure, with the understanding that the borrowed money would be repaid gradually over time.

The Lautoka farmer believes this approach is more sustainable, as it encourages the responsible use of funds and allows the government to recycle the money by lending it to other farmers in the future, creating a continuous cycle of support within the farming community.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad will deliver the 2025/2026 National Budget address on the 27th of this month.

The President of the Fiji Women’s Mushroom Association and a successful dairy and mushroom farmer from Naitasiri, Seruwaia Kabukabu, is urging the government to offer financial assistance for farmer growth, sustainability, and training in mushroom farming which will lower the importation of mushrooms.

Kabukabu says it is difficult to keep the farm sustainable because the weather is not really helping them.

She says farmers had to contend with soaring production costs and worsening weather that prevents them in their collection efforts.

According to her, Fiji imports 124 metric tonnes of mushrooms per year, worth $0.9 million.

She says there is an existing demand for mushrooms within the local markets, namely restaurants, supermarkets, and hotels within the tourism sector.

She adds fresh mushrooms are sold for $12.00 and $25.00 per kilogram.

Kabukabu urges the government to support local mushroom farmers and this will be favourable for our local producers.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad will deliver the 2025/2026 National Budget address on the 27th of this month.

Our national budget must be founded on two core principles – transparency and stability. There will be no hidden messages; there are no hidden resources. You must know and be able to see where we are on the fiscal recovery pathway. You must be able to see that all our policies and programs are as transparently costed as possible. Trust flows from that.

That is the message from Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad during the Annual Congress of the Fiji Institute of Chartered Accountants in Nadi. He says all their programmes arise from the deep conversations with citizens, businesses and communities.

Professor Prasad says there will be no stop and re-start measures, there will be no knee jerk investment measures, and their responses present what they think is the right balance between revenue, expenditure and their direction of travel in the difficult context.

He stresses that at the heart of the budget this year, as in the last will be investments that demonstrate their fundamental commitment to all the regional institutions, to our regional architecture.

Professor Prasad says the Blue Pacific region with its market size of nearly 20 million people combined offers a fantastic potential for growth and opportunity.

He says this is why Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica led trade missions to Tonga and to PNG recently.

Professor Prasad also invites and welcomes these countries to bring their trade missions to Fiji.

The Deputy Prime Minister says the growth of a Pacific centred economy will depend in part on how speedily we make progress on that.

He adds there is no reason why Solomon Islands logs cannot be processed in Fiji rather than in distant Asia.

Professor Prasad says when we pool our talent, financial and human resources as well as the combined market power, we will be able to grow whole new industries that are simply not possible at national levels.

He says we are beginning to see regional health facilities emerge – not because of deliberate Government policies but because health providers and entrepreneurs are solving a problem – of Pacific islanders being unable to afford specialist health care in Australia, New Zealand and elsewhere.

He adds a more regional approach to tertiary and specialist healthcare is such a win win zone for our region.

Professor Prasad says we need to build a fully integrated regional economy in which talent flows within the region – from Tonga to Fiji – from Fiji to PNG – from PNG to Solomon Islands.

He also says imagine if our importers were bulk-purchasing Panadol for the whole region – rather than the current practice of small importers buying small quantities for small markets.

Professor Prasad says imagine if as group of countries could secure better trade deals with other large Asian markets.

He says the benefits will flow.

The Sugar Cane Growers Council is calling for a higher operational budget and additional subsidies in the upcoming 2025–2026 National Budget, saying the current allocation is not enough to meet growing demands.

The Council’s CEO, Vimal Dutt says that while they received $800,000 for their operational costs and $200,000 earmarked specifically for the Sugar Cane Growers Council elections, this amount is insufficient to keep up with rising operational costs.

He says this is largely due to expanded responsibilities and the need for councillors in each sector, which will significantly increase administrative and logistical expenses.

Dutt says the government offers assistance in the form of farm input support — including fertilisers, weedicides, and harvesting operations — particularly for manual harvesting.

He adds that farmers benefit from subsidies such as the cane cartage subsidy from Penang to Rarawai Mill, and that in the upcoming budget, they are also hoping for subsidies to support cane health and cane lorry operators in remote areas.

The CEO says the sugarcane industry itself continues to face major challenges, explaining that sugar prices are influenced by global markets.

He notes that this year, sugar prices are slightly lower compared to last year, but there remains optimism in the sector — largely due to the government’s continued support and financial guarantees.

this year.

The CEO says that fewer farmers are growing sugarcane, as some are switching to other crops, however, fully replacing sugarcane is still difficult, and costs are going up because of less labour, high transport costs, and climate problems.

Dutt also mentions that the Council has an interest in crop insurance and is currently in its fourth year of piloting parametric insurance with support from the UNDP.

He says this scheme covers around 10,000 registered farmers, offering compensation in the event of natural disasters, and is a key area for future development.

Dutt adds that, with the harvesting season beginning this month, their teams are already on the ground forming harvesting groups with the Fiji Sugar Corporation.

He says the Council remains hopeful for a productive season and is urging farmers to continue with new planting.

That is the request from Isireli Mokunitulevu, a 65-year-old man who owns 5 acres of land in the Davuilevu Farm Road area.

He shares the last government promised farmers road access in his area and the Ministry of Agriculture assistance in clearing the farms with diggers.

He says most of the farmers find it challenging in the development of their farms to transport crops from the farm to their homes with no road access, and the weather conditions make it more unbearable.

He says that he has completed the paperwork required from the Ministry and written back to the Ministry of Agriculture,.

There has been no response.

Mokunitulevu has paid for three company diggers with a charge of $80 per hour to clear up his farm.

Isireli is a Uvi and Dalo farmer and has a farmhouse with more than 9 pigs.

He is calling on the government to provide the road to the farm and assistance.

The Health Ministry is hoping to receive more funding to battle the increase in HIV cases in the upcoming budget.

Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says the Ministry received $6 million for this financial year and hopes to receive more to cater for their HIV programs.

The Minister also highlighted they hope for more funding to strengthen primary health care and more allocations for outreach capabilities.

Dr Lalabalavu says they will also be making a submission for new equipment, medications, and infrastructure upgrades.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has revealed that 1,583 cases of HIV was recorded between January and December 2024 - and 90.3 percent of this are iTaukei.

This is equivalent to 1,430 individuals.

8.4 percent of the cases were among Fijians of Indian descent, and 1.3 percent were from other ethnic groups.

The 2025/2026 National Budget will be announced on the 27th of this month.

Villagers of Namosi have raised concerns over the lack of government stakeholders visiting villages in the interior of Namosi and conducting awareness programs regularly, however, Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Sakiasi Ditoka says the Assistant District Officer based at the government station in Dada, Namosi, regularly visits villages in the Namosi district for consultations.

Namosi villager Maria Kusitina says it has been evident in their experience that non-governmental organisations appear to be more caring than the government.

The 40-year-old says NGOs visit their village at the end of every month to check on their water tanks, ensure cleanliness, and address other issues, whereas the government only visits once a year.

She adds challenges they face are the lack of clean water, and they request the government to assist by providing chlorine for purification.

Kusitina also highlighted that government officials should not only visit their villages in the lead-up to elections to assist.

Minister for Rural Development Sakiasi Ditoka says the report from the Assistant District Officer indicates that discussions were held on drainage issues, and visits were also made to several applicants for the Rural Health Unit from both last year and this year.

The National Budget will be delivered by Professor Biman Prasad, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance on the 27th of this month.

With the country’s HIV status continuing to grow, the Health Ministry is looking at getting more funding in the upcoming 2025/2026 National Budget to run their different HIV programs.

Minister for Health Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu says they always want an increase and have asked for an increase in some programmes, particularly HIV programs.

He says they hope for more funding to strengthen primary health-care and more allocations for outreach capabilities.

Dr Lalabalavu says they have also made submissions for new equipment, medications, and infrastructure upgrades.

While speaking about the challenges the Ministry continues to face in terms of workforce, the Minister says they still face some issues in this area, as he has been told that some recruitments were done overseas in the last few weeks.

He says the Ministry is trying to identify some push factors and put in place good remuneration and better working conditions for staff.

Dr Lalabalavu adds the government is committed to ensuring that they look after our staff very well so that they stay and work for Fiji in future.

The Minister says they are also working with the Education Ministry through its tertiary facilities to ensure those who have graduated are at the same time admitted into the workforce as replacements. He adds that they are working very hard to retain experienced nurses and doctors and hopes this can be factored in the budget.

The Minister also revealed that not all graduates want to work in the Ministry as their papers are recognised in Australia and New Zealand.

Meanwhile, the Ministry has revealed that 1,583 cases of HIV was recorded between January and December 2024 - and 90.3 percent of this are iTaukei.

This is equivalent to 1,430 individuals.

8.4 percent of the cases were among Fijians of Indian descent, and 1.3 percent were from other ethnic groups.

50 percent of the new HIV cases last year are from injectable drug use.

The 2025/2026 National Budget will be announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad next Friday.

People receiving social welfare assistance can hope for an increase in the 2024/2026 National Budget as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad has indicated an increase for social welfare.

The Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protection was allocated $199.5 million in the 2024-2025 Budget where $171.3 million was allocated for the Department of Social Protection which is responsible for the administration of Government’s Social Protection Programmes which provides support to vulnerable families, children, persons living with disabilities and our senior citizens.

The programmes are expected continue to assist more than 105,000 beneficiaries.

The major programmes are the Family Assistance Scheme, Child Protection Allowance, Social Pension Scheme, Allowance for Persons with Disability, Rural Pregnant Mothers’ Food Allowance and Transport Assistance Scheme.

The Ministry also established the Department of Children in this financial year that ensures the safety and protection of the children of Fiji, including those under the care of the State.

A budget of $80,000 was allocated to establishment the department but it is expected to increase.

The Government is also expected to continue to provide budgetary support to ensure that the Department of Women continues with its advisory role to Government to ensure the integration of all women and girls’ needs, interests, concerns, contributions and perspectives into policies, strategies, programs and budgets.

The Department is also expected to continue with the implementation of the National Action Plan for the Prevention on Violence against All Women and Girls.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad will deliver the 2025-2026 National Budget next Friday.

In the lead-up to the National Budget announcement, local non-government organisations are calling for stronger government support — particularly for grassroots initiatives in under-served regions.

Vu-Care Foundation President, Amelia Simmons says they are looking forward to a very favourable budget and are hopeful that the government will consider supporting their ongoing projects

She says one of the foundation’s main goals is to build a community centre that will focus on raising awareness about drug abuse and mental health — issues that are affecting many of our communities.

She adds that the centre would also offer vital support services, education, and rehabilitation programmes.

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad will present the 2025/2026 National Budget next Friday.

We call for a living wage of $8 per hour to achieve a decline in the poverty rate.

This has been highlighted by the Fiji Trades Union Congress in their submission for the 2025-2026 National Budget.

FTUC says they do not believe the justification to keep the minimum wage well below the poverty line is to save jobs.

They say this is a tired argument that has been debunked many times by credible research over the years.

FTUC says while this may still be below the poverty line, they believe this may be a good place to start and that a review be undertaken annually with a view to ensuring a living wage where no one should earn below the poverty line and enjoy a decent standard of living.

They also request budget allocations be increased to the Ministry of Health and Ministry for Education for the elimination of NCDs to promote healthy living.

FTUC says advertisements and promotional campaigns must be monitored where snacks and soft drinks are being promoted at an early age for children.

They stress there must be intensive and meaningful campaigns to reduce NCD-related deaths, starting at root causes.

The Union also says many epidemics are being announced such as dengue fever, HIV, drugs, and NCDs already in the top statistics for Fiji.

They say the state of medical facilities is also a concern and citizens should not be made to buy medicine.

FTUC says despite government making amends, this still continues and this is why they seek from the government to currently look into Aspen and hospitals in Navua, Nadi, Lautoka and Sigatoka in particular.

They also say an ordinary citizen cannot afford insurance for health or life and this must be looked into to address this gap.

The Union says overseas treatment is only possible for the grassroots if their fundraising is successful and those who can afford insurance are able to do so through insurance.

FTUC further says there has been a lot of staff departures from the civil service and they are calling on the government to explore methods for retention of staff.

They also request that the FNPF Act be reviewed to revert to a tripartite structure where equal number of representatives should be appointed from the workers' organisations, employers' organisations and the government.

They have also highlighted that the revitalisation of National Training and Productivity Centre as the sole provider for vocational training is welcomed and they hope that government supports this to ensure workers with skill qualifications for the local market is the core of their training.

They further say the review of Fiji’s labour laws which has been delayed for 16 years, must be finalised urgently to uphold workers’ rights.

They say despite agreements signed with FTUC, ILO, and employers, progress remains stalled as employers continue to delay reforms citing consultation issues.

FTUC is urging the government to allocate budget support to ensure the completion of this exercise in a timely manner.

They have also highlighted that issues at the Water Authority of Fiji remain unresolved, and the workers terminated in 2019 still awaiting justice.

They are urging the government to allocate budgeted compensation, similar to the Vatukoula strike case, as previously promised.

FTUC is also calling for urgent amendments and gazetting of Wages Regulation Orders, with budget support for Wages Councils meetings.

They say enforcement of labour and OHS laws remains weak due to a lack of trained inspectors and legal power and adequate funding is needed for manpower, training, and awareness on workers’ rights.

The Union adds the government must lead by promoting union membership and education on ILO conventions and labour laws.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance will announce the 2025-2026 National Budget next Friday at 10am.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad confirms that the income tax threshold will remain at $30,000 in the upcoming national budget.

Professor Prasad says this decision is consistent with last year’s approach and reflects the government’s commitment to protecting household disposable income, especially for lower-to middle-income earners.

The Deputy Prime Minister says they have made a conscious decision not to reduce the threshold last year and they will maintain that same approach this year.

He adds at a time when many families are facing rising living costs, this measure ensures that more money stays in the pockets of those who need it the most.

Professor Prasad will announce the 2025-2026 National Budget next Friday at 10am.

The government says it will make some positive announcements when fijivillage News asked the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad on the school management committees requesting the government to increase the free education grant, have flexibility on fundraising activities and the call for schools to be able to charge some levies to improve infrastructure.

As he gets ready to deliver the 2025/2026 National Budget address next Friday, Professor Prasad says unfortunately the previous government dismantled the parents, teachers and school committee partnerships.

He says this was an election gimmick where they said to parents they do not have to pay anything but the government did not give enough money to maintain the school infrastructure which is unfortunately in a dilapidated state now.

You can watch the special budget build-up interview with Professor Prasad at 7pm tonight on our facebook and YouTube page, fijivillage.

Professor Prasad will deliver the National Budget address at 10am next Friday.

Monitoring of exorbitant price hikes of goods and taking action against unscrupulous businesses who are not passing down tax or duty reductions announced by the government will be carefully looked at in the 2025/2026 National Budget.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad agrees that while cost of living remains a global issue, he is now planning to put in effective measures to deal with certain issues that can assist people.

Professor Prasad says they expect the FCCC, Consumer Council of Fiji, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service and the Ministry of Finance to carefully monitor the policies and ensure that the benefits are passed down to the people.

Professor Prasad will deliver the 20205/2026 National Budget address at 10am next Friday.

The Fiji Roads Authority says maintenance work on Tawake Road from Lagi Duavata to Tawake Road did not cease following the change in government as claimed by the village headman of Tawake Village.

FRA says the last maintenance work was in May 2025 as part of their routine maintenance program.   They say Tawake Road is not a bus route; however, it is accessed by RSLs for school transportation.

They say FRA has included Tawake Road, along with Nukusere-Lagi, Qaranivai, and Lagi-Duavata roads, in its routine maintenance program—and will continue to do so as part of its ongoing commitment to maintaining road networks.   Meanwhile, Tawake Village Headman Mitieli Rokoqialevu says the previous government had started fixing their roads, and all upgrade works stopped when the government changed after the 2022 general elections.

He says the work has not continued since then, and children from nearby villages and communities are walking long distances to receive education. Rokoqialevu says the condition of the roads has also resulted in them paying higher costs to receive essential services such as health.

He adds that the five villages in the district of Tawake pay around $370 to reach Labasa Town, but if their roads are fixed, bus services will reach their villages and it will cost them less.

The Village Headman says they pay about $50 one way from Tawake Village to Wainigadru and another $150 from Wainigadru to Labasa Town.

He adds they will have to pay the same amount when they travel back.

He says it is difficult for the villagers in the upper coastal region as their only mode of transportation is by boat, and they have to pay more to reach essential services.

Rokoqialevu says if one needs life-saving urgent medical treatment, they cannot receive it because of the condition of the roads.

He is pleading on behalf of the villages that use the road to the government to hear their plea because accessing essential services such as schools and health is vital for everyone’s development.

Anticipate an increase in Government expenditure resulting in an increased budget deficit and debt-to-GDP ratio as they will be focusing on adjusting to the expected global economic slowdown due to ongoing wars in other parts of the world.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says the Iran-Israel war, the Ukraine war, and the Syrian war are global uncertainties that may have an impact on all the economies around the world and especially ours, which is a tourism-dominated economy.

He says what they did in the last budget was very good because they set a foundation and created the fiscal space.

Professor Prasad says even if the government has to increase the expenditure in this budget, as a domestic policy push to counter any adverse impact of the global economic slowdown, we are in a strong position.

Professor Prasad will deliver the 2025/2026 National Budget address at 10am Friday.

A prominent Rakiraki businessman has commended the government for paying cane farmers $17 a tonne as the fourth cane payment and $5 assistance for the new season as it also helped the business community but he is also urging the government to be cautious when preparing the 2025-2026 National Budget.

Former politician George Shiu Raj says the 15 percent VAT has hurt the poor people.

He says about 90 percent of cane farmers in Ra are in debt, but the $22 payment helped boost normal business activity, especially on peak supermarket days.

He further says with a population of about 30,000, the main sources of income in the province of Ra are sugar, fishing, and tourism.

Raj says with development space running out between Nadi and Sigatoka, the focus is shifting to Ra, where tourism is thriving due to its natural beauty, growing hotel industry, and strong investment efforts led by locals and businesses like Volivoli Beach Resort, Duadua Beach Resort, Rups, and Dreamview.

He says he has also been investing $5 million in a service station and a mall which will open in August.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad will deliver the 2025-2026 National at 10am this Friday.

The Fiji Bus Operators Association states that they strongly support the continuation of the e-ticketing system as it promotes fairness, accountability, and sustainability in the public transportation sector.

Association President, Richard Lal refers to the article published on fijivillage on 26th May 2025, where certain “concerned citizens” questioned the current e-ticketing system and its impact.

Lal says they would like to respectfully ask who are these concerned citizens as it would be more constructive and transparent if these individuals or groups were named or represented by a spokesperson.

He says our way of life is changing, and technology has rapidly evolved and will continue to do so.

Lal says Fiji’s bus operators are also moving with the times, and the e-ticketing system has been in place for over seven years and has proven to be an effective, transparent, and accountable method of fare collection.

He says the claims made by a small minority against e-ticketing often come from individuals who prefer paying cash, sometimes to avoid paying the correct fare.

Lal says the e-ticketing system ensures accurate data collection, prevents fare evasion, supports government revenue through proper taxation, and above all, maintains fare at an affordable rate for passengers. Prior to this system, pilferage and fare manipulation were significant issues across the industry.

He says to the “concerned citizens” that they welcome the opportunity to meet with them, hear their concerns and engage in constructive dialogue so they achieve better outcomes for all Fijians.

Following the continuous issues faced by people on the ground who deal with the e-transport system every day, a group of concerned citizens have called for the immediate reinstatement of cash payment options on all bus routes, and the elimination of fines for passengers unable to use e-cards due to system failures.

They are also calling for the reform of regulations that punish bus drivers for showing compassion to passengers in need, the immediate expansion of e-transport top-up options beyond MPAiSA, the development of truly offline-capable payment solutions that work without internet connectivity, and greater transparency about system limitations and backup plans during outages.

The group that contacted fijvillage News with a statement says the path forward isn't about choosing between digital innovation and traditional payment methods – it's about embracing both to create a more resilient, inclusive transport system.

They say Fiji's diverse geography, variable connectivity, and socioeconomic realities requires a transport payment system that works for everyone, everywhere, every time.

They add while digital solutions offer convenience and efficiency under ideal conditions, cash provides the universal fallback that ensures no one is left behind when those conditions aren't met.

The group says let's not mistake digitisation for progress if it comes at the cost of accessibility and reliability.

They stress that progress means building systems that work for all of us – from school children to the elderly, from rural villagers to urban professionals – and right now, that means allowing the use of cash. The group says the hundreds of thousands of people who catch buses daily, including tourists and potential travellers, deserve a system that includes them.

They say the hundreds of people left stranded in the rain at Suva Bus Stand last month deserve better.

They say their time is valuable – too precious to waste waiting for systems to work or be fixed and they certainly shouldn't be punished with hefty fines when the system fails them.

The group says it's time to acknowledge that here, cash is king.

They add in the rush to modernise Fiji's public transport system, we have created a divide that leaves many stranded – literally.

The group says unlike compact countries like Singapore, Fiji spans over 330 islands across 18,300 square kilometres, and our geography presents unique challenges that a one-size-fits-all digital payment system cannot adequately address.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, Manoa Kamikamica says they are working on providing the best solutions to the people.

The e-transport app cannot be downloaded for iPhone users and some of the Android users, the payment for bus fare can only be done via MPAiSA, and people need to have MPAiSA to be able to transfer the funds or top up before paying via MPAiSA.

The use of disposable cards, which is part of the law, have also been discontinued. This was an emergency option for travellers in the past.

We had sent further questions to Vodafone Fiji on issues raised by people. They are yet to respond.