Everyone knows the situation at hand and there is no need to set up a parliamentary committee - PM

Those who can govern will govern and those who can’t will want to form committees.

Those are the comments of Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama as he spoke against SODELPA MP, Ro Filipe Tuisawau’s motion to establish a special parliamentary committee to inquire into the socio-economic impact of COVID-19.

Bainimarama says everyone knows the situation at hand and there is no need to set up a parliamentary committee.

Bainimarama says the $2 billion dollars COVID Stimulus Package in the National Budget together with the FNPF assistance will help Fijians pull through.

He says $100 million has been allocated in direct unemployment assistance for those whose jobs have been lost or whose hours have been cut.

Businesses can also access $60 million under the Disaster Rehabilitation and Containment Facility through the Reserve Bank of Fiji available with commercial banks at a maximum interest rate of 5 percent.

The Prime Minister says as of yesterday, around $93.9 million has been paid out to 113,000 Fijians. Of this, $68.1 million is from members’ FNPF general accounts and $25.8 million was provided by the government.

Bainimarama says an additional $44.5 million has been allocated to strengthen our health system and help it to respond effectively to the pandemic.

He says an additional $32 million was channelled towards social welfare services to cater for the most vulnerable in the society while they also have the COVID-19 concessional loan package for the small and micro businesses that have been severely affected by the pandemic.

Bainimarama says the UN has commended the government for a bold and courageous budget and Fiji is working closely with the World Bank, the ADB and IMF to implement policies for recovery from the crisis.

He also says Fiji is COVID-contained and no country has a better record than Fiji in keeping it’s people safe from this terrible pandemic.

The Prime Minister also says Fiji has not seen a case in our communities for over 130 days.

Ro Filipe’s motion was defeated in parliament.