Fiji Council of Social Services calls for removal of VAT from basic food items and activation of DISMAC to assist in COVID operations

Removal of VAT from basic food items is one of the main submissions made by the Fiji Council of Social Services for the upcoming National Budget.

Executive Director, Vani Catanasiga says they can see from the last few months that access to food is a challenge particularly for vulnerable communities.

Catanasiga says government will have to look at other areas to source revenue as people are finding major difficulties to provide basic food for their families.

Catanasiga says they have also submitted that government should seriously look at agriculture for food security and should facilitate agricultural land packages, diversification for agricultural support, educational programme for best agricultural practices with scholarships for studies and market access facilitation for agricultural produce.

Catanasiga says government should also provide alternative crops and their markets that can yield even a higher income than what people receive from marijuana.

She says finding a solution to this issue will ensure safety and security in the 223 communities in Nadroga and will also potentially create jobs.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Council of Social Services has also called for the activation of the Disaster Management Committee (DISMAC) to bring the full surge support currently missing from the Incident Management approach that Ministry of Health has been utilising since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis.

Catanasiga says this will mean that all agencies and stakeholders including civil society will be able to collectively bring their resources, expertise and experiences from previous humanitarian events and build a whole of society response.