It is more than 190 days since we have had a case of COVID-19 among the public - PM

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says it has been more than 190 days since we have had a case of COVID-19 among the public - a record no nation can match.

Bainimarama says the health and safety of the Fijian people is our one great advantage at a time when everything else seems stacked against us.

He says right now, many countries are locking back down as a result of new outbreaks of the virus but in Fiji, because we are COVID-Contained, we have the chance to restart our economy without risking people’s well-being.

The Prime Minister says we can live life with relative freedom.

Bainimarama says for those who need Government’s support, they are giving it.

He says no Government in Fijian history has ever paid out more in unemployment assistance than they have through this crisis.

Bainimarama says of the $100 million allocated in direct Government assistance, nearly $50 million has been paid to Fijians this financial year alone who are out-of-work or who are working on reduced hours.

He says they have also provided incentives to the private sector to hire Fijians who have lost their jobs and livelihood, and allocated $60 million in highly concessional loans for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

The Prime Minister also says given we do not know when our border will re-open and given we cannot say when the revenue from tourism will return, we must do more than sit, wait, twiddle our thumbs, and hope for the best. He says we cannot wait on the world to beat this virus.

Bainimarama says instead, we have to create economic activity, create jobs, create development, and create prosperity for ourselves.

He further says in the many months since this global pandemic forced the closure of our borders, the Fijian economy has suffered, our businesses have suffered, and our families have suffered.

He also says every one of us has a friend or family member who has lost a job or had their hours reduced.

The Prime Minister says amid the uncertainty of this crisis, we still cannot say when this crisis will end and when life will return to what we knew.

But he says we are more blessed than most, because we have our health unlike elsewhere, where this virus has killed over one million people.