Acting Prime Minister, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says our economy was closed for almost two years due to COVID-19, border closure had reduced the revenue by 50 percent overnight and because of that a lot of projects had to be put on hold because the government also needs money.
Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted this during a talanoa session at the Anuve Temple in Bulileka, Labasa.
The Acting Prime Minister says a lot of projects they wanted to start such as making roads, rural electrification and constructing nursing stations had to be put on hold.
He further says the government needs to do things within it’s means.
The Acting Prime Minister has also highlighted that people are raising concerns that prices of some items have increased.
He says because of COVID, freight costs have increased substantially and because of this, prices of some items have increased.
Sayed-Khaiyum says for instance a bag of fertilizer costs $44.60 but the farmers only pay $20 while the government pays the remaining $24.60.
He says China produces about 90 percent of fertilizer for the world and one bag of fertilizer will cost $80 after COVID.
Sayed-Khaiyum has reassured the farmers that they will continue to pay $20 while the government will pay the remaining money.
The Acting Prime Minister also says we have 92-93% of the adult target population fully vaccinated and about 98% of the people have received at least one dose and there is a bit of a gap and they want the 5% to be covered as well.
He says they have been able to open the economy because more people have been vaccinated.
