Rabuka says their first step will be to draw up and implement a financial plan to properly address the mountain of debt dumped on the citizens

People’s Alliance Leader Sitiveni Rabuka says they will run a well managed economy where the first step will be to draw up and implement a financial plan to properly address the mountain of debt dumped on the citizens of this country.

In a press conference, Rabuka says the country has been pushed into a downward spiral leading to big increases in poverty, broken infrastructure and chronic failure of essential services such as water and electricity supply and a collapsing health system.

On the minimum wage, Rabuka questioned why the government was already mentioning amounts when they were still consulting.

He says why has the government brought out these amounts now.

The government had said the consultations were on a proposal to increase the National Minimum Wage Rate from $2.68 per hour to between $3.45 to $3.65 per hour.

Rabuka says he has always advocated for a National Minimum Wage Rate of $4 but this will be reviewed.

Rabuka also confirms that a People’s Alliance Government will review the operations and laws relating to the iTaukei Land Trust Board to ensure that it regains its independence.

Rabuka says thanks to Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna the native Fijians agreed to surrender the management of their land to an organisation that was called then the Native Land Trust Board.

He adds before that, leasing of native land was chaotic and corrupt and now in certain parts of Fiji this evil is re-emerging.

Rabuka says he was in Sakoca this week and their story is a very sad one indeed.

The former Prime Minister adds NLTB gave Fiji a method of sharing land based on an orderly predictable system of legally binding leases.

Rabuka further says access to native land became easier and there was certainty for the land owners and tenants.

He says what Ratu Sukuna helped to create has been held up as a model for the administration, use and development of customary land and it has helped Fiji’s economy to grow and it has created jobs.

Rabuka adds a People’s Alliance Government will ensure TLTB fully and fairly addresses the needs of the landowners and tenants.

Rabuka adds they will ensure that TLTB gives special attention to local and foreign investors working on projects addressing priority areas of development bringing benefits to the country and landowners.