A prominent Rakiraki businessman has commended the government for paying cane farmers $17 a tonne as the fourth cane payment and $5 assistance for the new season as it also helped the business community but he is also urging the government to be cautious when preparing the 2025-2026 National Budget.
Former politician George Shiu Raj says the 15 percent VAT has hurt the poor people.
He says about 90 percent of cane farmers in Ra are in debt, but the $22 payment helped boost normal business activity, especially on peak supermarket days.
He further says with a population of about 30,000, the main sources of income in the province of Ra are sugar, fishing, and tourism.
Raj says with development space running out between Nadi and Sigatoka, the focus is shifting to Ra, where tourism is thriving due to its natural beauty, growing hotel industry, and strong investment efforts led by locals and businesses like Volivoli Beach Resort, Duadua Beach Resort, Rups, and Dreamview.
He says he has also been investing $5 million in a service station and a mall which will open in August.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad will deliver the 2025-2026 National at 10am this Friday.
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