Remittances have helped keep the economy afloat – Rabuka

Remittances have been the largest foreign exchange earner that has helped to keep the economy afloat.

This has been highlighted by Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka while meeting with Fijians in Samoa where he has thanked them for continuing to send money to family members back home.

Rabuka has also paid tribute to all the people of Fiji, including all her children in the diaspora and the important contributions they continue to make to their families in Fiji and the nation.

He says the peoples’ confidence in the government inspires them to do more and they are doing well in many ways, but they need to be grounded in reality.

The Prime Minister says the government is acutely aware that before the results can be seen, they must first deal with big challenges and problems such as the national debt and diminished economic capacity.

He says Fiji is weighed down with a record level of debt and the coalition government aims to manage this prudently while preserving the ability to meet their commitments to the Fijian people.

Rabuka says those commitments are to give the people of Fiji the services and amenities to which they are entitled.

He says they have to restore basic services such as water supply and road, existing infrastructure needs immediate attention, which they are trying to do right now.

Rabuka adds this will cause some financial pains but when it is over, can move forward with confidence.