It is a transparent and inclusive budget with well-thought-out policies for the growth of the economy that will assist the vulnerable, improve livelihoods and maintain the government assets which was earlier forgotten or neglected by the previous government.
This was highlighted by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Sakiasi Ditoka, during the 2023/2024 National Budget debate in Parliament.
Ditoka says the most valuable lesson the FijiFirst Party has given is how not to run the government because of its mismanagement in the past 16 years.
The Minister says delivering the budget before time speaks volumes of the People’s Coalition Government’s commitment.
Ditoka says the Bureau of Statistics confirms that 200,800 people live below the poverty line which is equivalent to 24.1 percent.
Ditoka says the previous government failed to empower every citizen to improve their livelihoods which is why the poverty rate increased and the Coalition Government will work towards reducing the rates through sustainable policies and resilient infrastructure.
He says his Ministry has been allocated $29.1 million which is an increase of $14.1 million and the major expenditure includes the re-establishment of the rural housing program which is budgeted at $3.2 million and rural and outer island development for which $2.6 million has been allocated from the budget.
He says the Ministry will roll out the new housing scheme to the dwellers who meet the criteria and will work with other stakeholders to construct the latest infrastructure in the rural space to improve livelihoods, facilitate trade, improve transportation and expand agriculture commodities that will be funded under the rural and outer island program.
