We cannot have a strong nation without a strong economy - Kiran

We cannot have a strong nation without a strong economy but we need resources and support for the most fundamental things that are important to all of us.

This was stated by the Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Sashi Kiran while supporting the 2023/2024 National Budget in Parliament.

While supporting the budget, the Assistant Minister says she agrees with the Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad when he reminded Fijians that in economics, everything is connected to everything else.

Kiran says she believes this is a budget that indicates the Government is listening to the needs of the people and trying to meet them despite the mounting debt that burdens the Government.

She says she is pleased with the Government’s vision in recognising the need to increase the social protection allowances for the most vulnerable with an allocation of $200.2 million.

84% of the Ministry’s total budget for the new financial year will go towards their Social Protection program and ensure that more than 97,000 beneficiaries on their various support schemes will have an increase in their allowances.

She also responded to former Minister for Employment’s question on Poverty Graduation by saying that they have a new budget on Poverty Graduation because they have recognised particular weaknesses in their system where there are no active plans to move their current beneficiaries out of poverty.

Kiran says there is a need from their Ministry to move people out from schemes such as family assistance, to improve incomes through economic empowerment and provide training to earn jobs, but many have lacked the opportunity.

Kiran says their Ministry will also continue to work with the development partners on new initiative programs on strengthening the social protection centre to assist those that have been affected by disasters.

She says through this, they have allocated financial assistance to old people’s homes and $700,000 is allocated to the refurbishment of the former Ba Mission Hospital complex.

She adds that they have allocated a quarter of a million dollars to scope the Golden Age Home which needs refurbishment due to the damages done by the termites.

Kiran says while termites have severely affected businesses, homes, the tourism industry and Government infrastructure, the Coalition Government has taken the time to listen and has allocated $3 million to begin a support program to those affected.

The Assistant Minister says in nation building, the fundamental things that we need to do are to care for our people, peace, a sense of belonging and a one Fiji.

She says these things will strengthen us in building our confidence to make our country stronger and hope to look after those that are left behind.

She adds that the previous Government had fed mistrust among our different communities, and now we have urgent work to do to fix it.

The Assistant Minister says for the past 6 months they have made a start in commemorating Girmit and Ratu Sukuna Day and the return of the GCC.

She says everyone witnessed the reconciliation ceremony headed by the Methodist Church by committing all Fijians to celebrate in full diversity as we build our new nation.

Kiran stresses that every citizen of Fiji has a role to play in nation building.