THE $18million initially allocated for municipal elections will now be directed to address increasing social and economic pressures faced by the public, says Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
Speaking to the media yesterday after announcing the deferment of local government elections, Mr Rabuka said the funds would instead be used for alleviating the weight of other social costs of the people.
He also noted that the funds could be redirected to support Energy Fiji Ltd (EFL), which warned of potential power rationing if assistance was not received by today.
Mr Rabuka said discussions on how the funds would be allocated would take place between the responsible ministers.
“The minister (Local Government) and Minister for Finance will sit together and come up with that in our next meeting,” he said.
When asked whether the delay in municipal elections would affect the upcoming general elections, he maintained that Government remained bound by the Constitution.
“We are bound by the Constitution to have that and if it’s not going to be held, it will have to be something subject to the Constitution.”
Mr Rabuka said that Cabinet had not discussed any potential delay to Fiji’s general elections.
