The Coalition Government’s 2024-2025 Budget offers no innovative measures to address high cost of living for ordinary Fijians who are being pushed into poverty.
Opposition MP Hem Chand highlighted this during the budget debate in Parliament on Monday.
“In the last five-six days, I have met farmers, teachers, market vendors, factory workers, taxidrivers, people living in rural and very remote areas, residents of outer islands and many other groups of people,” Mr Chand said.
“They have all expressed their disappointment with the 2024-2025 budget and are concerned over the rising food costs.
“Many shared (the) same concerns about this budget and they feel that this budget unfairly punishes the poor causing more hardships to the families.
“They also fear that there will be more street kids and rising poverty levels as a result.”
He said the 15 per cent VAT imposed in the last budget was intact and it was having a great impact on Fijian’s livelihood.
“This decision directly affects the bread-and-butter issues of the Fijians, and the Government has shown a blatant disregard for the cost of living they were promising to address during election campaign.
“The increase in VAT rate from 9 per cent to 15 per cent last year has dampen consumer demand as rising cost of living continues to burden our citizens.
“It is having a devastating effect on the poorest of the poor in our community.”
Mr Chand said Fijians had to dig deeper into their pockets to make ends meet.
“Many have the desire to buy essentials but lack the ability to do so.”
He said the Coalition Government should seek alternative ways of raising revenue and growing the economy.
“They should stop extracting more revenue from the weakest in society.
“The Coalition Government should come up with some new initiatives of growing economy rather than punishing poor Fijians with heavy VAT and corporate tax.
“This is an indication that the Coalition Government lacks critical thinking, creativity, and originality but is just rewording the successful policies designed and successfully implemented by the previous government.”
