The Peoples’ Coalition Cabinet held its 15th meeting of 2024 on Tuesday 10 September 2024.
The decisions of Cabinet include the following:
- Fiji’s Joint Submissions to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf on Extended Continental Shelf Claim
Cabinet agreed that Fiji submit a completed joint submission with Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (Commission) on the joint extended continental shelf (ECS) claim in the North Fiji Basin (NFB) in accordance with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Cabinet also agreed that Fiji submit a partial joint submission with Solomon Islands to the Commission on the ECS claim over the Melanesian Borderland Plateau (MBP).
Support has been obtained from SPC to assist Fiji’s Maritime Affairs Coordinating Committee in the submission process.
- Fiji’s Acceptance of the Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training Related to Nuclear Science and Technology, 2017
Cabinet has endorsed that parliamentary endorsement be sought for Fiji’s acceptance of the 2017 Regional Cooperative Agreement (RCA) for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology.
The 2017 RCA is an intergovernmental agreement for the East Asia and Pacific region under the support of the IAEA.
The Agreement governs the region’s technical cooperation programmes in promoting and coordinating cooperative research, development and training projects in nuclear science and technology through relevant national institutions.
- Upcoming High-Level International Meetings and Fiji’s Representation
Cabinet was briefed on upcoming high-level engagements that will require Fiji’s participation.
Global summits and international meetings play a crucial role in bringing world leaders together to drive commitments and coordinate responses to these and other pressing issues.
Appropriate internal coordination is necessary to ensure the best level of representation from Fiji as many of the most consequential summits this year, and in the coming year, will seek to build off and implement ambitious targets, pledges, and goals that have already been agreed upon.
- Fiji Foreign Policy White Paper
Cabinet endorsed Fiji’s Foreign Policy White Paper.
The white paper articulates Fiji’s Foreign Policy priorities under the following broad areas:
- Sovereignty Identity and Values;
- Security;
- Transnational Security;
- Climate Change;
- Bilateral Relationships including the major powers;
- Prosperity;
- Foreign Policy and Development Assistance; and
- Implementing Foreign Policy.
A whole of Government process was engaged in the formulation of the white paper to guide Fiji’s international engagements into the future.
- Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia to Host National Day in Fiji
Cabinet agreed that the non-resident Ambassador of Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Fiji, His Excellency Sultan Fahad A Bin Khuzaim, hold a ceremony to celebrate the 94th National Day of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Suva this year.
The Saudi National Day is a significant day for the Kingdom, as it commemorates the day for the unification of the Kingdom by King Abdulaziz in year 1932.
Bilateral cooperation and diplomatic relations between the Republic of Fiji and the Royal Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, was established in 2015. Ever since there have been numerous visits to Fiji by officials from the Saudi Arabia.
- Japanese Assistance for Human Resource Development Scholarships
Cabinet endorsed the execution of a Grant Agreement for Human Resource Development Scholarship offered by the Government of Japan under the Japan Development Scholarship (JDS).
The Government of Japan, through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), will be implementing the “Project for Human Resource Development Scholarship” initiative.
This initiative includes a grant up to 165 million Japanese Yen (appropriately FDJ2.3 million), aimed at providing scholarships for Civil Servants and Statutory bodies to pursue studies in Japanese Universities.
- Preparations for the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
- further negotiation on the monitoring framework;
- advancing resource mobilisation (in particular how the implementation would be financed); and
- finalising the multilateral mechanism on fair and equitable Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources.
Fiji joined 190 countries in signing the Convention on Biological Diversity at Rio de Janeiro in 1992, thus committing to addressing the state of the world’s biodiversity.
- Preparations for the 29th Conference of the Parties
Cabinet endorsed Fiji’s delegation to the 29th Conference of Parties (COP29) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) from 11 – 22 November, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan.
Fiji’s delegation will be led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minster for Finance, National Development, Strategic Planning and Statistics.
COP 29 will focus on several thematic areas including:
- climate finance;
- carbon markets;
- mitigation;
- adaptation;
- loss and damage; and
- oceans, among others.
An interagency Technical Working Group led by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change will provide the necessary preparatory support to Fiji’s Delegation.
- Public Consultation for the Reintroduction of Scaling in the National Examination Process
Cabinet agreed that public consultations be undertaken on the intention to reintroduce scaling in national examinations at both primary and secondary school levels.
A decision on the reintroduction of scaling will be taken after the public consultation process.
The scaling system was introduced in 1979 for the Fiji Seventh Form Certificate Examination and in 1989 for Fiji School Leaving Certificate Examination as a principled method of addressing subject equivalence. It was removed in 2015.
- Review of the Education Act 1966
Cabinet has endorsed the review of the Education Act 1966 (Act).
The Act serves as the foundational legislation that governs the provision and administration of education in Fiji. A comprehensive review of the Act is long overdue.
The review is to ensure the following:
- alignment with the current educational landscape;
- meeting the evolving needs of students, teachers, parents, and the broader community; and
- addressing educational issues or gaps that may have emerged since its last revision.
The comprehensive review will be undertaken through a nationwide consultation process.
- Proposed Restructure of the Bank of South Pacific Financial Group Limited – Fiji from Branch Operation to a Subsidiary Structure and the Draft BSP Fiji Bill 2024
Cabinet agreed that national consultations be conducted with relevant stakeholders on the proposed restructure of Bank of South Pacific (BSP) Fiji and the draft BSP Fiji Bill 2024 (Bill).
The Bank of South Pacific Financial Group Limited’s (BSP Group and parent company) intends to restructure BSP Financial Group Limited – Fiji (BSP Fiji) by converting its Fiji Branch operations into a subsidiary structure.
This is in line with recent global corporate financial structure trends and to gain operational efficiencies
BSP Fiji proposes to implement the conversion by way of a legislation, that is, assign BSP Fiji’s existing business to the new subsidiary.
- National HIV Surge Strategy 2024-2027
Cabinet approved the National HIV Surge Strategy 2024-2027.
The implementation of the Strategy will be overseen by the HIV Board which is established under the HIV/AIDS Act 2011.
The National Strategy focuses on accelerating public health, treatment, care, human rights, and social justice for HIV and drug use.
The objectives include:
- aligning legislation with international standards;
- increasing access to HIV testing and treatment;
- expanding harm reduction programs;
- promoting education and awareness;
- strengthening data collection and analysis; and
- advocating for policy changes.
The goal of the strategy is to create a coordinated response to the intersecting issues of HIV and drug use, with a focus on prevention, treatment, harm reduction, and social justice.
- Out of Port Clearance Fee
Cabinet endorsed a review of the concessional rate for the Out of Port Clearance fee for vessels.
The fee structure in the Schedule of the Quarantine Rules 1965 relating to Health Sufferance clearance for yacht rallies to Fiji will be reviewed.
A consultative approach will be taken for the review.
- Review of the Burial and Cremation Act 1911
- Partnership Arrangement between New Zealand Ministry of Foreign and Trade and Ministry of Housing, Fiji
Cabinet endorsed a Partnership Arrangement between New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT) and Fiji’s Ministry of Housing.
The three – year collaboration with New Zealand is to strengthen the Ministry’s role through:
- increased access to affordable high quality social housing for communities in Fiji;
- increased provision and coordination of basic services to informal settlements in the greater Suva area; and
- increased strategy and planning capacity within the public sector for long-term development within the housing sector.
MFAT will be providing approximately $11,520,533 (NZD) for the new partnership arrangement.
- Director’s Remuneration Policy 2024
Cabinet endorsed the Director’s Remuneration Policy 2024.
The 2024 policy is an outcome of a review of the Remuneration and Benefits Policy 2009 for directors of Government Commercial Companies and Commercial Statutory Authorities.
The new policy is reflective of the considerable changes in business dynamics and overall business environment with more accountability and responsibility placed on the board of directors.
The new policy comes into effect today.
- Review of Fiji’s Legislation on Fraud and Scam Protection
Cabinet approved the review of legislation pertaining to fraud and scam protection.
The review is to ensure that protections and safeguards are in place to address cyber threats and fraudulent activities.
The review will be undertaken with the support of the United Nations Capital Development Fund.