DECISIONS MADE AT THE 2ND CABINET MEETING HELD ON 21ST JANUARY, 2025

The decisions of Cabinet at its meeting today include the following:

1. Review Of the 2013 Constitution
Cabinet today approved measures to initiate the review of the 2013 Constitution.

A Bill to amend relevant provisions of Chapter 11 of the Constitution will be finalised for tabling in Parliament.

A Constitution Review Commission (the Commission) is also expected to be appointed to engage the people of Fiji in a consultative process regarding the 2013 Constitution.

The 2013 Constitution has been subject to wide criticism since its imposition. The criticisms relate both to the manner and process leading to its adoption, as well as aspects of its substantive content.

In commenting on today's decision of cabinet, Prime Minister Honourable Sitiveni Rabuka offered that Constitutional review or changes featured prominently in most political parties' campaigns during the 2022 general elections.

With cabinet's endorsement, both the bill and the CRC will now form part of the Coalition Government's Legislative Programme of 2025, the details of which would be announced by His Excellency the President at the opening of this year's new session of parliament next month.

2. Relocation of the Fiji Police Force Headquarters
Cabinet has agreed that the Fiji Police Force headquarters be relocated to a convenient and conducive building.
 
The Fiji Police Force has Departments and Units located at various sites around the Suva Area with the main headquarters located at Vinod Patel Complex, Ratu Dovi Rd, Laucala Beach. 
 
The decision was taken in view of the challenges faced by the Fiji Police Force at its current location.
 
The Fiji Police Force will be working with relevant stakeholders to finalize the new location. 

3. Reorganisation of Biosecurity Authority of Fiji
Cabinet has endorsed the reorganization of the Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF). 
 
BAF will be delisted as a Public Enterprise from the Public Enterprises Act 2019.
 
It will be reassigned to the Minister responsible for Agriculture. 
 
This move is expected to result in a better utilization of resources, improved responses to outbreaks with better stakeholder collaboration, better accountability and stronger leadership.
 
4. Memorandum of Understanding for Twinning Programme in the Justice and Legal Sector 
Cabinet endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs of Solomon Islands (MJLASI).
 
The MOU aims to establish a twinning programme to enhance cooperation and capacity building in the justice and legal sectors of both countries, and formalizes collaboration in areas such as legal aid administration, policy development, research, legal practice, and drafting. 
 
The MOU will focus on capacity building, mentoring, and training of corporate administrators of MJLASI, Magistrate Court, and High Court through engagement in Fiji.
 
5. 2025-2026 Fiscal Strategy
Cabinet endorsed the 2025-2026 medium term fiscal strategy.
 
The timelines for the preparation of the FY2025-2026 Budget were also approved.
 
The medium-term fiscal strategy for the period FY2025-2026 to FY2027-2028 is prepared in accordance with Section 12 of the Financial Management (Amendment) Act 2021. 
 
This will be the third MTFS to be tabled to Parliament and subsequently made available to the public for information.
 
6. Public Private Partnership for Affordable Housing Project
Cabinet has endorsed the closure of the Public Private Partnership (PPP) Affordable Housing Project.
 
The decision was taken after it was determined that the project was not financially feasible for the Government.
 
The five sites set aside for the project will be returned to the Housing Authority of Fiji.
 
7. World Bank - Fiji Critical Bridges Resilience Project
Cabinet endorsed the World Bank Group’s loan financing agreements under the ‘Fiji - Critical Bridges Resilience Project’ for total financing amounting to USD 50.0 million (approximately FJD 117.8 million) through its International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and International Development Association (IDA) of USD25.0 million (approximately FJD 58.9 million), respectively.
 
The loan financing is for the following four bridges in critical need of replacement and with detailed engineering designs ready, as identified by the Fiji Roads Authority: 
· Lami bridge at Suvavou;
· Medraukutu bridge at the Lami Cement Factory;
· Sabeto Bridge at the Sabeto River; and 
· Viseisei Bridge between Nadi and Lautoka.

The replacement of these bridges will be co-financed by the ADB (as lead financier), the World Bank group and Government under the ensuing Critical Bridges Resilience Project (Project). Cabinet had already endorsed the financing agreement with the ADB for the project. 
 
8. Memorandum of Understanding with Vital Strategies, Inc.
Cabinet endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding with Vital Strategies, Inc. (Vital Strategies) a partner organisation in the Bloomberg Philanthropies Data for Health Initiative, for US$50,000.00 grant funding to the Fiji Bureau of Statistics (FBoS).
 
The funding is for implementation of a project on “Addressing Gender Inequities in On-time Birth Registration in Fiji through Identification of Priority Geographic Areas for Targeted Interventions”.
 
It will also inform the development and implementation of targeted and gender‑sensitive birth registration awareness programmes and mobile birth registration campaigns in areas where the greatest gender inequities in on-time birth registration are identified.  
 
9. Amendments to the Direct Funding Arrangements with the Government of Australia in Relation to the Fiji Budget Support Programme and the Fiji Social Infrastructure Programme
 
Cabinet has endorsed amendments to the grant funding Arrangement signed between the Government of Australia (Australian Government) and the Government of the Republic of Fiji (Fiji Government) for the Fiji Budget Support Programme (FBSP) and the Fiji Social Infrastructure Programme (FSIP).
 
This is the first amendment to the Direct Funding Arrangement for both programmes.
 
There will be an increase in total funding from the initial AUD58 million to a maximum of AUD 108 million for FBSP.
 
The FSIP budget will be increased by an additional AUD10 million, bringing the programme total to AUD32,250,000. 
 
With the additional funding, FSIP will, amongst others, support implementation of the Colonial War Memorial Hospital Priority Infrastructure Plan and carry out critical and urgent capital works.
 
10. WeProtect Global Alliance – Global Taskforce on Child Sexual Abuse Online
Cabinet agreed that Fiji join the Global Taskforce on Child Sexual Abuse Online as part of national efforts to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse online.
 
The Online Safety Commission (OSC) became a member of the WeProtect Global Alliance which brings together governments, the private sector, civil society and intergovernmental organisations. 
 
In June 2022, the African Union, the European Commission, and twenty nations collaborated with the WeProtect Global Alliance during the Global Summit in Brussels to form a new Global Taskforce against child sexual abuse online. 
 
As the first of its kind, the Global Taskforce seeks to promote better government collaboration and cooperation, as well as facilitate the cooperation required to fill in the gaps and ensure that there are no safe havens for the facilitation or hosting of child sexual abuse material online. 

11. Pacific ICT and Digital Transformation Action Plan 2024-2030
Cabinet endorsed the Pacific ICT and Digital Transformation Action Plan (Action Plan) 2024-2030.
 
The Action Plan outlines the agreed policy items for Pacific Island countries and territories to enhance digital collaboration and improve access to technology. 
 
It is designed to support and enhance the 2050 Strategy of the Blue Pacific Continent.
 
12. Implementation Progress and Strategic Reform of the Public Works Department
Cabinet approved the phased implementation plan for the reform of the Public Works Department (PWD).
 
The reform programme is to strengthen PWD’s operational capacity. 
 
It includes establishing dedicated units for roads, water, and buildings, supported by experienced personnel and modern equipment. 
 
The reform also emphasises workforce development, legislative reviews, and capacity-building initiatives to align PWD’s operations with the government’s broader goals of equitable development and improved public service delivery. 
 
13. Memoranda of Understanding Between Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji and its Regional Counterparts
Cabinet endorsed Memoranda of Understanding between the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) for Mutual Recognition of Seafarer’s Certificate and Technical Cooperation with its regional counterparts namely:
·      Vanuatu Maritime Safety Authority (VMSA)
·      Papua New Guinea National Maritime Safety Authority (PNG NMSA); and 
·      Solomon Islands Maritime Authority (SIMA).
 
MSAF has proactively engaged with regional maritime counterparts to establish partnerships that promote maritime safety, capacity building, and compliance with international maritime standards. 
 
These partnerships are critical for enhancing the delivery of maritime services, ensuring safety at sea, and fulfilling Fiji’s international obligations under the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) conventions, especially the Standards of Training, Certification, and Watch keeping for Seafarers (STCW) Convention, 1978.
 
14. Reestablishment of the Committee on Better Utilisation of Land Programme
Cabinet endorsed the re-establishment of the Committee on Better Utilisation of Land (CBUL) Programme in the next financial year.
 
The programme is intended to promote idle land for production use.
 
A National CBUL Committee and divisional task force shall meet regularly to oversee the effective implementation of the programme.
 
15. Review of the Overarching Legal Framework Dealing with Urban Planning and Development Control
Cabinet has approved the review of the legal framework that is currently guiding urban planning and development control in Fiji.
 
The intention of the review is to realign planning and development, building controls and regulatory framework to allow for consistent rules to be followed across Fiji.
 
Legislation to be reviewed include the Town Planning Act 1946, the Subdivision of Land Act 1937, and Part 3 of the Public Health Act 1935.
 
The National Blue Town Framework will provide the overarching policy direction for urban development in Fiji.
 
16. Letter of Agreement with the Food And Agriculture Organisation on Plant Genetic Resource for Food and Agriculture Project
Cabinet has endorsed a Letter of Agreement with the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) to fund a Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGRFA) project that is expected to benefit 100 farmers in Malolo and Yasawa, Fiji.
 
The project sites are 20 villages from Malolo District in the Nadroga Province and Viwa District, Waya District, Naviti District, Nacula District and Yasawa District in the Ba Province.
 
Limited access to diverse plant materials, resources, knowledge, research and value adding support on some indigenous and introduced plant genetic materials are common challenges identified by the targeted 100 farmers from the respective 20 communities in Yasawa and Malolo Group.
 
This has resulted in farmers continuing to propagate few crops which are commodity and economic driven, resulting in genetic erosion of local varieties, loss of plant/insect biodiversity and species interaction, loss of traditional ecological knowledge and ecosystem functions, increased food and nutrition insecurities as well as reduced productivity and resilience to various external and internal shocks.
 
The main outcome of the project is livelihoods improved for these small-scale farmers through the conservation and sustainable use of PGRFA.
 
17. Pacific Ecosystem–Based Adaptation to Climate Change Project
Cabinet endorsed Government’s engagement in the Pacific Ecosystem-Based Adaptation to Climate Change (PEBACC+) project implemented by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) in Taveuni.
 
Funding from the SPREP under the PEBACC+ project will provide an opportunity for the Ministry of Forestry to support the restoration of the Forest Reserve Blue Line and connecting Riparian water catchments in the Taveuni Forest Reserve. 
 
The project is funded through the Kiwa Initiative from France, the European Union, Canada, New Zealand and Australia and is being implemented in collaboration with the Governments of Fiji, Vanuatu and Solomon Islands, New Caledonia Wallis and Futuna and in partnership with conservation and community development NGOs.
 
18. Extension of the Naboro Landfill Subsidy for Municipal Councils and Rural Local Authorities
Cabinet has approved the extension of the Naboro Landfill annual subsidy of FJD1 million (VEP) for Municipal Councils and Rural Local Authorities to continue for the next 3 years (1 August 2024 – 31 July 2027).
 
Gate fees into the Naboro landfill are categorised into the following waste streams:
·      general waste;
·      green wastes; and
·      special waste. 
 
The Naboro landfill gate fee was increased in 2015 from $21.86 (VEP) to $37.95 (VEP) per tonne for general and green waste, and from $40.00 (VEP) to $60.87 (VEP) per tonne for special waste. 
 
The subsidy covers the difference of an increased gate fee for municipal councils and rural local authorities.