DECISIONS MADE AT THE 6TH CABINET MEETING HELD ON 15 APRIL 2025

1. State Visit to Fiji by His Majesty King Tupou Vi and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u,  8th – 12th July 2025
Cabinet endorsed the logistics for the State Visit to Fiji by His Majesty King Tupou VI and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u, of the Kingdom of Tonga, from 8 July 2025 to 12 July 2025.
 
In recognition of the shared heritage and deep historical and cultural ties between Lau and Tonga, the Head of Mataqali Vuanirewa, Tubou Village, Ratu Tevita Uluilakeba Mara had extended an invitation to His Majesty King Tupou VI and Her Majesty Queen Nanasipau’u to the installation ceremony for the Sau Ni Vanua Ko Lau and Tui Lau. 
 
Their Majesties have since accepted the invitation to the installation ceremony that will take place on Thursday 10 July 2025, in Tubou Village, Lakeba, Lau. 
 
An inter-agency task force has been established to coordinate the visit.
 
2. Japan Grant Funding for Disaster Response Multi-Purpose Vessel
Cabinet endorsed the signing of Exchange of Notes and related documents, with the Government of Japan for the procurement of a Disaster Response Multi-Purpose vessel under the Japan Economic Social Development Programme (ESDP).
 
The Government of Japan will provide grant funding of Japanese Yen   $1,765,000,00 (approximately FJD $27.2 million dollars) for the procurement of a Disaster Response Multi-Purpose vessel.
 
The vessel will be equipped with the latest navigation system to safeguard against potential damage and disasters as well as necessary support machinery that are required for loading/unloading genera cargo and goods.
 
3. Letter of Agreement with Market Development Facility For Collaboration on Kava Die Back Disease
Cabinet endorsed the Letter of Agreement (LOA) with the Market Development Facility (MDF) for collaboration on Kava Die Back Disease.
 
The Kava Dieback Disease is a viral disease which manifests as a rapidly progressing rot, turning the stem black before causing it to collapse and die. Effective management and preventive measures are essential to control the spread of the disease and mitigate its impact on yaqona cultivation.
 
The support from MDF will allow for a joint collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture to reduce the incidence of the Kava Dieback Disease and to develop mechanisms to support kava farmers to continue to control the disease in future.
 
4. Agreement Between the Ministry of Housing, Public Rental Board and International Solar Alliance
Cabinet endorsed a Tripartite Agreement (Agreement), between the Ministry of Housing (Ministry), the Public Rental Board (PRB) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA).
 
The Agreement is for the supply of the solar mini-grid to equip Block 3 of the Raiwai PRB flats with a solar panel system, providing power to 24 one-bedroom flats. 
 
The intention of this project is to provide a reliable and high-quality electricity supply to the residents of the Raiwai PRB flats by leveraging solar power technology. 
 
The Project is scheduled for completion within a 17-week timeline.
 
5. Fiji Protective Security Framework
Cabinet endorsed the Fiji Protective Security Framework (FPSF).

The FPSF comprises four elements as follows:
 
Security Governance (GOVSEC) is about ensuring that an agency has security management structures, procedures, and culture in place to respond appropriately to security events;
 
Personnel Security (PERSEC) is about ensuring that people are trusted to have access to official information and assets.;
 
Information Security (INFOSEC), deals with protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of information whether this involves the handling, access, storage or dissemination of information; and
 
Physical Security (PHYSEC), which is about providing and maintaining a safe and secure working environment that aligns with protecting the information classification system. 
 
The implementation of the FPSF will be led by the Ministry of Defence.
 
6. Fiji Government’s Participation at the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference 2025
Cabinet endorsed Fiji’s participation at the 113th Session of the International Labour Conference (ILC) that will be held and hosted in Geneva, Switzerland from the 2 – 13 June 2025.
 
Fiji will update ILO on the progress made by the People’s Coalition Government in relation to the restoration of the rights of workers/ employers/ trade unions and the review process of the Employment Relations Act (ERA) 2007.
 
Fiji’s tripartite delegation will be led by the Minister for Employment, Productivity, and Workplace Relations (Minister), Honourable Agni Deo Singh.
 
7. Establishment of the Embassy of the Republic of Philippines in Suva, Fiji
Cabinet endorsed a request from the Republic of Philippines (Philippines) to establish an Embassy in Suva.
 
Fiji and Philippines established diplomatic relations on 18 December 1973. 
 
Currently, the Embassy of the Republic of Philippines in Wellington is accredited to Fiji while the Republic of Fiji Embassy in Jakarta is accredited to the Philippines. Bilateral cooperation has also been extended through the assistance of the Honorary Consulate Offices respectively in Fiji and the Philippines. 
 
The establishment of an Embassy in Suva will enhance the growing level of engagement between Fiji and the Philippines particularly in critical areas such as labour mobility, agriculture, security (drug trafficking), climate change, maritime and ocean affairs.
 
8. Global Environment Facility Islands Project
Cabinet endorsed the Letter of Agreement with the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) for the implementation of the ISLANDS Pacific Project.
 
The ISLANDS Pacific Project is a Global Environment Facility (GEF)-funded initiative aimed at sustainable chemical and waste management in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
 
The primary objective of the project is to reduce hazardous chemical waste risks in Pacific SIDS, including Fiji, through the development of national policy frameworks, capacity building, and sustainable waste management initiatives.  
 
9. Memorandum of Understanding for the Application of Amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries Between the Government of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America
Cabinet endorsed changes to the 2016 and 2024 Memoranda Understanding (MoU) for the application of the amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries between the Government of certain Pacific Island States (PIPs) and the Government of the United States of America (US).
 
In 1987, the PIPs and the US Government engaged in the 1987 Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of Certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America (Treaty). This was built on the aspects of fisheries access to the US purse seining tuna fishing fleet in the PIP’s waters and that was reciprocated with the concepts of the promotion of economic development in the Pacific region. 
 
The amendments to the Treaty reflected in the 2016 and 2024 MoU are currently non-binding and applied voluntarily. These amendments cover a wide range of text conducive to the implementation of the Treaty and its benefits to the PIPs and cover the allocation of fishing access days to the membership of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement including Kiribati and the Cook Islands, in addition to the Exploratory Pool made up of Fiji, Niue, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. Other aspects of the amendments cover definitions, operational matters,  licensing conditions, the application of the PNA Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) and the application for additional days.
 
Following the endorsement of the amended MoU, Fiji will now ratify the same through a submission to the Depository in Papua New Guinea.
 
10. Government’s Mid-Year Fiscal Performance for FY2024-2025
Cabinet was updated on Government’s fiscal performance for the first six months (August 2024 to January 2025) of the 2024-2025 financial year.
 
Cabinet noted that the mid-year fiscal performance for FY2024-2025 has significantly improved compared to the same period last year, and this was largely driven by the strong tax revenue growth and lower-than-anticipated spending in both operating and capital expenditures. 
 
11. National Archives of Fiji
Cabinet was updated on the functions and activities of the National Archives of Fiji.
 
The National Archives of Fiji is entrusted with managing the Government’s recordkeeping regime through an accountable and transparent governance framework.
 
A key project currently underway is the digitisation of frequently accessed records, commencing with the Indian Indentured Labour records. 49% of Emigration Passes have been digitised so far. 
 
Other vital historical records identified for digitisation in the future include Polynesian records 1876 – 1911, which contains records pertaining to Melanesians that were brought in during the labour trade and the Land Claims Commission records from 1875 – 1881. 
 
12. Pacific Regional Quality Workshop
Cabinet was informed that Fiji will be co-hosting the Training on Quality Policies and Inception Workshop on the Pacific Regional Quality Policy, with the Pacific Island Forum (Forum Secretariat) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) at the Tanoa International Hotel in Nadi from 18 – 23 May 2025. 
 
The workshops are to advance the development of the Pacific Regional Quality Policy which will serve as the regional strategic roadmap.
 
13. Regional Disaster Waste Management Project by PacWastePlus
Cabinet was updated on Fiji’s engagement in the Regional Disaster Waste Management Project (Project) under the PacWastePlus Programme.
 
The Programme seeks to improve and enhance waste management activities and the capacity of governments, industry, and communities to manage waste to reduce the impact on human health and the environment.
 
14. 2024 National Examination Results
Cabinet was updated on the 2024 Fiji Year 8 Examination (FY8E), Fiji Year 12 Certificate Examination (FY12CE), and Fiji Year 13 Certificate Examination (FY13CE) final results.
 
The analysis will inform strategic policy decisions aimed at enhancing the quality of education and ensuring that all students have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
 
The Ministry of Education will also continue to work closely with schools, teachers, and stakeholders to address the challenges faced by students in rural areas and to promote greater participation in Vernacular language subjects.