DECISIONS MADE AT THE 1ST CABINET MEETING HELD ON 6TH JANUARY, 2026

Decisions made at the 1st Cabinet Meeting held on 6 January 2026

1. TERMITE CONTROL ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME
Cabinet approved a change in termite subsidy amount. Applicants with combined household income of less than $30,000 will receive $2,000 instead of the current amount of $5,000, and those with combined household income between $30,000 will receive $1,000 instead of the current amount of $2,000.
 
This change will allow more applicants to be assisted.
 
The Termite Subsidy Programme provides relief packages to eligible homeowners for repair and reconstruction works due to damages caused by AST infestation.
 
2. LIFTING OF BAN ON THE HARVEST AND TRADE OF BECHE-DE-MER
Cabinet approved the lifting of ban for beche-de-mer harvest and trade with strict conditions.
 
Harvesting for certain species will be allowed for four months from 1 February 2026 to 30 May 2026, followed by an additional two months until 30 July 2026 to facilitate product processing and export for traders.
 
The Ministry of Fisheries will be closely monitoring the harvesting and trade of bech-de-mer to ensure sustainability.
 
3. DESIGNATION OF ASSETS FIJI PTE LIMITED AS A PUBLIC ENTERPRISE
Cabinet approved the designation of Assets Fiji Pte Limited (AFL) as a public enterprise pursuant to section 9(1)(a) of the Public Enterprises Act 2019 (PE Act).
 
AFL is a fully Government-owned private limited liability company, and its core function is to be an asset holding company which retains and manages strategic land assets of public enterprises and other Government-owned entities that have either been divested or sold.
 
Designation as a public enterprise under the PE Act will further enhance AFL’s governance standards, including clear Board responsibilities, robust internal controls, and enhanced decision-making processes.
 
4. AMENDMENTS TO SCHEDULE 1 OF THE HIGHER SALARIES COMMISSION ACT 2023
Cabinet agreed that Schedule 1 of the Higher Salaries Commission Act 2023 (HSC Act) be amended to include the following Government bodies:
·      Assets Fiji Pte Limited;
·      Fiji Investment Corporation Limited;
·      Fiji Roads Authority;
·      Investment Fiji;
·      Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji;
·      Oceania Shipbuilding and Engineering Pte Limited;
·      Public Rental Board; and
·      Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission.
 
By incorporating them into Schedule 1 of the HSC Act, Government will ensure transparency, consistency, and fairness in salary determinations for key positions within these government-controlled entities.
 
This will also standardise compensation practise, reduce excessive payments, and promote accountability.
 
5. FIJI’S ACCESSION TO THE MULTILATERAL CONVENTION ON MUTUAL ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANCE IN TAX MATTERS
 
Cabinet approved Fiji’s accession to Mutual Administrative Assistance in Tax Matters.
 
This is the only remaining step for Fiji’s removal from the European Union (EU) list of non-cooperative jurisdictions (EU Blacklist).
 
Fiji was placed on the EU Blacklist in 2019.
 
Fiji, through the Fiji Revenue and Customs Services, has undertaken a sustained and comprehensive reform programme to meet all EU requirements, to ensure removal from the EU Blacklist.
 
6. ACCESSION TO THE BASEL CONVENTION
Cabinet agreed that Fiji become a Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal (Basel Convention) by way of accession.
 
Hazardous waste stem from various key sectors such as healthcare, municipalities, construction and automobile industry. There is also a considerable volume of household hazardous waste which includes everything from motor oil, paints, and cleaning agents to various types of batteries (especially lead-acid and rechargeable), mercury-containing items like fluorescent bulbs, and discarded electronics.
 
The lack of waste management technology to effectively segregate organic household waste from hazardous waste before it reached the landfill remains a challenge.
 
Acceding to the Basel Convention will allow Fiji to send its hazardous and other waste to a wider range of countries that have the capacity and capability to safely and environmentally treat and dispose it.
 
7. ACCESSION TO THE ROTTERDAM CONVENTION
Cabinet agreed that Fiji become a party to the Rotterdam Convention on the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) procedure for certain hazardous chemicals and pesticides in international trade (Rotterdam Convention) by way of accession.
 
Fiji relies heavily on imported pesticides and industrial chemicals for a number of uses, in the manufacturing and farming sectors.
 
It, however, lacks technical expertise, monitoring systems, and emergency response protocols for chemical accidents (e.g., spills or misuse).
 
Joining the Rotterdam Convention will allow for improvement in national chemical management, in relation to its importation, trade and national use in the agriculture and industrial sectors.
 
8. FIJI’S BLUE ECONOMY FRAMEWORK
Cabinet endorsed Fiji’s 10 – year Blue Economy Framework.
 
The Framework provides the overarching policy direction for all national Blue Economy initiatives, ensuring that actions across fisheries, ocean-based tourism, aquaculture, maritime renewable energy, maritime transport, and marine conservation and other relevant initiatives were coordinated under a single national framework.
 
As Fiji’s umbrella framework, it will operationalise international and regional commitments.
 
A Blue Economy Task Force will be established to coordinate implementation of the Framework.
 
9. GRANT AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE AND WATERWAYS AND THE PACIFIC COMMUNITY
Cabinet approved the execution of a Grant Agreement between the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (Ministry).
 
The agreement is for the implementation of the “Strengthening the Adaptive Capacity of Coastal Communities in Fiji to Climate Change through Nature-based Seawalls” project.
 
The project is expected to directly benefit 2,466 residents in 14 communities including the following villages: Qaranivai, Sogobiau, Visoqo, and Namama in Macuata; Saqani, Sese, Tawake, and Loa in Cakaudrove; Tagaqe and Nabila in Nadroga/Navosa; Nayavuira, Nayavutoka, and Saioko in Ra and Nabuna Village in Koro, Lomaiviti.
 
The project will be overseen by a Project Steering Committee.
 
10. PARTIAL SURRENDER OF COLO-I-SUVA FORESTRY RESERVE LEASE
Cabinet endorsed the surrender of a portion of the Colo-i-Suva Forestry Reserve lease to allow the Water Authority of Fiji (WAF) to upgrade its existing infrastructure.
 
WAF is undertaking a major infrastructure upgrade in the Sawani to Colo-i-Suva corridor, aimed at improving and increasing water service delivery capacity for areas between Sawani and Tacirua.
 
As part of this project, WAF will utilise a portion of the forest reserve adjacent to their existing reservoir in Colo-i-Suva to extend infrastructure.
 
11. JAPAN GRANT ASSISTANCE FOR THE PROCUREMENT OF HEAVY MACHINERY FOR ROAD WORKS IN FIJI
Cabinet endorsed the grant aid arrangement with the Government of Japan for the procurement of heavy machinery.
 
The objective of the grant aid is to strengthen the Ministry of Public Work’s operational capacity in road construction and maintenance through the acquisition of essential heavy machinery.
 
Japan will provide a grant of JPY 864,000,000 (approximately FJD $12,600,000) for the procurement of heavy machinery to strengthen road works nationwide.
 
12. 2025 CEDAW CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CEDAW, CRC AND CRPD IMPLEMENTATION AND REPORTING STEERING COMMITTEE
Cabinet approved a five – year implementation plan for the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) Concluding Observations.
 
The CEDAW Concluding Observations provided comprehensive recommendations for Fiji to enhance the implementation of CEDAW.
 
Key priorities include raising awareness of women’s rights across diverse communities, strengthening legislative frameworks to address all forms of discrimination, and improving women’s access to justice through capacity building and removing barriers. The 5-year Implementation Plan is designed to mainstream gender across sectors and to promote inter-agency coordination, accountability, and shared ownership.
 
Implementation will be monitored through the Steering Committee, with mid-term reviews and an integrated reporting framework developed to ensure timely progress and submission of future State reports.