DECISIONS MADE AT THE CABINET MEETING HELD ON 12 DECEMBER 2023

16/12/2023


The Peoples’ Coalition Cabinet held its final meeting for this year.
Decisions made at the 20th  meeting of Cabinet include the following:

National Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report
Cabinet approved Fiji’s fourth National Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) Report under the Biennial Update Report (BUR) Project to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for submission to the UNFCC Secretariat.
 
The UNFCCC sets out the basic legal framework and principles for international climate change cooperation with the objective of stabilising atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to avoid “dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”
 
By signing the UNFCCC, Parties commit themselves to the Conference of the Parties to the treaty to produce national reports on its implementation domestically. Fiji signed the UNFCCC in 1992 and the 28th meeting of the Conference of Parties (COP) has recently come to a close in Dubai, UAE.
 
Developing country parties to the treaty are required to submit National Communications (NCs) every four years and Biennial Update Reports (BURs) every two years detailing anthropogenic GHG emissions by sources and removals by sinks, national mitigation and adaptation measures, and any other relevant information on achievements towards the objective of the Convention.
 
These reports demonstrate Fiji’s progress in meeting international commitments on climate change, which also contains a greenhouse gas inventory.
 
Fiji has already submitted three National GHGI to the UNFCCC as part of the first, second and third national communication for periods till the years 1994, 2004 and 2011.
 
The 2023 Inventory calculates GHG emissions from the year 1994 till 2019 thus making the fourth GHGI the most recent for Fiji.
 
Each successive inventory report has improved progressively in terms of the methodology  used to estimate GHG emissions and removals, the type of gases measured, and the sectors covered. National GHG emissions show an increasing trend in Fiji for all sectors and gases.
 
Sectors covered in the National Inventory include Energy, Waste, Agriculture, Forestry and other Land use (AFOLU) sectors, and Industrial Processes and other Product Use.
 
Policy makers use inventories to establish a baseline for tracking emission trends, develop climate change mitigation strategies/policies, and assess progress.
 
Country Flexible Finance Partnership Arrangement with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of New Zealand
Cabinet approved the Country Flexible Finance Partnership Arrangement (Partnership Arrangement) with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of the Government of New Zealand (NZ MFAT).
 
The Partnership Arrangement is for climate finance grant funding amounting to NZD 20.00 million (equivalent to approximately FJD 27.41 million) for climate ‘principal’ projects.
 
A climate ‘principal’ activity is an activity which explicitly states that climate change mitigation or adaptation is fundamental in the design of, or the motivation for, the activity.
 
Additionally, an activity can also be marked as climate ‘principal’ if it is primarily designed to build capacity and develop tools to integrate climate change into national and sub-national policies, planning and investment frameworks.
 
Apart from the grant funding of NZD 20 million, the Partnership Arrangement is also designed to support the Fiji Government in its ambition to scale up climate action, through access to capacity support.
 
This includes support to strengthen or expand public finance management processes for accessing, managing and reporting climate finance, supplement resources to support the public service to deliver increased climate finance, and provide technical assistance or meet additional requests as decided by the Partners.
 
The Budget Division of the Ministry of Finance in consultation with the Climate Change Division of the Office of the Prime Minister will coordinate the selection and approval of climate principal project proposals, with respect to the funding to be provided by MFAT under the Partnership Arrangement.
 
Status Update On State Lease Rental Arrears
Cabinet was updated on the status of state lease rental arrears project for the period 2017 – 2022.
 
The State Lands (Leases and Licenses) Regulation 1980 Section 21 (k), states:
 
Therefore, at the end of each calendar year, the Ministry charges 12% interest on state lease rental accounts which are in arrears.
 
Further, the rental dues are clearly stipulated under Regulation 6 (2) of the State Lands (Leases and Licences) Regulation 1980:
 
In 2017, 16,913 active leases were charged the amount of $13,690,030.30 in annual rent. As of 31 December, $14,075,078.28 was received.
 
The highest revenue recorded to date was in 2019 whereby the Ministry received $16,950,546.18 from the rent and arrears. This is out of the 18,273 active lessees who were charged with $14,679,785.22.
 
From 2020 – 2022, the number of active leases increased from 18,675 to 19,859 resulting in the increase of annual rental from $15,174,039.99 to $16,228,479.76.
 
The increase in annual rent came about due to the issuance of new leases and rezoning of leases on State lands. Rezoning to higher uses normally increases rental charges. Another factor is the increase in sub-divisions which cause numerous leases to be issued over subdivided lots.
 
As of 31 July 2022, rental arrears were $38,852,867.00. This figure is inclusive of the annual rent for the current year which is $15,420,572.00.
 
The reasons for rental arrears given by tenants include financial constraints, pending estate matters, existing legal cases and absentee lessees.
 
Issues and challenges identified by a review of the project includeonerous manual processes, absence of up to date and relevant laws, lack of data sharing, penalties being too lenient, and an outdated Land Information System at the Ministry.
 
The Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources is developing relevant internal policy measures developing other payment modes such as EFTPOS and MPAISA, strengthening government processes in the collection of arrears owed to State, and looking at reviewing the outdated Land Information System.
 
Lease payments can be made through the:
Post Office;
Lands Divisional Offices in Lautoka, Nadi, Rakiraki, Labasa, and Suva;
MPAISA and QR Code;
Internet Banking; and
EFTPOS.
 
Fiji to Accede to the International Convention For Maritime Search And Rescue 1979
Cabinet approved that Fiji accede to the International Maritime  Search and Rescue (SAR) Convention 1979, following the  parliamentary review and approval process for international treaties and agreements, as required under the Constitution and Standing Orders
 
SAR Convention 1979 establishes the international system and operating procedures in the event of emergencies and alerts for SAR operations.
 
Fiji has developed its SAR policies, capabilities and operations immensely over the years. Government ratified various international agreements or treaties that incorporate aspects related to the SAR Convention 1979. These include the Safety of Life at Sea Convention 74, International Mobile Satellite Organisation Convention 76, and the Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation (ICAO).
 
Acceding to the SAR Convention will fortify formal arrangements between Fiji and other SAR member States.
 
Some key aspects of the Convention and its Annex include the need for cooperation and coordination between member states to ensure that the basic elements of search and rescue are established such as the legal framework, a responsible authority, the organisation of available resources, communication facilities, coordination and operational functions, processes to improve the service, including planning, domestic and international co-operative relationships and training.
 
The Convention also requires the development of national search and rescue services and the establishment of rescue coordination centers with rescue sub-centres.
 
Financing Agreement – Sector Reform Performance Contract With The European Commission – “Time To Act! Towards Implementing The Climate Change Act”

Cabinet has endorsed the Financing Agreement with the European Commission (EU) for a total estimated sum of EUR 12.80 million (equivalent to FJD 31.44 million), to finance the “Time to Act! Towards Implementing the Climate Change Act” action (Action).
 
The Financing Agreement aims to contribute to Fiji’s sustainable, inclusive and resilient low carbon development.
 
More specifically, it will facilitate the entry into force of the Climate Change Act 2021 (Act), to support Fiji’s sustainable development objectives, long-term climate ambition, net-zero emissions target, and commitment to protecting Fiji's environment.
 
The Financing Agreement is also aligned with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent, the new post-Cotonou Pacific Regional Protocol and the EU strategy for cooperation in the Indo-Pacific.
 
The general conditions, which include the fixed tranche indicators for disbursement, are as follows:
satisfactory progress in the implementation of the Act and its strategic implementation roadmap and continued credibility and relevance thereof or any successor strategy;
maintenance of a credible and relevant stability-oriented macroeconomic policy or progress made towards restoring key balances;
a satisfactory progress in the implementation of reforms to improve public financial management, including domestic revenue mobilisation, and continued relevance and credibility of the reform programme; and
a satisfactory progress with regard to the public availability of accessible, timely, comprehensive, and sound budgetary information.
 
The EU Financing Agreement duration is for a period of 72 months effective from the date of signing, and includes an implementation period of 48 months and closure period of 24 months.
 
Grant Funding Support from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific, administered through the Asian Development Bank for the Rural Electrification Support Project
Cabinet endorsed an agreement for grant funding support from the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific for the Rural Electrification Support Project (Project).
 
The Government of Japan, through the Japan Fund for Prosperous and Resilient Asia and the Pacific (JFPR) has approved the grant of USD 3.00 million (equivalent to approximately FJD 6.76 million), to be administered through the Asian Development Bank (ADB) for the Project.
 
The objective of the Project is to improve access to electricity generated from renewable energy sources in Buca village, Vanua Levu and Tiliva village in Kadavu (Project areas).
 
This includes increasing renewable energy supply in the Project areas by expanding and upgrading the mini-hydropower facility in Buca village, and the installation of a solar photovoltaic based mini-grid comprised of battery energy storage system in Tiliva village.
 
Under the Project, Buca and Tiliva villages will be allowed to use the power generation facilities and also assume the operation and maintenance responsibilities of their respective power generation facility under a leasing agreement between the Department of Energy and respective villages.
 
It is estimated that approximately 190 households or approximately 1,070 individuals at the two locations combined, will directly benefit from the Project by improving their access to electricity generated from renewable energy sources.
 
The Project also aims to strengthen capacity for operation and maintenance through institutional strengthening of the Department of Energy and other relevant energy sector agencies in planning, budgeting, and executing the operation and maintenance programme.
 
Memorandum of Understanding with MASHAV– Agency for International Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel
Cabinet approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MASHAV – Agency for International Development Cooperation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel, and the Fiji Ministry of Agriculture and Waterways (Ministry) on a Plan of Cooperation.
 
Fiji has signed an initial MOU with MASHAV in July 2017 for five years. The initial MOU focused on areas that contributed to the improvement of activities in the field of agriculture, water, food issues, security and sustainability issues of mutual interest.
 
Under the MOU, training programmes for local students and officials are provided in Israel. The Ministry  also received 10 biogas Digester units from the Israeli government which were utilised to mitigate a variety of energy, environmental and health issues in rural communities of Fiji.
 
The new MOU aims to enhance collaboration and integrate the private sector in joint projects, as well as promote and support several initiatives for Fiji through the engagement of Israeli companies’ technologies and expertise in various areas as may be mutually agreed upon in writing.
 
This MOU will enter into effect on the date of its signature and will remain in effect for a period of five years.
 
National Digital Strategy
Cabinet has approved the development of a National Digital Strategy.
 
The National Digital Strategy will be developed by the Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications with the support of the International Telecommunications Union.
 
The National Digital Strategy will lay out a coordinated approach to scale digital technology to drive economic growth and sustainable development. It will provide the much-needed policy certainty to propel innovation, reinvigorate and intensify private sector investment.
 
It will aim to further cement Fiji as the region’s digital hub and will look at further digitalisation of key public services using the Digital Government Services Framework /Govstack and ensuring that the right conditions are in place for an increasingly digital economy, to be innovative, accessible and with a strong digital trust element.
 
This would include exploiting the potential benefits of new and emerging technology such as 5G, 3D Printing, the internet of things and artificial intelligence, and scaling up confidence in Fiji’s digital ecosystem.
 
The National Digital Strategy will be accompanied by an Action Plan to further elaborate on the thematic areas outlined in the Strategy.

Consultation on Legislation to Introduce Small Offers and Crowdfunding
Cabinet agreed for the commencement of consultations on a stand-alone legislation for new financing alternatives such as small offers and crowdfunding for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
 
MSMEs in Fiji make up about 95 percent of all businesses and less than 20 percent have access to credit from formal lending institutions.
 
While Government support and commercial bank loan products are available, there is a need to explore alternative financing opportunities to help support MSME development in Fiji.
 
The two additional practical alternative sources of finance for the MSMEs in Fiji, are small offers and crowdfunding.
 
Small offers refers to a means to allow small businesses (offeror) to raise a limited amount of either debt or equity from defined types of investors without the need for onerous and costly disclosures such as a prospectus which is required under the Companies Act. These investors include high income earners, and those that have links with the offeror in some way. Such offers cannot be advertised to the general public. Limiting the size and breadth of the offering provides appropriate investor protection.
 
Crowdfunding provides a way of raising money on an approved online platform to fund MSMEs. There are four basic types of crowdfunding platforms which include donation-based, reward-based, debt based (also known as peer-to-peer lending) and equity crowdfunding.
 
The development of a small offers and crowdfunding market in Fiji has the potential to drive MSME growth by efficiently mobilising and channelling savings towards growing businesses in important industries.
 
Expanding alternative financing opportunities will also enhance opportunities for women-owned and women-led MSMEs, supporting progress towards gender parity in access to finance in Fiji.
 
A working group led by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications, will undertake consultations on the new legislation. 
 
Letter of Agreement between the Food Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations and the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation
Cabinet endorsed a Letter of Agreement (Agreement) between the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations and the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation (Ministry) to implement the Farm to Fork (F2F) initiative.
 
The F2F initiative is expected to promote opportunities for local agricultural produce to be better used in the tourism sector by addressing knowledge gaps between farmers, fishermen, middlemen and key decision makers (senior chefs, food and beverage managers and procurement officers) in hotels and other tourism-based businesses.
 
The key objectives of the F2F initiative are to:
re-familiarise hotel key decision makers with the produce available locally, including fruits, vegetables, dairy products, meat and seafood; introduce farmers to key decision makers of the hotel and explore opportunities to enhance utilisation and procurement, as well managing expectations of chefs, food and beverage managers and procurement officers;
enhance integration of the Fijian Made brand into the tourism sector by providing chefs with insights into local flavours and product usage and promoting proper packaging for suppliers and farmers (using Fijian Grown, Made and Organic emblems);
provide a platform to create innovative exchanges amongst chefs, suppliers and farmers issues such as seasonality and availability of local food supplies that can be used as substitutes; and
formalise the cluster of farmers identified by MAW to be more recognised through business models such as cooperatives.
 
FAO has allocated FJ$85,525 for the F2F initiative.
 
Fiji’s United Nations Peacekeeping Pledges
Cabinet has endorsed Fiji’s proposed United Nations Peacekeeping pledges.
 
The proposed pledges are as follows:
Quick Reaction Force (130 personnel);
Level 1 Hospital. Provide primary healthcare and emergency treatment. It can provide health care to 500-600 people;
Registering of Blackrock Camp as an accredited UN Training Centre;
Offer of UN Peacekeeping Training & Courses at RFMF Blackrock Camp, Nadi; and
Increase in Women in Fiji Peacekeeping Contingents from 2024. 
 
The proposed pledges strengthen and highlight Fiji’s continuous commitment to international peace and security, through peacekeeping.
 
They also strengthen the safety, security and protection of Fijian Peacekeepers in carrying out their tasks, with better operational and support equipment, and enable achievement of tasks further contributing to the successful achievement of mission mandates.
 
Fiji’s continuous contribution to United Nations peacekeeping has been a key element  of Fiji’s foreign policy since 1978.
 
Japanese Official Security Assistance Exchange of Notes
Cabinet approved the Exchange of Notes with the Government of Japan for the newly established cooperation framework between the Governments of Japan and Fiji known as the “Official Security Assistance” (OSA) framework.
 
The Government of Japan has formally announced its Official Security Assistance Programme for Fiji, which will provide a grant of four hundred million Japanese Yen. 
 
The grant is earmarked to enhance the infrastructure and resources of the Fiji Navy to bolster its ability to safeguard the nation's territorial waters.
 
Fiji is one of  four pilot countries  to benefit from this assistance. The others are Bangladesh, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
 
Melanesian Spearhead Group Security Strategy
Cabinet agreed that the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration collaborate with the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Secretariat to consult MSG member countries on the final MSG Security Strategy (MSGSS) document.
 
Fiji is chair of the Working Group on the MSGSS.
The strategy is an overarching framework to allow members to formulate and align their key respective National Security policies to the Security Strategy.
 
It also provides guiding principles with which to accomplish a more inter-relative and cooperative region with the ensuing anticipated outcomes focusing on the following:
 
A secure, peaceful, and prosperous region.
A strong and united region; and
To achieve maximum and tangible outcomes through integrated approach to resolving regional security confronting member States.
 
The draft MSGSS has the following strategic directions:
 
Strategic Priority 1: Maintain safe and secure borders and maritime domains;
Strategic Priority 2: Strengthen governance over cyber space in the MSG region;
Strategic Priority 3: Enhance institutional development and regional cooperation to combat transnational crime;
Strategic Priority 4: Develop and strengthen robust, proactive mechanisms responsive to disasters within the region;
Strategic Priority 5: Develop and strengthen robust, proactive mechanisms for managing climate risk, and prioritising and coordinating climate change actions within the region; and
Strategic Priority 6: Better coordination of national health response efforts within a newly established regional framework for the MSG.
 
Once finalised, the MSGSS will be tabled in the MSG Police Commissioners and Police Ministers Meeting for endorsement and subsequent implementation by members.
 
Policy Reforms for Ease of Doing Business- Starting a Business Subsystem 
Cabinet agreed that necessary legislative and policy amendments be undertaken to streamline the provision of e-services necessary for the development of a digital platform to integrate licenses and permits approvals.
 
The digital system will be known as Starting a Business Subsystem (SABs).
 
The three broad areas of legislative and/or policy reforms to be addressed are as follows:
 
streamlining the payment structure of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the National Occupational Health and Safety Service, and the National Fire Authority, in terms of upfront payment collection;
-enabling acceptance of digitally generated outputs for these three agencies --such as compliance reports, letters and certificates, which may have e-signatures; and
-revising the current renewal period for food licenses to make it cyclic.
 
Streamlined processes within the three agencies will not only reduce the processing times, but also provide customers the opportunity of knowing the full cost upfront and allow them to make informed decisions without hidden fees or unexpected charges.
 
Digital submission of forms and outputs improves efficiency of the process and may reduce transportation costs for customers to visit offices.
 
Annual cyclic renewal of food licenses would ease the burden on both officials and customers as the license would be valid for a full year regardless of the date of registration.
 
The Ministry of Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications will coordinate implementation of the required changes with the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, the National Occupational Health and Safety Service, and the National Fire Authority.
 
Memorandum of Understanding between International Cooperation and Development Fund and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services
Cabinet approved the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the International Cooperation and Development Fund (Taiwan ICDF) to strengthen digital healthcare for Community Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) and Covid-19 in Fiji (Project).
 
The project aims to assist the Ministry in establishing digital tools for patient tracking and case management of NCDs, Covid-19 and long Covid. 
 
This project is the first of its kind and will greatly assist the Ministry in obtaining real time data when engaging health care workers and community health workers at the community level.
 
This project will help build up the Ministry’s capability to facilitate community engagement in response to NCDs and Communicable Disease (CD) outbreaks.
 
Health care workers will be able to trace and carryout patient management through remote tracking and follow up of NCDs, Covid-19 and long-Covid cases in a timely manner.
 
The project funding is intended to run for a period of one year with a sustainable plan to be developed by the Project Team and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.
 
Multi–Institutional Agreement for Research Project on Sexually Transmitted Infections Community Treatment to Improve Perinatal Outcomes in Fiji
Cabinet approved a Multi–Institutional Agreement for a research project titled ‘can mass drug administration reduce the incidence of adverse perinatal outcomes and other health consequences of endemic sexually transmitted infections?’.
 
The Multi–Institutional Agreement will be between the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (Ministry) as lead local participating institute, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), University of Queensland (UQ) and University of New South Wales (UNSW).
 
The primary aim of the study is to evaluate whether community-based treatment with azithromycin in a population with endemic chlamydia trachomatis trachomatis (CT) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) leads to a reduction in adverse perinatal outcome (stillbirth, early neonatal death, preterm birth and/or low birthweight).
 
CT and NG are the most common of the curable bacterial STIs. They are frequently asymptomatic so remain undiagnosed and untreated, leading to onward transmission and adverse reproductive and perinatal health outcomes among women and newborns.
 
The 2019 Fiji Antenatal STI Testing Study, conducted among 1000 pregnant women aged 18-29 years, found that the prevalence of CT and NG remains high (34% and 9%, respectively) and placed Fiji as one of the countries most affected by these STIs, globally. This prevalence was higher in the younger age group (<25 years), 41% and 13%, respectively.
 
Given the high and sustained prevalence of curable STIs in Fiji, and the failure of syndromic STI management to reduce prevalence after more than two decades, the outcome of this study will determine whether community treatment using azithromycin can provide a novel, paradigm-changing solution to this so far insoluble public health problem.
 
The plan is to recruit 180,000 people aged 18-49 years in the Central Division of Fiji. Central Division was chosen because of its population size, documented high sexually transmitted infections (STI) prevalence and clinical facilities for tracking perinatal outcomes.
 
The study will involve extensive community liaison and consultations, establish data collection, clinical and laboratory procedures, and training of staff.
 
The study will be overseen by a Steering Committee and supported by a Technical Committee both with representation from local health authorities and community leaders. The Fiji Research Ethics Committee and relevant Australian ethics committees will review all protocols.
 
Community consultation and a comprehensive program of information dissemination will be established in consultation with local partners to ensure that community members are informed and have the opportunity to raise any issues of concern.
 
Endorsement of TLTB Lease Distribution Formula
Cabinet has endorsed changes to the lease distribution formula under the iTaukei Land Trust Act 1940. The proposed change to the formula was endorsed by the iTaukei Land Trust Board earlier this year before being brought to Cabinet for endorsement.
 
The review of the equal lease distribution system was a manifesto item of the parties comprising the People’s Coalition Government.
 
The new rental distribution is as follows:
 
(a)      eighty-five per cent to the proprietary unit;
(b)     seven per cent to the Turaga ni Mataqali;
(c)      five percent to the Turaga ni Qali; and
(d)     three per cent to the Turaga iTaukei.
 
This formula combines both the equal lease distribution and the Government policy to empower customary title holders.  
 
The lease distribution formula will empower the head of the Mataqali, Yavusa and Vanua with finances to undertake their traditional responsibilities.
 
Increase in Gravel Royalty Rate
Cabinet approved amendments to regulation 11(1) of the iTaukei Land Trust (Gravel) Regulations 1998 under the iTaukei Land Trust Act 1940.
 
The amended regulation increases current royalty rates on sand and gravel, clay and soil, rock, top soil and river spalls extracted, as agreed to by the iTaukei Land Trust Board.
 
The current and new rates are as follows:
 
                                    Current Rates                New Rates
Sand and Gravel    $6.61 per cubic meter;        $10.40 per cubic meter;
Clay and Soil        $4.13 per cubic meter;            $6.50 per cubic meter;
Rock                    $3.31 per cubic meter;              $5.21 per cubic meter;
Top Soil            $24.79 per cubic meter;            $38.99 per cubic meter; 
River Spalls       $4.96 per cubic  meter                $7.80 per cubic meter.

The new rates will result in higher level of royalties being paid to the landowners. Higher returns to the landowners would inevitably result in a better socio-economic return and a better quality of life for the landowners.
 
Increased rates also would result in increased income for the Board, which deducts 10% poundage from royalties as administrative costs, before distribution to landowners.
 
National Sports, Recreation and Physical Activity Policy
Cabinet approved the National Sports, Recreation and Physical Activity Policy.
 
The Policy provides a contemporary, clear and manageable framework to guide and enhance the delivery of sports and physical activity at all levels  through a coordinated partnership approach by Government, statutory, non-state agencies, regional and international sporting agencies and civil society.
 
The Policy provides an all-inclusive approach to sports development that integrates regular physical activity as a means to build an active, healthy society and a socially inclusive nation.
 
It encourages social cohesion through the physical participation of all citizens as a way of promoting good health. This will result in higher life expectancy and improved health outcomes.
 
The key objectives of the Policy are as follows:
 
To empower all citizens to attain the benefits of equal access to quality health and wellness opportunities through sports and physical activity;
To facilitate inclusive sports development and participation;
To encourage funding and investment in sports and its relevant facilities, leisure and recreation in regards to the role it plays in social integration and cohesion, healthy lifestyle, elimination of social stigma and leadership development;
To encompass the role sports and physical activities play in citizens’ physical and mental wellness and holistic health;
To promote and enhance life-skills training and experiences through sports and physical activity;
To respond and support effectively the specific needs of vulnerable citizens;
To promote respect and understand cultural heritage, religious and ethnic diversity through physical education, sports development programmes and positive values;
To promote Fiji as a premier sporting nation; and
To provide gainful employment to citizens and promote Fiji as a sports tourism destination.
 
Various government ministries will be involved in carrying out the activities in the Action Plan to implement the Policy.