DECISIONS MADE AT THE TENTH CABINET MEETING HELD ON 18 TH JUNE 2024

This statement was issued today by the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to announce the decisions made at the tenth meeting of Cabinet on Tuesday 18th June 2024.

The decisions made by Cabinet on 18th June 2024 include the following:
 
1. Amendment to the Grant Agreement on the Reconstruction of the Tamavua-i-Wai
Bridge

Cabinet endorsed execution of the amended Grant Agreement with the Government of Japan through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for the reconstruction of the Tamavua-i-Wai bridge (Project). The Japanese government through JICA, is supporting the reconstruction of the Tamavua-i-Wai bridge in Suva, with a two-phase grant approach.

Phase I focused on in-depth evaluation of the site with relevant engineering and construction information to ensure that the bridge will serve communities and businesses as a resilient national infrastructure against natural disaster.

Phase 2 will ensure progression and financial reaourcing for the completion of the bridge construction as part of ongoing bilateral cooperation between Fiji and Japan. The Japanese Government is increasing the Grant Aid for the Project from 2.931 billion JPY (approximately FJD 43.4 million) to 3.892 billion JPY (approximately FJD 57.6 million).

This substantial increase of 961 million JPY (approximately FJD 14.2 million) primarily addresses the unforeseen price escalations encountered during the project's execution. The Fiji Roads Authority will continue to be the executing agency to implement and ensure the completion of the Project on behalf of the Fiji Government.
 
2. National Blue Town Framework

Cabinet approved the development of a National Blue Town Framework (NBTF). The NBTF will be a blueprint for sustainable township development, including rural and regional areas and the maritime regions. The NBTF will be informed by the National Blue Economy Framework which is being developed by the Ministry of Environment & Climate Change which will set the national definition and principles for the blue economy.

Townships in Fiji have evolved in an ad hoc manner with growing adverse impacts on the economy and environment. Many of these unplanned developments of towns and cities are not conducive to the national vision for green and blue growth.

The NBTF will guide the creation of sustainable growth and stable incomes for communities that protect the environment instead of polluting it. It will be a key part of moving towards a circular blue economy. When planning towns and cities, the NBTF will include important principles from town planning to avoid duplication of efforts and waste of resources, The National Blue Economy Framework Steering Committee will be the coordination and implementation mechanism for the NBTF.

3. National Digital Identification Programme

Cabinet endorsed the implementation of the National Digital Identification (ID) Programme. The first phase will see the introduction of electronic Know Your Customer (eKYC) by the Reserve Bank of Fiji. eKYC is a modern process that simplifies customer verification by allowing businesses to verify the identity of customers electronically.

The Singapore Cooperation Enterprise conducted a study from 2019-2022 on the practicality and feasibility of implementing a National ID Card.

A National ID Card Steering Committee will be established to oversee the management, governance, legal and policy frameworks for the National ID Program.
 
4. Acquisition of Fourteen Protected Mobility Vehicles from the Australian Government

Cabinet approved the execution of a Memorandum of Sale (MOS) with the Australian Government  for the acquisition of fourteen Protected Mobility Vehicles (PMVs) to support the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) deployment on United Nations peacekeeping missions.

The UN requires Troop Contributing Countries (TCCs) to bring their own equipment and mobility support (such as PMVs) to meet the standards required for deployment to UN peacekeeping missions.

The acquisition of PMVs will enhance Fiji’s ability to participate in global peacekeeping. PMVs provide increased protection for deployed troops in hazardous environments and significantly mitigate the risk of injury and loss of life.
 
5. Review of the Security Industry Act 2010

Cabinet endorsed the review of the Security Industry Act 2010 (Act). The Act regulates security activities, whether through business or employment, within Fiji. The Act establishes a Security Industry Licensing and Registration Board (SILRB) which processes applications from security companies applying for their license to carry out security activities.

Consultations will be undertaken with industry, and non-industry organisations which engage security companies to solicit and develop a review scope. The outcome of the review will be brought back to Cabinet for consideration.

6. Memorandum of Understanding with the USA on Fishing Access Terms for 2024
Cabinet endorsed execution by Fiji of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among the Governments of certain Pacific Island parties and the Government of the United States of America regarding fishing access terms for 2024.

The MOU allows United States tuna vessels operating under the Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of certain Pacific Island parties and the Government of the United States of America to continue fishing in the EEZs of the Pacific Island parties in 2024.

Fiji is a party to the Treaty which allows fisheries access to the US purse seining tuna fishing fleet in Pacific waters.

The Pacific Island parties are the Governments of Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, the Republic of Fiji, the Republic of Kiribati, the Republic of Marshall Islands, the Republic of Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, the Republic of Palau, the Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, the Kingdom of Tonga, Tuvalu and the Republic of Vanuatu.
 
7. Hosting the 21 stAnnual Regular Session for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission

Cabinet agreed that Fiji host the 21 st Annual Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission later this year. The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) was established by the Convention for the Conservation and Management of Highly Migratory Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPF Convention) which entered into force on 19 June 2004.

The WCPF Convention seeks to address problems in the management of high seas fisheries such as unregulated fishing, over-capitalisation, excessive fleet capacity, vessel re-flagging to escape controls, insufficiently selective gear, unreliable databases, and insufficient multilateral cooperation in respect to conservation and management of highly migratory fish stocks.
 
8. Review of the Fiji National Sports Commission
Cabinet approved a review of the Fiji National Sports Commission (FNSC). The review will be carried out by an independent consultant recruited via competitive process, and the outcome will be brought back to Cabinet for its consideration.

The FNSC was established by the Fiji National Sports Commission Act 2013 (Act) with the aim to enrich the lives and health of Fiji’s citizens by promoting and facilitating physical activity and sports at all levels.
The review of the operations of FNSC after 12 years of its establishment will ascertain the FNSC’s effectiveness.
 
9. Research Contract with New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Center to develop Fiji’s agriculture Greenhouse Gas Inventory

Cabinet approved the execution of a Research Contract with the New Zealand Agricultural Greenhouse Gas Research Centre (NZAGRC) under the Duavata Partnership.

Funding will be provided by the New Zealand Government to enable the Climate Change Division to effectively assess policy measures using IPCC (Inter - Governmental Panel on Climate Change) methodologies.

The project will also construct enteric fermentation inventory for beef cattle and goats, and manure management emissions from swine and poultry, building on the previously endorsed Initiative for Climate Action Transparency Phase II project, supported through the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) Specific objectives of this capability programme include:
(i) Developing a Tier 2 GHG Inventory for enteric fermentation from beef cattle and goats, and for swine and poultry manure management;
(ii) Strengthening capacities of Fiji Government departments to compile, manage, and report a Tier 2 Inventory; and
(iii) Supporting Fiji Government Departments in identifying priorities and options for continuous improvement of the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) inventory.
Other benefits include:
(i) Developing skilled and trained Ministry of Agriculture and CCD staff to develop GHG inventory using the Tier 2 approach outlined in the 2006 IPCC Guidelines;
(ii) Establishing an inventory advisory group comprising local experts to contribute to successive inventories reported by CCD; and
(iii) Strengthening data collection arrangements and systems for emissions reporting using IPCC Tier 2 methods.
 
10. Climate and Clean Air Coalition

Cabinet agreed that Fiji join the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC). CCAC was formed in 2012 to initiate efforts to treat short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs) as an urgent and collective challenge. SLCPs are pollutants that have a relatively short lifespan in the atmosphere but are responsible for a significant portion of global warming. These pollutants include black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons.

By joining the CCAC, Fiji will benefit from technical assistance to address challenges associated with SLCPs.
 
11. Co-Hosting of the 2024 Pacific Small Island Developing States Solution Forum

Cabinet agreed that Fiji co-host with the United Nations Food Agriculture Organisation (UNFAO), the 2024 Pacific Small Island Development States (SIDS) Solution Forum from 5 – 8 November 2024.

The SIDS platform was launched by the UNFAO in 2021 and offers an innovative solution to accelerate the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with a focus on agriculture, food, nutrition, the environment, and health in Small Island Developing States (SIDS).
The last SIDS Forum was hosted in Apia, Samoa in 2022.
 
12. Medal incentive fund for the 2024 Paris Olympics
Cabinet has agreed that a medal incentive fund be established for Fiji’s representatives to the 2024 Paris Olympics. Cash rewards for each respective team or individual player will be based on their performance at the Olympic games to be held later this year.

Cabinet has resolved that the cash reward for a gold medal will be set at $50,000, silver medal at $20,000 and bronze medal at $10,000.

This ensures that our athletes are duly recognized and rewarded for their sacrifices, commitment and dedication to excellence.