POST-CABINET PRESS STATEMENT BY THE HON. PRIME MINISTER SITIVENI RABUKA - 09.06.23

The decisions made at the tenth meeting of the Peoples’ Coalition Cabinet include the following:
 
1. A whole of Government Approach to Health Priorities and Resources
Cabinet was informed of the need for a whole of Government approach to address the major health challenges in Fiji by the Minister for Health & Medical Services.
 
The health sector faces significant challenges on multiple fronts. 
These include a long-standing inability for health development to keep pace with increasing health needs in terms of both human resources and health infrastructure. 
 
These challenges have been further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic when front line workers worked above and beyond normal expectations.
 
These issues combined and resulted in a demoralised workforce, many of whom are leaving, and deteriorating health infrastructure (both health facilities and staff quarters) in a poor state of repair.
 
In addition, the rapidly departing front line health workers and poor state of infrastructure undermines public confidence in the health system and discourage people from seeking health support. 
 
The Ministry of Health and Medical Services is working closely with central agencies to address concerns.
 
2. Municipal Council Elections 2023
Cabinet approved the action plan for Municipal Council Elections tabled by the Minister for Local Government. On 31st January 2023, Cabinet endorsed the formation of a Working Group to oversee the work of planning council elections. Cabinet required the Action Plan to be submitted to Cabinet for consideration once the Working Group had formulated the Plan.
 
The Working Group appointed three operational groups to undertake:
Review of the legislation – Local Government Act 1972 and formulate recommendations;
Logistics related to elections;
Preparation of Regulations, Code of Conduct, Guidelines, Policies and Standard Operating Procedures required for the conduct of municipal elections.
 
The Working Group then held extensive public consultations across 13 municipalities before it formulated the Action Plan. The Action Plan includes necessary legislative and policy considerations for the conduct of Municipal Council Elections.
 
The last Municipal Council Election was held around the country in 2005. Noting that it has been 18 years since the last election, the inconsistencies between the Local Government Act and the Electoral Act will need to be addressed first.
 
3. Reward for the Fijiana Drua Team
Cabinet approved a monetary reward to the members of the Fijiana Drua Team for their remarkable achievement in winning the 2023 SuperW title for the second year in a row.
 
Cabinet approved the reward of $8,000.000 each for the 32 players and 10 Team Officials.
 
The Fijian Drua won the 2022 and 2023 SuperW Titles.
 
The reward is in recognition of this significant achievement for the nation and Women’s Rugby in Fiji.

The decision is in pursuit of Government’s commitment to the sport sector especially to teams and athletes with remarkable achievement in the World Sports segment.
 
The consecutive wins by the Fijian Drua in the 2022 and 2023 tournaments are significant achievements for womens rugby in Fiji and the bonus is well-deserved.
 
4. Interpretation (Amendment) Bill 2023 And Electoral (Registration of Voters) (Amendment) Bill 2023 [Repeal of name change policy amendments]
Cabinet approved the Interpretation (Amendment) Bill 2023 and the Electoral (Registration of Voters) (Amendment) Bill 2023 to be tabled in a future Sitting of Parliament.
 
The two Bills are the outcome of consultations on the review of amendments made in 2021 to the Interpretation Act 1967 and Electoral (Registration of Voters) Act 2012.
 
The general response from the public consultations held around Fiji on the name change policy laws, was for the removal of the amendments made in 2021 in implementation of the name change policy. In addition, those who made submissions were disappointed at the manner in which the change was introduced, as well as to the financial and emotional burden caused by the policy, to those directly affected.
 
5. Amendment to the Direct Funding Arrangement with the Government of Australia for the Fiji Cyclone Recovery Programme
Cabinet approved Amendment No. 4 to the Direct Funding Arrangement with the Australian Government to facilitate additional funding support of AUD 6.00 million (equivalent to FJD 8.88 million) for the Fiji Cyclone Recovery Programme.
 
The additional funding of AUD 6.00 million will increase total funding support for the Programme from June 2021, to AUD 34.50 million (equivalent to FJD 52.54 million).
 
The funding support includes rehabilitation of two (2) health facilities (Taveuni Health Centre and Kadavu Health Centre) and nine (9) schools:  
-Lekutu Secondary School,
-Lekutu District School,
-Nukubulu Primary School,
-Maramarua District School,
-Dreketi District School,
-Bua District School,
-Dama District School,
-Wailevu West District School, and
-Ratu Luke Memorial School.
 
This funding will be utilised as follows:
-up to a maximum of additional AUD 1 million will be used for school furniture and equipment, and any remaining funds to be transferred to hospital rehabilitation; and
-additional AUD 5 million will be used for the rehabilitation of Taveuni and Kadavu hospitals.
 
6. Rural And Outer Island Development Programme
Cabinet considered the revamped Rural and Outer Island (ROI) Development Programme for the next financial year.

The ROI Development Programme, was previously administered and implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, focused initially on enhancing public-private partnership, empowerment of rural farmers and market driven focus.
 
The revamped ROI Development Programme will complement the assistance currently provided to the agriculture, fisheries, forestry, communication, and infrastructure sector due to the cross-cutting nature of the programme.
 
7. Fiji National Anti-Doping Policy
Cabinet approved the National Anti-Doping Policy tabled by the Minister for Youth & Sports.
 
The Policy is aligned to the Government’s agenda for the development of Fiji’s elite sportsmen and women as well as clean athletes and clean sports. The Policy will also allow for the formation of a National Anti-Doping Organisation. 
 
8. Membership of the Asian Disaster Reduction Centre
Cabinet approved Fiji’s membership of the Asian Disaster Reduction Centre (ADRC).
 
The ADRC was established in Kobe, Hyogo prefecture in Japan, in 1998 with the mission of enhancing the disaster resilience of its member countries, building safe communities, and creating a society where sustainable development is attainable.
 
ADRC works to build disaster-resilient communities and to establish networks among countries through personnel exchanges and a variety of other programs.
 
Fiji will join 31 other countries who are members of the ADRC.