Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the 2021-2022 budget “did not shy away from tough decisions”.
During debate on the 2021-2022 Appropriation Bill in Parliament on Monday, he said budgetary allocations have been reduced across all his portfolios.
“The same goes across Government and these cuts to expenditure come as no surprise,” he said.
“We have to do more with less. “It is said that necessity is the mother of all invention.
“It should also be called the father of efficiency.”
Mr Bainimarama said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Ministry of Sugar Industry – which were all under his portfolio – “are ready to show by example how fiscal diligence and efficient service delivery can coexist”.
The PM said he believed they would be a better Government, supported by a better and more efficient civil service.
“I for one think we could all do with less cake and other unnecessary indulgences at government events. That is one cut to my ministry’s budget that I am happy to make permanent. Even small cuts are important because we are in a situation that simply cannot tolerate excesses.”
