Team Fiji has been exempted from paying departure tax for the 2015 Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea which begins next Saturday.

This was confirmed to SUNsports by the Attorney-General and Minister for Finance, Public Service and Public Enterprises, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

“The departure tax for Team Fiji will be paid by the Fijian Government through the Ministry of Youth and Sports,” he said.

The Minister for Youth and Sports Laisenia Tuitubou confirmed receiving the directive and said they were preparing the paperwork.

“We have been discussing this last week and as of Thursday we’ve been directed by the Minister for Finance to get what is required by Team Fiji for the Pacific Games.

“We’ve received the directive and will start the process on Monday or Tuesday. The departure tax is around $90,000,” Tuitubou said.

Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee president Joe Rodan acknowledges government’s support.

“We are really glad Government has come on board once again,” Rodan said.

“It’s important for Team Fiji to participate because PNG has prepared well and has invested a lot of money in this four-yearly event.

“Fiji, being a good friend of PNG, has to stand up and the only way we can do that is to send a strong team to Port Moresby” he added.

“We want to thank the Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and Minister for Youth and Sports for their effort.”

The first batch of Team Fiji athletes leaves the country next Wednesday.

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