The $4.35 billion national Budget for 2017-2018 was passed yesterday after a marathon debate in Parliament.

It was passed with 32 votes in favour and 14 against.

Speaking outside Parliament, Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, said they had planned for this Budget over the last two to three years.

For such Budget, he added they needed the economic capacity to implement what was expected.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said such Budget couldn’t be planned overnight.

He thanked Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama for his strong and decisive leadership which thought outside the box and supported changes to help ordinary Fijians.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also thanked his team at Ministry of Economy for their support and other organisations involved.

“One group of people I would very much like to thank are ordinary members of public and in particular the students that we engaged with at high school and university levels. They provided a lot of insight,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“Ordinary members of the public provided a lot of insight in terms of the practicality of the issues that they faced and we also would like to thank all the members who supported the Budget,” he said.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said there was still work to be done.

“There is a fairly large work programme, as you know included in the Budget and we look forward to the completion of the figures that were put in the Budget. They were very realistic,” he said.

“The Budget does bring about enormous economic and financial opportunities for ordinary Fijians.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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