The Government will announce a mini budget on March 26, says Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said this was in response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.

“Fiji’s situation demands extraordinary actions to minimise the brunt of the global economic downturn,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“There are key expenditures that must ensure the protection and continuation of the Fijian life, which includes our people’s health, their jobs, their businesses and food security.”

He said we could not wait for the end of this financial year in July.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also highlighted that while Fiji had so far remained coronavirus free, we were not immune to its impact.

“The latest report estimates that the net losses of the world economy will be upward $2 trillion and a global growth of one per cent.”

Government is now calling on Fijians, businesses and stakeholders to work together to provide a solution suitable for Fiji’s economy.

The World Health Organisation has classified the COVID-19 as a pandemic where more than 110,000 cases have been recorded in 113 countries and territories.

Parliament sitting deferred

Meanwhile, the Business Committee met yesterday and unanimously approved that theParliamentary business scheduled for March 16 to 20, 2020 be deferred, Pursuant to Standing Order 102 of the Standing Orders of the Parliament of the Republic ofFiji.

The Attorney-General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, will lay before Parliament a Supplementary Budget on Thursday, March 26, 2020 at 7.30pm.

Subsequently, the Supplementary Budget debate week will take place from Monday, April 6to Thursday April 9.

Edited by Ivamere Nataro

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