No End To Village Levy, Says A-G

The Attorney-General and Min­ister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says that Govern­ment cannot be giving money out only because people were asking money for soli or village levy.

He says: “There is no end to it, there needs to be somewhere we can draw a line otherwise they will keep asking you for money for the soli.”

His comments came after Lautoka resident Aloesi Maria, raised an is­sue concerning the constant demand from village elders for money.

Ms Maria raised her concerns at the Revised 2021-2022 National Budget Consultation at the Sugar City Mall in Lautoka on Tuesday.

The 47-year-old from Viseisei said she knew of many unemployed wom­en who felt helpless because they were not able to continuously give money for solis when it came to fundraisings when requested by village elders.

She put forward a request to the Attorney-General seeking assistance to start a small business so that the women would be able to generate in­come and help with the village solis.

“We have so many commitments and still the village elders are put­ting pressure on us. We must pay for things dealing with the church, so many solis,” she said.

“Can you give us some funds so we can use the money to start a canteen business or look at other ways to gen­erate income and we can pay back that money?”

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said: “If people are asking you for money when they know your husband does not have a job and you don’t have a job, they are being very unfair to you.”

He revealed that a total of 290,000 Fijians received Government’s $360 payout last year and he knew of many women that benefited from Govern­ment’s $50, $90 and the $360 payout.

In addition to this, the A-G said that last year Government had given $30million in microfinance small me­dium loans.

He added: “But for Government when we come up with this scheme, we have to make sure that the rules are there because we are using the taxpayers’ money.”