Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is advising Fijians to examine the details of the 2017/2018 national budget as it will help them make the right choice in the next election.
Speaking in parliament Bainimarama says Fijians should examine his government’s eight year record as unlike his political opponents, he has fundamental respect for the intelligence of all Fijians.
He says apart from reading the details of the next fiscal year, it is important to explain to them the budget so that Fijians can make their own opinion.
“But the one thing I will respectfully ask them to ask themselves is am I better off now than when I was ten years ago, do I have more opportunity now than I had ten years ago? Do my children have more opportunity now than ten years ago? Is Fiji in a better position now than ten years ago? Are we all being treated equally and with dignity? And I believe the resounding answer to that is a big yes.”
Bainimarama adds the budget has put more money into the pockets of every Fijian than any other time in Fiji’s history.
He says this is by raising the tax threshold from $16,000 to $30,000 a year which will improve disposable income and the living standards of low-income earners.
