Prime Minister and Minister responsible for i-Taukei Affairs Voreqe Bainimarama says they will do more with less.

In the new financial year, the Ministry has been allocated $15.4 million dollars, around $400 000 less than the current financial year.

Bainimarama says this comes as the Ministry has completed the digitization of the Vola ni Kawa Bula which has been rolled out to the Provincial Councils.

In the next financial year, over $183 000 has been allocated for the VKB for network synchronization with Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages, Ministry of Health, iTLB and other government and non-government agencies.

“Over the next year, the Ministry will do more with less. We will look towards our strategic objectives, namely enhancing leadership training, documenting our cultures and traditions and building resilience in the midst of an increasingly globalized world. Mr Speaker, I wish to commend the Ministry for expanding upon the role that it was mandated within the i-Taukei Affairs Act of 1944.”

Meanwhile, $9.1 million will be allocated to the iTaukei Affairs Board (iTAB), Provincial Councils, Turaga-ni-Koros, Mata-ni-Tikinas and Na Mata.

This support will fund the operations of the iTAB and Provincial Councils and covers the monthly allowances of Turaga-ni-Koros which increased from $75 to $87 per month to better support their roles in developing communities.