Bainimarama’s budget with a bang
Education was the big winner in the recent 2014 Fiji budget announced by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
Free education for primary and secondary school students, low-interest student loans, scholarships for top achievers, scholarships for special needs children and more pre-school centres are part of biggest slice of the budget cake.
In total education has been allocated a whopping $542.5 million of the total revenue of $2.7 billion for 2014 against an expenditure of $2.883 billion, with a deficit of $161.5m or 1.9 per cent of GDP.
Described by Bainimarama as “the budget for the people of Fiji”, housing needs were granted $19m – with $10m to help new married couples building and buy first homes; $5m for various squatter projects; $1.5m to build 36 PRB flats in Kalabu; and $2.5m for PRB Savusavu project.
AT A GLANCE
Health
• $4.9m to refurbish CWM Hospital operating theatres.
• $3m on extension to CWM Maternity Unit.
• $7.3m to build new 55-bed hospital in Ba.
• $5.9m overhaul to Lautoka Hospital Emergency Dept.
• $1m to renovate Keiyasi / Valelevu medical centres.
• $4.75m to buy bio-medical equipment.
• $600k to build 10-bed Makoi Maternity Unit.
Power
* $10m for rural electrification projects.
* $9.4m FEA grid extension.
* $510k for biofuel plant developments.
* $300k for renewable energy projects.
Water
• $9m to address metered water issues.
• $10m to upgrade distribution networks.
• $15m for waste water treatment plants.
• $2.6m for specialized equipment.
• $670k for school water systems.
Roading
Fiji Roads Authority gets an increased budget of $454.7m.
Elections
• $15m allocated for General Elections to be held next year.
WHAT’S UP
• Cigarette / alcohol by 10 per cent.
• Blank CDs (locally made) from $0-$1.
• Blank CDs (imported) from $1-$2.
• Airport departure tax from $150-$200.
WHAT’S DOWN
• Duty on food supplements: from 32-0 per cent.
• Agricultural items: 0 per cent.
• Prefab homes: from 32-3 per cent.
• Concrete products, iron panels: from 32-5 per cent.
• Maritime vessel spares: 0 per cent.
• Baby feeding bottles: from 32-0 per cent.
The provision for operating expenditure is 1.802 billion.$1.13bn is budgeted for capital expenditure, this marks an increase in capital of more than $291m over this year and brings capital expenditure to about 36 per cent of total spending.
This means more money for development projects and initiatives.
Some key components of this budget are increased allocations for education and infrastructure development, a graded pay rise for public servants including the disciplined services, reduction in company and personal taxes, $15 million for the 2014 general election and more money for rural water, electrification and health projects.
The total revenue for the 2013 budget was $2bn and a total expenditure of $2.3bn.
Education was the big winner in the recent 2014 Fiji budget announced by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama. Free education for primary and secondary school students, low-interest student loans, scholarships for top achievers, scholarships for special needs children...
Education was the big winner in the recent 2014 Fiji budget announced by Prime Minister and Finance Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
Free education for primary and secondary school students, low-interest student loans, scholarships for top achievers, scholarships for special needs children and more pre-school centres are part of biggest slice of the budget cake.
In total education has been allocated a whopping $542.5 million of the total revenue of $2.7 billion for 2014 against an expenditure of $2.883 billion, with a deficit of $161.5m or 1.9 per cent of GDP.
Described by Bainimarama as “the budget for the people of Fiji”, housing needs were granted $19m – with $10m to help new married couples building and buy first homes; $5m for various squatter projects; $1.5m to build 36 PRB flats in Kalabu; and $2.5m for PRB Savusavu project.
AT A GLANCE
Health
• $4.9m to refurbish CWM Hospital operating theatres.
• $3m on extension to CWM Maternity Unit.
• $7.3m to build new 55-bed hospital in Ba.
• $5.9m overhaul to Lautoka Hospital Emergency Dept.
• $1m to renovate Keiyasi / Valelevu medical centres.
• $4.75m to buy bio-medical equipment.
• $600k to build 10-bed Makoi Maternity Unit.
Power
* $10m for rural electrification projects.
* $9.4m FEA grid extension.
* $510k for biofuel plant developments.
* $300k for renewable energy projects.
Water
• $9m to address metered water issues.
• $10m to upgrade distribution networks.
• $15m for waste water treatment plants.
• $2.6m for specialized equipment.
• $670k for school water systems.
Roading
Fiji Roads Authority gets an increased budget of $454.7m.
Elections
• $15m allocated for General Elections to be held next year.
WHAT’S UP
• Cigarette / alcohol by 10 per cent.
• Blank CDs (locally made) from $0-$1.
• Blank CDs (imported) from $1-$2.
• Airport departure tax from $150-$200.
WHAT’S DOWN
• Duty on food supplements: from 32-0 per cent.
• Agricultural items: 0 per cent.
• Prefab homes: from 32-3 per cent.
• Concrete products, iron panels: from 32-5 per cent.
• Maritime vessel spares: 0 per cent.
• Baby feeding bottles: from 32-0 per cent.
The provision for operating expenditure is 1.802 billion.$1.13bn is budgeted for capital expenditure, this marks an increase in capital of more than $291m over this year and brings capital expenditure to about 36 per cent of total spending.
This means more money for development projects and initiatives.
Some key components of this budget are increased allocations for education and infrastructure development, a graded pay rise for public servants including the disciplined services, reduction in company and personal taxes, $15 million for the 2014 general election and more money for rural water, electrification and health projects.
The total revenue for the 2013 budget was $2bn and a total expenditure of $2.3bn.
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