Minister flags limits on meeting public demands

Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel has indicated that the government is navigating a delicate balance between addressing immediate public needs and fostering long-term economic growth.

Immanuel explained that the national budget is strategically focused on economic expansion. He emphasized the necessity for the country to first understand its own limitations and prepare itself before pursuing growth. "Going back to the theme of our budget, to ensure that we grow. And before that, before going to the growth stage, we have to understand ourselves, prepare ourselves, understand ourselves that we have to share, share the current burdens and share the difficulties," he stated.

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Going back to the theme of our budget, to ensure that we grow. And before that, before going to the growth stage, we have to understand ourselves, prepare ourselves, understand ourselves that we have to share, share the current burdens and share the difficulties.

He acknowledged that cushioning everyone's difficulties simultaneously is not feasible. "Difficulties, Immanuel added cannot be fully cushioned for everyone at once," he said. This suggests a pragmatic approach where immediate relief measures may not cover all pressures faced by the populace.

Regarding price monitoring, Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Goundar explained that the task force is actively tracking price movements, which are largely influenced by external factors. These include global increases in the costs of food, fuel, and fertilizer. Goundar noted that recent price changes are primarily due to imported inflation rather than local factors. The task force monitors industries that receive tariff protection and flags instances where price increases seem unjustified, potentially recommending actions like price controls to the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission.

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Difficulties, Immanuel added cannot be fully cushioned for everyone at once.