The leader of Unity Fiji party and former Reserve Bank of Fiji governor, Savenaca Narube, has criticized the 2024-2025 National Budget, saying it lacks the inspiration necessary for sustainability and stability. Narube described the proposed budget as average and uninspiring, stating it does not include the economic and budget transformations required to lift the economy to a stable level.
Narube argued that a 5% medium-term average growth rate was achievable yet maintained that the provided budget falls short. He also suggested the necessity of diversifying Fiji’s economic focus to resource-based sectors rather than relying solely on tourism and manufacturing.
He was particularly critical of the government’s handling of the sugar cane industry and other resource-based sectors such as agriculture, farming, mining, and fisheries. According to Narube, these areas are consistently underfunded, preventing them from reaching their full potential.
Narube also criticized the budget for not containing necessary fiscal reforms, such as a reduction in budget deficits and a decrease in the central government’s size. He argued for more fiscal sustainability, transparency, and efficient project management.
Social issues, particularly drug abuse among children and growing corruption, require more attention and resources. Narube lamented the government’s lack of measures to tackle these areas. He recommended a partnership with faith-based organizations and NGOs to target drug abuse root causes more effectively.
Additionally, Narube noted the need to restore public trust in the government, undermined by recent political scandals, salary increases for parliamentarians, and broken campaign promises. He called on the government to provide explanations for its actions and to stop taking the population for granted.