The plan for the 2024-2025 Fiji National Budget has been presented, which has drawn numerous industry professionals to analyze various features of the budget deeply. From past experience, the government confronts a myriad of challenges during the budgeting process due to its comprehensive and complex nature. The action of crafting a national budget is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks allocated to any government.
A successful budget must cater to the basic day-to-day needs while also providing for subsequent economic evolution and improving the standard of living of its inhabitants. It necessitates a degree of future prediction and often unexpected events, such as tropical cyclone Winston and the COVID-19 pandemic, could derail the carefully laid plans.
The priority of the budget should be the people and their needs while maintaining a balanced focus on the overall national demands. Achieving universal satisfaction with the budget is nearly impossible.
A few years back, the government faced difficulties in expanding public participation to include diverse opinions during the budgeting process. As a communications consultant, the task was to explore innovative solutions to improve Fijian lives, which eventually led to the utilization of technology in the process.
Subsequently, an initiative called “online consultations” was launched, allowing every Fijian, regardless of their background or location, to provide input on the budget. This facilitated a wider participation from various demographic groups, contributing their unique views through a medium of their choice be it Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, government websites, online forms, email, post, or direct delivery.
The consolidation of data and its subsequent submission to the Ministry of Economy for considerations improved the inclusivity and representativeness of the budgeting process. This method proved effective in enhancing involvement, particularly from minority groups, and remains in use to this day, withstanding government changes.
While capturing a wide range of viewpoints, it is important to remember that not every suggestion can be accommodated and the manner in which the government perceives the improvement of lives may vary. Notwithstanding the critical and vocal opinions, the exhaustive effort invested by countless loyal individuals serving Fiji from every sector is apparent in the budget.
The budget must prioritize diversifying Fiji’s economy by investing in sectors such as agriculture, technology, and renewable energy. A balanced and inclusive budget should also focus on strengthening social safety nets and ensuring the support of vulnerable groups with programs like unemployment benefits, healthcare, and education. Education, public-private partnerships, and tailoring the budget to Fiji’s unique context are also integral to a successful national budget.
Lastly, technological advancement in government processes can substantially cut down costs and enhance efficiency, making governmental services more accessible to all citizens. However, human capital is still considered to be our most valuable asset, and this must always be remembered.
ARNOLD CHANEL is an investor and business executive with extensive tech expertise. He can be reached via email at ceo@vanguardtech.pro. The viewpoints presented in this article are his personal thoughts and are not associated with this newspaper.