"Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed Ministers and Assistant Ministers including him have received a further pay cut of 10 percent which is now in effect. He says this is in addition to the 20 percent pay cut due to COVID."
Fijivillage News, 12 January 2023
Fijileaks to Finance Minister Prasad: 20%+10%=30%
ONE OF THE TWO IS LYING, Rabuka or Prasad?
Rachna Shayal Datt graduated last week with a Bachelor of Commerce in Economics and Finance from the College of Business, Hospitality, and Tourism Studies (CBHTS). She was also the recipient of the T K Jayaraman and Family Annual Prize for Topper in Bachelor of Commerce (Economics).
Miss Datt, is 20%+10%=20%?
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BIO
Professor Prasad hails from Fiji, the other main island in Fiji called Vanua Levu, where he completed his primary and secondary education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Economics and Graduate Certificate in Education from Fiji’s local university - University of the South Pacific. He also holds a Master of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland.
At university, Professor Prasad was active as a student leader. He led many presentations and negotiations on students’ behalf to improve their welfare and teaching and learning facilities. Professor Prasad rose through the academic ranks of Lecturer to the highest level of Professor. He was the Dean of the largest faculty at USP from 2007-2011. He was President of the USP Staff Association for seven years from 1999-2006. Professor Prasad is an international scholar. He has contributed significantly to the debate on social and economic issues in the region. From 2003 to 2007, Professor Prasad was Head of School of Economics. Previously he worked in the area of Distance and Flexible Learning. Professor Prasad is an accomplished academic, with four books and numerous journal articles published on economic development, trade and environment issues.
He has done consultancy work for international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, UNESCAP, CLGF, Food and Agricultural Organisation, the World Trade Organization, AUSAID and governments in the Pacific region.
Professor Prasad was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Fijian Studies and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pacific Studies. He has travelled extensively around the world to present papers at many international conferences over the last several years. He has been a visiting Professor at Kagoshima University in Japan and at Otago University in New Zealand. Professor Prasad has taught the Regional Trade Policy Course for the Asia-Pacific region at the University of Hong Kong, the National University of Singapore, and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. He was a Steering Committee member of the Au said report on the Pacific for 2009 and 2010.
He held the position Professor of Economics and the Chair of the Oceania Development Network, a regional network supported by the Global Development Network. Professor Prasad received the prestigious Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) fellowship under which he spent two months at the Jawaharlal Nehru University from February to March 2011 as a Professor. He holds Adjunct Professorship at Griffith University in Australia and at the James Cook University and the Punjabi University in India. Professor Prasad has received numerous research grants on key development issues in the region.
Professor Prasad is a recipient of the 2011 Vice Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in Research Leadership at the University of the South Pacific.
He was a regular media commentator and has given numerous interviews to local and international media as well as contributing columns to newspapers and magazines on various political and economic issues in the region.
He was Parliamentary Leader of the National Federation Party from 2014- 2022. He also held the position of Chair of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee until May 2016. Until April 2017, Professor Prasad was the Shadow Minister for Finance, Planning and Statistics during that period as well.
On 24 December 2022 after the Fiji General Elections he was appointed deputy Prime Minister, Minister for finance & strategic planning, National development & Statistics.
Professor Prasad hails from Fiji, the other main island in Fiji called Vanua Levu, where he completed his primary and secondary education. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mathematics and Economics and Graduate Certificate in Education from Fiji’s local university - University of the South Pacific. He also holds a Master of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland.
At university, Professor Prasad was active as a student leader. He led many presentations and negotiations on students’ behalf to improve their welfare and teaching and learning facilities. Professor Prasad rose through the academic ranks of Lecturer to the highest level of Professor. He was the Dean of the largest faculty at USP from 2007-2011. He was President of the USP Staff Association for seven years from 1999-2006. Professor Prasad is an international scholar. He has contributed significantly to the debate on social and economic issues in the region. From 2003 to 2007, Professor Prasad was Head of School of Economics. Previously he worked in the area of Distance and Flexible Learning. Professor Prasad is an accomplished academic, with four books and numerous journal articles published on economic development, trade and environment issues.
He has done consultancy work for international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, UNESCAP, CLGF, Food and Agricultural Organisation, the World Trade Organization, AUSAID and governments in the Pacific region.
Professor Prasad was an Associate Editor of the Journal of Fijian Studies and the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Pacific Studies. He has travelled extensively around the world to present papers at many international conferences over the last several years. He has been a visiting Professor at Kagoshima University in Japan and at Otago University in New Zealand. Professor Prasad has taught the Regional Trade Policy Course for the Asia-Pacific region at the University of Hong Kong, the National University of Singapore, and the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade. He was a Steering Committee member of the Au said report on the Pacific for 2009 and 2010.
He held the position Professor of Economics and the Chair of the Oceania Development Network, a regional network supported by the Global Development Network. Professor Prasad received the prestigious Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) fellowship under which he spent two months at the Jawaharlal Nehru University from February to March 2011 as a Professor. He holds Adjunct Professorship at Griffith University in Australia and at the James Cook University and the Punjabi University in India. Professor Prasad has received numerous research grants on key development issues in the region.
Professor Prasad is a recipient of the 2011 Vice Chancellor’s Prize for Excellence in Research Leadership at the University of the South Pacific.
He was a regular media commentator and has given numerous interviews to local and international media as well as contributing columns to newspapers and magazines on various political and economic issues in the region.
He was Parliamentary Leader of the National Federation Party from 2014- 2022. He also held the position of Chair of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee until May 2016. Until April 2017, Professor Prasad was the Shadow Minister for Finance, Planning and Statistics during that period as well.
On 24 December 2022 after the Fiji General Elections he was appointed deputy Prime Minister, Minister for finance & strategic planning, National development & Statistics.
FINANCE MINISTER MEETS IMF'S EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR FOR SOUTHEAST ASIA
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Hon. Biman Prasad met the IMF's Executive Director for Southeast Asia Ms Rosemary Lim.
Ms Lim congratulated the new Coalition Government and shared her views on the global developments and its implications on the domestic economy and the need for Government to rebuild fiscal buffers to safeguard the Fijian economy against future shocks.
Minister Prasad expressed his sincere gratitude to the IMF Executive Director for her visit. He further deliberated that the Coalition Government believes in genuine dialogue and collaboration and is in the process of organising a National Economic Summit in April. In addition, a Fiscal Review Committee has been appointed to examine the overall setting of fiscal policy and to advise on the FY2023-2024 National Budget.
The Hon. Minister reiterated that the key priority of the Coalition Government is to carry out tax and expenditure reforms in view of consolidating Government finances in a sustainable and meaningful way to decrease debt. In light of the economic challenges that lay ahead of us, Minister Prasad noted that a delicate balance between fiscal sustainability, supporting economic growth and inclusive development will be needed.
Ms. Lim noted that the IMF Article IV Mission team is currently in the country and is having consultations with relevant agencies and acknowledged the authorities for their support and meaningful dialogue so far.
#FijiGovernment #FijiNews #Fiji
The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Hon. Biman Prasad met the IMF's Executive Director for Southeast Asia Ms Rosemary Lim.
Ms Lim congratulated the new Coalition Government and shared her views on the global developments and its implications on the domestic economy and the need for Government to rebuild fiscal buffers to safeguard the Fijian economy against future shocks.
Minister Prasad expressed his sincere gratitude to the IMF Executive Director for her visit. He further deliberated that the Coalition Government believes in genuine dialogue and collaboration and is in the process of organising a National Economic Summit in April. In addition, a Fiscal Review Committee has been appointed to examine the overall setting of fiscal policy and to advise on the FY2023-2024 National Budget.
The Hon. Minister reiterated that the key priority of the Coalition Government is to carry out tax and expenditure reforms in view of consolidating Government finances in a sustainable and meaningful way to decrease debt. In light of the economic challenges that lay ahead of us, Minister Prasad noted that a delicate balance between fiscal sustainability, supporting economic growth and inclusive development will be needed.
Ms. Lim noted that the IMF Article IV Mission team is currently in the country and is having consultations with relevant agencies and acknowledged the authorities for their support and meaningful dialogue so far.
#FijiGovernment #FijiNews #Fiji
