SUVA (Pacnews) — The Senate has approved a further F$28.088 million ($13.4 million) to fund government expenditure this year.
The House of Representatives passed the bill seeking further funding last month. According to the Fiji Sun newspaper, this is the third time government had to seek further funding from parliament since the 2002 budget was announced last November.
Finance Minister Jone Kubuabola told parliament last month that government needed the money because of the “extraordinary circumstances” facing the country in the past two years.
Echoing the same sentiments, Attorney General Qoroniasi Bale said increases in civil servant salaries early this year, as well as their cost of living adjustment payments, took a sizable bite on government spending.
