NFP reveals plans if elected into government

With less than four months to go for the general elections, the National Federation Party has revealed some concrete plans on what they will do if they are elected to form the next government. 

While speaking to about 60 supporters in Tacirua, NFP confirmed that it will reduce Value Added Tax from 15 percent to 10 percent immediately if it forms government after the September 17th general elections.

NFP Leader, Doctor Biman Prasad also said that they will review the income tax policies to ensure that the rich also pay a reasonable share of their income in tax.

He said the Government’s efforts to reduce the cost of living are half-hearted. 

Doctor Prasad said the bus fare subsidy and increased school grants may have helped but he says Fijians see right through the short term tricks the Government is playing on the poor.  

The NFP Leader has also questioned why the government has reduced an already lower tax for people earning more than $100,000 yet increase VAT from 12.5 to 15%.

He also confirmed that the NFP will reduce import duties for some of the basic food items if it comes into power. 

Our calculations reveal that $256 million in VAT revenue will be lost by government if NFP forms the next government and makes this change.

Based on the 2014 National Budget forecast, Fijivillage has established that VAT is the largest revenue earner for government. 

 

For this year, VAT revenue is projected at $777 million, around $97 million higher than last year.

Meanwhile the National Federation Party says they will review the Media Decree. 

Doctor Prasad said they will remove all the fines and penalties in the decree. 

NFP has stated that it will also enact a Freedom of Information (Right to Information) Bill that will ensure that citizens can demand and be entitled to receive information from the Government. 

Doctor Prasad said citizens, the media, businesses and NGO’s should have a fundamental right to access information regarding government decisions and actions that affect their lives. 

The NFP Leader said people no longer live in the dark ages where public information such as the salaries and allowances of leaders are kept secret.