Tavua town is now dependent on the interim government to help kick-start the economy especially with the announcement of the 2009 Budget this Friday.

Tavua Mayor Chandra Singh said that Tavua suffered a major blow after the Vatukoula Gold Mine closure in 2006

The Consumer Council of Fiji said people are finding it hard to deal with the increasing cost of goods and services and they are hoping that the Budget which will be delivered on Friday will be consumer friendly and help address poverty.

Chief executive Premila Kumar said the interim government should consider people who are low income earners when preparing the Budget as these are the ones who are affected the most.

Meanwhile, the Fiji Retailers Association said businesses were hit hard in the 2008 Budget and they are hoping that the Budget to be announced this Friday will give businesses some leeway.

President Himmat Lodhia said at the moment businesses have been losing out because of the state of the economy and he hopes to help businesses, import and excise duty on goods are decreased.

Also, the National Fire Authority chief fire officer Mark Reid said since one third of their funding comes from government grants, he is eagerly awaiting the announcement of the Budget, which he hopes will be favourable to them.

Reid said an increase will enable the completion of two fire stations and also the purchase of some equipment.

The Works and Public Utilities Ministry has suspended all new water meter connections until next year.

Ministry spokesperson Sainiana Waqanaibete said that anyone who has applied for water meter connection will now have to wait for another two months.