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For the first time in Fiji’s history our national debt level has exceeded the GDP. It is time to ask where the borrowed billions are going :Mahendra Chaudhry, Leader Fiji Labour Party .
It had become quite clear even before the Covid pandemic struck, that government finances were in a precarious state, business confidence had fallen to record lows and banks had tightened up on credit.
Government revenues were down – substantially below Budget – creating large fiscal deficits which were funded by both internal and external borrowings. There were no signs of recovery from this downward spiral as our exports had plunged, tourism earnings had peaked and investment levels remained stagnant.