Who’s really poor?

PART of the problem of achiev ing economic growth is motiv ating the people to boost the size and standard of business, invest ment and trade, according to Trade and Commerce Minister, Berenado Vunibobo. Discussing his govern ment’s policies to achieve sustained economic growth, he said difficult decisions always had to be made, while encouraging locals to improve their products and services, become internationally competitive, and make the economy stronger.

He believes much of the opposition to Fiji’s proposed Value Added Tax (VAT) is based on different percep tions of poverty. Different definitions of poverty exist in different corners of the globe, along with a tendency for those who have not travelled to take what they have for granted. “One of the most difficult things would be to define what is poverty in Fiji, how do you define it, what are the criteria?”

Vunibobo asked. □