The 2023 Pacific Games is forecasted to become a major economic booster for the country and preparations to achieve the goal cannot be disturbed regardless of the covid-19 situation in the country.
Dealing with Covid-19 and dealing with the Pacific games infrastructures at the same time are equally important issues for the Government and Donor partners and the Government is re-strategizing to balance advancing these two important areas.
Government and Donor funding for the Games infrastructures is fixed and the Government is working closely with development partners and other multi-lateral Agencies to deal with covid-19 in a more strategic manner.
“While attention is now on preventing deaths and illness and slowing down covid-19 transmission across the country, it is also important not to lose vision on growing the local economy and the Pacific Games is one of the country’s economic driver in the long run,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Minister said in response to questions by Opposition Leader Mathew Wale Friday last week.
The statement said the suggestion by Wale that building the Games infrastructure when health infrastructure is urgently needed reflects gross negligence and irresponsible governance by the Government is a wild guess and not true.
The Government remains committed to deal with covid-19 with external support while keeping the economy running under its upcoming Community Transmission Response Policy.
– Government Communications Unit
