Social Policies in Fiji

In this paper we review Fiji's social development policies and strategies in the postindependence period, drawing on various development plans. We conclude that Fiji has followed a fairly good set of social development strategies over the last 40 years. Education and health, which were prioritized from the colonial period, have received continued government commitment. The strategies and focuses have been appropriate, with attention to ensuring universal access, particularly among disadvantaged groups, and making services free at the point of use. Also, there have been efforts to improve quality and to enlarge the network of services at the local level. As a result, there have been notable achievements in terms of social indicators. However, these achievements fall short of what should characterize an upper-middle income country like Fiji and progress has faltered recently. Inequalities have persisted and the quality of services has varied. Both health and education have been affected by problems of poor management and leadership, and “brain-drain” from migration of skilled workers. As a result, the policies and strategies set out in the development plans have failed to achieve the desired level of social development in Fiji. I argue that the failure to achieve a desirable level of social development is due in large part to persistent political instability in Fiji, which has been an obstacle to investments and therefore growth. Over the last three decades, private investments in Fiji have averaged only about 10 per cent of GDP despite expectations of 25 per cent levels. This has deprived Fiji of its target growth rate of 5 per cent per annum; over the last three decades economic growth has averaged less than 3 per cent per annum. Given persistent political instability, low levels of private investment and mediocre economic growth, Fiji's social economy has weakened substantially in the last two decades: unemployment has increased to about 25 per cent, while poverty has increased to about 30 per cent. Therefore, Fiji has in the last few decades performed poorly in terms of social development and its social fabric has worsened since the 1987 military coups. Ensuing coups and sustained political instability have not helped recovery. Emigration has compounded the problem through human capital loss to countries such as Australia, New Zealand, the United States and Canada. In order to improve the social and economic performance of the country, Fiji needs to engage in consensual and participatory democracy, improve social cohesion, develop its welfare state and build capacity to exercise its power of jurisdiction. All this is possible through developing a stable political climate conducive to social and economic growth and development.