The newly-established National Alliance Party in Fiji has launched its election manifesto promising free education and job creation policies.
The Fiji Sun reports that the party says education would be made free and compulsory up to Form 6 and the state would take responsibility for minimum standards in school buildings, teaching facilities, equipment and books.
The National Alliance Party president, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, says loans and scholarships would be made available to qualified students according to the needs of the country.
On employment creation, Ratu Epeli says the party would give tax concessions to employers who provide jobs for school leavers and unemployed adults.
He says the National Alliance would set up a job creation scheme to provide 4,500 new jobs and finance landowners to make commercial use of their land.
Ratu Epeli says Fiji needs an investment level of 25% of the Gross National Product to maintain sustainable growth.
He says to achieve that level, the party will put in place policies that will set a new direction for the economy towards value added manufacturing.
Ratu Epeli says the party would also develop policies to arrest the escalating government debt and deficits.
