Former AG should look in the mirror first before casting stones – Kamikamica

The former Attorney General has made some comments about our Minister of Finance, I would just like to ask him to look in the mirror first before casting stones.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Manoa Kamikamica stated this in his response to comments made by Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum in a press conference.

Kamikamica says for example, when they got into government they discovered there was a bill of $200 million outstanding for film rebates in Fiji that is still unpaid.

He says they have to pay $40 million a year for the next 3 to 4 years to bring that exposure under control.

The Deputy Prime Minister says under the previous government, the Fiji Roads Authority had not paid the bills for the contractors, which was about $50 million - dead money which they had to provide for in the budget. He says clearly what they were trying to do was spend money before the elections, and when they got over the line, hide it and keep going.

Kamikamica says he is sad to say that any comments from Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum about economic management is not relevant, as he has let the country down.

Meanwhile, during a press conference held at the FijiFirst office, the former General Secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the refinancing injection of the debt stock in the current budget is simply carrying on with the same debt stock.

Sayed-Khaiyum says it is incorrect of the government to say that through these payments the overall debt stock is being reduced.

He says as announced on Tuesday the overall debt stock is increasing and will increase by $1 billion by the end of this financial year, and the government has nothing to show for it.

Sayed-Khaiyum says there are no capital investments to show for it as well, and he claims all the capital work contracts were signed by the previous government.

When fijivillage News questioned Sayed-Khaiyum in what capacity was he conducting the press conference as he has resigned as the party’s General Secretary, he said he had a press conference outside the courthouse a day earlier and he was there to clarify issues after some questions.

Acting General Secretary, Faiyaz Koya was standing on the side during the press conference.