Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says it seems like lawyer, Richard Naidu is writing National Federation Party MP, Lenora Qereqeretabua’s speeches and stresses Government will borrow money to assist the people after Qereqeretabua said that any housewife could teach the Minister for Economy that you should not spend more than you earn and save it for the rainy day.
While speaking during the debate on the motion to increase the Government guarantee to the Fiji Development Bank, Qereqeretabua says the people of Fiji are given $360 and access to their pension funds to save themselves while millions are going through guarantees to save Fiji Airways.
She says there is no sense of decency or respect for the current hardships being faced by the people for over 2 years now from COVID-19.
Qereqeretabua says this Government just kicks their bosses which is the taxpayers and voters of Fiji in the teeth every time they need a blank cheque to be signed.
She says the Government’s solution to an already dire economic outlook is to drown the country more in a dinau situation.
Qereqeretabua says the Fiji Development Bank has suddenly paused its COVID-19 Recovery Credit Guarantee Scheme and they will be making excuses to the public that 60% of those who applied have been dealt with but adds the rest of 40% are probably waiting for today's bailout.
She adds in May this year Parliament was asked to approve a motion for FDB for $170 million and seven months later they are being asked to top up that guarantee by about $80 million.
Qereqeretabua says they know what the bulk of the funds will be used for.
Qereqeretabua says it is really difficult for her to understand how the Government thinks that continuously punishing the people this way will help them get back into power.
However Sayed-Khaiyum says Qereqeretabua lacks the understanding of basic economics as many people are suffering and need help.
He stresses that the Government will borrow to assist the affected people.
He also says the opposition should also understand that Government revenue has been shot to pieces due to the effects of COVID-19.
On the rising prices of items, Sayed-Khaiyum says they should understand that the Government has reduced tariffs on a number of items however the rise in global freight and fuel prices are something that are out of the Government’s control.
Parliament has approved the increased Government guarantee from $170 million to $250 million for the 12 month period from 1st March 2021 to 28th February 2022 for the Fiji Development Bank borrowings through the issuance of short and long-term bonds, promissory notes, term deposits, other short term borrowings and any Reserve Bank of Fiji financing facility; and that a guarantee fee of 0.075 percent be applied on the cumulative utilised guarantee credit.
Prominent Suva lawyer, Richard Naidu has rejected claims made by Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum that Naidu writes National Federation Party MP Lenora Qereqeretabua’s speeches.
Sayed-Khaiyum said in Parliament today that he really shudders when Qereqeretabua speaks.
He says he has known Qereqeretabua for a number of years and the level of sarcasm in her speech is very uncharacteristic of her.
Sayed-Khaiyum then went on to say that every time Qereqeretabua speaks, he says to her why did Richard write the speech because Richard Naidu speaks like that and she is not listening to Sayed-Khaiyum because she knows that Sayed-Khaiyum speaks the truth.
The Attorney General also told National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad that the problem is that he relies too much on Richard. He said that Richard has a chip on his shoulder and unfortunately that is Prasad’s problem.
When approached by fijivillage, Naidu says as far as he knows, Qereqeretabua writes her own speeches and she is one of Fiji’s best public speakers.
Naidu further says Qereqeretabua does not need anyone’s help.
He adds Sayed-Khaiyum seems to be obsessed with the idea that he writes Qereqeretabua’s speeches.
Naidu says he hears that Sayed-Khaiyum continually interjects during her speeches in Parliament alleging this.
Naidu also says this is the same man who in the last session of Parliament criticised Opposition MPs who said one of his own MPs, Selai Adimaitoga, was reading out a speech written by the Attorney General.
He further says he gives advice to a number of Opposition MP’s and even one or two on the Government side and he would like to think that it’s mostly right.
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