Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told parliament that the xenophobia and paranoia of SODELPA MP, Niko Nawaikula about foreigners is well known after Nawaikula repeatedly said that the government is fond of choosing expatriates over locals.
While speaking on the debate on the review report on the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited 2016 Annual Report in Parliament, Sayed-Khaiyum says if Nawaikula is so afraid of foreign businesses, let’s shut down the tourism industry tomorrow.
He says most of the hotels in Fiji are foreign-owned, and he says the Sri Lankans that owns only 20% of Fiji Ports Corporation does not make decisions on their own.
Sayed-Khaiyum says there are more local Permanent Secretaries as only four Permanent Secretaries from twenty-one are from overseas.
They are Bernadette Welch, Deborah Weiss, Joshua Wycliffe and Dimity Fifer.
Sayed-Khaiyum says that three Permanent Secretaries have dual citizenship and they are Maretino Nemani, Sanjeeva Perera and Jennifer Poole.
He says if Nawaikula is hung on about expatriates, why does he want to get Ben Ryan or Gareth Baber.
Nawaikula had claimed that the government has been getting expatriates and in the last 15 years, it has killed the economy.
He said the Permanent Secretaries are from overseas, private companies from overseas and Nawaikula claimed that the government does not trust the locals.
Nawaikula says he thinks 15 years is too much for this government and they should give up.
