Corporate taxes should be increased instead of taxing the poor unnecessarily – Leawere

SODELPA MP, Mikaele Leawere says it is deplorable and sickening to see sick people living in shocking hospital conditions and families looking for bodies of their loved ones to bury.

While opposing the 2021/2022 National Budget, Leawere says the Ministry of Health staff are overstretched and overworked.

He says it is the Government’s duty to set aside resources to cater for the welfare of the front-line workers and their families. Leawere adds these people leave their homes and are away from their families for weeks.

The Shadow Minister for Education says corporate taxes should be increased instead of taxing the poor unnecessarily.

Leawere went on to say that under the leadership of this Government, public debt has increased by $6 billion in the last one and half decade.

Leawere has also questioned how Government will be able to raise more than $2 billion in indirect taxes given the exemptions granted in terms of fees and levies.

He also questioned when will the Government pay the University of the South Pacific $23 million in grants, adding it should not hold the USP to ransom.

Leawere says without Fiji’s obligatory contribution, the USP will be put into critical financial situation jeopardizing the delivery of education to students and the employment of staff, mostly from Fiji.