Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad has called out Leader of Opposition Inia Seruiratu saying he and his bunch are totally confused while Seruiratu says government should stop playing dirty games.
Prof. Prasad highlighted this in response to Seruiratu’s statement on why the NFP and SODELPA were not in the discussions with the Prime Minister.
He says Seruiratu asked for a meeting with the Prime Minister and that is a matter with him and Rabuka
The Deputy Prime Minister says they as a coalition have already discussed these things in their own way and are all in it together.
The Opposition Leader says they have always been open to dialogue and collaboration, as evidenced by their meetings with the Prime Minister and his team. He says during their meeting, it is important to note that neither NFP nor SODELPA were present, raising questions about the true intentions behind the government's actions, why were they not present.
Seruiratu says however, it has come to their attention that the government has been engaging in underhanded tactics, tempting their members to their side with promises and other enticements and inducements that verge on bribery.
He says the government's lack of transparency and clarity from the start has led to the current situation.
Prof. Prasad says first, they were confused about the process which has been clearly laid down and yet they still talk about the process.
He says if they voted against the motion, they should stick to it.
The Deputy Prime Minister says they contradicted themselves in the debate where on one hand, they said they want a review of the Constitution and on the other hand, they talk about the process.
He says the fact that they all said that they want a review of the Constitution, leaves some room for them to continue their discussion with them.
He says they would like the bipartisan approach and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka is known for that like he did in 1994 where he walked across to the Leader of the Opposition, the late Justice Jai Ram Reddy, and they worked together through a constitutional process, and they got the 1997 Constitution.
Prof. Prasad says that is precisely what Rabuka with that motion, wanted to do, so the Leader of the Opposition should not just go around confusing himself more. He should sit down with the Honourable Prime Minister and with the government, the coalition, and talk about this.
