Govt has committed the biggest sin by opposing motion for an inquiry into the causes of poverty – NFP Leader

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says the biggest paap or sin committed by the Government on the people of Fiji is opposing the motion for the Standing Committee on Social Affairs to undertake an inquiry into the causes of poverty while Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says NFP’s motion is a political stunt and sign of desperation.

While giving his right of reply on the motion, Prasad says Sayed-Khaiyum is acting like a kid by calling someone a paapi which means sinner.

He has told Sayed-Khaiyum to act his age and not his shoe size for ridiculing leaders of political parties.

The NFP Leader says he would never stoop low and call someone a paapi.

He then told the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama to tell his defacto leader not to do this.

Prasad says Sayed-Khaiyum has accused a whole political party with thousands of members as sinners.

He also says everything that this government provides to the people of Fiji is paid by the people of this country and they should not brag about what they have done.

While opposing the motion, Sayed-Khaiyum says there is no doubt the number of people who have lower incomes would have increased as a result of COVID-19.

He says over 100,000 people lost their jobs and as a result, the government provided $430 million in unemployment benefits.

Sayed-Khaiyum says this was provided through the FNPF General accounts when the members’ funds finished in their accounts and through $90 payments, two rounds of $50 payments and two rounds of $360 payments.

He says they also provided other assistance such as the payment for market vendors fees.

The Minister for Economy says as announced in the Revised Budget, they have given a one off $50 payment to all social welfare recipients, and $100 one off payment will be given to the people living in Vanua Levu.

Sayed-Khaiyum also confirms there is no doubt that they may want to give more for people in those areas.

He then said the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Rosy Akbar hit the nail on the head when she said if the NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad was so concerned about poverty, why didn’t he bring this motion earlier.

Sayed-Khaiyum also stated that Prasad did not talk about inflation.

He says the USA has an inflation rate of 7.9 percent however there was no mention of it.

The Minister for Economy says none of the opposition members mentioned that a country that is so heavily dependent on imports will be affected by imported inflation rate.

The motion was defeated in Parliament.