Koya accuses Govt of trial-and-error leadership as Immanuel calls his claims “hot air”

Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya told the Government that they should not try and win the argument but solve the problem and that Fiji cannot afford a government that governs through trial and error however, Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel says Koya does not have data to back up his claims.

In his end of the week statement, Koya says when the government excessively and disingenuously blame a past government, it's actually a deflection of their current responsibilities which has eroded public trust and faith in them.

Koya says we need a government that understands economic management, respects institutions and listens to the people.

The MP says over the past eight years, Fiji's economic trajectory has been marked by promise and potential but now, suddenly, sadly it's marked by uncertainty.

Koya says the government's lack of unity and coordination has filtered into its policy paralysis where the Ministries contradict each other and legislation is rushed without impact analysis.

He says long-term economic strategy has been replaced by short-term political appeasement and we will see more of that in the next 12 months.

Koya further says that equally concerning is the decline in institutional integrity where independent bodies that once operated on merit and professionalism are now weighed down by indecision and national institutions meant to safeguard the people's trust are being weakened.

The MP also says that when people are economically stable, socially united and trust their government, a nation becomes secure from within.

Koya says they have 12 months to try and restore some confidence.

He says that judicial independence stands at the heart of our nation's security and our stability and once justice prevails, contracts will be honoured, rights will be protected, people will look at the institutions and say, yes, I can do business in Fiji.

While responding to Koya, Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel says there is a lot of hot air, lies and negativity from Koya.

He says they talked about foundation shaking and now looking at the FijiFirst Party, it started with 26 but are left with 11 and very soon it's going to go down to probably 9 or 7.

He says when this Government took office in December 2022, they inherited an economy weakened by years of reckless economic management and borrowing, which off course was compounded by the pandemic induced economic and fiscal crisis.

Immanuel says the Coalition Government has brought down the debt to GDP ratio from over 90 percent when they came to Government to below 80 percent now and will continue on this path of fiscal sustainability to bring down the debt ratio further.

He says inflation for October 2025 was recorded at negative 3.4 percent as prices continue to fall due to VAT reduction and other policies of Government like the 10 percent bus fare subsidy.

Immanuel adds economic confidence is returning, tourism numbers are strong, fiscal stability is improving and most importantly, they are creating the conditions for inclusive growth—growth that benefits ordinary Fijians, not just a few.