FijiFirst MP and former Minister for Local Government Premila Kumar claims that the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Lynda Tabuya was gaining political mileage out of someone’s sorrow when she was seen with the evicted residents of Veiraisi last year, however, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad says Tabuya was only showing compassion to those that have lost their homes.
While making her contribution to the debate to review the Public Rental Board 2018 Annual Report, Kumar says PRB faces a mammoth task in enforcing tenancy conditions, and this is because of political and societal pressure.
She says housing issues have become so political that we see politicians taking pictures with those that were legally evicted.
Kumar claims this was done by Tabuya.
Prof.Prasad says that it is quite cheap for Kumar to say that Tabuya was identified with the people who were evicted.
He says whether they are evicted legally or illegally, it does not matter as compassion is still required.
Prasad also highlighted that the Lagilagi project is a good example of the failure of the FijiFirst Government.
He claims that the Minister refused to release the grant on time.
A point of order was raised by Kumar, saying that Prof.Prasad was misleading the parliament and he does not know the full story.
Prasad responded that he has evidence and that the coalition government is committed to resolving the informal settlement issue in the next ten years.
