Misinformation and worst-ever contribution from the opposition – Prof. Prasad

The opposition has come into parliament with broad generalisations, lies, misinformation and concocting stories from what people might have said from one situation or the other, and this is the worst contribution ever from them.

Those were the words of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad following the statement made by opposition MP Penioni Ravunawa that people are facing hard times now after the 15 percent tax was imposed.

Professor Prasad says the opposition obviously is ignoring the fundamental facts of the price rise and is trying to spread a lot of lies and misinformation about the real situation with respect to growth and also the support that the coalition government has provided.

He says the opposition is also forgetting that the government is putting in almost a billion dollars in terms of supporting various ministries and activities.

He adds they have increased social welfare allowances, provided subsidies for agriculture, further subsidies for dialysis and have put in a lot of money to support our people.

Professor Prasad says they also spent almost $100 million to support more than 200,000 students and more than 60,000 families for their back-to-school preparations last year and this year in which the opposition lied that it was a FijiFirst Party initiative.

He says during the COVID-19 pandemic, the FijiFirst Party had the inflation mitigation of $180 and there was no school at that time.

He adds the inflation rate last year was 5 percent, and this year, the inflation for the month of January is already showing trends that it is going down.