My allegations against Prof.Prasad are on public matters not personal matters – Tabuya

Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya says she notes the comments of the Prime Minister but her allegations levelled at Deputy Prime Minister and National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad are not on personal matters.

While responding to the Prime Minister’s comments, Tabuya says her allegations against Professor Prasad are on public matters in his professional role as Finance Minister and NFP Leader, just as he as NFP Leader and his party have attacked members of the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee, the Coalition Government that is made up of Cabinet Ministers and Assistant Ministers, and ignoring and jeopardising the solid position of the Coalition and possibly breaching the coalition agreement.

Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka had said last night that unfortunately the statement issued against Professor Prasad are Lynda Tabuya's comments as Chair of the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee and not as a Minister of the Coalition Cabinet, and totally ignores the solid position adopted by Cabinet Ministers against the public outcry against her in her recent alleged ‘incident’.

That was Rabuka’s comments when asked by fijivillage News on the statement released by Tabuya alleging Professor Biman Prasad of misinforming the people, making serious claims regarding some budget decisions and also alleging the National Federation Party of reaching out to the FijiFirst for coalition discussions after they did not get their way to stall the parliamentary motion to change the salaries and benefits.

When asked by fijivillage News what he means by the alleged 'incident' when he said Tabuya’s comments totally ignore the solid position adopted by Cabinet Ministers against the public outcry against her in her recent alleged ‘incident’, Rabuka says it is the allegations of her and Aseri Radrodro.

Rabuka says with regard to the MOUs' establishing the Coalition Government, that is a matter between the parties, and will be discussed between the parties, at their discretion.

While responding to the NFP last night, Tabuya said the prison officers and high ranking officials in the Corrections Service already knew about Professor Prasad allegedly stopping their pay increments and expressed their deep hurt and disappointment to Tabuya that People’s Alliance who stood for them allowed for NFP to stop it.

Tabuya calls NFP not to hide behind cabinet confidentiality now to answer for what they already know Professor Prasad and which Fiji has a right to know.

She is calling on the NFP to respond to the allegations as cabinet confidentiality does not apply here, because nowhere in her media release did she ever refer to a cabinet deliberation or decision on this issue.

NFP General Secretary, Kamal Iyer has said that Lynda Tabuya’s outburst in a recent statement against Professor Prasad is unbecoming of a Cabinet Minister and breaches the good faith obligations of the Coalition Agreement which binds the parties in Government.

While responding to the statement, Iyer says NFP will be writing to the People’s Alliance Party about Tabuya’s conduct.

He says Tabuya has recently sent to certain news media organisations a series of allegations against Professor Prasad.

Iyer says these relate to the current controversy over last week’s controversial vote on Parliamentary remuneration.

He says these media organisations have understandably asked for Professor Prasad’s response.

Iyer says the allegations are for the most part false, possibly defamatory and in some cases breach Cabinet confidentiality.

He says Professor Prasad cannot respond to those allegations without also breaching Cabinet confidentiality - which he will not do.

When approached by fijivillage News, Professor Prasad said he will not make any comments.