No doubt that Fiji was already in the fry pan after the 2018 elections – Prasad

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says there is no doubt that Fiji was already in the fry pan after the 2018 elections where the economy was declining and poverty levels were rising while Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Rosy Akbar says Prasad had 4 years to bring a motion to talk about poverty, and suddenly months away from the elections, Prasad remembers the poor people.

While moving his motion in Parliament for the Standing Committee on Social Affairs to undertake an inquiry into the causes of poverty, Prasad says around 258,000 Fijians were living in poverty in February 2020, even before the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

He says the problem is that this government has not been governing but managing and to add salt to the injury of the poor, the government has implemented polices of so-called relief measures at a wrong time when their positive effects have already been negated.

He says even the dumbest copy and paste of the NFP manifesto for the 2018 elections which has been implemented 4 years later at a time when prices are sky-rocketing daily, is not enough in addressing the escalating cost of living.

The NFP Leader says most families in Sigatoka, Nadi, Rakiraki and Labasa have told them that when they go to hospitals, they are handed prescriptions for NCD medications they cannot afford due to lack of income.

He adds we have more than two dozen people losing their limbs to amputations each week and are effectively disabled but there is no support for food, livelihood or mobility aid for them.

Prasad also says the 2019/2020 Household Income Expenditure Survey Report was vigorously condemned by the government upon its release last year because it showed disaggregated data in relation to poverty.

He says the fact that poverty increased by almost 2% to 29.9% in 5 years up to February 2020 rubbishes the 9 years of boom that the government brags about.

While opposing the motion, Akbar says they know poverty is a reality in Fiji and that the Bainimarama government has never turned a blind eye to it.

Akbar further says the FijiFirst government has implemented a lot of initiatives that provides support to the vulnerable people.

The Minister also says poverty in Fiji is far from the poverty situation it is made to look like by the opposition.

Akbar adds this is because the government tries its level best to cushion the impacts of poverty.

She also says in one of the most difficult economic times, the government has recognized the need to increase minimum wage.

Akbar further adds removal of VAT on 21 basic items at a time that this revenue was necessary for Government.

The Minister says over the last 7 years, a total of $223 Million has been allocated to the Poverty Benefit Scheme; $50million to the Care & Protection Allowance; $258 Million to the Social Pension Scheme; $7.3 million to the Rural Pregnant Mother Scheme; and $1m to Fire Assistance.

The Disability Allowance, over the last 5 years was allocated a total budget of $40.4 Million whereas the Bus Fare Scheme has been allocated a total budget of $35.2 Million.