Prof.Prasad and Chaudhry engage in war of words on what is being done regarding the rising cost of living

Prof.Prasad and Chaudhry engage in war of words on what is being done regarding the rising cost of living

By Vijay Narayan
Monday 27/03/2023
Deputy Prime Minister Professor Biman Prasad and Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry

The war of words on what is being done regarding the rising cost of living and salary or wage increases continues between the Deputy Prime Minister, Professor Biman Prasad and Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry.

Professor Prasad says obviously Chaudhry can blow his own trumpet about his involvement in the military government after the coup in 2006.

He says Chaudhry should also go and study their manifesto in the 2022 election before lying about the promises they made.

Professor Prasad says he wants to reiterate his earlier point that Chaudhry is welcome to make his submission to the Fiscal Review Committee and attend the Economic Summit to present his ideas.

The Deputy Prime Minister says Chaudhry has obviously and conveniently refused to acknowledge the first act of the coalition government in supporting the students in getting back to school.

He says they have provided support to more then 200,000 students and this has been appreciated by people and parents throughout the country.

Professor Prasad says they have also extended the bus far subsidy.

However Chaudhry says people are suffering, and they want immediate relief from constantly rising price of food, household items, fuel, building materials – almost everything.

He says they want to know what the Finance Minister intends to do to address escalating prices.

The FLP Leader says instead all they have heard from Professor Prasad is that “tax increases are inevitable”.

Chaudhry says their own feedback from the people is that the Minister does not seem to have answers to the economic problems confronting the nation.

He says Professor Prasad’s actions and statements so far have veered widely off the promises he made to the people in his election campaign all over the country.

Chaudhry says Professor Prasad has conveniently avoided making a clear statement on his promises to increase civil service pay, the basic minimum wage, guaranteed minimum cane price and welfare allowances.

He says instead, there is talk now of striking families off the welfare list.

Chaudhry says the question is simple: Are you going to deliver on your campaign promises or not? If so, when and how? That’s what the people want to know.

Chaudhry says what we are witnessing now is a classic case of Nero fiddling (with committees and summits) while Rome burns.

He says the suffering masses are least concerned about the Minister’s Economic Summit or the fiscal review process.

Chaudhry says Professor Prasad has taken a dig at the time he was Finance Minister in 2007 and 2008 under the Bainimarama government.

The FLP Leader says he produced a completely revised budget within a couple months of taking office in January 2007 and had stabilised government finances before he left in August 2008. Chaudhry says he also delivered three budgets in his political career – Budgets 2000, 2007 (revised) and 2008.

He says all budgets were popular, VAT was removed from basic food items, a range of essential household items were put under price control and FNPF contribution was increased among other reform measures which brought down the cost of living.

Chaudhry says the popular opinion out there is that the Finance Minister should just get on with the job and stop wasting time with review committees and economic summits.




fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
FEATURE NEWS
Shaky start for Fiji Men’s 7s at the Dubai 7s escaping with a 21-14 win over the USA
The Fiji Airways Men’s National 7s side had a shaky start to their Dubai 7s campaign after securing a close win over the USA in their first pool mat...
1 hour ago
LATEST NEWS
Dubai 7s: Fijiana secures 38-17 win over Great Britain in first pool match
The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s side opened their Dubai 7s campaign with a remarkable 31-12 win over Great Britain this afternoon. Fiji scored two ...
2 hours ago

All Fijians can make a difference – Kiran
All Fijians can make a difference, no matter how small it may seem as every action counts and shows the power of volunteering which is the power of ...
2 hours ago

BSP Life Group hands over $35,000 to WOWS Kids Fiji after completing 200 million steps
In support of the vital work of Walk On Walk Strong (WOWS) Kids Fiji Foundation, the BSP Life Group and its partners completed 200 million steps over ...
3 hours ago

Fiji focusing on starting SVNS series on a high note
As the countdown begins for the HSBC SVNS Series, the Fiji Airways National 7s team is focused on starting the series on a high note as they face USA ...
5 hours ago

LTA vehicle examiner charged for passing vehicle without complying with proper procedures
A vehicle examiner at the Land Transport Authority has been charged by FICAC for corruption related offences for allegedly passing a vehicle without ...
9 hours ago
IN DEPTH
PM’s motion passed to reduce overseas travel allowances for the PM, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Leader of Opposition and MPs
Parliament has passed the Prime Minister’s motion to reduce the rates payable for overseas travelling allowances for the Prime Minister, Cabinet ...
10 days ago

CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Joel Abraham appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
CEO of the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, Joel Abraham appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
16 days ago

HIV infections in Fiji increased 260% since 2010, making Fiji the second fastest-growing epidemic in the Asia Pacific region
Speaker of Parliament and UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador for the Pacific Region, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau says according to the Global AIDS Monitoring Report, Fiji is in the top 5 countries of rising new HIV infections in the Asia Pacific region amongst the 15 t
21 days ago

TOP