31 January, 2026, 3:57 am Central - 24°C Clouds

Sayed-Khaiyum has delivered his last budget – Prof. Prasad
It is insulting to talk about the “Bula Boom” when thousands of people are struggling – NFP Leader

Sayed-Khaiyum has delivered his last budget – Prof. Prasad

It is insulting to talk about the “Bula Boom” when thousands of people are struggling – NFP Leader

By Shanil Singh
26/07/2022
National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad. [Image: Parliament of Fiji/Facebook]

Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has delivered his last National Budget and Fijians are ready to kick the FijiFirst Government out according to National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad.

While opposing the national budget, Prasad says three years ago Sayed-Khaiyum boasted about the “Bainimarama Boom” which became a national joke and he is now talking about the “Bula Boom”.

He says Sayed-Khaiyum talks about record breaking economic growth of 12.4% but he has forgotten that under this government another record was broken when the economy went backwards by 19%.

Prasad says this year’s deficit of almost $800 million will take the national debt to over $10 billion before the end of the year which includes Government guarantees.

The NFP Leader says it is insulting to talk about a “Bula Boom” when thousands of Fiji families are struggling to make ends meet.

He has questioned that if there has been a “Bainimarama Boom” then why was the minimum wage kept so low for so long and suddenly it was increased as election time came near. Prasad says the Prime Minister talked about the education revolution and he could not believe his ears because this has been the worst ever government for education. He says there is no vision to shape a school curriculum for the 21st century and teachers are put on insulting employment contracts.

The NFP Leader has also questioned why tens of thousands of people are without water every day and why are there constant power failures.

He says the Ministers on the other side still try to blame past governments but they forget that they have had 15 years to fix these problems.

Prasad says in that time they have spent $50 billion of our money and yet cannot even get the basics right.

He says all of a sudden the Minister for Economy is desperately promising now that all the water problems will be fixed in nine months.

Prasad adds nothing will change in Fiji until our leadership changes because leadership is the central role of government.

He says we have a government powered by the insecurity of two men and only those two are allowed to say and do anything.

Prasad says our two leaders have no succession plan because they do not want successors and are afraid of new leaders.

2022-2023 Budget Debate Coverage



-->
FEATURE NEWS
UB40 featuring Ali Campbell rocks Nadi
After 20 years, Fiji was lucky to bear witness to the magic that is UB40 featuring Ali Campbell. Thousands turned up at King Charles Park for the B...
4 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Defamation cases between Chaudhry and Prof. Prasad to be called in April
The matter where leader of the Fiji Labour Party Mahendra Chaudhry has sued former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad ...
10 hours ago

7 ambulances donated to St. Johns boosting emergency medical services
Seven ambulances have been donated to the St John Association by the Racer Group Pty Ltd, with the aim of providing better and more efficient ...
10 hours ago

Free eye surgery brings hope to children with strabismus
The Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevani Children's Hospital, in partnership with the CWM Hospital Eye Department, provided a one-day free corrective eye ...
12 hours ago

MOU signed between Oceania Hospital and University of Fiji
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the University of Fiji and Oceania Hospital to allow medical students from the University to get ...
12 hours ago

20 business linked to foreign worker rights breaches - Bernard
Around 20 of the 740 businesses currently employing foreign workers in Fiji have been linked to breaches of workers’ rights.This was revealed by ...
12 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Ailava Samuels to represent Fiji in Miss Pacific Pageant
Miss Fiji 2025 first runner-up and Miss Nasinu, Ailava Samuels, has been officially appointed as Fiji’s representative to next month's Miss ...
9 days ago

Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy - Dialogue Fiji
The National Referendum Bill risks undermining democracy by criminalising political expression, enabling state overreach and excluding young people ...
10 days ago

Shocking move : FNU reassigned under PM
The Fiji National University is being reassigned under the Prime Minister's Office Ministerial Portfolio via the Ministry of Strategic Planning, ...
11 days ago

TOP