Fijivillage
25 February, 2026, 5:41 am
Central - 23°C Rain
25 February, 2026, 5:41 am Central - 23°C Rain

Usamate says there is a new disease in Parliament where people are losing their marbles after the NFP Leader’s attack on the Health Minister

Usamate says there is a new disease in Parliament where people are losing their marbles after the NFP Leader’s attack on the Health Minister

By Shanil Singh
09/02/2022
[image: Parliament of Fiji]

Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate says there is a new disease in Parliament where people are losing their marbles after the NFP Leader, Professor Biman Prasad’s attack on the Health Minister, Doctor Ifereimi Waqainabete.

Prasad made the comments while speaking on the debate that the Government guarantee the Fiji Development Bank borrowings for the 12 month period from 1st March 2022 to 28th February 2023, that the Government guarantee the sum of $200 million for the guarantee period and that a guarantee fee of 0.075% be applied on the cumulative utilised guarantee credit.

The NFP Leader says Dr Waqainabete will leave a legacy which will be the worst health system in the country’s history.

Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate then raised the point of order.

Prasad further says these type of guarantees by Parliament is not a joke and is a serious issue.

He says his advice to Government would be that if they want to bring a motion for a guarantee then they should provide the statistics and details so that the Opposition knows where Government is coming from.

Prasad says without the good principles of accountability and transparency, it is very difficult to support the motion.

The NFP Leader has also highlighted today that media organizations like fijivillage and Fiji Times has more government content than FBC and Fiji Sun, and Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum should not say that they are biased.

In his response, Sayed-Khaiyum stressed that he had only said that if a particular media organization has a political proclivity, then they should declare that.

Sayed-Khaiyum says these media organizations should not hide behind the facade of being independent.

He says Prasad is going on about it because he hit the wrong nerve. Shanil

FEATURE NEWS
No word on when independent investigations will start against Vakalalabure and Saukuru
Questions are now being asked on when the independent investigations will commence against the Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru and Fiji Sp...
12 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
National Talanoa on Illicit Drugs to be held today in Lami
A National Talanoa Session on Responding to Illicit Drugs in Fiji will be held today and tomorrow at R.B Harbour Point Convention Centre in Lami.The ...
3 minutes ago

Hope for Nabua families as Koronivia land deal nears completion
The Government is on the verge of securing land in Koronivia to relocate hundreds of families ordered to vacate the Nabua Muslim League settlement, ...
26 minutes ago

Several roads in West closed as severe thunderstorm warning issued for parts of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu
Several roads in the Western Division are closed and inaccessible due to the recent heavy rain. Sigatoka Mission Road and the Tilivalevu Road and ...
12 hours ago

MP Kalaveti Ravu faces criticism over alleged swearing on social media
Great Council of Chiefs member and Rewa chief, Ro Naulu Mataitini has criticised former Cabinet Minister and current Government backbencher, Kalaveti ...
12 hours ago

‘Be stronger than temptation’ – Rabuka tells TLTB scholarship recipients
15 young Fijians are urged to protect their dreams and make wise choices as they celebrated a milestone achievement at the iTaukei Land Trust Board ...
12 hours ago



Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
IN DEPTH
Charlie Charters held at Nadi Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file
Fijian national, Charlie Charters is being held at immigration at Nadi International Airport because of a FICAC flag on his file.fijivillage News has ...
2 days ago

Minister ready to repay business class air fare for wife as concerns grow about Sports Council deals
I was invited to travel to New Zealand by the Fiji Sports Council for a grassroots 7s tournament in 2024, I travelled business class but it was ...
19 days ago

Malimali and others filed for judicial review into COI
The application for leave for the judicial review has been made by former FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali, former Attorney General Graham Leung ...
19 days ago

TOP