We support some of the measures in the COVID-19 response budget however it's a disappointing and dishonest budget- Prof Prasad

We support some of the measures in the COVID-19 response budget however it's a disappointing and dishonest budget- Prof Prasad

By Naveel Krishant
Friday 27/03/2020
National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says they support some of the measures in the COVID-19 response budget however he labelled it as a disappointing and dishonest budget.

While making his contribution to the budget debate, Professor Prasad said the government did not bring the virus in the country but he says we are confronting a double tragedy.

He says the first tragedy is the devastation and loss the virus will bring and the second is that we do not have money to respond to it.

Professor Prasad says it is not a billion-dollar budget.

The NFP Leader adds that the government is only doing two useful things which are topping up FNPF accounts and increasing the health ministry’s budget. He says after that it is up to everybody else.

Professor Prasad says in his view the government is hoping that the crisis will not get worse adding that this is the first government that always runs to the FNPF.

The NFP Leader was talking about the FNPF when Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum raised a point of order.

Prasad also claimed that the health ministry has only conducted less than 200 tests for COVID-19.

Minister for Health, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete clarified that they have done more than 200 tests.

Meanwhile, Prasad says his understanding was that he had 20 minutes to respond to the COVID-19 Supplementary Budget.

He made these comments after Speaker of Parliament, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau interjected Professor Prasad and asked him what was his time limit.

Ratu Epeli says that he was informed by the whips and his understanding was that members will have about 7 minutes.

COVID-19 RESPONSE BUDGET ESTIMATE 2019-2020
http://www.parliament.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-19-RESPONSE-BUDGET-ESTIMATE-2019-2020.pdf

ECONOMIC AND FISCAL UPDATE SUPPLEMENT TO THE COVID-19 RESPONSE BUDGET ADDRESS
http://www.parliament.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/SUPPLEMENT-TO-THE-COVID-19-RESPONSE-BUDGET-ADDRESS.pdf

FEATURE NEWS
My human rights were breached - Saneem
Former Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem says his human rights were breached while he was being charged and in remand from the 8th to the 11th ...
10 hours ago
LATEST NEWS
Whirlwind of misinformation sows distrust ahead of US election day
Rumours, misleading allegations and outright lies about voting and fraud are flooding online spaces in unprecedented numbers in advance of the US ...
9 hours ago

Trust issues don’t lie just within RFMF and the Police, it’s about every government institution - Seruiratu
When it comes to the issue of trust, it’s not only about the Republic of Fiji Military Forces and the Fiji Police Force but almost every government ...
9 hours ago

COC decides to appoint independent panel to shortlist applicants for COMPOL job
The Constitutional Offices Commission has endorsed the appointment of an independent selection panel to assess and shortlist applicants for the ...
9 hours ago

COP29 meet will be more than a technical meeting as Fiji hopes to secure adaptation funding – Prof. Prasad
A 55 member delegation from Fiji will attend the COP29 meeting which will be more than a technical meeting and their main objective is to secure ...
9 hours ago

SCC owed $37.958M in rate and rent arrears, Name and Shame plan to recover outstanding arrears
The Suva City Council is owed $37.958 million in total rates and rental arrears until the 30th of September this year, and it now plans to introduce ...
10 hours ago



fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan
Latest Videos

Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations

CFL radio frequencies
yb
IN DEPTH
Inia Seruiratu appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay Narayan
Leader of the Opposition, Inia Seruiratu appears on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay ...
15 hours ago

Fiji President Election
Parliamentary Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu Na Gone Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau, has been formally endorsed by the Parliamentary Caucus of the ...
10 days ago

USP Unions commence strike action
Related Stories:Fong and Dr Osborne-Naikatini appear on fijivillage Straight Talk With Vijay NarayanUSP Staff Association and USP Staff Union to ...
18 days ago

TOP