“THE Social Democratic Liberal Party has never said it would borrow money to give out freebies.”
Party leader Sitiveni Rabuka made the comment in response to a statement made by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at the Victorian Multicultural Sports Association business event in Melbourne, Australia on Sunday.
In his address, Mr Bainimarama claimed that previous governments borrowed irresponsibly and mismanaged Fiji’s economy, but if they had been responsible like his Government, Fiji would have been debt free.
“That’s what you have to remember when SODELPA promises to give free everything to everyone, with no idea how they’ll fund their big and completely unrealsitic promises,” Mr Bainimarama said.
“My Government has proven that we know how to grow an economy. While SODELPA has proven they only know how to sink one.”
In his response, Mr Rabuka said SODELPA had only said that assistance would be given out through a targeted approach to those who needed it, if they entered government and not borrow to give out freebies.
“It is time for the Prime Minister tell the truth to the public,” Mr Rabuka said.
“PM Bainimarama’s argument that his Government had proven that they can grow the economy is misleading and unfounded.”
The former prime minister also claimed that Mr Bainimarama was basically continuing to implement policies already developed by former governments.
