How can Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama pay himself more than $300,000 per year when so many people live in poverty?
This was the question put to Fijians by National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad at a media conference yesterday where he outlined the party’s vision document.
“That is what we are paying for,” he said.
“We are paying for an uncaring, selfish government which does what it wants.”
Prof Prasad said The People’s Alliance-NFP government has goals for their first 100 days and then for their first six months should they take office.
“We will immediately slash ministerial salaries and allowances by one-third. Why? To show leadership. To show that we are not there for ourselves. To set the tone for good government.
“We will end the motorcades and the flashy Government cars. Why? To remind everyone, including ourselves, that we are the servants of the people. We are not their masters.
“We will make some quick, easy, decisions. We will rebuild our relationship with USP. We will return its leaders to Suva and design laws to protect USP from bad Fiji government behaviour.
“We will repeal iTaukei Land Trust (Budget Amendment) Act of 2021, known Bill 17. Why? To send a message – that we reject the arrogance of FijiFirst. We are the people. We are the important ones here, not the FijiFirst party.
“We will begin preparations for local government elections so that people can have a voice in local government.
“We want to reduce the burden on poor people from e-ticketing, from endless requirements for birth certificates and delays in their welfare payments.
“We will begin work on national consultations on health, education, poverty and the economy.
“These are huge problems. A few people in government cannot solve them. These are problems that our people must work on together.”
