Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube says the Government handing a horse and horse-driven implements to farmers in Nadroga where horses are in abundance, shows how out of touch they were with the real needs of the people.
The former Reserve Bank of Fiji governor was referring to the handing over of a horse and the equipment by Agriculture Minister Dr Mahendra Reddy to villagers of Rukurukulevu, Cuvu, in December last year.
“It was so embarrassing and hurtful to see the Government hand over a horse to the people of Rukurukulevu,” Mr Narube said, speaking in the iTaukei language in Viria Village, Lomaivuna in Naitasiri.
“E sa levu tu mada na ose mai Nadroga, ratou lako tale yani na matanitu o ratou lai soli ose. (We have so many horses in Nadroga, and the Government goes and hands over another one.)
Mr Narube said handing over a horse to a community that had other real needs was very demeaning. He said this raised serious questions about where all the money earmarked for rural agriculture development had gone.
Mr Narube said farmers nowadays needed tractors and other farming machinery to clear and plough land — not horses.
“This is not the time for horses, cane knives, spades and forks. Where is the big farming machinery? You can see for yourselves, this Government is giving you things you do not need.
“This is the result of poor financial management — they can only afford horses, cane knives, spades and forks because they don’t have funds to buy big farming machinery.”
Mr Narube urged people to vote wisely in the 2022 General Election.
Questions sent to Dr Reddy on the comments made by Mr Narube remained unanswered when this edition went to press.
