Quit politicking, stick to issues
While the Opposition have moaned that the 20182019 National Budget was an elections budget, it is their responses which have been all about politicking and attempts to gain a vote or two more for the upcoming General Election.
It has most certainly been elections budget responses.
The Opposition, led by their President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, led the charge in talking about what they would introduce when they form Government.
They spoke at length about getting back the Great Council of Chiefs and worst of all, this has been their attempt to personalise issues. There had been continuous attacks on the Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and this is a tactic to instil fear that here was the one person who controlled most of the money in Government.
This is a calculated move to feed into the frenzy that Muslims are taking over the country. They are adding fuel to fire by picking on Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.
Because SODELPA does not have their own house in order, they cannot fathom how there is no infighting within FijiFirst. For the last three and a half years, they have tried their hardest to sow seeds of doubt.
They did it in the last sitting as well when they questioned that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum was responding to most questions and they did it in this sitting as well by questioning his so-called hold on the budget. Niko Nawaikula, who for some bizarre reason still holds a practicing certificate, given how many times he has been called out for lying in Parliament, has in fact, said in Parliament that the Budget was being passed to allow Mr Sayed-Khaiyum to hold over 76 per cent of the budget.
SODELPA was scrambling and putting up a show for the Fijian people watching the Parliament session live.
The wind had already been taken out of Shadow Economy Minister Aseri Radrodro’s big response in Parliament by his own leader outside Parliament Sitiveni Rabuka, who could not allow anyone else to be in the limelight so there was nothing new in Mr Radrodro’s response. SODELPA made it clear that they were only concerned about the rights of the iTaukei. Anyone and everyone else comes secondary.
They are screaming for the reinstatement of the GCC, but are not giving any valid reason as to why it should be reinstated.
Ratu Naiqama said he allowed for prime iTaukei land to be permanently alienated.
He did so within the laws, but what he did robbed the iTaukei owners of their earnings.
He did not change the law to prevent this from happening. He let it happen, he facilitated it.