FLP Govt will give $200 cash instead of food vouchers

AFiji Labour Party (FLP) government will do away with food vouchers and instead give social welfare recipients $200 in monthly cash allowance. This was relayed by party leader Mahendra Chaudhry to residents of Maunikoso Village while campaigning on Monday night. Compared to other political parties, Mr Chaudhry said FLP mean what they say.

“When we promise something, we deliver it,” he said. “Unfortunately, we have not been allowed to govern our full term. These are the consequences of the coups we’ve had. Development has suffered. A lot of things would have improved in 16 years. If we elect the same people back again then we haven’t delivered.”

When questioned on the future of the existing free education and free bus fare schemes which have immensely benefitted the children of Fiji, Mr Chaudhry said FLP would continue with the schemes. According to him, FLP had initiated the scheme decades ago.

Not forming a coalition

During his campaign at Tavakubu, Lautoka last week, a party supporter asked Mr Chaudhry: “If the party had a coalition Government, which party would you have a coalition with?”

“We are in this election to win, not to form a coalition,” Mr Chaudhry said. “You have got to wake up and stand up and fight for your rights and fight for your self-respect.” He said Fiji was losing thousands of people going abroad and it had been happening for the past several years.

“The cost of living will continue to be high; we are not self-reliant, we are living beyond our means, budget deficits are too high, it has all been funded by foreign Governments which is very expensive,” he said.