$200 not enough, says Bulitavu
Opposition parliamentarian Mosese Bulitavu claims the $200 cash assistance announced by Government on Tuesday, is not enough considering the increase in prices of footwear, uniforms and stationery over the years.
Mr Bulitavu said it cost a parent more than $900 to send a child to a boarding school which was five times the amount given by Government for the back to school cash assistance. On social media, he said he would closely observe the problem that would emerge when the back to school support assistance would be rolled out on January 25.
“The Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad has slapped his
own face and so have the rest of the Government ministers who have criticised the assistance rolled out by FijiFirst,” Mr Bulitavu said.
“They are on record for calling it as freebies and labelled it as vote buying tactics while in Opposition. They labelled it as money for parents to buy kava, alcohol and lamb chops.
“I guess now they know the reality of the matter that they used to joke and mock about. They even criticised the mode of disbursement of funds via M-Paisa and MyCash.
“Now Mr Biman is going to use the same platform, thanks to the FijiFirst government for the creation of such platforms to roll out much needed assistance to the people of Fiji,” he said.
He said Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should direct Mr Prasad to list the non-priority areas in the 2022-2023 Budget. Attempts to get response from Mr Prasad, Mr Rabuka and the Minister for Education Aseri Radrodro were not successful when this edition went to press.