PM to Minister for Finance: Be realistic about Govt spending’
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has told his Minister for Finance to be realistic about government spending.
Mr Rabuka made the comment when questioned about the 2023 National Economic Summit budget, which will be held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva from April 20 to April 21.
Minister for Finance Biman Prasad earlier said the Summit had an estimate of $360,000 budget.
He also stated that an allocation of $18,700 was for kalavata (uniform), $115,000 for catering, $11,000 for summit bags, and $15,000 to host cocktails..
Mr Rabuka, as the acting Minister for Finance, said the cocktail and kalavata had not come from the official organisers.
He said there was no budget and neither any budget was approved. “I don’t know who is talking about kalavata because kalavata was never a policy of this Government,” Mr Rabuka said.
“I will speak to the minister to be realistic about Government spending.
“I am not in favour of it and I have conveyed that message to the organisers.
“It can be vaguely removed and may ask those who are willing to come, to come and be prepared to pay for their own food.
“I was not shown the cost and the budget for the summit. I am not even aware of what we are spending.”
Mr Rabuka said he had made it clear to everyone involved to cut down the spending.
“We cannot be trying to exercise the strict control of the national economy and finances if we do not do that on a personal basis and on our own responsibilities as ministers in our own portfolios,” Mr Rabuka added.
Meanwhile, Fiji Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, in a statement said Mr Rabuka’s statement that he was not happy with the $360,000 budget for the Economic Summit was a rebuke to Mr Prasad.
He said this was the third time that Mr Prasad appeared to have ruffled the PM’s feathers.
“The first was when the PM announced there will be a mini budget in March but Prasad immediately countered that publicly by saying there will be no mini-budget, just the Budget in July,” Mr Chaudhry said.
“The second was when he jumped the gun and announced that ‘taxation increases are inevitable’ just as he announced the appointment of the Fiscal Review Committee. “This undoubtedly put the Coalition government in a somewhat awkward, if not embarrassing position, as it had been campaigning to bring down the high cost of living, not raise taxes.
“The Prime Minister also said that he had to make it very clear to all ministers to cut down on costs,” Mr Chaudhry said.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition, Inia Seruiratu, labelled the budget “extravagant”.
In previous conferences and meetings that we hosted, we had to look for sponsorship,” Mr Seruiratu said.
“If this kalavata (uniform) is coming from taxpayer’s money, we find it irresponsible.”
Mr Seruiratu said the economic summit was important for the country.
The summit at the Grand Pacific Hotel will host about 500 participants.