Summit budget needs to be resolved soon; time is ticking

It may as well be likened to the case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand is doing. In the latest turn of events in the much talkedabout 2023 National Economic Summit budget, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has called for his Minister of Finance, Biman Prasad, to be realistic about the cost.

This is only days before the summit, which has a whopping budget of $360,000. It will be held on April 21-22 at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel (GPH).

Mr Prasad had explained at great lengths in Parliament the importance of the summit that will see 500 delegates and participants in attendance ranging from those in the private sector, civil service organisations and our international development partners. In fact, Mr Prasad said there were many more who wished to attend the event.

He informed Parliament that $18,700 was for the purchase of kalavata (uniform), $115,000 for catering, $11,000 for summit bags, and $15,000 to host cocktails.

And Mr Rabuka, who has always been critical about anything to do with cost, seemed taken aback on the ‘extravagant’ budget.

In an interview on Friday, 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.”

His comment seems timely, given that Mr Prasad is attending the 2023 World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings in Washington DC and Mr Rabuka is conveniently the Acting Minister for Finance.

Even Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu, in an update on Friday, labelled the budget as “extravagant”. He claimed that during his time in Government, hosting such events were done thanks to sponsors. “If this kalavata (uniform) is coming from taxpayer’s money, we find it irresponsible and it’s extravagant.”

The noise has nudged political parties to join in the chorus.

Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry belled this latest stunt as a rebuke to Mr Prasad. Mr Chaudhry said this was the third time Mr Prasad appeared to have ruffled the PM’s feathers.

But regardless of this, the show must go on and Mr Rabuka and Mr Prasad, the powerhouses in Government, must reach an agreement on the matter.

Work behind the scenes have already started, and the clock is ticking.

The National Economic Summit, with the Thematic Working Groups, are working hard to make this a successful and enriching event. la