The 2023-2024 National Budget aims to fulfil badly thought-out election promises which comes at a huge cost to the people of Fiji, says Opposition MP Parveen Bala.
He said it would be the poor and working class who would bear the full brunt and suffering under the Coalition Government’s increased cost of living.
“This budget is directed by election promises,” Mr Bala said.
“This is a bad budget that all Fijians will regret when their pockets are hit with incoming increases in everyday costs of living.
“The budget does not keep in account the concerns and issues that people have on the ground and does not take into account the huge economic blows that Fiji has taken to natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He said the budget impacted those who were socially disadvantaged including those living in maritime and rural areas as well as older citizens.
“The budget as it stands shows the lack of finance and physical policy expertise in the Minister of Finance and the Coalition Government led by Prime Minister.
“This is a budget that is not only backward looking but is backtracking and does not provide the platform for Fiji to enter a new phase of economic recovery from the physical hits.”
