Former Deputy Prime Minister and National Federation Party leader, Prof Biman Prasad has challenged Opposition MP Jone Usamate to be honest with the Fijian public when discussing taxation.
In a statement, Prof Prasad said Mr Usamate should acknowledge the tax policies that were in place while he served as a minister in the Bainimarama government.
He noted that between 2011 and 2015, when Mr Usamate was a minister, Value Added Tax (VAT) stood at 15 percent, while many Fijians were paying up to 25 percent in taxes.
Prof Prasad added that from January 2016 to March 2022, VAT was set at 9 percent on all goods and services, with no basic food items exempt from the tax.
“During this same period, the government also imposed a 10 percent Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy (ECAL) and a 6 percent Service Turnover Tax (STT). These are the facts,” he said.
Prof Prasad said while public debate on taxation is important in a democracy, discussions should be grounded in facts and honesty.
“Public debate is healthy for our democracy, but it must be based on honesty and facts. If Mr Usamate wishes to debate tax policy and the realities faced by ordinary Fijians, I welcome that discussion,” he said.
He added that the people of Fiji deserve transparency in discussions about taxation and economic policy.
“Fijians deserve the truth,” Prof Prasad said.
