Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry says comments by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama in The Fiji Times, Friday, October 9, about “would be leaders” stoking up fear about COVID-19 were “totally unwarranted” and “cooked up in the air”.

“He does not name the ‘leaders’ he is attacking,” Mr Chaudhry said. “It is simply a statement to divert attention from the suffering of our people.

“I have not heard of anyone claiming that the virus would ‘infect us through trade winds’, as claimed by him in The Fiji Times report.”

The PM made the statement while speaking at the Ra Provincial Council meeting on Thursday about Government’s success in containing COVID-19.

Mr Chaudhry said “instead of wasting his time making such ridiculous claims, the Prime Minister ought to be responding to the struggles our people are going through as a result of the COVID-19 crisis”.

“Almost every day we hear in the media of the hardship they are facing.

“Their suffering is real. They have faces and names.

“Why is the Prime Minister ignoring their plight and not announcing relief measures to help them out.”