The incident of Australian tourist Clayton Bretts is being used by Opposition Member Rinesh Sharma in an attempt to sabotage the economy or financial integrity of Fiji, says Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad.
Speaking to The Fiji Times‘ online news portal, The Lens@177, on Tuesday, Prof Prasad said a recent article by an Australian media organisation quoted Mr Sharma using the Australian tourist’s case to highlight the heightened crime rate because of the high cost of living in Fiji.
Mr Brett was hospitalised last week with a stab wound and placed in an induced coma before contracting a life-threatening infection in which he later suffered from septic shock.
“He (Rinesh Sharma) further said ‘while we urge the Fiji Police Force to increase the presence in towns and cities, we need every Fijian to take caution in public spaces and secure the premises’,” Prof Prasad said.
“But he doesn’t realise that he’s actually committed a crime under his own master’s law, and he should be investigated. I’m sure that the police will listen to this interview.
“We will be forwarding it to the police. He should be investigated because we don’t want people to go and lie about the country and lie about the economy.”
Prof Prasad said Mr Sharma was “so engrossed in making the Government look bad”.
“You need to understand that we are working very hard as a government. The whole country is looking at tourism as the backbone of our economy.
“Tourism Fiji, Fiji Airways, Ministry of Tourism, the whole government is trying to promote tourism and Fiji as a safe holiday destination.”
Mr Sharma responded, saying he did not speak to any Australian media, rather the media company had taken a quote from his social media post where he requested the police to increase their presence and cautioned people to be safe. He said the statement was taken without his knowledge or approval, and for Prof Prasad “to get your facts right”.