Opposition Leader Sitiveni Rabuka said shaking hands after a debate “is a parliamentary tradition that confirms to the nation that its leaders can differ without rancour”.
He made the comment in response to a statement issued by Unity Fiji party leader Savenaca Narube recently.
The former Reserve Bank governor said he was “dumbfounded” to see Opposition parliamentarians shaking hands with Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum after the 2020-2021 budget was passed in Parliament last Thursday.
In response, Mr Rabuka said the “brief courtesy” also acknowledged the assistance rendered by Government to citizens and constituents at the request of Opposition MPs.
“The SODELPA Opposition members of Parliament opposed the budget because we felt there were areas where the Government could have heeded our cautionary reservations and exercised more prudence in the spending and distribution of national wealth to ensure survival of the most vulnerable members of society and to promote responsible and conscientious monetary and fiscal management,” the Opposition Leader said.
“Our comments and remarks, as well as our motions at the Committee of Supply, pushed the Government to respond with their reasons – not only to members of Parliament but also to the people of the nation listening – who voted both sides of the House in.
Mr Rabuka said shaking hands was something done during his time in Government and the practice had continued from the 2019 budget debate.
He said he personally thanked various ministers who responded favourably and directly to members of the public who had asked for government intervention in their personal, community and mataqali concerns.
