Government has rejected claims that people are being removed from social assistance, with Minister for Social Protection Sashi Kiran telling Parliament that the number of beneficiaries has in fact increased.
Responding to Opposition MP Virendra Lal during debate on Tuesday, Ms Kiran dismissed assertions that her ministry had focused on cutting recipients from the Social Protection Scheme.
“Since we came in, from 96,000 people, we have 108,000 people on social protection. It has gone up. No one has been removed, and the Opposition has to get their facts right,” she said.
Her response came after Mr Lal questioned the Government’s $56 million relief package and sought clarity on how many households had been removed from assistance since 2023.
He also raised concerns about whether the relief package was a short-term measure or part of a broader plan to support households beyond July.
Ms Kiran challenged the basis of his claims, prompting a point of order under Standing Order 81 on misrepresentation.
She maintained that official figures show an increase in support recipients, not a reduction.
The Parliament of Fiji Speaker subsequently ruled that the Opposition’s assertion was not supported by official data and directed Mr Lal to withdraw the statement.
“Honourable Lal, the data does not prove your point… I will ask you to withdraw that statement,” Speaker Filimone Jitoko said.
Mr Lal complied, withdrawing the claim before continuing his contribution.
