Opposition Member of Parliament Sachida Nand today lectured his former Fiji First colleagues to speak with facts in Parliament.
He made the comments while speaking on the budget debate.
“It appears that some honorable members have developed a tendency to accelerate issues, a recent press release about increasing the price of river butter is a case in point,” he said.
“The member in question has leveled accusations against the government via the Commerce Commission, questioning why the price of butter is increased while the price paid to the local dairy farmers for raw milk has remained stable.”
“I would urge the Honorable Member to take time to understand the subject properly and conduct thorough research before making such decisions in the house.”
Mr Nand said Fiji Dairy Limited Is a privately owned company and made a submission to Commerce Commission for a price increase.
“For the members information, Rewa butter consumed in Fiji is not made from locally sourced milk.”
“It is imported from New Zealand, processed and repacked locally, like any other imported commodity, when the international international purchase price rises like any other imported commodity. I’m sure he knows about importing.
“If the international purchase price increases, the local retail price inevitably follows. I’m confident that the Honorable Member is well aware of this basic economic principle.”
“I encourage him to do his homework and then engage in political debate which is grounded in facts, not assumptions.”
