A war of words erupted in parliament earlier today after Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was allowed by the Speaker of Parliament to speak on a point of clarification to correct a statement made by SODELPA’s Lynda Tabuya on liquidity in the financial sector in Fiji.

Liquidity is cash, cash equivalents and other assets that can be easily converted into cash.

Hon. Inia Seruiratu and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum

Sayed-Khaiyum says Tabuya said in parliament yesterday that liquidity in the financial sector is currently at an all time low and that it has been lowest in the last 8 to 10 years. 

He says he has extracted the figures from the Reserve Bank of Fiji and the liquidity stood at $13.6 million in 1993, $71.5 million in 2005, $510 million in 2011, $598.3 million in $2013, 606 million in 2017, $306 million in 2018 and it is $342.3 million as at February 13th this year.

SODELPA MP Lynda Tabuya outside parliament

Sayed-Khaiyum says Tabuya’s comments were incorrect.

Tabuya maintained that she sees the figures going down in the last 8 to 10 years.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the statistics are clear and Tabuya is incorrect.