Government is manipulating the figures, particularly in the supplementary budget - Rabuka

Opposition Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka says the people of Fiji must be told the truth as he claimed the government is manipulating the figures, particularly in the supplementary budget.

In his response to the COVID-19 Response Budget, Rabuka says it is worth noting that a fair share of the $1 billion budget increase for COVID-19 is being used for purposes other than COVID-19 activities.

Rabuka says our debt level has almost doubled and Fiji’s economy is in crisis due to the dictatorial approach taken by the government in implementing the wrong policy mix for the last 13 years.

Rabuka adds that the government should not make parliament a rubber stamp by defeating the rules of parliament.

Rabuka says the suspension of parliamentary rules and procedures yesterday deprived the parliament the opportunity to properly carry out scrutiny of the appropriation bill before the parliament.

He says this process is a dis-service to the nation, people and the parliamentarians.