This would have been an opportune time to steer the lending out of the $170 million borrowing to specifically help the people – Prasad

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says the guarantee that the government is giving to the Fiji Development Bank would have been an opportune time to steer the lending out of the $170 million borrowing to specifically help the people.

While making his contributions on the motion, Professor Prasad says they could have had a very clear plan by FDB together with government and the lender, the Reserve Bank of Fiji as to how they want to help the people.

Professor Prasad says the final quarter appropriation statement by the Ministry of Economy presented to the Parliament sometime ago showed that from 1st of May to 31st of July 2018, a sum of $110 million was redeployed from the heads of the budget for disaster rehabilitation.

He says the need probably now for some form of redeployment of funds is bigger than what in his view was bigger than in 2018, which was an election year.

The National Federation Party Leader adds there is still suspicion as to what this money will be used for as he questioned whether some of the money will be used for Fiji Airways.

He says that could be the perception in the absence of the specific details as to what this money will be used for.

Professor Prasad also questioned the Attorney General to clarify whether or not Fiji Airways has asked for an additional loan.

The Attorney General and Minister for Economy will give his right of reply later this afternoon.