Remove 15pc import VAT, says Chaudhry

A-G blames war for rise in prices

The Ukraine-Russia war is the reason for the increase in prices of goods and services, says Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. He said this was out of Government’s control. During the 2022-2023 National Budget consultation at the Civic Centre in Labasa on Saturday, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum attributed the increase in food costs and other materials...

Youths urged to vote

One of The People’s Alliance party provisional candidate has called on youths to register and vote in this year’s general election if they want change. Lavinia Kaumaitotoya made the plea during the party’s recent rally in Nadi. She told supporters that 167,000 Fijians did not cast their votes in the 2018 election. “We want change,...

Regional leaders to meet

Pacific leaders will gather this month in Suva for the 51st Pacific Islands Forum meeting to discuss several sensitive geopolitical and regional issues. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama, will provide an opportunity to strengthen relationships and priorities for regionalism and collective action within the forum. “The 51st Pacific Islands Forum is an...

‘Party offices do not handle State admin issues’

Economy Minister and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says political party offices do not handle government administrative issues brought to them by the public. He said this at a recent national budget consultation in Nadi where a resident sought clarification from the A-G after being informed by an employee of the FijiFirst party office in Nadi that...

‘Too little, too late’ – Gavoka labels $100 unemployment assistance a ‘political freebie’

Social Democratic Liberal Party leader Viliame Gavoka labelled Government’s $100 unemployment assistance to the people of Vanua Levu a “political freebie”. In a statement issued yesterday, he said the “$100 is too little, too late”. Mr Gavoka claimed the FijiFirst party government was “desperate to maintain power at all costs”. “It is only logical to...

Rabuka hits out at A-G – Sayed-Khaiyum’s comments labelled ‘preposterous’

The People’s Alliance party leader Sitiveni Rabuka said it was “preposterous” for Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to make “insinuations and imputing improper motives” on candidates who wished to contest the upcoming election. He was responding to comments the A-G made at the Nadi Women’s Forum recently that “a lot of people want to come into government...

Usamate willing to contest election under FijiFirst party banner

Infrastructure Minister Jone Usamate is planning to contest the upcoming elections under the FijiFirst party banner. When asked by this newspaper if he would run again, he said, “I will apply”. “I will offer myself to my party as a candidate and it’ll be up to them to decide,” he said. Mr Usamate was first...

FEO ‘will conduct another round of registration’

The Fijian Elections Office will be conducting another round of voter registration overseas next month. This, according to Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem during a news conference in Suva yesterday. “We will be doing another round of voter registration to the following countries- Australia, New Zealand, United States of America and Canada,” he said. “We...

Saneem: One more round

Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem says nationwide voter registration may be extended because they are not aware of the election date. At a news conference in Suva yesterday, he said they would soon make the announcement. “We may be looking at a nationwide voter registration drive — details to be announced soon — and to...

‘Budget consultations nothing short of campaigning’

National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad claims Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s budget consultations are nothing short of campaigning for the 2022 General Election. “Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum is not consulting, you know. He doesn’t believe in consultation. This is all campaigning that he’s doing,” he said. “Mr Sayed-Khaiyum knows that we are in the campaign period. “Everybody...

Gavoka ‘luckiest political party leader’

Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) leader Viliame Gavoka says he is the luckiest among other political party leaders in Fiji because he has the backing of “three paramount chiefs”. He made this statement during the party’s annual general meeting in Sila Village, Nadroga last Saturday. Mr Gavoka said the Gone Marama Bale Na Roko Tui...

FLP on A-G’s comments – ‘What on earth does he mean’

Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry labelled comments made by Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum that Government will improve the working conditions of “teachers who aren’t politically motivated” as “absolutely silly”. “What on earth does he mean by ‘those who aren’t politically motivated’ and how does he intend to carry out this policy,” the former prime minister...

‘Shelved Qoliqoli Bill not associated with Rabuka’

The National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad said the shelved Qoliqoli Bill was not associated with The People’s Alliance party leader Sitiveni Rabuka but was introduced in Fiji by the late former prime minister Laisenia Qarase’s government. He made the comments at a meeting in Moto, Ba on Friday night, saying Mr Rabuka’s opponents...

Politics

4th July