FOR THE LAST TWO WEEKS FIJI FIRST LEADER VOREQE BAINIMARAMA HAS BEEN ACCUSING NFP OF TELLING LIES. THIS HAS BEEN SAID PUBLICLY THROUGH THE NEWS MEDIA, AS WELL AS THROUGH ADEVERTISEMENT ON FBC TV.
LAST FRIDAY WE WROTE TO THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION AND POINTED OUT THAT THIS BREACHED THE ELECTORAL DECREE.
BECAUSE MR BAINIMARAMA IS NOT SAYING WHAT NFP IS LYING ABOUT
THE TRUTH IS WE HAVE NEVER LIED OR MISLED OUR PEOPLE THROUGHOUT OUR 51 YEAR HISTORY.
WE BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE ALWAYS DELIVERED WHAT WE PROMISED TO THE PEOPLE OF FIJI. AND WE HAVE NOT BEEN TAINTED BY ANY OF THE FOUR COUPS IN FIJI SINCE 1987.
SIMILARLY, FIJI LABOUR PARTY CANDIDATES HAVE BEEN SPREADING LIES ABOUT NFP ALREADY ENTERING INTO A POST ELECTION COALITION WITH FIJI FIRST.
The truth is that this this demonstrates the desperation on the part of both parties. We have repeatedly stated since 7th December 2013 that we are fighting the elections on our own and intend to solely form a majority government. Misleading the voters in an attempt to win votes is a hallmark of politicians and political parties clutching at straws.
If anything, SODELPA and the FLP have both confirmed that they will form a coalition after the elections. They have failed to explain to the people why they could not work together in a Multi-Party Government after the 2006 elections. The leaderless Fiji Labour Party, whose last parliamentary leader was part of the military regime, justified his participation in the regime’s Cabinet by describing the then SDL as corrupt. Why is he now working with the same party, albeit under a new name, that he repeatedly described as corrupt and responsible for economic ruin?
Similarly, this government is diverting the attention of people away from the real issues facing our nation.
This Government has indulged in the biggest vote-buying campaign in our history. This is an indisputable fact. Last week we saw a new dawn of vote buying when rubbish bins were distributed in Nasinu. The Electoral Decree 2014 is being breached by this Government through the use of State funds for campaign in the form of advertisements by Ministries like the PM’s Office and Ministry of Health on common name and equal citizenry and health updates respectively. We see Fiji Pine Ltd, a statutory organisation publishing advertisements in the newspaper on distribution of money to landowners.
That is why we have been calling on this Government to go into caretaker mode immediately after the Writ for Election was issued by the President.
Fear mongering in an attempt to scare voters is also prevalent. Team NFP has consistently practiced an issues-based campaign because the people of Fiji want answers to the social, economic and political ills plaguing our nation.
Furthermore, making pie-in-the-sky promises like providing free water and increasing subsidy on electricity will not work like what Fiji First has proposed. Their proposal if implemented will mean a meager saving of $1.59 on electricity bills per month and $1.16 on water charges for a month. This pales into significance with our promise to reduce Value Added Tax from 15% to 10% and review import duties on imported food items.
Electricity subsidy will save you $19.08 in one year
Free water of 91.25 units will save you $13.96 in one year
Free prescribed basic medicine will save you $400 in one year if you are sick
Your total savings under Fiji First’s proposal will be $433.04 in one year
Under NFP’s plan to reduce VAT from 15% to 10%, any person earning $20,000 per annum will save $1000 in one year.
THIS IS THE TRUTH
NOW FOR THE TRUTH THAT FIJI FIRST IS NOT TALKING ABOUT.
The truth is Frank Bainimarama said that that the military carried out the coups of 1987, 2000 and 2006.
While addressing villagers in Nadoi, Rewa on May 22, 2008 following the opening of a church extension, he stated why the military carried out the coups.
He said, “We have taken over leadership because politicians have failed us. I have spoken to Qarase and the head of the Methodist Church was there (Reverend Laisiasa Ratabacaca), politicians have failed us, that is why the military took over in 1987, 2000 and 2006.” – Reported on Fiji One National News In-depth Report, May 23, 2008: Reproduced from opinion by Kamal Iyer in The Fiji Times titled When Truth Causes Verbal Woes – 20th June 2008
“The Commander said that the Military staged the coup in 1987 to develop Fiji but those who went into power used the coup for their own benefit” . – Reported by Fiji Broadcasting Corporation News 25th January 2010, reporting on Bainimarama’s speech to Chiefs of Kadavu; www.fbc.com.fj
“The massive exodus of Indo-Fijians from the country has been one of the most dramatic developments of the last two decades. Since the coups of 1987, more than 120,000 people have left for other shores, taking with them skills and talents Fiji can ill-afford to lose: doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants, and the like”. – The road from 1987- Opinion by Brij V Lal; Fiji Times May 13, 2008
Is the forced migration of Indo-Fijians from the land of their birth the development that Bainimarama is talking about? Is the forced separation of loved ones from their families the development that Bainimarama is talking about?
Does he mean that the NFP/FLP Coalition Government of Dr Timoci Bavadra that had won the 1987 general election, was not going to develop the country and that is why the military carried out the coup?
THIS IS THE TRUTH THAT FRANK BAINIMARAMA MUST EXPLAIN
WE BEIEVE THAT FRANK BAINIMARAMA DOES NOT BELIEVE IN HIS OWN 2013 CONSTITUTION THAT SAYS EVERYONE IS EQUAL BECAUSE OF COMMON NAME AND EQUAL CITIZENRY, BECAUSE HE STILL REGARDS INDO-FIJIANS AS INDIANS.
This is clear from his racist comment about NFP Leader Professor Biman Prasad to Fairfax Media of Australia. When asked about Professor Prasad’s challenge for both leaders to have a debate, Bainimarama said, “He’s an Indian, without me he wouldn’t even be sticking around”. – Fairfax media of Australia; Published in the Sydney Morning Herald and the Age titled “Bula Bully” – Reported by Kathy Marks
This is an insult to the Indo-Fijian community.
For the last 8 years, you have been kept in the dark about the actual salaries of Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Even the official Government record, which is the Civil List, does not reveal their salaries, but states the salaries of other Ministers and all civil servants. This is the TRUTH
For the last 8 years, the people of Fiji have not seen reports of the Auditor-General. This is the TRUTH
For the last 8 years the cost of foodhas increased by a massive 60%, according to the Consumer Price Index of Bureau of Statistics. This is the TRUTH
Basic Items Price ComparisonITEMNov 30, 2006 PRICENOWRewa Butter (500g)$2.99$8.95Rewa Life Milk (PKT)$1.39$2.73Rewa Instant Powder Milk$3.52 (500g)$6.90 (450g)Kraft Cheese$3.15$10.10Lamb Chops (KG)$5.95$16.95Beer (QTS) CTN$31.99$43.95Crest Chicken (# 14)$7.99$15.35Lamb Shank (KG)$6.99$19.95FMF Chow Noodles (5’s)$1.59$2.95Soya Bean Oil (750ml)$1.85$2.67
For the last 8 years sugarcane and sugar production has been reduced by 50%, according to official figures of Bureau of Statistics and Government’s National Budget documents. This is the TRUTH
And the official Government Report, which is the Civil Service List shows that at the end of 2012, Indo-Fijians comprised lonely 19.94% of the entire Civil Service. (Analysis of 2012 Civil List of civil servants) – Published by the Public Service Commission. This is the TRUTH
IT IS ONLY WE, THE TRUSTED TEAM NFP that will give you a new dawn of peace, progress, stability and improving the livelihood of our people.
Biman Prasad
NFP Leader