Member of Parliament Professor Biman Prasad has urged political unity as the government responds to Fiji’s ongoing fuel crisis, praising Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka for early relief measures and supporting the recent decision for ministers to take a 20 percent pay cut. Speaking to this newspaper in Lautoka yesterday, Prasad said the crisis required cooperation rather than what he described as opportunistic politicking from the Opposition.
“The Prime Minister (Sitiveni Rabuka) has done the right thing,” Prasad said, adding that Rabuka “has announced some important early relief measures, for the people and the country.” He stressed that the fuel shortage and rising prices were real challenges affecting supply and affordability, and dismissed suggestions that the crisis had been manufactured by the Government or any domestic actor.
Prasad’s comments come after the government announced a 20 percent pay reduction for ministers as a symbolic and practical contribution to relief efforts. While the Opposition has publicly criticised aspects of the government’s response, Prasad accused opposition figures of attempting to extract political mileage at a time when he said solidarity was needed. “They have to understand that this is a very serious crisis, we are talking about stock, and we are talking about price,” he said. “This is not the time for politicking; this is the time to come together as a country and support government initiatives that will help us in the long run.”
The MP’s intervention is the latest development in a story that has drawn significant public attention in recent days. Local officials earlier sought to calm public concern after footage circulated of liquid streaming from the back of a tanker on the Lautoka–Vuda Road; authorities later clarified that the substance was rainwater collected on top of the vehicle, not fuel. That clarification helped to allay immediate fears of a spill, but broader questions over fuel availability and affordability remain central to public debate.
Prasad framed the 20 percent pay cut as an example of leadership austerity that could set the tone for national sacrifice if required. He did not outline specific additional measures he would like to see but called for the Opposition to engage constructively with government plans rather than default to criticism. His appeal underscores growing pressure on political leaders to present coordinated strategies as businesses and households contend with volatile fuel prices.
With political tensions evident, Prasad’s comments attempt to shift the focus from partisan conflict to pragmatic responses aimed at stabilising supply and protecting consumers. How the Opposition responds to his call for unity will likely shape the next phase of debate as officials roll out further relief or regulatory measures to manage stocks and prices.
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