Opposition MP Premila Kumar has criticized the Government for its decision to redeploy funds from the 2023-2024 budget after the closure of that financial year. She raised concerns about why the Cabinet is approving these redeployments in August, given that the financial year ended in July.
In comments to FijiLive, Kumar stated that these actions reflect a significant lack of foresight and effective financial management. She also pointed out the Minister of Finance’s inability to explain the $105.2 million in over-expenditures and under-expenditures that were redeployed in July, contrary to his assertions of transparency.
Kumar emphasized that it is time for Minister Prasad to stop blaming the previous administration and instead focus on how the current Coalition Government can positively impact the lives of Fijians through sound financial practices and fulfilling its commitments. She urged the government to offer clear answers and be accountable for its use of public funds, rather than attempting to mask inefficiencies and mismanagement.
Furthermore, Kumar described the Minister of Finance’s remarks regarding fund redeployment as defensive tactics that divert attention from legitimate issues, rather than offering clear and transparent responses. She asserted that it is the responsibility of the Opposition to ensure the government maintains strict expenditure control, transparency, and good governance.
Kumar clarified that her concerns do not stem from personal attacks but rather from the need for accountability to ensure public funds are used effectively for the benefit of all Fijians. She criticized the Minister’s tendency to evade core issues by drawing comparisons with previous governments, declaring such behavior unacceptable.
She highlighted that the current concerns are not merely about exceeding the approved overall budget but also about under-expenditure, which poses serious issues. Kumar noted that when ministries don’t utilize allocated funding, it reflects poorly on their ability to carry out planned initiatives, directly affecting Fijians. She pointed to specific examples, including the lack of progress on rural electrification projects despite a $4.1 million allocation, as well as significant under-utilization of funds for essential hospital equipment and educational facility upgrades.
Kumar concluded that issues such as teacher pay within the Ministry of Education should have been suitably addressed in the 2024-2025 budget, rather than relying on redeployment from the previous fiscal year. She made a similar point regarding the Fiji Police Force.