Prized for his role as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister, Professor Biman Prasad has pushed back at Opposition MP Jone Usamate’s assertion that Fiji’s Cabinet is bloated. Usamate has argued that more than half of the government holds ministerial positions, calling the lineup top-heavy and inefficient.
In response, Prasad challenged Usamate’s credibility by pointing to Usamate’s own past in the interim military government. “Usamate should be the last person moralizing about transparency, accountability, size of government. He was part of the destruction of institutions, of, you know, transparency, good governance, accountability,” Prasad said.
Prasad asserted that the three-party coalition remains committed to transparency and good governance. He noted that the coalition has expanded with allies who joined after recognizing that Fiji Fest was a disaster, and he stressed that the government welcomes scrutiny while reminding the public of what he described as the Opposition’s 16-year legacy of mismanagement.
This clash sits within a broader, ongoing debate about government size and governance. Opposition voices have consistently questioned cabinet expansion, a topic that has featured prominently as the coalition navigates a multi-group arrangement and seeks to balance stability with effective governance. While critics say the cabinet is oversized for a nation of Fiji’s size, supporters argue that a larger executive is necessary to coordinate policy across a coalition government and deliver results.
Context from recent discourse shows that figures like Usamate have repeatedly highlighted concerns over civil service appointments, ministerial perks, and the link between governance structure and service delivery. In turn, government supporters have defended reforms and stressed that accountability and merit-based appointments are central to improving public institutions.
Looking ahead, observers see this exchange as part of a healthy democratic process where accountability, transparency, and delivery remain the focal points. If the dialogue continues constructively, Fiji may see clearer policy direction and ongoing reforms that strengthen public trust and governance.
Summary: The dispute pits Usamate’s call for a leaner cabinet against Prasad’s defense of a larger coalition government, framed within broader debates over transparency, governance, and accountability in Fiji. The exchange underscores ongoing partisan contest but also a functioning debate that could yield clearer policy choices and stronger institutions.
A hopeful note: The public scrutiny and cross-aisle dialogue demonstrate a functioning democracy where leaders can publicly grapple with governance challenges, offering potential for reforms that improve public services and citizen trust.
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