Opposition MP Premila Kumar has criticized the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance for what she describes as an attempt to market the National Development Plan without any real support from the public. During her response to Professor Biman Prasad’s Ministerial Statement regarding the plan, Kumar questioned how citizens truly perceive the initiative, emphasizing that their feelings should be central to the discussion.
Kumar posed several questions aimed at assessing the citizens’ sentiments as they engage with everyday services. She inquired about their experiences at supermarkets, pharmacies, and when interacting with professionals such as lawyers and doctors, highlighting concerns about the fees they pay for services and essential utilities like electricity and water.
While acknowledging discussions about a thriving economy, Kumar expressed skepticism about whether the reported growth is genuinely benefiting the people. She stated that the National Development Plan appears to be an idealistic vision that fails to tackle existing challenges faced by the population. Kumar urged the Deputy Prime Minister to improve his approach and expressed doubts about Professor Prasad’s ambitions of transforming the nation into a high-income country. She asserted that the previous Bainimarama Government had successfully advanced the country from no income to a middle-income status.