Unity Fiji Party leader, Savenaca Narube, claims that the recent increase in parliamentarian salaries will have detrimental effects on the economy, potentially leading to higher prices and increasing poverty levels.
Narube stated that “all this could have been avoided by a government leadership that respects the principles of fairness, selflessness, and respect.”
He pointed out the irony in the situation, noting that the government leadership in question has been described as charismatic. The former Reserve Bank of Fiji Governor alleged that this leadership had manipulated laws and processes to grant themselves higher pay while the nation struggles with poverty, unemployment, a cost-of-living crisis, and rising social injustice.
“This is the same party that promised the people they would not raise their salaries,” Narube added. He criticized the emphasis on charisma, calling it misplaced and misleading.
“Charisma is not going to save this country,” he emphasized. “The country needs a leadership that puts the people’s interests first, not their own. We need leadership that upholds fairness, moral integrity, and selflessness. We need leadership that keeps its word. We need leadership we can trust. Charisma ranks low among the leadership qualities that Fiji needs right now.”