Kumar slams Rabuka for losing control of coalition government

Opposition Member of Parliament, Premila Kumar, yesterday strongly criticized Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in Parliament, claiming that he has lost control over his cabinet ministers and the nation. This lack of control, she argued, is detrimental to effective governance and public trust.

She simultaneously called on the government to cease the blame game and "start getting serious about the work." Kumar MP stated, in response to President Ratu Wiliame Maivalili Katonivere's speech at the opening of Parliament, that all issues, whether it be the faulty backup generator at CWM Hospital, the non-functional hospital elevators, or the shortage of medicine, are being blamed on the FijiFirst government. This constant shifting of responsibility, she emphasized, prevents the current government from addressing pressing issues effectively.

"When will this blame game end?" she questioned. "Our JSC [Judicial Services Commission] has become a questionable issue, and I must say, the Prime Minister has lost control of his ministers and the country." The integrity of the JSC, she implied, is compromised by the Prime Minister's apparent inability to manage his administration.

Kumar MP further pointed out that the only things the coalition government has done for this ailing nation are hosting expensive cocktail parties to thank ministers for doing nothing, undertaking overseas trips that should be conducted by civil servants, and holding endless meetings in expensive hotels, but without any real action. "Of course, their favorite mantra is to blame FijiFirst to cover up their incompetence," she added. "All they have done is cut ribbons for projects started by FijiFirst." These actions, according to Kumar, highlight the government's lack of initiative and reliance on past achievements.

She stated that all people see are monthly meetings, and discussions about the necessity of initiatives such as establishing rehabilitation centers—however, the nation is still waiting for these discussions to translate into tangible results. Ms. Kumar emphasized that at some point, the coalition government must stop cutting ribbons for projects started by FijiFirst and start doing something of their own. The government's focus, she concluded, should shift from celebrating past accomplishments to implementing new policies and projects that address the country's current needs.