2 Aug 2006

Fiji Labour Party leader says sack the country's finance minister

10:23 am on 2 August 2006

The Fiji Labour Party leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, has called for the sacking of the finance minister, Ratu Jone Kubuabola, saying he is doing a poor job of managing the country's finances.

The call in the Daily Post follows a warning by the Reserve Bank that the government should cut civil service pay, implement measures to discourage import consumption and reduce state borrowing to help stabilize the economy.

Mr Chaudhry, who is a former finance minister, says if the Labour Party is offered the finance portfolio it would certainly consider it.

He is also predicting an increase in the Value Added Tax charged on most goods and services from 12.5% to about 15%.

He says this is the price the people of Fiji will have to pay for the extravagance of the SDL led government.