Poverty Alleviation Minister Mereseini Vuniwaqa is disappointed with the type of budget responses from the opposition.

Vuniwaqa says for the last two days, she’s heard the opposition members claiming the government takes from the poor and gives to the rich.

She says some MP’s from the opposition side continue to claim that the government is numb, deaf and mute to the needs of Fijians.

“I ask which Fijian people are we talking about. The Fijian people living with disabilities who for the first time in 2018 under this government now have a law specifically made for them – making them visible in a way they never were before. Or are we numb, deaf and mute because of the disability allowance that persons with disabilities now receive which no other government has guaranteed before.”

The vocal minister also highlighted the various assistance programs in place which has benefitted thousands of locals.

“Which Fijian people are we talking about? Is it the victims of domestic violence mostly women who until 2009 under the Bainimarama Government had no custom made law in place to take care of their special circumstances as victims and survivors of domestic violence or the over 43,000 elderly citizens who have never had the benefit of receiving a pension in their lives and under this government are now the proud beneficiaries of social protection.”

Showing her support for the 2019/2020 national budget, Vuniwaqa says her ministry has been allocated $127.7m with the largest portion focusing on the administration of core social protection programs.