Introduction of racism, lies and complication of facts and figures was once again highlighted in Parliament yesterday.

Opposition MP and NFP leader Professor Biman Prasad claims the government always accuses the opposition side of pursuing a race-based agenda.

“They keep saying this I mean if the members from this side talk about Yaqona talk about Kava, talk about i-Taukei farmers that are not necessarily racist. I mean you have a Ministry of i-Taukei affairs.”

Professor Prasad says he agrees that at times the comparison with non-sugar crop sectors is inappropriate.

“I urge the members on the other side to stop accusing members on the opposition if they are talking about non-sugar crops if they talking about why it should be done this way.”

However, Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has called on the opposition side to debate based on facts and not to try and complicate issues.

“Please do not try to have a dichotomous approach and try to split the divide along with sugar as if we are doing everything only for sugar and nothing for anybody else or any type of farmer. That’s what they have been doing. They’ve been doing this for past 2 days completely incorrect please don’t do that.”

The opposition also claims that all cane farmers have water and electricity however, the Economy Minister has refuted this by saying that it’s not true.

He adds a lot of farmers in Fiji have been drinking from wells for decades and they don’t have access to electricity.