The motion to establish a retirement home in Fiji was defeated in parliament following a lengthy debate.

Thirty MPs voted against the motion moved by the Opposition member Viliame Gavoka who said a retirement home will be the way forward in providing better services and facilities to the elderly, and will also attract retiree’s from abroad.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says in order to establish a retirement home, Fiji will need a full tertiary medical facility.

“When you have a retirement home, somebody may get a heart-attack; they need cardiovascular surgery done on them. We don’t have it available on top of our heads. The honorable Minister for Health cannot pluck out cardiologists from thin air. Cardiologists need to be trained for about ten, fifteen, twenty years.”

Twelve MPs voted in favour of the motion and eight did not vote.