Opposition MP Labels PM’s ‘War on Poverty’ a Hollow Declaration

Opposition Member of Parliament Hon. Premila Kumar has criticised Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s recent “war on poverty” declaration in Parliament, calling it more “dramatic than real” and lacking in substance.

In a strongly worded statement, Hon. Kumar said the Prime Minister’s address, delivered nearly 30 months into his government’s term, failed to outline a clear, measurable strategy to address the growing challenges of poverty, youth unemployment, and the rising cost of living.

“Despite its rhetorical flair and metaphorical language, the speech fails to conceal a sobering truth: the Coalition Government has made little meaningful progress in reducing poverty, managing national debt, or implementing reforms that materially improve the lives of ordinary Fijians,” she said.

Kumar accused the Prime Minister of leaning too heavily on inherited challenges and previous administrations, saying that “leadership is measured not by whom you blame, but by what you deliver.”

She also criticised the 2025–2026 National Budget for its lack of targeted solutions to food insecurity, rural neglect, and housing, and questioned the credibility of the government’s National Development Plan, labelling it “a political wish list, not a policy agenda.”

Kumar further challenged the government’s framing of iTaukei economic success, warning that “land lease revenue and remittances are not substitutes for structural reform or widespread prosperity.”

“What Fijians deserve are forward-looking policies, not hollow declarations,” she added, noting that the Prime Minister’s own statements on poverty appeared disconnected from the optimistic economic outlook shared by his Finance and Trade ministers.

With the next general election drawing closer, Kumar asked whether the government still has time to act decisively or whether “the war on poverty has already been lost—through inaction, misdirection, and political complacency.”