SODELPA Member of Parliament, Niko Nawaikula, has been labelled a “master of deluding” Parliament.

During a debate on the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (Budget Amendment) Bill 2016 in Parliament yesterday, Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said: “Madam Speaker, Honourable Nawaikula I have to give him credit; he is a ‘Master of Deluding this House’.”

Mr Nawaikula, while making his input on the Bill, said the Attorney-General’s office was trying to control the Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority.

Mr Nawaikula said lawyers of FRCA should have been left alone to do their job.

“Please give the experts to look at the areas of concern; the other point is the inexperience in lack of training in the Attorney-General’s office in relation to especially drafters,” he said.

“Drafters of FRCA should have been given the role of drafting the Bill rather than lawyers from the Attorney-General’s office.”

Mr Sayed–Khaiyum responded FRCA had input on the Bill from the beginning.

He said Mr Nawaikula should focus on the substance of the amendment proposed.

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority (Budget Amendment Bill) was passed through Standing Order 51 in Parliament yesterday.

The Bill was amended to ensure that the Act was aligned with the Government’s new financial year, that is, August 1 to July 31.

Edited by Naisa Koroi

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