‘You failed to prepare for the fuel crisis’: Opposition tells Govt

Opposition MP Alvick Maharaj has accused Government of failing to prepare for the worsening fuel crisis, warning that Fiji could soon face fuel shortages if the sector continues to be mismanaged.

Responding to Minister for Finance Esrom Immanuel’s ministerial statement in Parliament yesterday, Mr Maharaj said Government was relying on “reactionary measures” instead of long-term planning itas fuel and electricity costs continued to rise.

“While the government hides behind the convenient shield of external shock and Middle East conflict, let us be completely honest with our people of Fiji,” Mr Maharaj said.

“This administration drastically and completely failed to prepare for the early signs of this global crisis.”

Mr Maharaj said the public had not forgotten Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s earlier assurances that there would be no immediate fuel price increases.

“The public has not forgotten the initial statement made by the Honourable Prime Minister who assured the nation that there was no fuel crisis and promised that there would be absolutely no price increase for at least three months back in March,” he said.

He criticised recent fuel price increases approved by the Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission, saying consumers were hit hard by the sudden rise in diesel, unleaded fuel and kerosene prices.

“It is clear that the Prime Minister’s advisors have completely failed him, leaving the head of government completely detached from the harsh reality facing ordinary citizens,” Mr Maharaj said.

He also questioned the effectiveness of Government’s $56 million intervention package and fuel subsidy support.

“The government boasts about redeploying $56 million to manage this crisis, but these reactionary measures are a little too late and too little,” he said.

“They are band-aids on a wound.”

Mr Maharaj warned that despite fuel subsidies for Energy Fiji Limited, electricity costs had continued to rise, placing additional pressure on households and businesses.

He claimed fuel companies were already facing severe cash flow issues due to rising import costs and limited wholesale margins.

“If the government continues to mismanage this sector, we will move past the price crisis very soon and see a severe shortage of fuel in Fiji, grinding our transport and industries to a total halt,” he warned.

Mr Maharaj also criticised Government for failing to provide support to taxi operators, minibus operators, courier companies and logging truck operators.

“The government allocated four million to the bus companies. I must ask Honourable Speaker, why only bus companies?” he said.

“But thousands of taxi and minibus operators who operate on the exact same poor roads and purchase the same expensive fuel have been entirely ignored.”

He warned that rural and maritime communities would suffer the most from rising fuel costs, particularly outer island communities dependent on transport for food, medicine and economic survival.

Mr Maharaj said businesses across Fiji were also struggling with higher transport, freight, refrigeration and operational costs, placing jobs and livelihoods at risk.

“Fiji deserves proactive leadership, clear communication and structured relief and not broken promises,” he said.