SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula says that the COVID-19 Response Budget is a monkey budget.

In his response to the budget, Nawaikula says that the budget is poor and incompetent as more is needed.

He says that the $40 million is not enough for the Health Ministry to fight COVID-19.

Nawaikula says the Minister for Health should resign because he is not properly empowered.

Nawaikula says government should take on the responsibility that they brought in COVID-19 to Fiji.

He says that the 20 percent salary deduction for the Prime Minister, Minister for Economy, other Ministers and Assistant Ministers is not enough.

Minister for Infrastructure Jone Usamate then raised a point of saying that Nawaikula is misleading parliament by saying that all the Ministers get $200,000, because they don’t.

Nawaikula also mentioned that inter-island shipping will be closed. Usamate then raised another point of order saying that it will be open, people will not move but cargo will move.