The National Federation Party will develop a set of measures for a living wage of $200 a week if it forms government next year.
While addressing around 1,100 party supporters at NFP's AGM and Annual Convention in Lautoka today, NFP's Leader, Professor Biman Prasad stated that this will mean about $5 an hour rate for people.
Prasad says an NFP government will also increase the number of basic food items to 15 from the current seven.
NFP's leader has announced that they will also establish a National Health/Hospital Service to look after the public health system.
Professor Prasad says they have consulted specialists and experienced health policy makers from overseas and believe the National Health/Hospital Service which will be an independent entity tasked to manage hospitals in the country is the answer to better health services.
Biman Prasad says they will also build a top quality tertiary hospital where heart surgeries and treatment of cancer patients and other serious illnesses will take place.
NFP's leader has also confirmed that a NFP government will implement a minimum guaranteed price of $100 for a tonne of cane.
Meanwhile, former FijiFirst Minister, Pio Tikoduadua is the new President of the NFP.
While addressing party supporters, Tikoduadua stated that the Indo Fijian community should no longer be duped in believing that their security is only guaranteed by a Bainimarama that is in power.
He says the actions of the i-Taukei in the history must no longer be used as an excuse to building an environment that will deter them from expressing their rights under 2013 constitution.
Tikoduadua then said that it is now almost 20 years since 2000 and the same excuses to suppressing the i-Taukei interests cannot be used to protect the rights of the Indo Fijians.
NFP’s new President then said that there are close to 300 people in the Convention from Wainibuka in Tailevu who were once branded as rebels in 2000.
Tikoduadua says they are law-abiding people who believe in the power of democracy and the democratic process.
Fijivillage questioned Tikoduadua on how he is claiming that i-Taukei’s rights are suppressed as the 2013 constitution has protection of the i-Taukei and their land.
He says the constitution states that the i-taukei are the first natives of Fiji, however he claims that the i-Taukei feel that they were not consulted when the government implemented the laws.
He says this is what the people feel.
We also asked him why he did not raise these issues when he was the FijiFirst Minister.
Tikoduadua says he had given his opinion to the FijiFirst government.
