Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Prof. Biman Prasad, has strongly rebutted claims made by Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry, calling them false and misleading.
In a scathing statement on Facebook, Prof. Prasad accused Chaudhry of once again “lying” and attempting to damage what he described as an unprecedentedly strong and strategic relationship between Fiji and India.
“As usual the Leader of the Labour Party lies again,” said Prof. Prasad. “The relationship between Fiji and India has never been this close and strategic in the many decades of our relationship.”
Prof. Prasad’s comments follow Chaudhry’s public claim, reported on fijivillage, that the Fiji Government rejected an Indian offer to provide dialysis machines and sea ambulances two years ago—a move he described as shocking, especially given Fiji’s urgent healthcare needs.
Prof. Prasad denied any rejection, stating the offer was part of a broader collaboration currently underway.
“The offer of dialysis machines and sea ambulance was never refused. It is part of the many initiatives that the Fiji government is working with the Indian government to undertake in Fiji.”
The Deputy PM also outlined the depth of recent diplomatic engagement between the two countries, citing over 20 ministerial visits from Fiji to India and several high-level Indian delegations visiting Fiji in the last two years.
These include the visit of India’s External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar in February 2023 and the presence of a State Minister for External Affairs during Girmit Day celebrations in May 2023.
He also pointed to the historic visit of the President of India to Fiji, where she was conferred the nation’s highest honour, and the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Papua New Guinea, where the latter announced a 100-bed super-specialty hospital for Fiji.
Chaudhry has doubled down on his criticism, demanding answers as to why the critical Indian offer has not materialised, especially when Fiji’s healthcare system remains under pressure.
He argued that the proposed medical support from India—including dialysis machines and sea ambulances—would have provided vital relief for patients facing high treatment costs and for remote island communities lacking adequate emergency services.
As per fijivillage report, Chaudhry claims the offer came as part of a broader 12-point development plan for Pacific Island nations, announced by Prime Minister Modi during the 2023 Pacific Forum in PNG, under India’s Act East Policy and South-South Cooperation initiatives.
He further criticised Prof. Prasad for presenting the 100-bed hospital as a Coalition achievement during a recent budget consultation, arguing that the project was in fact a unilateral Indian pledge.
Prof. Prasad confirmed the hospital project, which will soon begin, was discussed early in the Coalition Government’s term, and stressed that “the relationship with India has reached new heights and will continue to flourish.”
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