Deputy Prime Minister and head of public coffers Biman Prasad had the makings of statesmanship.
His term in Opposition pointed strongly toward that.
Some even wanted him as Prime Minister.
His dress sense and fact-presentation spoke of a deep sense of eloquence.
He was always calm, collected, factual, and precise.
He convinced the country that an increase in value added tax was necessary to reduce national debt levels.
His role in facilitating the return and burial of the late historian Dr Brij Lal, and the national promise to reduce the cost of lamb chops, were among some of his recent landmark moves.
More than most, and on many levels, Prasad was a man with so much promise.
Minister for Finance and Deputy Prime Minister Biman Prasad. Photo: Leon Lord
Since switching sides in Parliament to take up a lead role in the Government, the high-level leader in the Coalition regime has resorted to constant attacks of Fiji Sun.
In doing so, he has made famous the use of two words – “stupid question”.
For the past two years, he has shamelessly vented his distaste for this newspaper, without even so much of an effort to build bridges in the way his colleagues have.
We are not asking Prasad to like us. His role as a learned economist is to educate – not openly mock with that wicked streak of vindictiveness.
It is unfortunate that his ratings have slid faster than he could bat an eye; worse if the media – like some quarters of the business sector – boycott future events that directly concern him.
In a spate of only a week, the Finance minister responded to three reporters of this newspaper – on three separate occasions with the snide remark, “stupid question”.
It appears to be Prasad’s favourite response to queries he either wishes not to answer or does not have the answer to.
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For someone who should take pride in his role as a statesman and head of a high office in Government, Prasad has gone from a near promise of being just that, to a completely “rude” and “arrogant” minister, as he openly displays lack of character.
You cannot hold on to grudges for so long in your quest to become a statesman, just as you cannot ask us to send you written queries only for you to send your responses to every other media organisation but the one asking.
As recent as yesterday, his response to our query about whether value added tax (VAT) would go up, or down, and the chances of scraping the three per cent duty on imports, was plain embarrassing.
It’s not a silly question. Nor is it a soup question.
Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj
