News Archive

Qarase Dismisses Claim of Empty State Coffers
“What About the Money Tree”

The deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase dismissed claims by the interim Finance Minister that the state coffers are empty and said that there was always money to pay for governments expenditure during a telephone interview from his Mavana home.

“Its shocking to hear Chaudary saying that there is no money and that the civil servants will have to take a 5% pay cut. Well the public should know that after the 2000 coup when we had to implement the 12.5% pay cut, I immediately got my think tanks from various sectors and that's when we worked on something that was unprecedented and highly innovative. We planted money,” a stern sounding Qarase revealed.

Mr. Qarase further stated that the project was called, Hydromonics, and the different species of plants were genetically engineered for different denominations.

“We were not stupid to sign the agreements with unions for multi-million dollar COLA payout and have so many ministers in the cabinet without planning where the fund was coming from. Now the question I would like to ask Mr. Clever is where are these plants now,” Mr. Qarase stated.

However a source, who was closely associated with the ‘Hydromonics' project revealed that the money tree really does exist but the denominations were just coins and not dollars.

In response to Mr. Qarase's claim, Mahendra Chaudary blushed it off by saying that he had heard about the secret money tree project but the claims are baseless.

”I think Qarase was keeping everyone under the impression that money can be planted and reaped to justify his governments exorbitant spending. Nevertheless this is just too important a claim to be ignored and we will be seeking answers from anyone who was involved in this so called project,” Mr. Chaudary stated.

Confirmation was also sought from Professor Jean Linseed of the Monash University who specializes in money plants and mental disorders. According to Professor Linseed, the money-planting concept has been in simultaneous existence with mentally disturbed patients for a number of years.

In a separate report to Mr. Qarase's claims, the Rotuma Island Council has stated that Laisenia Qarase's revelation has given them a new lease of hope that biscuits can be planted.

Meanwhile, the General Secretary of Fiji Sugar and General Workers Union, Felix Anthony said that it took FSC years to build its reputation as the most unproductive workplace and he would let anyone one tarnish that image by trying to ban kava at its workplace.