Fiji's interim Finance Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, has rounded on assessments of the economy made at a University of the South Pacific Seminar.
Mr Chaudhry told a news conference on Tuesday that the 2006 coup saved the Fiji economy from collapse, as he gave his assessment of the economy amid his disagreements with other cabinet members over tax issues.
He has argued the USP's evaluation did not give an honest outlook on the interim government's success in achieving financial stability and turning the economy around.
But one of the speakers at that seminar, Economist, Professor Biman Prasad says he sticks by assessments that indicate attempts to revive the economy have failed:
"Some of the major indicators in major sectors sugar, agriculture still suggest econom recovery may not be as expected for 2008, however some increase in areas such as tourist numbers."
Economist, Professor Biman Prasad
