Editorial: Unbelievable
However, regardless the minority votes, they will all be receiving the same salary increases and perks as those who voted for the report.
Sunday 26 May 2024 | 11:51
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at the opening of Parliament in Suva on March 4, 2024. Photo: Leon Lord
It took only one hour to debate one of the most talked-about decisions that the Coalition Government has made since coming into power in December 2022.
And the question on everyone's minds is: Whose interest are they there for?
That is the question that Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube echoed as Members of Parliament, including the President and the Speaker who will get a significant pay increment with benefits come August 1, 2024.
Related stories
In case you wanted to know who voted for where, the breakdown below will provide a clear determination of the remaining 40 who voted in favour of the report:
Against: Biman Prasad (NFP), Lenora Qereqeretabua (NFP), Pio Tikoduadua, Sashi Kiran, Hem Chand (FFP), Faiyaz Kaya (FijiFirst), Premila Kumar (FijiFirst);
Abstain: Ketan Lal (FijiFirst), Joseph Nand (Fiji-First), Viam Pillay (FijiFirst), Rinesh Kumar and Agni Deo Singh (NFP);
Not voted: Parveen Bala (FijiFirst), Aliki Bia (Fiji-First) and Alvick Maharaj (FijiFirst).
However, regardless the minority votes, they will all be receiving the same salary increases and perks as those who voted for the report.
And just in case you were also wondering where the money would come from, rest assured that the Prime Minister confirmed on Friday that it is the task of the Government to allocate funds, a whopping $8.lm, for it.
Just unbelievable! We have no more words for it.
Feedback: ranobab@fijisun.com.fj
