20% pay cut still leaves ministers ahead, says Narube

Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube says the proposed 20 per cent pay cut for ministers still leaves them financially ahead, questioning the sincerity of the move.

“Let me be very clear. The reduction in salaries is not a sacrifice. The increases in the Minister’s salaries averaged around 40%. Reducing them by 20% still leaves the Ministers ahead of everybody else by 20%. So, where is the sacrifice?” he said.

Mr Narube described the measure as politically motivated, criticising its timing amid the current fuel crisis.

“When you analyse it closely, the reduction in Ministers salaries is clearly an election gimmick,” he said.

He said the Prime Minister was attempting to correct an earlier decision to increase ministerial salaries.

“The Prime Minister is trying to correct his serious misjudgement of awarding Ministers large salary increases very early into their term. Why did they not consider the plight of the people three years ago? The people were suffering then as they are suffering now.”

Mr Narube also questioned the effectiveness of the pay cut in addressing the current crisis.

“The reason given for the reduction in salaries to help the country cushion the impact of the current fuel crisis is not supported by facts. How will this reduction help in addressing the people’s interest in the crisis? How much would it help address the impact of rising prices on the people?”

He said the financial impact of the reduction was minimal.

“If one analyses the impact of the reduction in Ministers salaries, it clearly shows that it is immaterial. Therefore, the Prime Minister is simply playing with the people’s perception. The Ministers have pocketed the higher salaries in the last 36 months totalling a few million dollars. They know they must do something now. The Prime Minister is simply using the crisis for political convenience.”

Mr Narube said the key issue remained the initial salary increases.

“The central question for the Prime Minister to answer is why he disregarded the struggles of the people and decided to raise the Ministers salaries in the first place. This clearly showed that he and his Ministers only cared about stuffing their pockets. Now that the elections are looming, he has lowered the salaries by 20% using the fuel crisis as an excuse.”

“I wish to stress that this is clearly a political manoeuvre, and the people should not be deceived by it.”