
Issue No 74		20 October 2000

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International

Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets

By Andrew Casey

The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Fiji Public Service Association general-secretary Rajeshwar Singh said the Qarase-Administration was painting a bleak picture of the economic situation to the public while at the same time was doling out a hefty salary to an elect few. He said the words and actions of the administration were contradictory.

"On one hand they are telling civil servants they don't have enough money. On the other hand they are paying huge sums of money to their ministers and Constitution Review Commission members," Mr Singh said.

The Fiji TUC has backed their public service affiliate with TUC leader, Felix Anthony, condemning as "disgraceful that the Interim Administration's Prime Minister and Ministers have increased their pay at a time when the vast majority of the workers and the people are suffering.

" The Interim Administration has lied to the people of Fiji that the Prime Minister and the Ministers have also taken the twelve percent pay cut recently imposed on public sector workers," Mr Anthony said.

Fiji media have reported that the Interim Prime Minister is being paid $95,596, his deputy is getting $75,851, the Attorney-General is receiving $72,102, the other ministers are receiving $70,103 and Assistant Ministers are taking home $49,110 - all per annum.

Rajeshwar Singh, from the PSA, said when this salary range was compared to that of the democratically elected Labour-led Coalition Government of Mahendra Chaudhry, the present Government could only be described as expensive.

"The poor civil servants are suffering. There is no justification for the 12.5 per cent pay cut." He said.

Those who served in the Chaudhry government received:

Prime Minister - $87,364 per annum
Deputy Prime Minister - $75,062
Attorney-General - $67,202
Ministers - $64,963
Assistant Ministers - $43,121.

Felix Anthony of the TUC said: "If the Interim Administration had been honest, then the nett decrease in their pay would be ten percent - two percent having been offset by the Cost of Living Adjustment for 2000. Instead, the Interim Administration has given itself a pay rise."

With a twelve percent pay cut the salary of the Prime Minister should be $78,871, the Deputy Prime Minister $68,266, the Attorney general $60,482, Ministers $58,467 and Assistant Ministers $38,809.

"This means that the Interim Administration has given itself a pay rise of twenty seven percent. When half the population is going hungry the Interim Administration has shown greed and selfishness," Mr Anthony said.

"If the Interim Administration was really honest and had the interest of the people at heart, then it should have foregone the parliamentary salary as they are presently not in the Parliament. The workers of Fiji have lost complete faith in the Interim Administration.

"Eight thousand workers have lost their jobs. Thousands more have suffered pay cuts. Thousands of children have dropped out of schools. Mothers and daughters are forced to resort to begging and prostitution. Hundreds have been made homeless. Many are going without meals. Yet the Administration has increased its pay with so much of silence.

"At a time when the people are suffering, the Interim Administration has thought of its own comfort and welfare. It is time that the people of Fiji realized the self-serving interest of the Ministers in the Interim Administration. They are there for themselves and not for the people. They are not accountable to anybody. If there was any degree of accountability and integrity then the Administration would not have dared to increase its pay in face of numerous adversities that the workers are facing.

" The Interim Administration is heading the country towards economic disaster and ruin," Felix Anthony concluded.

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Issue 74 contents

Interview: Politics Italian Style
Italian journalist's union official Rodolfo Falvo talks to Peter Lewis about Italy's Rupert Murdoch and why Italian politics is so crazy.

Unions: A Partnership That Works
Students at Williamstown High in Victoria are benefiting from a creative partnership with TAFE and the Electrical Trades Union. Kevin Peoples reports.

International: Fiji Paymasters Fill Their Own Pockets
The Interim Administration imposed on the people of Fiji, as a result of the coup-makers, have voted themselves a hefty pay increase at the same time as they demand public sector workers take a twelve per cent pay cut.

Politics: USA Campaign 2000 - On the Road
Michael Gadiel reports on the thrills, spills, highs and lows of the US Presidential Election.

Women: Party Girl
'You can take the girl out of the Port, but you can't take the Port out of the girl' - Stephanie Key recounts her life as a feminist in a male bastion, the Transport Workers Union.

Satire: Telstra to issue $50,000 Reith Phonecard
CANBERRA, Monday: Telstra have announced Peter Reith-themed phonecard. The phonecard allows friends and family to make $50,000 worth of phone calls on it before you receive a bill. Plus, you only have to pay the bill in total if there is sufficient public outrage, otherwise the card costs just $950.

Review: Health, Wealth and Mutual Obligations
Mutual obligation for the poor only, increasing income inequality and a widening health gap. Welcome to the 21st century -or is it the 19th?

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