Interim Prime Minister Commodore Frank Bainimarama has today clarified that the tax benefits have been taken away from the Fijian Holdings Unit Trust and the Fijian Trust Fund in the 2008 budget because only the elite Fijians have been benefitting from these institutions for years.
Bainimarama has rejected suggestions by terminated Great Council of Chiefs Chairman Ratu Ovini Bokini that this decision will affect the handing out of scholarships.
He said a transparent process will always be followed for the scholarship awards but his main concern is the Laisenia Qarase government's decision a few years ago to convert the $20 million loan to a grant for the shares bought in Fijian Holdings.
Bainimarama said the $20 million which was not paid back was taxpayer’s money and the ordinary Fijians did not benefit from that decision.
He also questions Ratu Ovini on the personal loans that were given out to certain individuals through the FAB.
Ratu Ovini Bokini had earlier said that the Interim Prime Minister should reveal the names of those who are the elite Fijians and those who had connections with high ranking officials in the Fijian administration who benefitted from various assistance provided by the ministry.
Ratu Ovini said everybody benefitted from various assistance programmes provided such as the scholarships and we need to move on rather than pointing fingers at each other.
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