While supporting the motion by the Prime Minister to reduce the rates payable for overseas travelling allowances for the Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Leader of the Opposition and Members of Parliament from December 1st 2023, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad revealed that the previous government used about $74 million is total travel expenditure including allowances during their reign from 2014 to 2022.
Professor Prasad says from 2014 to 2022, the total domestic travel of the previous government was $50.4 million, while its overseas travel allowance was $24 million.
He says this is the figure from the Ministry of Finance, and it is quite interesting that the Leader of Opposition, Inia Seruiratu, became so confused because he was part of the decision-making in 2016 to increase the allowance in a way that it became so exorbitant.
He adds they are camouflaging it and saying this is a political thing.
Professor Prasad also acknowledged the people for speaking up on this issue and said that he does not blame them as they were afraid of the kind of victimisation, harassment, and intimidation that was happening from 2014 to 2022.
He also highlighted that it is unethical and the worst of all for Members of Parliament to determine their own salaries, which is why the Emoluments Committee in this Parliament is engaging independent experts to do that.
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