Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad says he will be tabling a motion in Parliament in the next sitting later this month to review the allowances of the Prime Minister and members of Parliament.
While responding to a question on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan on when will the salary review for the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers take place, Professor Prasad says Parliament had passed the motion to set up an independent Parliamentary Emoluments Committee, which is going to look at the salaries, the allowances and the pensions.
He says they have set up this committee for the first time after 16 years.
Professor Prasad says the committee has got the services of an independent expert, and its report will be presented to parliament for debate.
He adds what had happened before that the previous government in 2016 brought a revised Parliament Remuneration Decree 2014, which increased to a maximum of $3400 in some locations because UNDP per diem rates differ from location to location and country to country.
The Acting Prime Minister says the National Federation Party had opposed this in 2016.
Professor Prasad says their proposed reduction which has been agreed to by the cabinet will reduce the allowances to almost half and that is what they had promised and it will be part of their motion in the next parliament sitting.
Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad says overseas trips for cabinet ministers will be scrutinized very carefully after he revealed that from January to October, the government spent $2.5 million on overseas travel, including fares and allowances.
While responding to a question on fijivillage Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan on the number of overseas travels or the total cost of overseas travels this year, Professor Prasad says not all invitations should be accepted, and he concurs with the Prime Minister’s statement.
He says some meetings can be attended by our Embassy or by sending an official and some can be attended virtually.
The Acting Prime Minister also highlighted that some of their trips were funded by international partners and those that invited them.
Professor Prasad says some of the trips are essential as they deal with matters of partnerships and policies that will benefit the economy.
The Acting Prime Minister says not all invitations should be accepted as he has declined about 40 to 50 percent of the invites this year.
He also highlighted that the cost of travel is not as exorbitant as people say because if people look at 2019 and 2020, the FijiFirst Government spent $3 million on overseas trips.
Professor Prasad also says there needs to be better management after concerns raised by the Fiji Public Service Association that 9 ministers were away at the same time including the Prime Minister and the 3 Deputy Prime Ministers.
He adds the Ministers for Foreign Affairs, Finance, Trade, Tourism and Civil Aviation definitely need to attend some meetings to secure deals and agreements for the country.
You can watch the full Straight Talk interview on our website, fijivillage.
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