Parliament and Govt should be seen as an employer of choice - Seruiratu

We are just fulfilling the process of Parliament and that's what we have done.

This was highlighted by the Leader of the Opposition in Parliament Inia Seruiratu while speaking on the motion to debate and vote on the salary increases recommended for the President, Speaker, Ministers, Assistant Ministers and MPs today.

Seruiratu says it was moved in July and September last year and it was again discussed with another motion from the Leader of Government in Parliament.

He says they are exactly doing what the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad had said.

He adds Professor Prasad said that based on the system that was used previously, they should put it into the committee, and bring independent consultants who in the end will come back into Parliament and they will vote for it.

Seruiratu says it was initiated by the government for whatever reasons and motives behind it.

Seruiratu further says that he has been briefed by the members of the committee that it is unfortunate that perhaps not all the discussions involved during the deliberations are in the report.

He says there were some issues as well that they raised and they understand the democratic process and it was put to vote and so forth.

He adds that even though they lost their votes, it was all for fairness sake.

Seruiratu further says this is not an easy matter to discuss as it affects all of them but at the same time, they need to be fair and honest with themselves as well.

He says he is speaking on behalf of the members of the opposition given the experience that they have had while they were still in government and also perhaps speaking on behalf of parliamentarians that will come after them.

Seruiratu says we live in a benefit-oriented society and of course, we must look at it not only for now but for the future as well.

He says Parliament and Government has to be seen as an equal employment opportunity provider and of course an employer of choice as well for all Fijians.

Seruiratu says this is something that they should look into when deliberating on this issue.