The people of Fiji are beginning to see financial abuses by the military-backed interim administration early in its illegal term.
In early August, unelected "Prime Minister" Larsenia Qarase recommended the largest cabinet in Fiji's history. The 20 cabinet ministers and 12 assistant ministers will cost the people of Fiji about F$750,000 more than had the Fiji Labor Party-led People's Coalition cabinet been allowed to resume office after George Speight's coup.
Qarase has also purchased a new landcruiser that has cost taxpayers F$131,000. Former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka used a limo donated by Malaysia and deposed Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry also used this vehicle. Qarase claims that it is not suitable for him.
More vehicles are to be purchased because the vehicles used by the People's Coalition ministers are supposedly not available. In total, taxpayers will pay another F$500,000 for new vehicles. And Qarase has the temerity to ask civil servants to accept a 12.5% pay cut because times are hard!
Before it was ousted, the People's Coalition had, after thoroughly taking stock of the government's vehicle fleet, decided that there would be no more vehicle purchases. There were, and continue to be, numerous vehicles which are either mis-allocated or underutilised, a state of affairs inherited from the Rabuka government.
The People's Coalition government rationalised the government vehicle fleet, resulting in substantial savings that were redirected to implementing the government's social welfare policies.
On August 6, the Fijian people were informed that Qarase's salary and house rental are being paid by a private company and that this would continue at least until the end of August. Qarase is negotiating with the same company for the use of a company house in the future. This prime minister of an illegal regime is accepting gifts from a private bank.
Qarase is flagrantly violating the ethics associated with holding a public office, not only by accepting favours from a bank, but also by avoiding the 12.5% salary cut, at least for a month, which his ministers and all civil servants suffered on August 1.
[Abridged from a statement issued by the Movement for Democracy in Fiji's London office. Email <yusuf.roshan@which.net>.]