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Illustration of Aiyaz is hypocritical and disingenuous: Usamate

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s Ethics Under Fire: A Call for Accountability

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Opposition MP Jone Usamate has strongly criticized former Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, describing his attempts to present himself as a moral authority as hypocritical and self-serving. In statements to FijiLive, Usamate pointed out that during Sayed-Khaiyum’s time as General Secretary of FijiFirst, he vehemently opposed a $15,000 constituency allowance for Members of Parliament—a position that FijiFirst actively supported in Parliament.

Despite his opposition, Usamate revealed that Sayed-Khaiyum later accepted the allowance for FijiFirst, utilizing $5,000 per member to address debts incurred during his leadership, which he characterized as a result of poor financial management. Usamate argued that if Sayed-Khaiyum were genuinely committed to ethical practices, he should have donated the allowance to charity rather than using it for party debts that he was solely responsible for creating.

Usamate emphasized that Sayed-Khaiyum’s past actions contradict his current calls for ethical behavior from others, especially those MPs who voted against party directives. He asserted that Fijians understand the importance of community involvement for MPs, noting that while MPs are expected to make contributions during various community events—from religious ceremonies to natural disasters—their modest salaries of $50,000 make this challenging.

In a pointed contrast, Usamate highlighted that Sayed-Khaiyum had established a drastic salary disparity, compensating himself $235,000 per year—almost six times the salary of government MPs and opposition backbenchers. This disparity, according to Usamate, underscores Sayed-Khaiyum’s approach to leadership, prioritizing personal enrichment over fairness and ethical conduct.

He further challenged Sayed-Khaiyum to donate his accrued salary or to settle the debts left by FijiFirst to creditors who await repayment. Usamate concluded by stressing the importance of accountability in Parliament, where all motions and bills impact everyone, including those who oppose them.

FijiLive has reached out to Sayed-Khaiyum for further comments on this matter.

In summary, Usamate’s comments reveal a significant rift in perceptions of leadership ethics in Fiji, challenging former government officials to be transparent and accountable. It encourages a conversation on fairness and the ethical responsibilities of public officials to both their constituents and party members. A hopeful perspective could highlight this as an opportunity for political figures to address their past actions and strive for a more equitable governance model moving forward.


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