Former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has been awarded $2,000 in court costs after the Fiji Government and the Office of the Attorney-General failed to meet a High Court deadline for submitting required documents in his ongoing civil lawsuit. Bainimarama is seeking to address what he claims are miscalculations regarding his pension and gratuity entitlements following his tenure in office, asserting that the government incorrectly assessed his benefits during the COVID-19 pandemic period.
In his lawsuit, Bainimarama contends that based on his annual salary of $328,750, he is entitled to a pension amounting to 75 percent of that figure, equating to approximately $246,562.50. However, he claims the government has reduced this amount to only $184,921.87. Moreover, he alleges a significant shortfall in his gratuity payment; he asserts that he should have received $770,507.87 but was only reimbursed $433,296.75, leaving an outstanding balance of $337,211.12. He seeks a regular fortnightly pension of $7,112.37, alongside 13.5 percent annual interest on the amounts owed.
During the recent court proceedings, state lawyers argued for more time to submit the necessary documents due to delays in obtaining records from various governmental agencies. However, Bainimarama’s legal team highlighted that the state had not notified them of these delays and stressed the importance of adhering to the court’s deadlines. Acting Master of the High Court Liyanage Kashyapa Wickramasekara ordered the state to file the required documents by February 28, warning that failure to comply could result in an additional $4,000 penalty.
The lawsuit underscores the vital issues surrounding pension calculations and governmental accountability, particularly for former public officials. The court is set to revisit the case on April 8, 2025, to ensure compliance, providing an opportunity to clarify and potentially rectify the disputed entitlements.
This legal battle not only emphasizes the need for clarity in governmental financial responsibilities but also portrays a hopeful possibility for improving the legal framework surrounding public service pensions in Fiji, ensuring future disputes can be resolved more effectively.
Leave a comment