The High Court in Suva has scheduled a hearing for claims made by former Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama regarding discrepancies in his pension and gratuity payments. Bainimarama appeared before Justice Daniel Goundar, highlighting urgent issues with his entitlements that have been unresolved for some time.
Bainimarama contends he is entitled to a pension worth 75 percent of his annual salary, which should amount to $246,562.50. However, he argues he is currently only receiving $184,921.87. Additionally, he claims that while he was owed a one-off gratuity of $770,507.87, he has only received $433,296.75 to date, leaving a significant shortfall of $337,211.12.
During the court proceedings, Bainimarama’s lawyer, Devanesh Sharma, emphasized the urgency of the matter, which has led to inquiries relating to the interpretation of the Prime Minister’s Pension Act and the Remuneration Act. Ofa Solimailagi, representing the Attorney-General’s Office, indicated that the government does not oppose making payments but seeks clarification on the claims due to legal provisions they believe warrant a review.
The court has tentatively set the trial dates from August 4 to 29. There was a proposal for holding the hearing over the weekend, but any such plan would require consent from the witnesses, as it would fall outside standard working hours.
This ongoing legal battle mirrors previous assertions from Bainimarama regarding his pension entitlement, suggesting persistent complexities surrounding the management of public officials’ pensions. The government previously claimed he should receive 80 percent of a modified salary due to a reduction imposed on public officials in March 2022.
The situation underscores the broader need for clarity and reform regarding how pension entitlements for public officials are administered, especially in light of potential economic challenges. As the legal proceedings move forward, there remains hope that transparency and fairness can lead to resolutions beneficial to Bainimarama and potentially set precedents for similar cases in Fiji, fostering confidence in public governance and financial accountability.
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