Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate has vocally criticized former Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, labeling his recent claims of moral superiority as insincere and hypocritical. In remarks made to FijiLive, Usamate highlighted Sayed-Khaiyum’s past opposition to a $15,000 constituency allowance for MPs—a stance that FijiFirst, the party Sayed-Khaiyum belonged to, upheld in Parliament.
Usamate pointed out that despite his prior opposition, Sayed-Khaiyum ultimately accepted the allowance on behalf of FijiFirst, channeling a portion of it into settling party debts attributed to poor financial management during his leadership. Usamate contended that if Sayed-Khaiyum was truly committed to ethical principles, he would have chosen to donate the allowance instead of utilizing it to address debts he had incurred.
“Sayed-Khaiyum’s actions speak louder than his words,” Usamate remarked. He also noted that Sayed-Khaiyum left FijiFirst burdened with a debt nearing $700,000 and dissolved the party without settling its creditors, deeming this behavior indicative of a lack of true ethical standards.
Usamate further criticized Sayed-Khaiyum for calling on others to uphold ethical standards, despite the contradictions present in his own record. He emphasized the community responsibilities of MPs, who are expected to contribute significantly to various events despite receiving modest salaries of $50,000.
In contrast, Usamate highlighted Sayed-Khaiyum’s significantly higher salary of $235,000, nearly six times that of other government MPs, illustrating a marked disparity in earnings. He urged Sayed-Khaiyum to take accountability for his past actions, proposing that he donate the excessive earnings accumulated from his salary back to FijiFirst’s creditors.
“Parliament serves as the arena for debating and enacting bills, applying these measures uniformly across all MPs,” Usamate declared. “Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s track record of hypocrisy cannot be overlooked; it’s time for him to reflect on his actions before advising others about ethics.”
FijiLive has reached out to Sayed-Khaiyum for his comments on these allegations.
Additional Comments: This exchange highlights the importance of accountability and integrity in political leadership. As the public continues to scrutinize the actions of their representatives, calls for ethical conduct and transparency may lead to a more responsible and responsive political climate.
Summary: Jone Usamate criticized Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum for his hypocritical stance on MP allowances, poor financial management leading to party debt, and significant salary disparity between himself and other MPs. He called for Sayed-Khaiyum to reflect on his ethics before making demands of others.
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