Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate has criticized former Attorney-General and Minister of Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, accusing him of insincerity in his claims of moral integrity. Usamate asserts that Sayed-Khaiyum’s actions reveal his hypocrisy, particularly regarding the $15,000 constituency allowance for MPs, which he previously condemned when he served as General Secretary of FijiFirst.
Usamate argues that despite his opposition to the allowance, Sayed-Khaiyum later accepted it for FijiFirst, using $5,000 per member to mitigate the party’s debts, which Usamate attributes to Sayed-Khaiyum’s poor financial decisions. He emphasizes that if Sayed-Khaiyum was genuinely principled, he should have donated the allowance instead of using it to cover liabilities he created.
The Opposition MP highlighted that Sayed-Khaiyum left FijiFirst with a daunting debt of nearly $700,000 after dissolving the party, failing to assist creditors in the process. Usamate added that Sayed-Khaiyum, now criticizing MPs for following party directives, exemplifies a double standard in ethics.
Usamate also pointed out the expectations placed on MPs to engage with their communities, especially given their modest salaries of $50,000, contrasting this with Sayed-Khaiyum’s salary of $235,000, nearly six times that of other government MPs and Opposition backbenchers. He urged Sayed-Khaiyum to demonstrate true ethical leadership by donating the $400,000 he received from his high salary towards repaying FijiFirst’s creditors.
As Parliament serves as the forum for discussing and legislating issues, Usamate reminds that bills affect all MPs regardless of their individual stances. He concludes by suggesting that Sayed-Khaiyum must confront his past actions before criticizing others about ethics.
This article showcases the complexities of political ethics amidst financial challenges faced by parliamentary members. With such discourse, it is crucial for politicians to not only lead by words but also by actions that reflect integrity and accountability.
In a hopeful light, such outspoken criticism may encourage more transparent leadership among politicians moving forward, leading to improvements in ethical standards and financial management within political parties in Fiji.
Leave a comment