In a recent statement, Mosese Bulitavu, an Opposition Member of Parliament, accused former Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum of employing ineffective political strategies to divert attention from parliamentarians who opposed or abstained from voting for pay raises earlier this year. Bulitavu challenged Sayed-Khaiyum’s call for those who rejected the remuneration increase to contribute their salaries to charity, questioning whether Sayed-Khaiyum himself donated his surplus salary during his long tenure in office.

Bulitavu criticized Sayed-Khaiyum’s attacks on the G16 bloc in Parliament, who also did not support the pay raise but now seemingly benefit from it. He emphasized the hypocrisy of a leader who took home a larger paycheck for years but did not publicly share any charitable contributions.

Moreover, Bulitavu mentioned that during a recent session, a review report from the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence was presented, highlighting the office of the Attorney-General’s annual reports from 2006 to 2023. He pointed out that two former ministers laughed at the irony that they were required to present their reports while Sayed-Khaiyum failed to update his.

He further criticized Sayed-Khaiyum, accusing him of neglect in aligning the Presidential Pension Act with the 2013 Constitution, stating he had been “sleeping on the job.” Bulitavu also brought attention to the sizeable financial waste reported under Walesi’s management, which has now been referred to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for investigation, asserting that this mismanagement occurred during Sayed-Khaiyum’s oversight.

Additionally, Bulitavu referenced alarming statements made by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo regarding the suspended Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde. According to Temo, Pryde unlawfully accepted a monthly superannuation payment of $US1000 without authorization from the Attorney-General and the necessary validation, suggesting a serious breach of protocol during Sayed-Khaiyum’s term as Attorney-General.

This unfolding political narrative points to a significant scrutiny of leadership accountability and financial governance within the Fijian government. As the dialogue continues, it opens the door for potential reforms and calls for transparency, offering hope for a more accountable political environment in the future. This scrutiny may encourage greater diligence in financial oversight and ethical governance, fostering trust among the public and elected officials.

In summary, Bulitavu’s comments reflect a broader critique of political accountability in Fiji, urging the current leadership to reassess its principles and practices in managing public funds. The political landscape is poised for change, and this discourse represents an opportunity for positive transformation in governance.