Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed strong disapproval regarding the decision to provide personal laptops and high-end mobile phones to Members of Parliament at the expense of taxpayers, especially considering the current critical situation of the national finances.
Chaudhry stated that he is astonished Parliament is moving forward with the recommendations from its Emoluments Committee, which suggests each member receive a laptop and the latest mobile phones. He questioned if these are the appropriate priorities for the government when there are far more pressing national issues that require funding.
He highlighted that just recently, the General Secretary of the Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) raised concerns over the government’s failure to release 50% of the Free Education Grant for Term 2.
Chaudhry pointed out that MPs already have access to computers, staffing, and other resources at their Parliamentary offices. He also noted that earlier this year, MPs significantly increased their salaries and allowances, despite public opposition, and argued they should be capable of purchasing their own laptops and phones.
Furthermore, he mentioned that each political party in Parliament currently receives $325,000 annually from the national budget, raising the question of why these funds are not utilized to acquire personal devices for party MPs.
He reminded that MPs are allowed duty-free imports of vehicles and emphasized that they rank among the wealthiest and most privileged individuals in the country.
The leader of the Fiji Labour Party concluded that this latest financial request from the public purse appears to be a move towards self-enrichment at the detriment of taxpayers.