Fiji owed $2.2 by UN Fiji was owed about $2.2m by the United Nations at the end of February, 1979 and the UN could not say when it would pay up.
This was reported in The Fiji Times on Tuesday, March 6, 1979 . The money was due as a repayment for what Fiji had spent in contributing a 650-man force to the UN peace force in the Lebanon.
When the UN had said it would do “everything possible” to pay it could give “no definite commitment”, the Deputy Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, told Parliament.
He explained that the UN had spent US$51m on the Lebanon force but UN members had contributed only US$7.5 m to this cost.
Ratu Sir Penaia, who returned to Suva from a visit to the Fiji force in Lebanon and the UN headquarters in New York, said Fiji was owed US$2.7m till the end of February 1979. It had received one payment of US$825,000 and it would cost $1.209 m to train, equip and pay another 150 men wanted for the force.
Ratu Sir Penaia said the Government was ready to send the men but had pointed out its money problems.
“Government simply doesn’t not have the resources to continue financing such an undertaking,” he said.
“It is important for the UN to reimburse us as soon as possible.”
He found the Fiji force’s morale was high, so much so that some men wanted to extend their time there.
“They are fulfilling their difficult task with steadiness, courage, tolerance and good humour,” he said.
“They are continuing to do this with a bearing and distinction of which all of us in Fiji can be justly proud.”
Ratu Sir Penaia said the job in Lebanon was being made increasingly difficult because of “lack of cooperation” from Israeli forces and intensifying harassment from de facto forces.
