Who is the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)? This was the question posed by Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to the media during a news conference last Thursday night in Suva.
He said this after being asked to comment on the ITF’s “Making the Fiji National Provident Fund Work for Workers” report that was launched by ITF’s Sydney office head Scott McDine and Fiji Trades Union Congress national secretary Felix Anthony — and comments both made at a news conference on Thursday morning.
In a joint press statement, Messrs McDine and Anthony claimed the Bainimarama Government had been using FNPF as “a private cash cow to underwrite risky loans and pay for pet projects, putting the safe retirement of thousands of Fiji’s workers at risk”.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum rejected the duo’s claims. “Who is International Transport Workers Federation?” he asked.
“We have independent assessments. The annual reports are done, independent auditors who know what they are talking about. Actual actuaries are doing the work.
“Read the report. It shows the funds. It gets published every year. Its available on their website. That’s transparent, isn’t it? “Was he (Mr Anthony) transparent about his directors’ fees when he was there?
“You should be asking those questions.”
