MY original salary of $328,750 should have been reinstated after the determination period of reduced salaries ended in December 2020, says former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama.
Mr Bainimarama said this while taking the stand at the hearing of his civil action against the Fiji Government for miscalculating his pension and gratuity entitlements.
This civil action alleges that the Government incorrectly calculated his pension based on a reduced salary during the COVID period.
He claims his pension should have been $246,562.50 annually, but it was instead reduced to $184,921.87.
Additionally, Bainimarama alleges a shortfall in his lump sum gratuity payment, which should have been $770,507.87, but was only $433,296.75.
He is seeking a remaining gratuity balance of $337,211.12 and a fortnightly pension of $7112.37, plus 13.5 percent annual interest.
During his testimony yesterday before Justice Daniel Goundar at the High Court in Suva, Mr Bainimarama, who served as PM for 13 years explained that his salary, as well as those of other ministers and Opposition members, had been temporarily cut by 20 per cent from March 27, 2020, until December 31 of the same year to support the Fijian population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, he continued to receive the reduced salary of about $263,000 from the start of 2021 until his retirement on December 4, 2022. He has turned to the court because the parties were unable to reach an agreement, as his only current source of income is his pension, given that he is unemployed.
When asked by his lawyer, Devanesh Sharma, if anything was tabled in Parliament to extend the salary reduction period, Mr Bainimarama responded in the negative.
Deputy State Solicitor Ofa Solimailagi, however, pointed out to him that there had been no determination of reinstatement of salaries in 2021 and 2022.
Mr Bainimarama, while giving evidence, indicated he had not used his medical insurance, which is one of the entitlements under the Prime Minister’s Pension Act, because he’s covered by the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
But Ms Solimailagi informed the court that she’s been instructed that Mr Bainimarama did claim for medical expenses and was paid, which led to Mr Bainimarama asking her to show proof.
She, unfortunately, did not have any documents to present to the court, nor Mr Bainimarama, but she has witnesses who will be providing evidence.
Mr Bainimarama informed the court that despite making multiple requests for a driver, paid by the State for his ministerial vehicle, he still doesn’t have one.
The hearing continues on August 16 with the defendant’s case, with witnesses from the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Prime Minister to give evidence.
