FIJI Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has questioned Parliament’s priorities in light of its decision to go ahead with giving each MP a laptop and mobile phone.
He said there were more pressing national issues for which funds were required.
“Just a week or so ago we heard the FTU general secretary complaining that the Government had still not released 50 per cent of the Free Education Grant for Term 2,” Mr Chaudhry said in a statement.
The former prime minister said the supply of personal laptops and top of the range mobile phones for MPs at taxpayers’ expense was unwarranted.
“For one, the MPs have ready access to computers, staffing services and other facilities at their parliamentary office.
“Secondly, earlier this year they awarded themselves huge pay increases and allowances, and constituency allowances despite strong opposition from the people.
“They should be able to purchase their own laptops and mobile phones.”
He said with each political party receiving $325,000 annually from the national budget and duty-free imports on vehicles accorded to MPs, they were among the ‘richest and most highly endowed executives’ in the country.
