It’s not every day that you get a key figure in government writing about the plight of Fiji National Provident Fund pensioners.
In a letter to the editor, on Page 9 today, Parmesh Chand, writing as a private citizen, has apologised to a group of FNPF pensioners, for how they were treated in 2012.
The cause they are pursuing – full restoration of pension entitlements they contend were illegally and often severely cut back – is a matter of public concern.
Now Mr Chand’s letter is unusual because he is apologising publicly as a former chair of the influential pension fund, for the original stance he took in the dispute.
He says he is now significantly influenced by pensioners’ research which has persuaded him about the financial stability and strength of the FNPF.
Although he is expressing himself as a private citizen, his professional responsibilities as permanent secretary for the Ministry of Civil Service cannot be ignored. He has taken a stance on a public issue that should resonate with other senior public servants.
The message is, there is nothing wrong with apologising when this is warranted!
We acknowledge Mr Chand for coming out openly to support pensioners and announce his regret.
He may be opening the way for reconciliation and resolution of the impasse between the fund and the pensioner victims.
Let’s face it, no one else from the top ranks of the FNPF has taken this step.
The organisation appears to be hanging on to the attitude of 2012 when it teamed up with the Bainimarama government.
Mr Chand said his reaction previously “reflected a reality” he had to deal with. Fiji, he said, was now in an era of democracy, and it was time for the FNPF to follow the example of the Coalition Government through the Minister of Finance, Professor Biman Prasad, supported by Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, and ultimately Parliament.
In August, the Coalition restored some reduced pensions to their original amounts. Still to be addressed are the payouts for the payments withheld for more than 12 years from 2012. There is a line of thought that those who chose reluctantly to take options for lump sums should also be compensated for what they lost.
When the Minister of Finance confirmed the pension restorations, he also referred to the illegality of pension deductions. The statutory arrangement and trust between the fund and the pensions, he said, had been broken. To deny justice, the minister said, the previous government enacted a law to restrict the targeted pensioners from challenging their unfair treatment in the courts.
Noting that the current Government’s renewal of some pensions was financed from public funds, we ask whether this is an indication of the intransigence of the FNPF?
Mr Chand believes the fund should end discrimination against these senior citizens and stop penalising them.
He also notes the urgent need for a swift resolution, as the advancing age of pensioners means their numbers are dwindling.
If the FNPF fails to act promptly, many may pass away without receiving the justice they are fighting for.
In the face of this, the FNPF has largely remained silent in response to the numerous enquiries from pensioner representatives.
This silence is obviously not a viable strategy. Whether there is a sense of indifference, or perhaps acknowledgement of wrongdoing, it would be great if someone said something.
There is an expectation for engagement, and constructive discussions to appropriately deal with major challenges now. There must be a restoration of trust and dignity in the greater scheme of things, for all those involved and impacted in one way or another by the turn of events. Mr Chand has focused attention on the issue! The question now is what happens next?
