THE Fiji Police Force has not had a Job Evaluation Exercise in 22 years.
This was revealed by Police Assistant Commissioner (Planning, Research and Doctrines) Aporosa Lutunauga in a presentation of the force’s annual reports for 2020 and 2021 in Suva yesterday.
Appearing before Parliament’s Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence, ACP Lutunauga offered a response to Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa who raised the issue of officers’ salaries.
“Given there are concerns about officers falling victim to bribery, when was the last time a job evaluation exercise was carried out?” Mr Ravunawa asked.
In response, ACP Lutunauga said “the last JEE was in 2003”.
“I believe (this is) wrong given the rise in cost of living and all the issues that the force faces with domestic violence, with other challenges that the household of the Fiji Police Force faces,” Mr Ravunawa said.
“It is concerning to the committee that since 2003, you had your last job evaluation, and I think that is something for the committee to consider.”
ACP Lutunauga agreed and called for the assistance of the committee for an evaluation to be carried out within the force.
Explaining the content of force’s 2020 and 2021 annual reports, he said there was no loss of assets from the $200.6million allocated to the force in the 2020-2021 National Budget.
“The established staff expenditures increased by 2.25 percent or $2.8m in 2021 compared to 2020 due to new recruits, payment of salary progression, re-engagement bonus, acting allowances, extra duty allowances and leave compensation.
“There was an increase of 52.9 percent or $4.2m in purchases of goods for 2021 compared to 2020 due to the increase in court witness fees and purchase of uniforms under the stores and uniforms expenditures.”
