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FTUC to Vodafone Fiji chairman: "Hello, you have no right to give away $60,000 to Bainimarama family to go and watch world rugby in London; the money belongs to workers who work and pay into the FNPF coffers"

16/9/2015

5 Comments

 

SODELPA AND NFP SLEEPING ON THE BALL AS FTUC HITS OUT FOLLOWING Fijileaks REVELATION OF VODAFONE PAYING UP!:

"It is time that the Chairman of Vodafone is reminded that Vodafone is owned by ATH which is about 60% owned by FNPF. That is the workers’ money. The remainder of the shares in ATH is majority owned by Government, which is taxpayer’s funds. It is not up to the Chairman of Vodafone, who is the Chairman of ATH and who is the “Executive Chairman of FNPF" to hand out workers and taxpayers funds as charity...Good sense on part of the Prime Minister would dictate that he would not accept such favors and blatantly use public funds to enjoy rugby with his family in London. The Prime Minister must also be reminded that he is elected to serve and not be served." - FTUC

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PictureAjit Kodagoda
The Fiji Trades Union Congress is alarmed at the decision of the Chairman of Vodafone Fiji Ltd to award from Company funds sixty thousand dollars ($60,000) to the Prime Minister and his wife to attend the Rugby World Cup Tournament in London.

The Chairman [Ajit Kodagoda] claimed that the Prime Minister had done so much for Rugby in the Country. We certainly don’t think so. It is time that the Chairman of Vodafone is reminded that Vodafone is owned by ATH which is about 60% owned by FNPF. That is the workers’ money. The remainder of the shares in ATH is majority owned by Government, which is taxpayer’s funds. It is not up to the Chairman of Vodafone, who is the Chairman of ATH and who is the “Executive Chairman of FNPF to hand out workers and taxpayers funds as charity. Good sense on part of the Prime Minister would dictate that he would not accept such favors and blatantly use public funds to enjoy rugby with his family in London. The Prime Minister must also be reminded that he is elected to serve and not be served.

This unfortunate incident brings to the fore the pressing issue of good governance principles in public enterprises and that are listed on the Stock Exchange. For too long Government and the Stock Exchange have turned a blind eye to the practice of Board Members acting as Executive Chairman of the same Company. Here we have the Chairman of Vodafone who is Chair for ATH and acting as Executive Chair of FNPF, even though he may not be called by that title.

The question is where is the demarcation between Management of the Organisation and the Board of that Organisation. The Board of any such Organisation must oversee the operations of Management and set in place policy. In the FNPF case, there can be no oversight as the same person acts in both positions. This clearly is not observing good governance principles. The next question is, why is there no effort made in the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer of FNPF and what has the Reserve Bank got to say about the current situation. The Reserve Bank has oversight responsibilities on all financial institutions including FNPF.

Similar situation exist in Tropikwood Industries Limited where we have an Executive Chairman in Mr. Faiz Khan. In fact Faiz Khan is Executive Chair of the Pine Group of Companies and also Fiji Forest Industries Ltd. Faiz Khan is also Executive Chairman of Airports Fiji Limited which has embarked on a multi-million dollar expansion program at Nadi airport. Negotiation on the sale of the airport is also being considered. Similar situation exist in Fiji Sugar Corporation, where we have an Executive Chairman in Mr. Abdul Khan. Similar situation exist in Biosecurity Authority of Fiji Limited(BAF) where Mr. Xavier Khan is the Executive Chairman. These are examples of how Government owned enterprises must never operate. Good Governance principles demand demarcation or separation between the Board and Management, accountability and transparency.

It has now become common practice that Government owned enterprises spend lavishly when welcoming the Prime Minister or his Ministers on visits. The FTUC calls on Government and those in positions of authority to stop the abuse of public funds for personal survival. This is a form for bribery and corruption. We demand that all positions of Executive Chairman be disbanded immediately and proper appointments of Chief Executive Officers be made in all these organisations in the public interest.

Felix Anthony
National Secretary


WORLD RUGBY: NO FREEBIES BUT HERE THEY COME!

THE BAINIMARAMA VODAFONE FIJI FREE-RIDER TEAM


Chairman, Francis Kean
President FRU, Frank Bainimarama
Patron of Netball Fiji, Mary Bainimarama
Manager FRU Development, Sale Saravaki
Manager Promotions FRU, Inoke Bainimarama
Manager Netball Fiji, Ruby Bainimarama
CEO Sports Council and Commissioner for Fiji Sports Commission, Litiana Bainimarama
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SODELPA too busy with their own in-fights to keep eye on the ball!

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5 Comments
Charlie Charlie
16/9/2015 08:23:11 pm

Kodagoda's tactics is to remain on the goods books of bainimarama/Kaiyum so that he can continue to get more Sri Lankans employed in Fiji. The plan is working perfectly as there is an influx of Sri Lankans who are taking up jobs that locals should be holding. Kodagoda has smartly used taxpayers money to woo bainimarama which in turn will benefit Sri Lankan intensions of sending their unemployed to Fiji. Sri Lanka has not contributed a single dome towards Fiji but with the help of kodagoda/bainimarama/Kaiyum, it is taking a lot out of Fiji. Fiji is doomed under such cheap leadership.

Reply
rajend naidu
16/9/2015 10:26:51 pm

Editor,
The people of Fiji must beware the kind of Sri Lankans who are coming into the country to take up employment . Some might be war criminals trying to escape facing justice.
We learn from The Telegraph 16/9 article ' Horrors of Sri Lankan's civil war carnage to be exposed in UN report ' that " UN investigation will report on ATROCITIES AGAINST CIVILIANS during crushing of Tamil Tigers but families of dead and disappeared fear the alleged perpetrators will never face war crimes trials..."
Instead it should be noted one of the chief perpetrators the Then President Mahinda Rajapaksha was feted by the Commonwealth and the Australian State.
But the Sri Lankans know him better and decided to get rid of him in the last elections.this war criminal tried to get in again as PM in. Recent election and again the Sri Lankan people told him to bugger off.
Don't be surprised if some of his cronies come to Fiji because a military coup leader is now the country's PM.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Reply
rajend naidu
16/9/2015 08:53:43 pm

Editor,
If Fiji still has the same old same old kind of politics and governance in which the political rulers and their corporate buddies can do virtually whatever they like - including the use of public money then where is the " paradigm change " the coup leader Frank Bainimarama promised the people of Fiji when he took over government UNLAWFULly in 2006?
Two letters from Australian newspapers are quite illuminating in this regard.Joan Lynn ( The Age 17/9) ask " if there are no changes in the way the government works, what was the point of changing leaders? Her letter is titled ' Cosmetic Change Only '. Is that the kind of change Fiji has had in Bainimarama's " new Fiji"?
In his letter " Malcolm Turnbull is the new PM but has anything really changed?' ( smh 16/9 ) Ken Webb writes "... Nothing has really changed in the current government" and he cautions further " beware the cult of personality" which is what politics and governance has been reduced to.
Is that the story of Bainimarama's " new Fiji " as well?
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Reply
Chiku
16/9/2015 10:41:11 pm

FTUC raises questions regarding the use of workers fund to finance Bainimarama and company's trip to watch WC rugby in London.
Has the local media raised any questions on this ABUSE of PuBlic Money and abuse of power?
I guess not. They are too busy sucking up to the dictator turned democratic leader via a phoney election.
That's why Fijileaks remains so relevant to fulfill the gap in the media's public watchdog role.

Reply
Albert
17/9/2015 12:27:02 am

People in glass houses shouldn't throw stones comes to mind?

Reply

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