‘Make claims of funds misuse outside Parliament’
Felix Anthony. Picture: FILE
TRADE unionist Felix Anthony has challenged Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum to repeat their allegations against him outside of Parliament.
He was responding to statements by Mr Bainimarama and Mr Sayed-Khaiyum in Parliament yesterday that Mr Anthony had abused funds when he was on the board of Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF).
“I would like the PM and A-G to make those claims outside Parliament,” he said.
“They both should not hide behind Parliament privilege and make dishonest, absurd and defamatory statements knowing that I am not there to be able to defend myself.
“I am surprised the Speaker of Parliament has allowed them to say such defamatory statements.”
In his response to the FNPF annual reports, Mr Bainimarama said “his government” reviewed the policies at FNPF that would deliver better investment and superannuation benefits.
“One of the best things I ever did was to get rid of Felix Anthony from the board for abuse of funds,” he said.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the current board members do not pick up fees unlike Mr Anthony and another prominent trade unionist that used to pick up exorbitant fees even when sitting in sub-committees.
“A number of the board members for FNPF don’t actually even pick up any fees because they’re doing for the good of their country,” he said.
They made the statements during a debate on the FNPF 2019, 2020 and 2021 annual reports that were first tabled in Parliament in May.
He was responding to statements by Mr Bainimarama and Mr Sayed-Khaiyum in Parliament yesterday that Mr Anthony had abused funds when he was on the board of Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF).
“I would like the PM and A-G to make those claims outside Parliament,” he said.
“They both should not hide behind Parliament privilege and make dishonest, absurd and defamatory statements knowing that I am not there to be able to defend myself.
“I am surprised the Speaker of Parliament has allowed them to say such defamatory statements.”
In his response to the FNPF annual reports, Mr Bainimarama said “his government” reviewed the policies at FNPF that would deliver better investment and superannuation benefits.
“One of the best things I ever did was to get rid of Felix Anthony from the board for abuse of funds,” he said.
Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said the current board members do not pick up fees unlike Mr Anthony and another prominent trade unionist that used to pick up exorbitant fees even when sitting in sub-committees.
“A number of the board members for FNPF don’t actually even pick up any fees because they’re doing for the good of their country,” he said.
They made the statements during a debate on the FNPF 2019, 2020 and 2021 annual reports that were first tabled in Parliament in May.