FIJI TIME ONLINE By SERAFINA SILAITOGA Thursday, June 25, 2009
AN island council in the Northern Division owes the Fiji National Provident Fund $69,000 in arrears for two years' contribution. The Rabi Island Council says plans are underway to involve the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. Newly-elected council chairman Paulo Vanu-alailai said that unpaid contribution for their employees, some of whom have retired, stood at $69,000.
"The unpaid FNPF contribution is for 2007 and 2008 and it is a huge amount of money, which we will have to clear."
Mr Vanualailai said some staff, who retired, only took their normal salary without FNPF contribution. He said the workers needed to be paid their FNPF contribution.
"I am going to get down to the bottom of this and find out exactly what happened," Mr Vanualailai said.
"Those involved in this will definitely be taken to task.
"We will cut their salaries to pay up the FNPF arrears.
"The FNPF has been continuously reminding us of the arrears and to pay up."
Questions sent to the FNPF remained unanswered.
He said the council would lodge a report with the FICAC once they completed an internal inquiry.
Mr Vanualailai said an added problem was the investment of $1million by the council to the Momi Bay hotel project.
"It made our situation worse.
"There have been suggestions that we use our Banaban Trust Fund which will not happen."
He said the internal inquiry would start soon.
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