The Fiji Servicemen’s Aftercare Amendment Bill 2017 was unanimously passed in Parliament.
Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told the parliamentarians that at the moment the definition of the serviceperson who will qualify for funds under the Fiji Servicemen’s Aftercare Fund Act 1944 is limited.
He says it only applies to members of the RFMF, Fiji Police Force and Fiji Correction Services provided that the members of the Fiji Police Force and Fiji Corrections Services serve with the RFMF.
Sayed-Khaiyum says they have a situation where Police officers and Prison wardens have gone offshore to provide international peacekeeping duties and other international services, but as they did not serve with the RFMF, they were not entitled to the aftercare funds.
He says the amendment seeks to change the definition of the serviceperson whereby even if police officers and prison wardens serve overseas without having served in the RFMF, they will still qualify for the aftercare funds.
Sayed-Khaiyum says it has been discriminatory in the past and unfortunately some of the servicemen have passed away, but now their spouses and dependents will be entitled to the aftercare funds.
This will come into force from 1st August this year.
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