With or without a Unity Fiji govt, any other govt should look into paying the dues of 1978 and 2002 UNIFIL veterans

Unity Fiji Party Leader Savenaca Narube has told ex-peacekeepers that the case regarding their undue pay and allowances should not be made political.

During a gathering at Jubilee Hall in Toorak, Narube told more than 100 peacekeepers present that he personally feels that they should be given their dues.

Narube was told in the meeting that ex-peacekeepers who took part on peacekeeping operations with UNIFIL between June 1978 and March 2002 were not paid on what they were promised before departing for their mission.

The Unity Fiji Party Leader told the veterans that the money belonged to them and it should be paid accordingly.

The veterans who served in the first mission to Lebanon say that they were promised a US$25 per day pay however when they got their first pay slip it only had FJD$11.50 per day while the cigarette allowance was FJD$1 per day and they would receive US$70 Leave allowance after 3 months.

The veterans says that they were later informed that they were supposed to be paid a total of 5 different allowances while on the mission.

Meanwhile they said that Colonels and Privates were receiving US$998 per month.

Narube told the ex-peacekeepers that even without a Unity Fiji government after election, any other government should look into this issue and pay the dues.

Meanwhile the Suva High Court has struck out and dismissed for the second time the case brought by members of the Fiji Peacekeeping and Action Trustee Association saying their claims were statute barred.