No reduction in allowances for servicemen under Aftercare Fund – Prof. Prasad

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Professor Biman Prasad has clarified that contrary to claims on social media, the Coalition Government has not reduced or removed any allowances provided to the servicemen covered under the Fiji Servicemen's Aftercare Fund.

The payment of benefits and allowances for ex-armed force members who served in the World War II, veterans of the Malayan Campaign who served during Operation Grapple in Malden and Christmas Island and those who have served on peacekeeping duties are covered under the Fiji Servicemen's Aftercare Fund Act 1944.

Professor Prasad says they had, in fact, increased the Aftercare Allowance across the board by 15 percent in their their first budget in the 2023/2024 financial year in tandem with the increase in allowance for social welfare recipients.

He says the budget allocation for the fund was increased from around $12.4 million in 2022/2023 to $14.9 million in 2023/2024.

The Deputy Prime Minister says the funding is provided under the Minister responsible for Veteran Affairs (previously Office of the Prime Minister but now the Minister for Defense) and the Aftercare Fund Board is responsible for the affairs and management of the Fund.

He adds the Government is assuring servicemen under the Aftercare Fund, that all allowances and benefits due to them should be paid in line with the Act and Government has not reduced or removed any benefits covered under the Act.