To our UN Vice President Excellency Peter Thomson, Permanent Representative of Fiji to the United Nations General Assembly

07 Sunday Aug 2011

Posted by in Articles & Reports, Grey Power Editor

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Grey Power says:
The United Nations recognizes that the rights of Older Persons should be protected not demolished. Fiji is a member of the United Nations and just this week our Permanent Representative, Mr Peter Thomson was elected to the position of one of 21 Vice Presidents of the United Nations General Assembly, a position Fiji will hold for 12 months. Grey Power hopes that Fiji will fully participate in all the follow up meetings of the Open Ended Working Group on Ageing for the purpose of strengthening theprotection of the human rights of older persons pursuant to General Assembly resolution 65/182.  
People in Fiji who support Grey Power and the Burness v FNPF and AG court action  should write to the Permanent Representative Ambassador Peter Thomson to encourage his participation in all UN Committee or Plenary meetings on the rights of Older Persons. 

Lest we forget

06 Saturday Aug 2011

Posted by in Articles & Reports

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Young people forget that we old people had a career before we retired…..
 
 
Charley, a new retiree-greeter at Wal-Mart, just couldn’t seem to get to work on time. Every day he was 5, 10 or 15 minutes late. But he was a good worker; really tidy, clean-shaven, sharp-minded, and a real credit to the company. He obviously demonstrated their “Older Person Friendly” policies.
One day the boss called him into the office for a talk. “Charley,” he began, “I have to tell you, I like your work ethic, you do a bang-up job when you get here; but your being late so often is quite bothersome.”
“Yes, I know, boss. I am working on it.” Charley replied
Well, good. You’re a team player. That’s what I like to hear.”
“Yes sir. I understand your concern, and I’ll try harder.”
Puzzled, the manager went on to comment, “It’s odd though, your coming in late. I know you’re retired from the Armed Forces. What did they say to you there if you showed up so late and so often?”
 
The old man looked down at the floor, then smiled. He chuckled quietly and said with a sheepish grin, “They usually saluted and said, ‘Good morning, Admiral, can I get your coffee, sir?’.”
 
 
From one old salt to another, be kind to pensioners, if you are lucky you will become one 
 

Lord Hutton’s final report on the future of public service pensions in the UK.

05 Friday Aug 2011

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Adapted for Fijipensioners Grey Power from UK Treasury Report

Lord Hutton of Furness’ proposals for comprehensive, long-term structural reform of public service pension schemes.

The final report of the Independent Public Services Pension Commission follows a comprehensive nine-month review. It sets out a number of detailed recommendations to the Government on how public service pensions can be made sustainable and affordable in the future, while providing an adequate level of retirement income.

The main recommendation of the report is that existing final salary public service pension schemes should be replaced by new schemes, where an employee’s pension entitlement is still linked to their salary (a “defined benefit scheme”) but is related to their career average earnings, with appropriate adjustments in earlier years so that benefits maintain their value.

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A Muzzled Media

03 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Grey Power Editor

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When the Qarase govt was working on its Media Bill I made both written and oral submissions. I was appalled that our government would even consider curtailing our freedom of speech – a fundamental human right.
Indeed, John and I were among the earliest members of the Yellow Ribbon Movement which was set up to protest against the racist and discriminatory Bills being proposed at that time – and proudly wore our yellow ribbons and drove about with a yellow flag fluttering from our vehicle.

Therefore, when Commander Voreqe Bainimarama ousted Qarase and his government in December 2006, (having warned repeatedly that he would ‘clean up’ government if Qarase did not do so) promising to ensure the equality of all races in every way possible: to initiate a fair and equitable voting system: and to bring about a fair and equal Constitution – although slightly uneasy, I decided that I had to support him.
Improvements were made, especially in respect of our long-neglected grass-root citizens. But almost imperceptibly, many of those freedoms precious to any democratic peoples began to be eroded.
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OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY THE PRESIDENT OF FIJI

03 Wednesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Letters

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From Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) Pensioners in support of Burness v FNPF, the Republic of Fiji and the Attorney General  [HBC 183 of 2011]

Your Excellency,

Last week in an interview with Australian Broadcasting Commission’s Pacific Beat programme, the Attorney General of Fiji stated that the President of Fiji does not have the power to appoint a Commission of Inquiry into the Fiji National Provident Fund’s mismanagement of our funds. He was reported to have said:
‘the idea that the President might set up a Commission of Inquiry is laughable as he does not have that power’.

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Petition Letters to Our President

02 Tuesday Aug 2011

Posted by in Letters, Link Information

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The AG has said he thinks it is laughable to ask our President to appoint an Independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry into the FNPF, we do not and many of us have written to His Excellency. If you wish to join us, please click on whichever of the following links is applicable for your petition letter of choice.
Pensioner to President of Fiji FNPF petition letter
Employers to President of Fiji FNPF Petition
Employees to President of Fiji FNPF Petition

Ross McDonald’s correspondence with Kodagoda and Taito

01 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in Link Information

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Ross McDonald’s series of emails to Kodagoda commencing on 15 June and his and Ross responses.

Click on the Link to open the Word file
McDonalds emails to Kodagoda and his replies
You can also access these emails on this link :
http://data.axmag.com/data/201107/U19097_F41982/index.html  

Ross McDonalds letters to Aisake Taito

Proposed Changes to FNPF – 15 6 11

 

Jackson Mar’s Letter to the FNPF

01 Monday Aug 2011

Posted by in Letters to FNPF

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Our dear Directors and Trustees, I fully support issues raised in Ross McDonald’s email below. In addition, I would like to add the following:

Ultra Vires the Law Cap 219 Section 12B (1) 

(a)   (i) This section states that any duty by the Board as trustees to be in the best interests of all beneficiaries of the Trust (including the 1209 pensioners whose pension rates the FNPF is about to reduce). The Board is neglecting in its duty as trustees to this class of pensioners and is breaking the law. 

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