News

No reason for my resignation: Sayed-Khaiyum

January 15, 2018 12:51 am

Air Terminal Services Chair, Riyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, says he will not resign from the Board as there’s no reason to take such action.

This comes after politicians and the Fiji Trades Union Congress including ATS Employees Trust Secretary, Vili Finau called for the resignation of Sayed-Khaiyum amidst the ATS saga.

Sayed-Khaiyum says these unionists and politicians have manipulated ATS workers and cannot call for a prompt inquiry to find the missing five point two million dollars dividend given to ATSET.

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He adds they are not protecting the interest of the workers and must resign from their respective posts immediately.

“Why does he want me to step down? I’ve given the reason why he should resign and I’ve given an explanation to why he should resign so why is he asking me to step down if he tells me the reason I will answer.”

Sayed-Khaiyum has also clarified that he doesn’t receive a paycheck from ATS despite holding the Chairmanship post.

“I get zero dollars; I don’t get paid a cent. The Directors fees are paid to FBC because every time I go and work for ATS or do any ATS work, it is done on FBC time. So the money goes to FBC and I don’t see a single cent of it. I actually have not seen a cheque from ATS come to me or my desk. But ironically Felix Anthony even when he was a board member of FNPF, he got paid a hundred and eighty thousand dollars in board fees. It’s very interesting to know because he was still a full time office barrier of FTUC then. So did the money get paid to FTUC because he was on FTUC time or did it go to his own personal account?”

Meanwhile, the ATS board will be seeking legal opinions on the missing five point two million dollars dividend that was paid to ATSET for its beneficiaries.

They have confirmed there’s a possibility of reporting this matter to FICAC, the police and even calling for a national inquiry through parliament.