Pensioners who have signed a petition seeking the intervention of the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama regarding the new FNPF pension scheme say they were never heard.
FBC News questioned them on why their views were never brought up during the public consultations on the new scheme.
Pensioner and petitioner Pratap Singh says they tried on a number of occasions but were turned away.
He recalls one such consultation.
“At the end of the presentation the CEO of the FNPF stated that, “OK it’s question and answer time, please refrain from asking any questions or raising any issues other than what was presented on that day”. It was only one way, however a few of us, since we did not have any chance to raise any questions with them, we were ignored, we tried to raise a few questions. Unfortunately, they had what I like to call potential enforces, in the form of security officers, sporting FNPF logos and a tie, lined up at the back of the Suva Civic Centre. They prevented us from making any comments. Not only that, they were ready to take the mic away from us.”
FBC News contacted the FNPF for a comment on the petition but was told they will only respond once they have seen the list of the 450 petitioners.
In response to this, pensioners say if the FNPF wants the list, they should contact them and not go through the media.
