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| 17/7/08 - Cabinet approves amendment to the Fiji Servicemen's Aftercare Fund Act |
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Cabinet has approved the amendment to the Fiji Servicemen’s After-Care Fund Act.
Cabinet based its decision on a submission by the Minister of Defence, National Security, and Immigration, Ratu Epeli Ganilau.
Ratu Epeli explained that the Act was enacted in June 1944 at the end of World War II (WWII), and established a Fund to provide for the maintenance, aid, and care of servicepersons who had served during WWII in the Fiji Military, or any branch of the Allied Forces, Allied Merchant Service, and the Nursing Service attached to Allied forces.
“The Fund also provided for the aid and care of the wives, widows, children, and other dependants of these service personnel.”
Ratu Epeli said that the Malayan Campaign of 1951-56 was included by Decree.
“However, since the last recognised deployment under the Act (Christmas Island), the RFMF has participated in numerous peace keeping and peace observer missions.
“These missions were not recognised or included in the Act, thus rendering service personnel who had participated in these missions ineligible for the Fund’s benefits.
“The Act was amended last year to include all service personnel who have served in any active service operation Post-Christmas Island, are now eligible to access the Fund’s benefits.”
Ratu Epeli, however, said that unfortunately, the wives, widows, children, and other dependants of the newly recognised service personnel were not included in the recent amendments.
He stated that in keeping with the intention and spirit of the initial Act, the Act will now be amended to include the wives, widows, children, and other dependants of these newly recognised service personnel.
-Ends-
No:1120
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