Increase in RFMF budget includes allocation for peacekeeping

In response to questions about the increase in the budget for the Republic of Fiji Armed Forces and its purpose, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad has clarified that the allocation for RFMF in the 2024/2025 national budget includes peacekeeping and not a US$60 million increase as claimed.

He stressed this when responding to USP Professor Vijay Naidu at the Dialogue Fiji Post Budget Forum. Professor Naidu said that over $60 million extra is being spent on the RFMF, the same military that has caused disaster after disaster.

Professor Naidu wonders what productivity gains the RFMF brings to the economy and society.

Professor Prasad referred further questions on the specific budget allocation to Permanent Secretary for Finance, Shiri Gounder. She said the increase in the military budget is $10 million and not $60 million as reported.

He says they have merged the peacekeeping component and the normal RFMF operations.

Gounder says that of the $10 million, $5 million is earmarked for the RFMF’s technical department and the proceeds will now go to the government.

He also says the remaining $5 million is earmarked for purchasing some of the contingent equipment for the peacekeeping forces, where some challenges have been encountered.

FNU lecturer Dr Mosmi Bhim responds to Gounder, saying that Fiji pays for peacekeeping missions and does not make any money from them. The expenditure is not only for equipment, but also for training and paying additional soldiers.

She says that not only are we paying the costs of the peacekeeping mission, but we are also training soldiers to carry out coups in Fiji.

Dr Bhim further asks that instead of giving preferential treatment to military personnel in terms of salary allowances and other things, the same amount could be given to police officers. Then perhaps we would have a much better law and order situation in Fiji.

Professor Prasad later stressed that the Fiji Police have a bigger budget than the Army.

A total of $169.6 million has been allocated to the RFMF in the 2024-25 budget, while $226.8 million has been allocated to the police.

The 2023-2024 budget allocated $103.1 million to the RFMF, of which $57 million was earmarked for peacekeeping missions.