Frank’s ploy to clock up entitlements

From the Fiji Government website, Mr Bainimarama has 5 portfolios1. Prime Minister and Minister for Public Service; People’s Charter for Change2. Minister for Information and Archives3. Acting Minister for Finance and National Planning and Sugar4. Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs, International Co-operation and Civil Aviation; Acting Minister for Provincial Development, Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs
It’s highly commendable that, in three instances, he has chosen to combine several portfolios under one ministry since, under past elected governments, he would been responsible for 8 portfolios:1. Prime Minister2. Minister for Public Service3. Minister for Information and Archives4. Acting Minister for Finance5. Acting Minister for National Planning and Sugar6. Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Co-operation7. Acting Minister for Civil Aviation8. Acting Minister for Provincial Development, Indigenous and Multi-Ethnic Affairs
In fairness, he should therefore be allowed to take the leave that accrues to each portfolio. Assuming 4 weeks for each, this would mean he should be entitled to 32 weeks leave a year. To avoid a furore similar to the one that accompanied his legitimate claim to two decades holiday backpay earlier this year, perhaps ministers could lead by example and encourage all government staff to use their leave entitlement within the year it falls due. If Mr Bainimarama were to do this, it would mean he could go on well earned holiday leave today and, allowing for intervening public holidays, not need to return to work until 18 February 2010.