STOP PRESS.
"According to a Fiji Sun article, additional corruption charges also have been filed against the former General Manager of Native Lands Trust Board (NLTB)Kalivati Bakani and former permanent secretary for the Infrastructure and Public Utilities Ministry, Anasa Vocea."
Source http://stuckinfijimud.blogspot.com/
Corruption and gross Government inefficiency were among the reasons given by Bainimarama for the 2006 Coup, and many in Fiji were supporters of his "Clean Up" campaign.
The Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC) was established soon after the coup but unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your viewpoint) no charges of major corruption (and certainly none involving major players) have yet been proved in the courts, much to the apparent delight of Government opponents who claimed the campaign was merely an excuse for the coup. They conveniently forgot that instances of corruption were common knowledge and even the Fiji Times had accused the Qarase Government of "rampant corruption".
Bringing offenders to justice, however, has proved difficult for a government lacking forensic accountants, and exposing corruption has also proved difficult for a media lacking investigative journalists.
Rewa Provincial Council Former Head on Corruption Charges
The appearance today in the Nausori Magistrate Court of Savenaca Kamikamica, former Roko Tui Rewa (the executive head of the powerful Rewa Provincial Council) on corruption charges is therefore of major interest. He was detained under a Bench Warrant arrest because he had failed to appear in court for another matter, and charged by the FICAC of obtaining goods by false pretense. The charges alleged that in December 2005 he obtained goods from Suncourt Hardware under the pretence that they were for the Rewa Provincial Council Office under the Development Assistance Scheme,when in fact they were for his personal use.
Kamikamica pleaded not guilty and was released on a $3000 bail. The case has been adjourned till July 1st. Kamikamica is also facing another charge of larceny by servant. The judge agreed with FICAC Prosecutor Paul Madigan that bail conditions state he is not to interfere with the witnesses,surrender all travel documents, and pay an additional . $5000 bail fee. For the full report, click here.
Cakaudrove Provincial Council Report Wastage of Public Money
The Fiji Times, in an article "Aid in Ruin: Projects in Waste Four Year On" by journalist Theresa Ralogaivau, reports on another unrelated but relevant situation.
At yesterday's meeting the Cakaudrove Provincial Council was informed that project material provided by the Qarase Government under the Development Assistance Scheme that its office manages -- $100,000 annually -- "such as bags of cement, concrete blocks and pipes [intended for flush toilets and footpaths] are eventually reduced to ruin in the rain and sun, four years after they were first supplied to the village[s]."
The Commissioner Northern said it's a "sad waste materials for flush toilet projects at some villages were not used;" the Council chairman said the squandering of materials would only make it difficult for villagers to secure funds for future development; and a Council member thought the wastage "just [sic!] a reflection of poor leadership at village level..."
The situation, thought not to be confined to Cakaudrove, highlights the sorts of wastage of Government money under one of the affirmative action schemes promoted by the Qarase Government. Such schemes are needed, but people "redirecting" public money such as Kamikameca (if he is found guilty); and people, at all levels of central and provincial council administration, who are not doing their job to see that public money is not wasted, should be brought to account.
Responsibility starts at the top. It will be interesting to see if the present Government is any more successful in stopping such wastages than its predecessor.
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