Massive Corruption highlighted by Auditor-General's Report

[posted 28 September 2004, 15:00]

Auditor General, Eroni Vatuloka submitted the 2003 Report of the Accounts and Finance of Government to the House of Representatives, yesterday.  

The Report reveals a continuing pattern of corruption in Fiji, implicating virtually all ministries and involving senior officers.  The huge number of cases highlighted by the report is shocking as it represents a serious violation of the public trust.

Taxpayer funds are not being used appropriately.  Further, the SDL government, far from doing anything about the problem, seems to be clothed in the corruption revealed at the heart of these new findings.

Numerous cases show the abuse of office carried out by Senior government officials.  

Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs George Shiu Raj, has been implicated in a scheme where he colluded with Hunts Travel Services to pay $8,363 for a business class ticket to attend the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas.  Airline records show that he traveled economy class, indicating an overpayment of $5,581 on a fraudulent invoice.  Mr. Shiu Raj has also misused taxpayer money by taking his driver on a trip to India, as well as claiming excess per-diems.  The matter has been reported to the Police for investigation.

Poor financial control systems within departments, bad record-keeping, and a general air of unaccountability are at the root of government corruption.  Numerous tenders are not advertised or called for, and are given secretly to individuals and companies who do their turn to fill SDL coffers.  A transparent system for awarding government tenders must be at the heart of any public sector reform efforts.  

The government has no intention to confront this problem.  They refuse to call meetings of the Public Accounts Committee, voicing concern over the selection of Poseci Bune as Chair.  The reality is that the SDL is afraid that the calling Committee together will expose their role in fostering corruption in the government.  Further, their refusal to let the Committee proceed with their work is a means of circumventing the checks that exist within the Parliamentary system to avoid such misuse of public funds.  It reveals their contempt of the Parliamentary process and shows they do not care for proper management of taxpayer funds in Fiji.

Report Highlights:

Army involved in a $3 million scam involving falsifying LPO's to pay for orders still not received one year later.

Senior Ministry of Health officer misused funds intended to pay for overseas procedures for those who cannot afford it.  He received treatment twice in Australia at taxpayers expense.

Ministry of Agriculture more than $19 million in arrears.