The appointment of Barbara Malimali as the Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has been criticized as being inappropriate by Senior Opposition MP Jone Usamate. While Mr. Usamate expressed no personal grievances against Ms. Malimali and supports the inclusion of women in significant roles, he emphasized that the principles of transparency and accountability seem to have been ignored.
Mr. Usamate raised concerns about the nomination process, questioning whether the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) engaged an independent team to evaluate candidates adequately. He stressed the importance of maintaining public confidence in independent institutions, even if it may conflict with their interests. Although Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo pointed out that Ms. Malimali achieved the highest score of 141, Mr. Usamate believes further scrutiny is necessary.
He also questioned whether the Office of the President conducted sufficient due diligence to confirm Ms. Malimali’s fitness for the role, noting that she was under investigation, which should have warranted a delay in her appointment. Additionally, he inquired if the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) received her resignation from the Electoral Commission, emphasizing the need for clarity on her prior commitments.
Mr. Usamate urged for an independent investigation into what he described as a serious abuse of office, particularly regarding an alleged instruction to the then Acting Deputy Commissioner not to pursue formal charges against politician Biman Prasad. He underscored the importance of good governance as a cornerstone of an effective government, criticizing comments made by the Minister of Justice that labeled investigations into Cabinet Ministers as “acts of malice.” He questioned whether certain individuals in Fiji are above scrutiny, referencing George Orwell’s notion that some are “more equal than others.”