The recent appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has drawn criticism from Senior Opposition MP Jone Usamate, who described it as inappropriate. While Mr. Usamate acknowledged his respect for Ms. Malimali, he emphasized the importance of women occupying significant leadership roles.
He raised concerns over the apparent neglect of transparency and accountability, suggesting that principles of good governance were being overlooked. “When the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) makes appointments, it relies on an independent team to review applications thoroughly to select the most qualified candidates,” he stated. He questioned whether the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) had similarly engaged such a team during the hiring process for Ms. Malimali.
Mr. Usamate pointed out the JSC’s responsibility to uphold public trust in independent institutions, even if it conflicts with their interests. Although Ms. Malimali’s credentials have been validated, as noted by Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo who indicated she scored the highest, he expressed doubts about the thoroughness of the selection process.
In addition, he questioned whether the Office of the President had performed adequate due diligence to confirm Ms. Malimali’s qualifications, given her ongoing investigation. He argued that this investigation should have led to a postponement of her appointment by both the JSC and the President’s Office.
“Has the COC, which appointed her as chair of the Electoral Commission, received her resignation letter? Did she complete the required notice period before her new role?” he inquired. Mr. Usamate also demanded clarity on who instructed Acting Deputy Commissioner Francis Puleiwai not to pursue formal charges against Biman Prasad, describing this as a potential abuse of office that merits an independent investigation by the police.
He concluded with a reminder that good governance is crucial for a robust and effective government. Mr. Usamate criticized recent comments by the Minister of Justice referring to inquiries into Cabinet Ministers as “acts of malice,” questioning whether some individuals are beyond investigation and invoking moral parallels to Orwell’s observations about equality.