The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has been presented with over 60 cases involving abuse of power and corruption by the Housing Authority, indicating a significant deterioration within the organization. These allegations, which include suspected fraud and collusion, trace back to 2010.
Esrom Emmanuel, chairman of the Standing Committee on Public Accounts, disclosed these findings in Parliament last week, criticizing the authority’s governance, transparency, and accountability practices as severely lacking and “bordering on being pathetic.” Emmanuel highlighted that some crucial files went missing during audit investigations.
He stated, “A detailed review by the Office of the Auditor-General noted that corporate governance, transparency, and accountability at the Housing Authority were extremely weak. There was a noticeable absence of a Conflict-of-Interest Policy, inadequate verification processes, poor record-keeping, and ongoing abuses of power and corruption.”
Emmanuel pointed out that not all tender documents were available for developments from 2010 to the present report in 2020. He suggested that cases of alleged fraud and collusion benefiting staff and their relatives due to malfunctions within the authority’s protocols should be formally investigated by the relevant authorities, as the Auditor-General’s audit did not examine legal compliance.
Additionally, he noted that the Office of the Auditor-General faced challenges, including the inability to interview two former key employees responsible for overseeing applicant selection and lot allocations. Documentation relating to ministerial approvals for customers earning over $50,000 was not provided by the Housing Authority, nor were approvals from the Ministry of Housing and Community Development for submissions made in 2015 and 2016.
Emmanuel also raised concerns about missing files affecting the audit process, citing that 12 customer files, including several from specific subdivisions, were not accessible for review, suggesting attempts to shield wrongdoing from scrutiny.