Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate has expressed his concerns regarding the delay of an independent investigation into the Minister for Youth and Sports and the Fiji Sports Council. Usamate highlighted the importance of addressing any allegations of impropriety, emphasizing that such matters should be thoroughly examined for the national interest.
Usamate questioned the Prime Minister’s decision to take action only after public pressure mounted, noting that the issues at hand were known as early as 2025. He deemed this delay indicative of a troubling culture of inaction among leadership, where significant issues are often left unresolved, hoping they will merely dissipate over time.
“People across the country have seen this approach before, and many are now wondering what outcome it will bring this time,” he stated. The MP also expressed skepticism about the choice to pursue a private investigation instead of utilizing established institutions like the Police and the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). He suggested that sidelining these institutions undermines public confidence in their ability to address significant issues.
Usamate insisted that any investigation must be led by genuinely independent individuals and cautioned against repeating past mistakes, such as the costly Commission of Inquiry that was later ruled unlawful by the courts and resulted in confusion and additional legal costs for the country.
He further urged those selected to lead the new investigation to be mindful of their professional integrity, asserting that the public expects consistent standards to be upheld. “At the centre of all this must be the people — their trust, their confidence, and their right to know that the law applies equally to everyone,” he said.
Concluding his remarks, Usamate urged the Prime Minister to ensure that the law is consistently applied without exceptions or preferential treatment. He stressed that the country does not require more committees or temporary measures but rather one standard for everyone, asserting that if independent institutions are not functioning as intended, it is imperative to confront the underlying issues within the system itself. This call for accountability aims to restore public trust and restore proper governance practices.
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