The major headline in The Fiji Times for Thursday, September 5, is the appointment of Barbara Malimali as the new Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), although this has not been officially announced yet. FICAC has confirmed that they have informed their staff of the changes. Additionally, FICAC conducted a raid at the Electoral Commission office on Tuesday in connection to a complaint filed against Ms. Malimali. When questioned, FICAC’s acting Deputy Commissioner Francis Puleiwai revealed that she applied for the commissioner position but was not selected.
In another significant story on the front page, Tourism Fiji’s CEO Brent Hill announced that the Tourism 2.0 initiative aims to grow Fiji’s tourism sector into a $4 billion industry, with expectations of over one million visitor arrivals annually. He made this announcement during last week’s Joint Forum of the Fiji-Australia and Australia-Fiji Business Councils in Suva. According to Tourism Fiji, they expect visitor numbers to surpass one million by 2027, especially with the newly opened Nadi-Dallas and Dallas-Nadi routes of Fiji Airways, which are anticipated to bring approximately 50,000 tourists from the US, Europe, and South America.
In other news, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka emphasized the need to reinforce the enforcement of the Litter Act 2008. He highlighted the importance of protecting Fiji’s unique ecosystems and acknowledged the bad habits that many citizens have developed regarding littering. Despite being overshadowed by other pressing national issues, he argued that getting littering under control is crucial for addressing other challenges. Mr. Rabuka referenced his experiences in China and Japan, noting their clean environments, and criticized the current enforcement measures, pointing out that the fine for littering is merely $40, regardless of the type of refuse discarded.
The Prime Minister also shared that since 2019, 598 litter prevention officers have been trained through various workshops aimed at enhancing enforcement, although he indicated that the Litter Act itself is outdated. He stressed the need for clear definitions and improvements to the legislation to facilitate more effective policing and enforcement of litter-related offenses. Mr. Rabuka expressed concern over the litter issues affecting popular areas like the waterfront of Muanikau and the Nasese seawall, urging Fijians to take responsibility for their waste and appreciate their environment, especially during events like the ongoing Hibiscus Festival. The Prime Minister’s focus on this issue marks a proactive step toward combating littering in Fiji.