Immigration Minister Viliame Naupoto used the launch of the Fiji Immigration Induction Program to warn officers that immigration systems are inherently vulnerable to corruption and to press the need for personal integrity and stronger institutional safeguards. Speaking to new and serving staff, Mr Naupoto said the decisions made by immigration officials — on who may enter, work or live in Fiji — can be life‑changing and therefore present frequent targets for undue influence.
“When you decide whether someone can enter, work or live in Fiji, that decision impacts their entire life,” he said, adding bluntly: “That is where corruption can begin.” Drawing on his own experience as a former Director of Immigration, Naupoto recounted being offered an envelope filled with cash — an attempted bribe he said he declined. He told staff afterwards not to “allow people to buy your peace of mind,” using the anecdote to underline the everyday nature of the risks officers face.
Naupoto characterised corruption as the product of “temptation and opportunity,” arguing that while individual temptation must be resisted through personal integrity, many opportunities arise because systems and processes are weak. “Leaders must ensure there are no gaps that allow opportunity,” he said, urging managers to tighten procedures and close loopholes that could be exploited.
The minister warned that immigration officers wield both authority defined by law and discretionary power in how they apply it, and that misuse of either can rapidly erode public trust. He called for transparency, accountability and fairness in decision‑making, emphasising that consistent application of the law is central to maintaining credibility. “Without trust, even the best policies will fail,” Naupoto said, and he stressed respect — within the organisation and towards the public — as essential to sustaining that trust.
Naupoto’s intervention comes amid heightened public scrutiny of corruption and integrity across Fiji’s public sector. In recent months there have been several high‑profile cases brought by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption and public debate about the future role of anti‑corruption oversight bodies. Those broader conversations underscore the minister’s point that institutional arrangements matter: weak systems, he suggested, create the openings that corrupt actors seek.
The Fiji Immigration Induction Program, launched at the event, aims to familiarise incoming officers with the responsibilities and ethical standards expected of them, although Naupoto emphasised that training must be matched by robust processes and leadership that close opportunities for misconduct. His comments position the immigration ministry as focusing not only on personnel training but on tightening governance to protect the integrity of immigration decisions that carry significant consequences for individuals and the nation.
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