The Fiji Sports Council board convened today amid serious allegations circulating on social media regarding a significant decline in the organization’s cash reserves. Reports indicate that funds plummeted from over $2 million in March 2023 to a mere $32,000 by February 2024.
Peter Mazey, a board member and executive chairman of the Fiji National Sports Commission, confirmed the meeting’s occurrence but refrained from providing further comments on the situation.
Leaked documents that have surfaced online attribute the financial crisis to a “human resources restructure” undertaken in mid-2023, which reportedly doubled payroll expenses without the requisite approval from the board. It has been reported that expenditures for casual staff soared from $480,000 in the initial ten months of 2022 to nearly $1.1 million during the same period in 2023.
By January 30, 2024, the board had recorded losses surpassing $1 million over a span of five months, largely attributed to increasing salary payments. Additionally, the documents allege that several board members hesitated to sign cheques in December 2023 due to management’s failure to adhere to directives aimed at controlling payroll costs. However, they reportedly proceeded after intervention from Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru.
Further allegations include a $20 million letter of intent signed in 2023 with a New Zealand company for the construction of three artificial turf fields, which was purportedly made without the board’s consent. Concerns raised by Investment Fiji regarding the financial stability of the company led to legal counsel affirming that the contract was invalid. The documents also indicate unauthorized capital works at Veivadravadra and vehicle acquisitions that had not undergone a tender process.
Accusations have also been directed at former FSC chair and current CEO Gilbert Vakalabure, who has not yet responded to these claims. Efforts to contact Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Minister Saukuru for comments have been unsuccessful.
As the board addresses these serious allegations, there remains hope that transparent investigations and accountability measures will restore confidence in the governance of the Fiji Sports Council. The community watches closely, anticipating assurances that proper oversight and management practices will be reinforced moving forward.
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