The appointment of Barbara Malimali as the new Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has drawn criticism from Senior Opposition MP Jone Usamate, who described the move as inappropriate. While he expressed no personal grievances against Malimali and supports the inclusion of women in key roles, he raised concerns over issues of transparency and accountability in the process.
Usamate emphasized the importance of the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) relying on an independent team to evaluate candidates to ensure the selection of qualified individuals. He questioned whether the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) engaged such a team during the hiring process for Malimali’s position.
He further inquired about the due diligence performed by the Office of the President regarding Malimali’s qualifications, noting that she had been under investigation. This situation, he argued, should have led the JSC and the President’s Office to reconsider her appointment.
Usamate also raised the issue of whether the COC had received Malimali’s resignation letter from her prior position as chair of the Electoral Commission, as well as the potential need for an independent investigation into the decision not to pursue charges against Biman Prasad. He highlighted that good governance is essential for a robust government and questioned whether there are certain individuals in Fiji who are above investigation.