A government investigation into Fiji’s Walesi or Digital TV initiative, aimed at enhancing the country’s broadcasting capabilities, has revealed significant issues including the lack of proper operational licenses and mismanagement of public resources from 2015 to 2022. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications, Manoa Kamikamica, disclosed in Parliament that a shocking 68 percent of the allocated $123 million for the Walesi project was deemed wasted, terming it a “disgraceful squandering of resources.”
The investigation uncovered missing documentation linked to payments totaling FJ$9.3 million, raising serious accountability concerns and complicating attempts to evaluate expenditures properly. Notably, high-value contracts—including a FJ$3.6 million project management agreement—were awarded without competitive bidding or defined deliverables, signaling a troubling lack of transparency in fund allocation.
Further scrutiny revealed that Walesi operated without a strategic plan, contract register, or sufficient risk management policies, all while evading the oversight mandated by Fiji’s Public Enterprises Act. A collaborative technical assessment with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) discovered that the network had failed to secure necessary operating and spectrum licenses, utilizing a Multi-Frequency Network (MFN) instead of the more efficient Single Frequency Network (SFN). This misstep not only inflated operational costs but also limited access, particularly in rural areas.
The review criticized the technological choices made, such as the use of the H.264 codec over the globally preferred H.265 codec. This decision rendered over 200,000 set-top boxes, distributed at a significant public expense, obsolete from their inception, resulting in a clear waste of taxpayer funds.
Following these findings, the matter will be forwarded to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) for further examination. Kamikamica emphasized that any evidence of misconduct will be pursued rigorously under the law.
In response to the controversies, Walesi is implementing a reform plan aimed at overhauling its governance structures. Key initiatives include revising encryption policies to eliminate connection fees for accessing the digital platform, aligning licensing practices with international standards, and creating a transparent fee structure to establish sustainable revenue streams without imposing additional burdens on taxpayers.
Opposition MP Faiyaz Koya expressed dissatisfaction with how the findings were disclosed, suggesting that the matter should have been reported to FICAC prior. He noted the benefits of the Walesi project, which had successfully provided free digital television service to 90 percent of the Fijian population by March 2023. Aliki Bia from Bloc 9 Group acknowledged the report and expressed anticipation for the forthcoming investigations.
This situation, while concerning, presents a crucial moment for Fiji to rectify systemic issues within its public broadcasting initiative. The proposed governance reforms could ultimately lead to a more effective and accountable digital television service, ensuring that taxpayer funds are utilized efficiently for the betterment of all Fijians.
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