The appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has been met with criticism from Senior Opposition MP Jone Usamate, who described the decision as troubling and inappropriate. While he expressed no personal issue with Malimali, he emphasized the importance of women’s representation in key roles.
Usamate raised concerns about transparency and accountability, suggesting that principles of good governance had been overlooked. He pointed out that the Constitutional Offices Commission (COC) typically relies on an independent team to assess candidates but questioned whether the Judicial Service Commission (JSC) followed such a process in this instance.
He highlighted the need for the JSC to uphold public trust in independent institutions, even at the expense of its interests. Although Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo noted that Malimali had achieved the highest score in assessments, Usamate questioned whether the President’s Office had conducted due diligence regarding her suitability for the role.
Usamate noted that Malimali was under investigation, which he believed should have prompted a postponement of her appointment by both the JSC and the President’s Office. He also inquired about the status of her resignation from her previous role as chair of the Electoral Commission, emphasizing the need for clarity on whether proper notice had been given.
Additionally, Usamate demanded accountability regarding an instruction given to Acting Deputy Commissioner Francis Puleiwai regarding charges against Biman Prasad, calling it a serious misuse of authority that warrants an immediate independent investigation, potentially led by the police.
He concluded by reaffirming the necessity of good governance as the basis for a strong government, taking issue with recent comments by the Minister of Justice characterizing investigations into Cabinet Ministers as “acts of malice.” Usamate questioned whether there were certain individuals in Fiji who were above scrutiny, echoing concerns raised by George Orwell about equality under the law.