Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that Ratu Wiliame Katonivere is their nominee for the President of Fiji. The election for the President is scheduled to occur during a special session of Parliament at the end of October.
Rabuka mentioned that some discomfort had emerged regarding specific nominations for the presidency, which led him to withdraw his own nominee the day before. He noted that the Speaker, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, requested clarity on concerns raised before proceeding with the nomination. These concerns were linked to an allegation against the current President, making it crucial to resolve any uncertainties.
The Prime Minister indicated that the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has confirmed the closure of the files related to the complaints against the President. He explained that a preliminary investigation sought help from the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) for financial information pertaining to Ratu Wiliame, and the insights provided were adequate to refute the allegations.
Rabuka further clarified that FICAC also validated the Assets and Liabilities reported in the FIU documentation. Based on the investigation’s findings, there was no evidence to support the claims made by the complainant. He concluded by stating that the files have been officially closed.