The lead story on the front page of The Fiji Times for Thursday, September 5, highlights the appointment of Barbara Malimali as the new Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), although this change has yet to be officially announced. FICAC has confirmed that staff have been made aware of the transition.
Additionally, FICAC disclosed that they conducted a raid at the Electoral Commission office on Tuesday, which is linked to a complaint involving Ms. Malimali. Francis Puleiwai, FICAC’s acting Deputy Commissioner, confirmed that she had applied for the top role but was not selected.
In another major article, Brent Hill, CEO of Tourism Fiji, discussed the goal of reaching a $4 billion tourism industry with over one million visitors annually by 2027 during the Fiji-Australia and Australia-Fiji Business Councils Joint Forum held in Suva. This expectation has been bolstered by the opening of new Nadi-Dallas routes, which could potentially bring in around 50,000 visitors from the US, Europe, and South America.
In the context of addressing littering, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka expressed the urgent need for a comprehensive review of the Litter Act 2008 to enhance its enforcement. Speaking in Parliament, he emphasized the importance of protecting Fiji’s islands and ecosystems amid increasing littering habits among the public.
Rabuka shared his observations during trips to China and Japan, where he noted the cleanliness of public spaces, and criticized the current $40 fine for littering, which he argued is insufficient to deter offenders.
He outlined ongoing efforts to strengthen enforcement, including 18 training workshops for litter prevention officers. However, he acknowledged that the Litter Act is outdated and lacks necessary definitions for effective police work. Despite recent training initiatives, Rabuka remarked on the pervasive littering culture and the need for a cultural shift towards environmental responsibility among Fijians, especially during events like the Hibiscus Festival.
The Prime Minister’s remarks underline the seriousness of the littering crisis and call for collective action to address this growing issue.