No ministers or the Governor of the Reserve Bank of Fiji have access to the sensitive information maintained by the Fiji Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU). This information was presented by FIU’s acting director, Esther Sue, during a review by the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Fiji Financial Intelligence Annual Report 2023.
Sue clarified that authority over this information is solely held by the Director of the FIU, and as such, neither the minister nor the Governor can access it, in accordance with the law. She emphasized that even though the FIU is funded by the Reserve Bank of Fiji, its functions and powers operate independently.
The process for handling suspicious transaction reports starts with an Intelligence Analyst, who assesses the situation and makes recommendations that the Director ultimately endorses. Sue also noted that the FIU has its own database services within the Reserve Bank framework. If law enforcement agencies or even the Reserve Bank require access to this information, memorandums of understanding (MOUs) are in place for sharing.
Operationally, the FIU functions independently, and access to its information is restricted to FIU staff only. Employees are required to sign confidentiality agreements to maintain the privacy of the data.