Opposition MP Praveen Bala has dismissed claims that the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) permitted him to be interviewed regarding his role as the Minister for Housing during investigations into the Housing Authority. The inquiry, conducted by the Office of the Auditor-General, focused on illegal lot allocations and abuses in the tender process.
While presenting a Review Report on the Housing Authority in Parliament, Bala stated, “I was never asked to appear before the Committee.” He urged the Assistant Minister for Finance and PAC Chairperson, Esrom Immanuel, to refrain from making broad statements in Parliament.
In response, Immanuel asserted that the Committee had sent an email to Bala, which was followed by a phone call from a Committee member to ensure communication.
The investigation highlights serious issues concerning improper lot allocations and misconduct involving employees of the Housing Authority. It gained attention after public outcry led the then Minister for Housing, Premila Kumar, to request a special investigation by the Auditor-General’s Office, authorized under Section 6(1)(d) of the Audit Act 1969.
Immanuel indicated that the Committee agreed those implicated in the investigation should be held accountable, emphasizing the importance of creating strong deterrents and providing clear disciplinary messages to both the public and Housing Authority employees. He noted that there are 60 cases currently with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), with one case already in court.
“We would like to see FICAC handle the remaining cases,” Immanuel stated. The report has received commendation in Parliament, and an additional motion has been proposed to initiate a debate on its contents at a future session.