Opposition Member of Parliament Faiyaz Koya has criticized Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communication Manoa Kamikamica for prematurely presenting the Investigation Report on Walesi PTE Limited to Parliament. Koya argued that the government’s decision to refer the report to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) should have precluded its public discussion in Parliament.
Speaking with FijiLive, Koya stated that the Opposition was unable to respond to Kamikamica’s Ministerial Statement because they were not given access to the report beforehand. He emphasized that if the government was planning to submit the report to FICAC, it was inappropriate to publicly disclose its findings in Parliament, likening it to a “political football.”
Koya questioned the Minister’s motives, suggesting that the correct approach would have been to refrain from making a public statement, particularly when the matter was already under scrutiny by FICAC. He lamented the lack of transparency, remarking that the Opposition was left in the dark about the content of the report while Kamikamica shared its details with Parliament.
Despite the controversy, a positive development arose when the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption confirmed that it had indeed received the report from Kamikamica. FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali has initiated a special task force to investigate the concerns raised by the Special Audit Report, which highlights that the government allocated $123.6 million for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Project and the operations of Walesi PTE LTD between 2015 and 2022.
This investigation signifies a commitment to accountability and transparency in government operations, and it reflects a serious approach to addressing potential irregularities. The involvement of FICAC suggests that any findings will be thoroughly examined, fostering hope for enhanced governance and the integrity of public funds moving forward.
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