Political Showdown: Is Walesi Report Just a Game?

Opposition Member of Parliament Faiyaz Koya criticized Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Communications Manoa Kamikamica for prematurely presenting the Investigation Report regarding Walesi PTE Limited to Parliament. Koya expressed concerns to FijiLive, stating that the Opposition was unable to adequately respond to Kamikamica’s Ministerial Statement since they were not provided with the report prior to its presentation.

Koya emphasized that if the government planned to submit its findings to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), it should not have brought the report to Parliament in a manner that seemed politically motivated. He argued that the matter should not be discussed in the parliamentary setting, suggesting that a better course of action would have been to refrain from making a statement altogether until the Opposition had access to the report.

He highlighted the unfairness of the situation since they lacked information about the report’s contents while Kamikamica shared details in Parliament, expressing his uncertainty about the intent behind this approach.

This afternoon, a confirmation from the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption revealed that they have received the report from the Deputy Prime Minister. FICAC Commissioner Barbara Malimali has instituted a special task force to probe into the situation, particularly after the Office of Auditor General’s Special Audit Report indicated that the government allocated a substantial $123.6 million for the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) Project and Walesi PTE LTD’s operations from 2015 to 2022.

In summary, the ongoing investigation highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in government spending, especially concerning significant public projects. There remains an opportunity for the parliament and the government to establish clear communication and protocols, ensuring that all parties involved are informed and can contribute to the discussion constructively. This approach could foster a more collaborative environment in addressing issues of public interest, ultimately benefiting governance in Fiji.