Senior officials from the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) faced questioning from the parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence regarding the absence of annual reports since 2005. The committee scrutinized the RFMF during a session focused primarily on their Annual Reports for the years 2019 to 2022, which were finally produced after a long delay.
Brigadier-General Sapenafa Motufaga, the Chief of Staff at RFMF Headquarters, stated that he was unable to provide specific answers as he assumed his position only in 2021. He acknowledged that the last report produced prior to 2019 was in 2005 and expressed uncertainty regarding the reasons for this significant gap in reporting.
The committee chair, Lenora Qereqeretabua, raised concerns about the lack of audited financial reports accompanying the 2019-2022 Annual Reports. Brigadier-General Motufaga explained that they had not received a financial audit report from the Auditor General pertaining to those years; however, reports for the years 2020 to 2022 had since been received from the Auditor General.
Qereqeretabua also urged the RFMF to standardize the format of their future annual reports to enhance clarity and accessibility for reference.
This ongoing dialogue between the RFMF and the parliamentary committee reflects a commitment to improving accountability and transparency within the military forces. It is essential for governmental and non-governmental oversight to ensure that such institutions maintain their obligations to the public they serve. Moving forward, establishing consistent and timely reporting could help build trust and enhance the public’s confidence in defense institutions in Fiji.
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