Government offices and their affiliated organizations should be required to provide information upon request from any member of the public. This statement was made by Attorney-General Graham Leung during a media briefing focused on Fiji’s Right to Information Act. He emphasized that any institution receiving taxpayer funding must fulfill requests for information from citizens.

Leung pointed out the importance of including not only government entities but also commercial and statutory companies such as the Electricity Fiji Limited (EFL) and the Water Authority. He noted that the public has a significant interest in understanding how these organizations operate, given that they are financed by taxpayer money.

He illustrated this need with an example, stating that a resident from Lutu, Naitasiri, should be able to inquire about medicine shortages at their local health facility. Leung also stressed that the timing of information release is crucial; delays in providing information diminish its relevance and purpose. He acknowledged the limited capacity of public services to respond promptly.

Tobey Mendel, the executive director of the Centre for Law and Democracy, raised concerns about the operational efficiency of the legislation. He mentioned that innovations tailored for small island developing states could be proposed to the government to enhance the Act. This could potentially make Fiji a pioneer in implementing such forward-thinking legislation by encompassing all branches of government and entities under their control.

In summary, the push for greater transparency by mandating government and related organizations to provide timely public information reflects a commitment to democracy and accountability in Fiji. This initiative not only promotes informed citizenship but also aims to improve the public service’s responsiveness. The proposed innovations under the Act could lead to more efficient governance, ultimately benefiting all Fijians. The positive outlook lies in the potential for these changes to set a precedent for similar initiatives globally, fostering transparency and citizen engagement around the world.