Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) officers were last night reminded never to abuse the powers entrusted to them.

The Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, made this statement at the commission’s awards night at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.

He said to some ordinary Fijians, just the mention of the word ‘FICAC’ instilled fear in them.

“The word ‘FICAC’ sends shivers down some people’s spine; you must know that when you have that kind of power; never abuse it,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

“Do not go outside the scope of your mandate; I know some ordinary citizens have said to me that FICAC officers said they can fix that up for you and I said to them no they can’t; they won’t be able to do it because that is not their role.”

He reminded the officers they must be fully aware of what their role was, and like every other institution, they must also be fully aware of limitations.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said FICAC had come a long way from when it started.

“Today we have a budget of nearly $9million; we only had a few hundred thousand dollars about five to six years back.

“The reason why we have grown exponentially is because of the political and administrative will of the Bainimarama Government back then and of course now the FijiFirst Government. Our target is to have the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption ensure that systematic corruption is removed,” he said.

He said no country in the world had completely eradicated corruption.

“I am not just talking about the public sector but also in private sector.

“I think what is very critical for you to understand tonight that once you have an independent commission such as yours; you have a very wide range of powers that are given to you; entrusted to you because the independent commission does require those sorts of powers,” he said.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum also reminded FICAC it was important for the officers within the commission themselves to remain clean from corruption.

“You do play a very critical role in the modernisation of Fiji.

“Sometimes some issues of corruption relate very closely to what people call cultural practices or the way things had been done in the past,” he said.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum thanked all the commission staff for their contribution and assured them the FijiFirst Government was committed to FICAC.

Edited by Manasa Kalouniviti
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