MP calls for iTaukei Affairs Board reform

Opposition Member of Parliament Alvick Maharaj called for the iTaukei Affairs Board to be reformed and rebuilt.

He described it as a “very important iTaukei institution that must start producing results”.

Mr Maharaj told the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Accounts on Tuesday that the committee should meet with the board to discuss their future plans and strategies.

“I would say this is a very important iTaukei institution that needs to be reformed, rebuilt upon, and needs to start producing the result for the reason that it was formed in the first place,” Mr Maharaj said.

He requested the committee meet the board before finalising its report on the massive audit backlog spanning decades.

“We would like to actually see where the board wants to take this institution from here moving forward and what are some of the plans, what are their strategies of moving forward,” he said.

Mr Maharaj said the committee needed to examine three interconnected organisations - the iTaukei Affairs Board, provincial councils, and provincial companies - to ensure they work together for the betterment of the iTaukei community.

“We don’t want to be in a scenario that we actually come up, we do rectify all this, we are up to par with the financial statements and everything, and then start slacking behind again,” he said.

The iTaukei Affairs Board has not had audited accounts since 2007 and committed to clear its audit backlog by December this year.

Committee chairman Esrom Immanuel supported Mr Maharaj’s suggestion, saying he would also ask board members about their awareness of the accountability issues over the years.

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