No action yet on FICAC inquiry

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has confirmed that no further action has been taken on the recommendations presented by the Commission of Inquiry into the appointment of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner.

Speaking last week, Mr Rabuka said it would be "premature" to release the full report, citing the possibility that it may still be required by the Fiji Police Force and/or Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to avoid prejudicing any ongoing or future investigations.

Pressed again this week on whether there had been any developments, Mr Rabuka replied simply: "No further developments."

The continued withholding of the report has triggered mounting pressure from Opposition parties and civil society groups, who are demanding the findings be made public. Critics argue the delay raises serious concerns about transparency and may hint at political interference.

Unity Fiji party leader Savenaca Narube said the inquiry was carried out because of public demand and funded by taxpayers.

"It was paid for by you and me, therefore the report must be made public," Mr Narube insisted.

"The inquiry was commissioned by the Prime Minister. So, in our view, the Prime Minister has no choice but to recommend to the President that the report be released.

"If he doesn't, the people will know beyond any doubt that this Government serves its own interests-not the people's.

"The report, I repeat, must be made public."

The report is expected to be explosive. Commissioner Justice David Ashton-Lewis previously revealed that while the inquiry's terms of reference were narrow, the evidence gathered compelled the Commission to consider broader matters that directly affect its scope.

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