RFMF: No annual report for more than a decade

Senior members of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) could not give an explanation yesterday when the parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence questioned why the Force did not produce Annual Reports since 2005.

Yesterday, the RFMF faced the standing committee to answer questions on their most recent 2019-2022 Annual Reports after so many years.

When asked on why the Force had not been producing Annual Reports, Chief of Staff RFMF Headquarters Brigadier-General Sapenafa Motufaga said he only began in the position in 2021.

“I cannot answer that question directly,” Brigadier-General Motufaga said.

“The last report we produced before 2019 was in 2005, I cannot recall,” he said.

“I was appointed to this position in 2021 and I cannot speak for my predecessors.

“But I can say that the RFMF is audited every year on our finances by Government.”

Standing committee chair Lenora Qereqeretabua also asked why there were no audited financial reports in the 2019-2022 Annual Reports.

“We were not furnished with a financial audited report from the Auditor General, Brigadier-General Motufaga said.

From 2020-2022, those audited reports have been provided by the Auditor General.

Ms Qereqeretabua also asked the Force to ensure that moving forward all Annual Reports were to be of the same format for ease of reference.