'Editorial': Gaps in Rabuka's governance getting exposed

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka's recent concerns over "power play drama" in Government institutions come uncomfortably late, undermining his earlier advocacy for transparency and democratic values. If democracy is indeed thriving under his leadership, why has it taken a public debacle involving the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) to elicit a reaction?

The case against reinstated Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde paints a troubling picture of institutional decay. Allegations of financial misconduct, including unauthorised gratuity payments and family travel expenses outside contractual terms, are not merely administrative concerns; they strike at the heart of public trust.

Yet, these issues did not surface in isolation.

They were lodged by senior ODPP officials under Acting DPP Nancy Tikoisuva. Her swift action, though commendable, exposes a glaring governance lapse: why was such a volatile matter allowed to fester until now, after Mr Pryde was cleared by the Tribunal?

Compounding the institutional drama is the conflict between Justice Minister Siromi Turaga and FCS Commissioner Jalesi Nakarawa. The minister's overreach in placing Mr Nakarawa on "extended leave" reflects an unsettling disregard for constitutional boundaries. These incidents, taken together, suggest a Government adrift, where key figures act unilaterally, creating chaos instead of fostering cohesion.

Mr Rabuka's response-a mix of belated acknowledgement and vague assurances-is frustratingly weak. His initial silence, with his lofty rhetoric on democratic values, reveals a troubling inconsistency.

"Transparency" and "accountability", words often wielded by the Prime Minister, now ring hollow. The beauty of democracy lies in its ability to hold leaders accountable. Mr Rabuka must remember that speeches about transparency mean little without decisive and consistent action to back them up.

Critics might argue that the Prime Minister inherited a fractured system from his predecessors. However, nearly two years into his leadership, the excuse of past legacies wears thin. Governance demands not just vision but vigilance-qualities glaringly absent as institutional crises multiply.

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