Government under pressure to release FICAC inquiry report

Pressure is intensifying on the Government to release the Commission of Inquiry report into the controversial appointment of Barbara Malimali as Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).

It has been 16 days since the initial report was handed to Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and President Naiqama Lalabalavu on May 1, and the public is still waiting.

On Monday, Prime Minister Rabuka said: “A lot of reading, a lot of legalese which I have to try and unravel and get legal advice on.”

“I will read it, understand it, and make my opinion known on the recommendations and what we have to do.”

But critics are not convinced, and calls for transparency are growing louder from across the political spectrum.

Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube said because of the people’s demand the inquiry was done.

“It was paid for by you and me, therefore, the report must be made public,” Mr Narube said.

“The inquiry was commissioned by the Prime Minister. So, in our view, the Prime Minister has no choice but to recommend to the President to release the report.

“If he doesn’t do that, the people will know without any doubt whatsoever that the Government is there for their own interest rather than the interest of the people. The report, I repeat, must be made public.”

The Commission of Inquiry (CoI) Report is expected to open a can of worms with its Commissioner Justice Ashton-Lewis acknowledged that while the terms of reference were narrow, statements gathered had compelled the inquiry to explore additional matters that directly impact the scope of the inquiry.

No more delays 

Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar said there should be no more delays.

“The people of Fiji are still waiting for the release of the Commission of Inquiry report. The Prime Minister’s public commitment to transparency as the guiding principle is sounding increasingly hollow, as weeks go by with no sign of the report being made public,” Mrs Kumar said.

“This delay sends a troubling message that the government may have something to hide,” she said.

“If it chooses to withhold or bury the report, it will only reinforce what many Fijians already suspect—that this Government claims one thing and acts in contradiction to those claims.”

Independent Member of Parliament Ketan Lal has also joined the chorus of leaders demanding its release.

“The people of Fiji deserve answers. The CoI report, funded by taxpayers’ hard-earned money, must be made public immediately,” Mr Lal said.

“We did not pour thousands—possibly millions—into this exercise for it to be locked away in a cabinet, hidden from the very people it was meant to serve. This is not just about transparency—it’s about accountability.”

Commission of Inquiry 

Commission of Inquiry Counsel Assisting the Inquiry, Janet Mason has urged for patience.

“The report is 682 pages long. The PM and President need to read it and digest its contents. Its contents are complex and the report contains a lot of information and analysis,” Ms Mason said.

“The CoI has provided two copies each to the President and to the PM. One copy is confidential for them only, and the other copy has certain information redacted. The redacted copy is for public release.

“I think the public just needs to be patient and allow the PM and the President the time to make their decisions.

“No one should equate the time it is taking the PM and President to make their decisions with a reluctance to make the report available to the public. These are important decisions. As you have pointed out, there are rumours that legal action could be taken. This has always been on the cards given the significance of the task.”

With public anger rising and political leaders from all sides echoing the same demand, the ball is now in the government’s court.

The nation waits.

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj