Usamate: "Let the people see the unfiltered truth"

The full Commission of Inquiry (CoI) report must be released immediately, for the people of Fiji to see the unfiltered truth.

That’s the appeal from Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate, who has condemned Government’s handling of the CoI findings, describing it as an exercise in “selective justice and political manoeuvring.”

He said people would only understand the recent happenings within Cabinet and the suspended FICAC Commissioner if they read the report.

In a statement on Friday, Mr Usamate said the people of Fiji deserve full transparency and accountability, not what he claims is a cherry-picked implementation of the CoI recommendations.

“The people of Fiji demand accountability—not selective justice,” he stated.

“The CoI report was convened to expose wrongdoing, yet its findings are being executed with questionable consistency. The approach taken by the government appears doctored, designed not to deliver impartial justice but to control the fallout.”

Mr Usamate questioned the government’s decision to only suspend Barbara Malimali after the CoI reportedly found her appointment illegal.

“If the CoI report clearly states that Barbara Malimali’s appointment was illegal, then why was she merely suspended?

“An illegal appointment should be nullified, not treated as a valid position subject to disciplinary action,” he said.

Mr Usamate also raised alarm over the appointment of Lavinia Rokoika as acting FICAC Commissioner, citing her reported ties to certain ministers in Cabinet.

“At a time when FICAC’s credibility is already severely damaged, appointing someone with clear affiliations to political figures undermines efforts to restore trust.”

Feedback: inoke.rabonu@fijisun.com.fj