Fijileaks
  • Home
  • Archive Home
  • In-depth Analysis
    • BOI Report into George Speight and others beatings
  • Documents
  • Opinion
  • CRC Submissions
  • Features
  • Archive

AUDITOR-General: Municipal councils fail to account for $30m. FLP - "This shocking lack of accountability in governance is the price [Fiji] is paying for the dismantling of democratic institutions since 2009"

17/7/2017

11 Comments

 
Picture
Picture
Municipal councils fail to account for $30m

It comes as no surprise that municipal councils have failed to provide accounts for close to $28m given to them in grants over the past three years as per the Auditor General’s 2016 report.

“This is symptomatic of the total lack of accountability and transparency that we have witnessed over the past 10 years under the current leadership when it comes to the management of public moneys,” says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.

All Auditor General’s reports since 2008 have pointed out the failure of ministries, including the Prime Minister’s Office, to provide proper accountability and acquittals for funds used.

“There has been an appalling laxity in the handling of public funds at all levels of governance,” Mr Chaudhry said.

The final responsibility for good governance and accountability for funds disbursed lies with the Finance section. Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum must, therefore, take full responsibility for this shocking government record.

Although as Minister for Local Government Praveen Bala is equally at fault.

“As for municipal councils, FLP has consistently over the years complained about the lack of accountability and transparency in their use of ratepayers’ funds and government grants, and the delivery of service.

“It supports our repeated calls for municipal council elections to be reinstated to ensure transparency and accountability at the local government level.

“This shocking lack of accountability in governance is the price our nation is paying for the dismantling of democratic institutions in the country since 2009,” Mr Chaudhry said.


11 Comments
Rajend Naidu
18/7/2017 12:27:30 am

Editor,
I don't know how much " clean up " has happened in Fiji following Bainimarama's " clean up " coup. But it is apparent that a lot of cleaning out of the public coffers has happened as this Fijileaks revelation among others have shown.
So it begs the question just what kind of " true democracy " with accompanying accountability, transparency and good governance has the Bainimarama- Khaiyum post coup regime produced?
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Reply
Chiku
18/7/2017 04:04:29 am

So for their dismal failure to oversee the proper accountability of public funds by the Municipal administrators will the Ministers responsible ( the Finance Minister and Local Government Minister ) tender their resignation as democratic convention commands?
Or, will they simply continue business as usual as has been the norm since the unlawful takeover of power in Fiji?

Reply
Traitors who forgot their own actions...!
18/7/2017 09:21:11 am

Mr Chaudhry making claims “This shocking lack of accountability in governance is the price our nation is paying for the dismantling of democratic institutions in the country since 2009,” baffles me.

Was it not FLP who said the coup was god sent and they jumped in the bed to dismantle the democratic institution?

What really did they think they were going to achieve?

Reply
Najib
18/7/2017 07:03:20 pm

Not just Municipal Councils, Provincial Councils also have a poor accountability record. Add to this primary schools who the Minister for Education had been pressuring to improve on their accountability, local NGOs and community organisations, religious groups and Govt departments mentioned in the Auditor General's reports show the extent of Fiji's kleptocracy. Thriving is going on at all levels from the very top and lower levels are just following suit. Clearly existing accountability structures like FICAC, Publuc Accounts Committee, etc are inadequate in dealing with the challenge but Khaiyum as the chief legal officer of the land does not want a change as the solution that he knows very well is not in his and Fiji First Party interest. The solution is full transparency and accountability at all levels darting from himself and the PM at the top, making the Statistics Office independent, conducting municipal and provincial council elections and introducing heavier penalties by the Courts. We all know how Hong Kong dealt with corruption but Khaiyum does not want to go that far relying instead on tokenism, the hounding of one or two political smart asses that Khai and Bai want to get rid of

Reply
Rajend Naidu
18/7/2017 10:21:28 pm

Editor,
Using Position of Power To Enrich Themselves.
This is something that does not only happen in politics at the national level. It happens at the level of local government as the Fijileaks article reveals. It happens big time in sports.
We learn from the BBC 18/7 article ' Spain Football Federation chief Angel Maria Villar Llona arrested ' that the president, his son and two top executives have been arrested for corruption.
Angel Maria has led the SFF for 3 decades and is a senior Vice President of FIFA and a Vice President for the European football organisation.
It is not uncommon for greed to overtake people parked in positions of power especially for extended periods of time.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Reply
King
19/7/2017 11:51:12 am

Self proclaimed Monarch's rule. King for Life, so thinks he. The ugly one beside him only cries out Hail to His Majesty, Hail to the Omnipotent, Hail to the Immortal Tui Viti, Hail to the rightful Vunivalu, the rightful successor, at last, to Ratu Seru Cakobau, found. Lucky Fiji. He tried to change the flag. What happened.

Reply
Tomasi
19/7/2017 01:00:48 pm

There is a time for everything under the sun. A time to smile and a time to fear. A time to lie and a time to face the ugliest truth. A time to deceive and plunder and a time to suffer the consequences of our actions. A time to fool and exploit the people and also a time to regret ones own devious actions.

The BaiYum Regime is exceedingly notorious for its ruthless use of force and legalese to destroy any semblance of opposition and peaceful protest. It has used the Fijian military to terrify and paralyse many. It has employed a mix of propaganda and bribery to deceive, confuse and mesmerise people into a deaf, mute and dumb lot. Just as they did in 2014, Baiyum has engineered the election for the overriding goal of maintaining control. It seems that come the next election, the FFP may 'win' again by a landslide ...

However, Baiyum is now put on notice again. There is a time for everything under the sun, including the Fijian one. Whatever we sow, that we shall also reap. 2014 may have judged them with kindness. But in 2018, a different kind of judgement may await the dictators. They have been given far too much time to reflect, and to change. It is about time for them to be given a taste of their own medicine.

Somehow, many can see that the dictators may no longer be as confident as they were in 2014. many people have seen some light and they are no longer as ignorant and as naive and vulnerable. The Baiyum regime has sensed this change, and are taking serious actions. They have old and new tricks, tools and strategies. No doubt, at various times like dashing through the cassava patch, they will be using their bushtrucks from Oz Only this time, there will be no safe house to escape to to get a change. Irrespective of Kalouniwai's public statements to the contrary, the army is also aware of the evil design and plans. The military is not a united and happy lot. The question is whether or not they are prepared to lose their lives and relatives for the two dictators and their group of thugs.

There is a time for everything under the sun. There is a time to talk and plead, and a time to fight. That time is fast approaching.

He is a fool who fights for a cause he can never win, or to give his all to take something he will never keep. Such is the truth of life and only time will reveal secrets once hidden and known only to a selected few.

Reply
Fiji First Party
19/7/2017 10:30:18 pm

The plastered on of the phoniest possible smiles, on faces of this world’s most pitiable IP thieves. Meet Chor sala Aiyaz and Chor Bala Sala. Ha..Ha ! Chor sala CHOR hai and it shows... sorry... shines...

Reply
Refugee
19/7/2017 10:47:22 pm

Interesting how the axed Minister of Finance of the 2006 Coupist Bai, now sees the demarcation date of dismantling of ‘democratic institutions’ as 2009 and not 2006. Any comments? !!!! Chor Chodo..?? We knew not.... sour grapes, Chuthar Choudari.

Reply
Rustam
20/7/2017 01:30:47 am

Promoted to the job by the Emperor like feeding the chucks. Her healthy appearance after visiting her hair salons are in contrast to the appearance of our sick in our hospitals and the situation in the Government Pharmacy. A disgrace. Yet we have a shiny airport terminal for a meagre 700,000 tourist a year. The old terminal was coping, good enough for a small tourist destination. The number of tourists will not increase until ASK, the Emperor stops acting like he owns Fiji Airways and protecting it like he does. Open up the skies to the likes of Emirates, Etihad and Qatar and then we can utilse Emperor's Airport Castle better, with the tourism numbers they will bring. Fiji Airways is screwing the Tourists and the locals alike with their protected fare structure. But fix up the medical services for us first. Pls Your Majesty.

Reply
Daaku
20/7/2017 05:53:07 am

It is sad that no reports are presented by municipal councils. Most of these councils are not doing their job. Recently, one Aktar Ali was appointed as CEO in Nausori Town Council. This men was horrible in Nasinu but bala appointed in as CEO Nausori Town Council because he is brother of Faiyaz Ali who is chumcha of Kaiyum. No wonder bala doesnt want to call for elections in the municipal council. The rot is deepening further and starting to smell like Kinoya Sewerage dump.

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Contact Email
    ​[email protected]
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Archives

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012