The Acting Commissioner of Corrections, Sevuloni Naucukidi, has raised serious concerns regarding the conduct of suspended Commissioner Dr. Jalesi Nakarawa during a tribunal hearing. Naucukidi accused Dr. Nakarawa of neglecting established protocols while attempting to implement changes within the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS). The tribunal is addressing serious allegations against Dr. Nakarawa, which include conflicts of interest, financial mismanagement, and misconduct related to his office.
Leading the tribunal is Justice Daniel Goundar, accompanied by Justices Savenaca Banuve and Dane Tuiqereqere. They are tasked with determining the validity of the claims made against Dr. Nakarawa, focusing on whether his actions warrant his removal from office.
Naucukidi’s testimony indicated that Dr. Nakarawa’s creation of the Nurse Practitioner role and the hiring of his wife, Vakaloloma Nakarawa, for the position was inappropriate. He criticized Dr. Nakarawa for making significant changes, including renaming the Deputy Commissioner position to Assistant Commissioner, without conferring with the Ministry of Justice.
Further revelations indicated that a job evaluation committee initiated by Dr. Nakarawa excluded Naucukidi from its processes. Under cross-examination by Dr. Nakarawa’s legal representative, Simione Valenitabua, Naucukidi was asked about his current powers, particularly regarding the ability to terminate employees without cause.
Additionally, allegations surfaced that Dr. Nakarawa had dismissed Dr. Rayvan Singh from the Senior Medical Officer position without justification or proper procedure, with claims suggesting that personal motives were involved, particularly in favor of his wife’s interests. Naucukidi admitted that while Dr. Singh had inconsistencies in his duties, he would have preferred an explanation for his absences before any termination.
On a critical day when Mrs. Nakarawa was cleared of corruption allegations by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), it was revealed that Naucukidi terminated her contract without adhering to proper termination procedures or allowing a fair hearing. Under questioning from Justice Tuiqereqere, Naucukidi conceded that he did not afford Mrs. Nakarawa the opportunity for natural justice in the termination process.
Testimony from Selina Kuruleca, the Permanent Secretary for Justice, emphasized that Dr. Nakarawa did not have the authority to change a cabinet-approved job evaluation process unilaterally. This lack of authority raised flags regarding transparency and potential bias, especially since relatives were involved in the hiring process.
As these tribunal proceedings continue to unfold, they highlight pressing issues of governance, ethics, and accountability within the FCS. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has indicated that the outcomes of these discussions will be carefully examined in future discussions concerning ethical standards in public service.
This inquiry represents a crucial moment for potential reform within Fiji’s corrections system. It provides an opportunity to enhance the transparency of recruitment processes and to bolster public trust in government institutions. The developments from the tribunal may not only address the individual cases at hand but also tackle systemic concerns regarding integrity and governance within the FCS, fostering hope for meaningful changes and a stronger culture of accountability in Fiji.