The Fijian government is moving forward with plans to dismantle the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), as confirmed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. Addressing the community at Drano Village in Cakaudrove, Vanua Levu, Mr. Rabuka stated that legislative and constitutional reforms aimed at abolishing the anti-corruption body are currently underway.
Mr. Rabuka emphasized that existing investigative entities within the government, such as the police force, are sufficient to manage tasks previously handled by FICAC. He mentioned that the Police Prosecution Division and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions are equipped to assume these responsibilities, suggesting that the dual structure of investigative and prosecuting arms is unnecessary.
According to Mr. Rabuka, failing to proceed with these reforms would maintain what he called a “bad decision made by the previous government.” He outlined that the first steps involve amending the FICAC Act and revising relevant sections of the Constitution. The Prime Minister assured that the proposed changes would be introduced to Parliament in the near future.
These proposed reforms reflect a significant shift in the government’s approach to handling corruption, with an emphasis on consolidating investigative functions within existing state bodies. This move may spark discussions about the future of anti-corruption efforts in Fiji and the effectiveness of the current systems in place.