Fiji Struggles to Combat Corruption as Anti-Bribery and Corruption Regulations Falter

Despite being a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC), Fiji has been plagued by corruption issues in recent years. The country’s main anti-corruption agency, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), was established in 2007 but its effectiveness has been questioned.

Challenges Facing FICAC

• Leadership controversies: FICAC’s first Commissioner, Rashmi Aslam, resigned in September this year.
• Acting Commissioner Ratu David Toganivalu died just days later, leaving the position of Commissioner vacant.
• Critics have questioned the effectiveness of FICAC’s efforts to combat corruption due to a lack of resources and political support.

Inadequacies in Investigating and Prosecuting Cases

• Slow pace in investigating and prosecuting cases of corruption.
• In 2012, Fiji fell short in its efforts to combat corruption during a peer review process with Bangladesh and the United States of America.

Efforts to Educate the Public and Combat Corruption

• FICAC’s online resource centre, FACE, provides access to anti-corruption information and education materials.
• Templates for organizations to develop internal controls to prevent corruption are available through the centre.
• A system for reporting suspected corrupt activity has been established, allowing individuals to lodge complaints online.

Conclusion

Fiji’s efforts to combat corruption remain plagued by controversy and inefficiency. While the country has taken steps to establish anti-corruption regulations, more needs to be done to ensure that these regulations are effective in practice. The effectiveness of FICAC’s efforts will depend on its ability to overcome the challenges it faces and implement meaningful reforms.