NFP Leader questions why FBC & Walesi have been jointly allocated about $150 million of taxpayers funds in the last decade

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad has questioned why the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation and Walesi Limited have been jointly allocated about $150 million of taxpayers funds in grants in the last decade.

During debate on the review of the 2018 Audit Report on Government commercial companies, commercial statutory authorities and other entities, Professor Prasad says FBC and Walesi have been giving their own spin to their so-called objectives and how wonderfully they have performed.

He says Walesi has been granted until the end of this financial year $67 million while FBC has been allocated over $80 million in the last decade.

Professor Prasad adds in this Auditor-General Report reviewed by the Public Accounts Committee, FBC shows a profit of over $4.7 million just because they got $11.3 million in grants from the Government under the guise of public service broadcast fees for television and radio.

He further says this has been treated as revenue or income and not a capital grant.

Professor Prasad told parliament that without it, FBC would have recorded a loss for 2018.

Professor Prasad says there is also Walesi which is a 100% taxpayers owned communications body.

He adds if Walesi's income is in the millions of dollars, why were the financial statements not presented for four years.

The NFP Leader has also questioned the credibility of the Chairman of the Commission of Inquiry into the Auditor General.

Professor Prasad says any government must ensure that the Auditor General's Office remains independent.

There was then heated exchange between Professor Prasad and Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum as Professor Prasad continued to talk about the Commission of Inquiry.

It started with Sayed-Khaiyum raising a point of order.

As Professor Prasad continued speaking, there was further heated exchange.

This resulted in Sayed-Khaiyum saying "you watch it" and Professor Prasad replied with "don't threaten".

Speaker of Parliament Ratu Epeli Nailatikau then asked Professor Prasad to stick to the contents of the report.

Professor Prasad went on to say that if the Fiji Sugar Corporation and Fiji Ports Corporation can present their report to parliament, why can't Fiji Airways do the same.

He says this is a contradiction.

Professor Prasad adds what law prevents Fiji Airways from presenting its reports to parliament.

In his right of reply, Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted that SODELPA MP Niko Nawaikula did not disclose to parliament that he has a case against FBC.

He says perhaps this is why Nawaikula went on a diatribe against FBC.

The Acting Prime Minister says prior to 2007, FBC was also given grants and also treated it as revenue and also made losses.

He adds that at one point in time, CFL was given the public service broadcasting license and they could only retain it for one year and it went back to FBC.

Sayed-Khaiyum then read out notes from the Permanent Secretary for Economy and his team at Treasury.

He says they have highlighted why they have huge issues with the Auditor General.

Sayed-Khaiyum adds there have been major delays in the finalization of audit reports of government agencies.

He says they were concerned that the Auditor General has always allowed things to be politicized and does not come out to clarify misrepresentation in the media.

He also took a swipe at CFL News Director, Vijay Narayan.

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We always stand for balance, fairness and accuracy.

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