President awaits advice from PM on publication and implementation of the COI recommendations

President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has today confirmed that he will await and be guided by advice from Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka on the publication of the Commission of Inquiry report into the appointment of FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali and the work of FICAC, and implementation of the COI’s recommendations.

The COI will present their final report to the Prime Minister today, as required by the COI Terms of Reference.

The Commission of Inquiry’s Terms of Reference issued in October 2024 include examining whether due process was followed in the appointment, whether there was any breach of legal or ethical standards, and the impact of any such issues on the work and reputation of FICAC.

Under the Constitution, the FICAC Commissioner is appointed by the President on the advice of the Judicial Services Commission.

The Commission of Inquiry has handed over their final report to the President.

The handover formally took place at State House, where the Sole Commissioner, Justice David Ashton-Lewis, accompanied by the Commission’s Counsel Assisting, Janet Mason, a senior legal practitioner from New Zealand, tabled their final report to the President.

While accepting the report, President Lalabalavu conveyed his sincere gratitude to Justice Ashton-Lewis and Mason for their commitment and diligence throughout the inquiry process and thanked them for the compilation of the report and careful formulation of the recommendations made in the report. The President says the Commission's terms of reference require it to make recommendations to improve transparency, accountability, and public trust in State institutions, in this case, in FICAC.

We have sought comments from Prime Minister Rabuka on the next step. He is yet to respond.