The Leader of People's Alliance Sitiveni Rabuka says the decision to institute a Commission of Inquiry into the Auditor General’s Office is an affront to democracy and a direct threat to the mandate of the people to have independent offices check the conduct of government, particularly in the process and usage of public funds.
Rabuka says this must be strongly condemned as he claims the FijiFirst Government hides behind the Office of the President to carry out its dirty work.
Rabuka says it shows a government that has no discipline and is dictatorial beyond measure.
He also says that anyone that highlights government shortcomings is shut down or muzzled.
Rabuka says this government talks a big game but cannot back it up with its actions.
He says they continue to talk about transparency, but the Auditor General continues to identify a litany of issues of wastage and abuse of public funds and nothing is done and the Lautoka Swimming pool and Water Authority Digger scam are perfect examples.
Rabuka further says that if the Prime Minister and his Minister of Economy cannot take the heat, they should get out of the kitchen and leave and people cannot be fooled any longer.
He says it is time for a change in government to one that respects the independence of public offices such as those of the Auditor General.
Rabuka adds that the Office of the Auditor General is independent and reports to the People’s House.
He also says that the people have not called out for an inquiry and there is just no reason why the Auditor General needed this inquiry now.
He says the other concern of the Party is that 2022 is an election year and that any reports which the Auditor General needs to table is important in terms of accountability and transparency.
Rabuka adds that the way the Terms of Reference are drafted, it means the Auditor General will be caught up in this investigation process which will inhibit progress on his reports to Parliament and when scrutiny on the government’s use of public funds is very important, the Auditor General’s Office will be muzzled.
He says they also wonder if the blocking move against the Auditor General’s Office from auditing Energy Fiji Limited without proper explanation, was preempting this drastic step by the Fiji Government.
We have sent questions to the Attorney General and Minister of Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the Office of the President.
They are yet to respond.
The Office of the Auditor-General says it is rather unfortunate that public statements have been released to publicly denigrate their reputation.
This is after Walesi Fiji Limited stated that they have submitted all their financial reports until 2020 to the Office of the Auditor-General who unfortunately has continued to delay auditing and finalizing their financial accounts for every year since 2015.
The Office of the Auditor-General says they are also concerned about the selective publishing of information concerning annual audits.
A statement says the Auditor General will not respond directly and publicly to various allegations contained in these statements.
It says the Auditor-General and the Office of the Auditor-General are bound by section 8 of the Audit Act 1969 concerning secrecy and the confidentiality aspects of the auditor–client relationship governing the audit profession.
The statement further says the Office of the Auditor-General will not release any information, not yet publicly available, concerning any audit client, except in the Auditor-General’s Reports to Parliament.
It says the Office of the Auditor-General accepts that it currently has the enormous challenge and responsibility of auditing backlog draft financial statements which were not submitted annually over several years within the resources that it has been allocated.
The statement further says that the Office of the Auditor-General will continue to work with these State entities to ensure that audits of financial statements are updated.
It adds the Auditor-General and the Office of the Auditor-General will continue to diligently deliver its responsibilities as mandated by the 2013 Constitution and Audit Act 1969.
In a statement last week, Walesi stated that their financial reports from 2015 to 2017 have been audited by the Auditor General and have already been tabled as part of the Auditor General's report in Parliament which is also easily accessible online.
It says they had also submitted their 2018, 2019, and 2020 financial reports for auditing to the Auditor General's office and are waiting for them to finish the audit.
Walesi says they queried with the Auditor General multiple times in writing on the reason for the massive delays.
It adds that despite being the cause of the delays, the Auditor General in its 2020 report phrased the write-up about Walesi in a manner that made it seem like Walesi was causing the delay.
A Commission of Inquiry will be conducted into the Office of the Auditor-General and the findings are expected to be submitted within three months to the President.
Three people have been appointed by President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere as Commissioners to conduct the inquiry.
They are former USP Pro-Chancellor Winston Thompson, Chairperson of the FRCS Board Fay Yee and Accountant Lala Sowane.
Thompson has been appointed as the chairperson of the Commission.
A statement on the Fijian Government Facebook page says the Commissioners are expected to inquire into and report on several things.
These include the conduct, operations and performance of the Office of the Auditor-General and the capacity of the Office of the Auditor-General to carry out its functions and duties effectively and efficiently under the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, the Audit Act 1969 and any other written law.
It also includes whether the Office of the Auditor-General is carrying out its functions and duties and exercising its powers in accordance with the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji, the Audit Act 1969 and any other written law.
The inquiry will also seek to find out if the Office of the Auditor-General is acting within the scope of its constitutional and legislative powers, duties and functions.
They will also try to find out whether the Office of the Auditor-General is carrying out its functions and duties in accordance with internationally accepted audit procedures and requirements.
The Commissioners have also been directed to make recommendations to eliminate and prevent any unlawful, improper, ineffective or inefficient practices in the Office of the Auditor-General.
We have sent questions to the Office of the President and the Office of the Auditor General.
Stay tuned for the latest news on our radio stations
