Fiji Sports Council CEO, Gilbert Vakalalabure (photo: Higher Education Commission Fiji) and Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru
Questions are now being asked on when the independent investigations will commence against the Minister for Youth and Sports, Jese Saukuru and Fiji Sports Council CEO, Gilbert Vakalalabure after the Prime Minister's announcement last Friday.
fijivillage News has received information that the Fiji Sports Council Board met last week, and they decided that an independent investigator be appointed to look into the serious allegations against Vakalalabure.
This was then relayed to Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka.
No announcement has been made on the independent investigators and both Vakalalabure and Saukuru remain in their offices.
We have sent questions to the Prime Minister on what is the process going forward, when will independent investigators be appointed, who will appoint them, how will this be done and will Saukuru and Vakalalabure remain in office as there can be a risk of tampering with any files or evidence.
It was earlier highlighted that for the Fiji Sports Council, the issues mainly deal with alleged conflict of interest and decisions being made without the Board's approval.
The whistleblower who is a former staff member maintains many decisions being made were not approved by the Board.
This included business class travel under the Sports Council contra deal with Fiji Airways for Vakalalabure, his wife, the Sports Minister, Jese Saukuru and his wife's travel without the Sports Council's Board approval.
This contra deal was for the Sports Council.
It has also come to light that the Sports Council's grassroots 7s tournaments which cost a lot of money was being organised without the Council's Board approval, and the team going to NZ for a tournament there last year, also did not have Board approval.
The Board meeting was called after some members requested that a meeting should be held to look into these serious issues.
Questions are also being raised on whether the government is seriously looking into these code of conduct and conflict of interest related issues.
Saukuru has not made any comments to fijivillage News after initially confirming to us that he and his wife travelled in business class under the Fiji Airways and Sports Council contra agreement.
Saukuru says he is willing to pay back the money for his wife's travel.
Stay with us for developments.
