Week 1 of the Terms of Reference of the investigation is the contra deals with Fiji Airways and others, the Fiji Sports Council U20's Rugby 7's Hamilton Trip, the Sports Council U20's Sevens Team and Council Sponsored Sports Tournaments and the restructure of operations and staffing including pay rises.
Week 2 of the investigation includes the appointment as Executive Chairman of Gilbert Vakalalabure indefinitely, CEO Appointment, driver overtime for private use, staff engagement, contracts and tender processes, and motor vehicles.
Week 3 of the investigation include alleged rampant mismanagement and unauthorised expenses, response to Board resolution, staff concerns and reported breaches of policy and or law, agreement with Infinite Power Clean Energy Ltd, SportsWorx Agreement – Brett Jenkins and Pacific Procurement Management and Investment Services.
The investigations include several issues of actions and decisions taken without Board approval, issues like the concerning substandard work done on the HFC Stadium tracks a few years ago and Vakalalabure and the failed $115 million Infinite Power Clean Energy (Fiji) Ple Limited wind turbine plan.
Public Service Commission Chair Luke Rokovada had earlier said that an investigation was commissioned by PSC following reports about the deal that was entered into by the Fiji Sports Council through the Executive Chair, Gilbert Vakalalabure and the Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry through the Permanent Secretary.
Rokovada had said the Fiji Sports Council had entered the agreement without any knowledge of the Permanent Secretary of Sports and the Board of the Sports Council.
Several questions have been raised on whether the Fiji Sports Council Executive Chair was investigated regarding the wind turbine scandal.
When we had asked the Acting FICAC Commissioner, Lavi Rokoika, she said she could not reveal anything on whether Vakalalabure was under investigation.
She also did not comment when asked on how she was dealing with matters arising where the allegations are against Gilbert Vakalalabre, who is her brother in law.
Meanwhile fijivillage News had earlier highlighted about questions raised from within the Ministry of Sports and the Fiji Sports Council about the risk of potential evidence tampering as the CEO of Fiji Sports Council, Gilbert Vakalalabure remained in office after the announcement by the Prime Minister late last month that independent investigations will be conducted.
The issues mainly deal with alleged conflict of interest and decisions being made without the Sports Council Board's approval.
A whistleblower who is a former staff member of the Fiji Sports Council maintains many decisions being made were not approved by the Board which 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.
We had earlier contacted Vakalalabure. He is yet to comment.
Stay with us for developments.
