FOR TRANSPARENCY THE 8 MPS SHOULD STEP ASIDE
After months of speculation, we are finally able to release the names of the eight Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) Members of Parliament who are being investigated by the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC).
They are:
1. Party’s former general secretary Adi Litia Qionibaravi
2. Party’s former president Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu
3. Mosese Bulitavu
4. Simione Rasova
5. Ratu Suliano Matanitobua
6. Salote Radrodro
7. Aseri Radrodro
8. Peceli Vosanibola
The lone FijiFirst Member of Parliament also investigated by FICAC
What is it that these MPs are alleged to have done? Where did the complaint stem from?
Secretary-General to Parliament Viniana Namosimalua lodged a complaint with FICAC in May. She alleged that some MPs were claiming more allowances then they were entitled to.
What does the law say?
The law, which is the focus of this investigation, is the Parliamentary Renumerations Act, specifically Part B, which deals with allowances.
This says that Members of Parliament including Deputy Speaker, Government/Opposition Whip and Leader of Government in Parliament and excluding the Prime Minister, Ministers, Speaker and the Leader of Opposition are entitled to:
1. Accommodation allowance – for meetings of Parliament or Committee, if the member permanently resides at any place more than 30 kilometres away from the place of meeting of Parliament or Committee, then the member shall be entitled to an allowance of $350 per day plus $30 per meal.
2. Travelling allowance – for meetings of Parliament or Committee, if the member permanently resides at any place more than 30 kilometres away from place of meeting of Parliament or Committee, then the member shall be entitled to cost of travel by the most direct route to and from the meeting. Allowances in respect to motor vehicles shall be payable up to the following rates –
a. Vehicles of up to and equal to 2000 cc – 50 cents per kilometre; and
b. Vehicles of 2001 cc or over – 60 cents per kilometre
3. Committee Sitting Allowance – for committee sittings on days other than the sitting of Parliament, the member shall be entitled to an allowance of $200 per day
Hypothetical scenarios:
The law clearly specifies the word permanently resides. This is what FICAC is working hard to establish and looks like they have got a strong case. Some MPs were alleged to have been living at their city residences on most days but a day or two before a committee sitting or before Parliament sits, they allegedly go back to their village or island only to fly back or drive back for the sitting to claim these allowances.
Charges against the MPs may be laid in coming days, but whether charges are laid against all nine MPs are yet to be seen.
What will the political parties do?
These are very serious allegations and once charges are laid, the two political parties need to do more than rely on the presumption of innocence. All these MPs should step aside as investigations continue and once charges are laid.
This is important because the main complainant in the matter is the Secretary-General to Parliament Ms Namosimalua. She will be put in a very awkward position when Parliament and committees sit. She could easily come under duress having to face these MPs almost on a daily basis. Then of course there would be other Parliament staff who would be witnesses in this matter.
Shouldn’t the witnesses be protected? Having these parliamentarians in the parliamentary premises daily influence the witnesses? Would it not perhaps turn the witnesses hostile when the matter reaches court? We have often seen that in overseas countries when a public official is accused of such crimes, he or she resigns from office. When they win their case, they are welcomed back with open arms. When they lose their case, they of course end up spending time in prison.
This brings us to a bigger issue; eight out of SODELPA’s 21 MPs are implicated in this matter, including their former general-secretary. What does this say about the main Opposition Party? It seems to be embroiled in one controversy after another.
For transparency, all MPs being investigated in this matter need to hand in their resignation. We cannot have such grave allegations hanging over their heads.