Spotlight on FICAC

2020 US REPORT ON HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES IN FIJI

THE United States Department of State claims some high profile Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) prosecutions could be viewed as politically motivated. In its 2020 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Fiji, the US State Department said Fijian law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials but Government did not implement the law effectively. Questions sent to Attorney-General Aiyaz SayedKhaiyum and Acting A-G Faiyaz Koya on the statements contained in the report remain unanwswered.

NEWLY-APPOINTED Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) general secretary Lenaitasi Duru said the main focus of the party now was to win the next general election.

He made the comment yesterday after party leader Viliame Gavoka announced his appointment.

Mr Duru succeeds Emele Duituturaga who resigned a month ago.

“It’s a big shoe to fill after the former general secretary Duituturaga resigned from the role last month due to family commitments,” he said.

“We are moving forward together as a team, our main objective for the next few months is to win the next general elections in 2022. We have mapped a way forward of how to win the next general elections. We have drawn up a budget on how much we will need to raise for our campaigns.”

Mr Duru holds a masters in Business Administration from the University of the South Pacific. Filipe Qio was appointed assistant general secretary.