We must have the political will and I must admit we have that in Fiji.
Professor Syed Ahsanul Alam from Bangladesh said – “Corruption all its
shades and color is the illegal tool of accumulating illegal wealth and in turn
creates inequality and social injustice.
Written By : MAIKA BOLATIKI. Corruption is a problem that all
countries, have to confront. However, solution can only be home grown.
Corruption is anti-national, anti-economic development and anti-poor.
In
confront.
However, solution can only be home grown. Corruption is anti-national, anti-economic development and anti-poor.
In a very simple definition, corruption literally is snatching food from the mouth of the poor people. If corruption is
anti-poor, anti-economic development and anti-national, why does it flourish?` When Prime Minister Commodore
Voreqe Bainimarama was sworn into office, he made an assurance to the public that he’s going to eradicate corruption
from government. We must remember that corruption is the oxygen for black money; black money is the oxygen for
corruption. Now it is time for the Commodore Bainimarama’s-led government to begin its clean up. In fact it has
begun to tackle many of the pressing issues facing the country in addition to corruption. These relate to land, civil
service reforms, sugar industry reforms, poverty alleviation, rural and outer islands development, reviving agriculture
and maintenance of law and order.
In a statement to the nation as he reviewed his government’s one month in office he said:
“These are ‘bread and butter issues’ which were too politicised before with vested political interested.
“We will address these issues based on wide ranging consultations and in a constructive manner. “
Commodore Bainimarama said the interest of the nation and ordinary people is paramount consideration in whatever
solution is found for each case.
In his address while declaring Rakiraki as town, the Prime Minister again stressed his government’s move to eradicate
corruption.
To make government’s work a lot easier, he has called on the people to report any corrupt practices they know of or
come across.
Also the Independent Commission against Corruption is gaining in roads in its investigation on cases of corruption
reported to its office. Corruption is very costly. Quantifying all forms of corruption here in Fiji is, however, difficult
partly because the perpetrators work so hard to evade detection.
Here in Fiji, it is huge – in the vicinity of hundreds of thousands of dollars.
According to a report from the World Bank Institute (WBI), more than $1 trillion dollars (US$1,000 billion) is paid in
bribes each year. Institute’s director for governance, Daniel Kaufmann says this figure is an estimate of actual bribes
paid worldwide in both rich and developing countries.
“It is important to emphasize that this is not simply a developing country’s problem,” Mr Kaufmann said.
Fighting corruption, he says, is a global challenge. It is extremely difficult to assess the extent of worldwide
embezzlement of public funds. Transparency International estimates that former Indonesian leader Suharto embezzled
anywhere between $15 –– 35 billion from his country, while Ferdinand Marcos, in the Philippines Mobuto in Zaire
and Abacha in Nigeria may have embezzled up to $5 billion each. It is a fact that Fiji will be bankrupt if this size of
corruption happens here. The move to tackle corruption should be supported because it can provide a major boost to
our economy. To stop corruption, or at least slow it, we must punish the corrupt. FICAC, to be successful, must be
able to identify those who are engaged in corruption and ensure that they are exposed and punished. Something that is
also very important to this unit is information. Government policies that are transparent are much less susceptible to
corruption, and public access to information can help to ensure that corruption finds no soil in which to take root.
Let us work together with the unit to totally root out corruption, something that has constrained growth in our beloved
country for decades.
It is a fact that anti-corruption efforts cannot succeed only by actions of a few government agencies. Civil society, the
media, parliament, judiciary and the private sector must be involved in a participatory way, with full voice and
empowerment
We have to support Commodore Bainimarama’s stand against corruption
Surely we now have a government that has the will to wipe out corruption.
The fight against corruption by the Prime Minister and his government is clearly in the best interest of the future of
this country.
Mr Haguette Labelle, chaired the Transparency International and anti-corruption workshop in Singapore in September
of 2007 where he said –– “Fighting corruption is not an end itself, rather it is a critical path to providing opportunity,
to securing health, education, sanitation and basic services for the poor and strengthening prospects for economic
growth.
Anti-corruption programmes need to be integrated fully into development strategies.
They need to involve the building of partnerships between civil society, the private sector, parliaments and catalytical
roles in this context.”
No one supports corruption
Let’s be reminded that corruption can be found in all countries but is particularly widespread in states where the legal
system, mass media and the public administration are weak and undeveloped.
We must be mindful of the fact that there is no single solution to fighting corruption.
We must have the political will and I must admit we have that in Fiji.
Professor Syed Ahsanul Alam from Bangladesh said – “Corruption all its shades and color is the illegal tool of
accumulating illegal wealth and in turn creates inequality and social injustice.
Corruption destroys social order, rule of law and all good governance efforts. Corruption and the corrupts are the
enemies of the people and the society in any country.
That is why fighting corruption and installing honesty is a pre condition for good governance for ensuring human
rights, human dignity, equality and social justice and better business environment.”
Surely Prof Alamhas brought up a very good point about installing honesty as a precondition in fighting corruption.
Corruption is a problem that takes the country backwards and does not permit the poor and the needy to get their due.
The sooner this is realised by those who matter, the better Realistically, it needs support from the pubic and the true
dedication and faithfulness of the investigators.
With commitment and political will there is a chance to succeed.
We must be reminded that making war against corruption is a big challenge nowadays, but it is a fact that we can do it.
Prime Minister Indira Gandhi said that corruption is a global phenomenon. So it is not possible to eradicate corruption.
Prime Minister Shri Deve Gowda said corruption is like diabetes. It can be controlled but cannot be eradicated.
However, Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama firmly believes that corruption can be eradicated.
Let us all hope that Fiji will one day be a clean society.