The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) was given a government funding of $120million in 17 years.
Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo said this was how much the “public purse” had gone to the operation and the capital expenses of the orgainisation.
“It goes towards what people’s expectation will be because while spending the public purse the confidence level the people have and this Parliament, obviously, will have to give to this organisation is going to be dependent on the level of independence that it is able to exude and show to the people of Fiji,” said Mr Vosarogo.
He said the funding had also ensured the institution remained independent and the current commissioner free to decide without fear of repercussions.
“The level of independence that this Government has now shown and given to FICAC, to provide the environment for FICAC, especially for the deputy commissioner, to do her job and do her job very well, and not to be placed in a position where she feels that the role that she plays and the work that she does is going to face any form of repercussion if she decides on cases.
“That is entirely the work that is allocated to her and we were assured by the honourable Attorney-General this (yesterday) morning that her work is going to be independently operated by her and her alone.”
