The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has urged all Fijians to fight the evil known as corruption.
FICAC manager Investigations Uwate Biutanaseva made the comment last week in Lautoka at a function to mark International Anti-Corruption Day (IACD).
He said corruption comes in many forms, including bribery, embezzlement, abuse of office and money laundering.
“Every Fijian must unite to fight corruption, it is imperative to share information, best practices and knowledge at national level to assist in preventing corruption.
“Fighting corruption is the key to addressing the world’s most persistent problem because it is a corrosive force and hits the poor and the vulnerable hardest.”
Mr Biutanaseva said the effects of corruption were very real, and that “it stops medicines from reaching the sick, stops schools from being built, leads to roads washing away during rain and empties the public coffers”.
“Undetected and unchanged, corruption in the public sector can cause serious damage, including undermining public trust in government, wastage of public resources.
“It is imperative that we all work together as citizens of our beloved country to stop this evil from destroying our community.”
