Former journalist Charlie Charters has questioned Fiji’s anti-corruption framework, saying the country cannot claim to fight corruption without a whistleblower protection policy.
Speaking to media after his court appearance yesterday, Charters said while he was treated “fairly” and “professionally” by officers, he had serious concerns about how public resources were being used.
“I have very large questions as to, is this a useful resource, a piece of taxpayer resources, to chase after people,” he said.
Mr Charters, who was offloaded from a flight last week and later charged, said there was “no whistleblower policy in Fiji”.
“So, what does a whistleblower do in Fiji? And I think that’s a major issue that we collectively need to look at.” He suggested that without protections, people who raise concerns risk being silenced.
“That doesn’t make Fiji a better, safer place. It doesn’t make our country more free or more safe from the threat of corruption. He said the situation had been “very distressed”, adding he was looking forward to contacting his 93-year-old mother and his four children. “I’m going to take my leave, go home, have a shower, have something to eat,” he said.
Charters said he had “absolutely no complaints” about how he was treated operationally but maintained that broader questions about whistleblower protections and the fight against corruption needed urgent national discussion.
