THE director of the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS), Vani Catanasiga says Government leaders need to be more open with citizens and willing to accept criticism if they want to improve governance and public trust.
Speaking during an interview on The Fiji Times’ online portal The Lens@177, Ms Catanasiga said she believed the Government had struggled to be fully transparent with Fijians.
“I think they’ve struggled to be honest,” she said.
“I’m not sure what it is that constrains them in terms of their honesty and their integrity. It is really agonizing to watch them struggle to be honest.”
Despite her criticism, Ms Catanasiga said greater openness would ultimately strengthen both leaders and the public.
“It is agonizing but it is quite freeing and I invite them to do a lot more of that.
“Because it then gives citizens the ability to say, OK, maybe they will need help with this.”
She said leaders should not fear criticism and instead see it as an opportunity for improvement.
“Yes, leaders must be ready to be told off by their citizens. You can only get better from there.
“But I don’t think leaders have demonstrated that they are ready to receive feedback that way.”
Drawing on FCOSS’s own experience, she said accountability and regular feedback had helped the organisation remain focused on the people it serves.
“We will be receiving feedback next week,” she said of the organisation’s upcoming annual general meeting.
“But it has helped us to remember who we serve. It has helped us to remember why we exist, why FCOSS has existed for almost 70 years.
“I would invite the Government to go on that journey. It’s a very empowering journey. Very freeing too.”
