More than $148,000 from the Taiwan Grant Trust Fund held by the Office of the Prime Minister was used in 2024 to support overseas training for Fiji Police Personal Protective Officers, according to the latest Auditor-General’s report.
Police Personal Protective Officers are deployed to provide security for the Prime Minister.
The report on the General Administration Sector states that $148,389 was allocated for Fiji Police PPO overseas training during the financial year ending July 31, 2024.
The Taiwan Grant Trust Fund is used to manage grants provided by the Taiwanese Government to Fiji through bilateral agreements.
According to the report, the funds are typically directed toward projects endorsed by the Prime Minister following community requests assessed on the basis of need and priority.
The projects generally support areas including education, integrated village and settlement developments, youth programs, women’s initiatives and minority group development that are not funded through the national budget.
The Auditor-General’s report revealed the trust fund recorded total receipts of only $2,015 in 2024, a sharp decline from $75,402 in 2023.
The reduction was largely attributed to the absence of new Taiwan grant assistance during the reporting year.
However, total payments from the fund reached $259,416 in 2024.
Alongside the Fiji Police PPO overseas training allocation, the fund also provided $64,581 to Weightlifting Fiji and $46,410 to Touch Rugby Fiji.
Bank charges accounted for an additional $36 in expenditure.
The report showed the trust fund recorded a net deficit of $257,401 for the year, reducing the closing balance from $463,576 in 2023 to $206,175 by July 31, 2024.
The Auditor-General noted that assistance provided to Fiji Police PPO overseas training and the two sporting organisations made up the major payments from the fund during the reporting period.
