Call for anti corruption office

A smoke signaller writes: “With all the letters and headlines about alleged corruption, there should be a separate office dealing with corruption and unusual practices by officials and members of Parliament, even ministers, similar to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. Our police and audit people are too busy doing their own work. I agree with Big Norm [George, Atiu MP] that the prime minister should start an inquiry. But we all know he won’t do it – he’s never here anyway. The places to start with are the Ministry of Marine Resources and the Business Trade Investment Board for fishing licences, business and permits; the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning for contracts and big projects; and also include overseas travel, perks and under-the-table deals. All this mess shows we have no leadership and a weak prime minister who doesn’t give a hoot about what’s happening at home as he’s on a plane every week, enjoying himself. Thank you Reuben Tylor for your good letters – keep it up.” SS: The World Bank defines corruption as “the abuse of public power for private gain. Bribery, misappropriations of public goods, nepotism (favouring family members for jobs and contracts), and influencing the formulation of laws or regulations for private gain are common examples of corruption.” DANGER: ROAD HUMPS “For goodness sake, do something about the side road next to the HaRTaL Shop in Tupapa,” a smoke signaller texts to 188. “It’s pitted with holes, has no gravel, nor is it sealed. Just as I began to think it could not get any worse, I was almost at the top of the road when suddenly there were two humps and a big dip between, caused by erosion. By then it was too late to turn around and I kept going but almost could not make it over one of the humps to get to the back road. The road is not only a danger it is also a disgrace.”

A smoke signaller writes: “With all the letters and headlines about alleged corruption, there should be a separate office dealing with corruption and unusual practices by officials and members of Parliament, even ministers, similar to the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption. Our police and audit people are too busy doing their own work. I agree with Big Norm [George, Atiu MP] that the prime minister should start an inquiry. But we all know he won’t do it – he’s never here anyway. The places to start with are the Ministry of Marine Resources and the Business Trade Investment Board for fishing licences, business and permits; the Ministry of Infrastructure and Planning for contracts and big projects; and also include overseas travel, perks and under-the-table deals. All this mess shows we have no leadership and a weak prime minister who doesn’t give a hoot about what’s happening at home as he’s on a plane every week, enjoying himself. Thank you Reuben Tylor for your good letters – keep it up.” SS: The World Bank defines corruption as “the abuse of public power for private gain. Bribery, misappropriations of public goods, nepotism (favouring family members for jobs and contracts), and influencing the formulation of laws or regulations for private gain are common examples of corruption.” DANGER: ROAD HUMPS “For goodness sake, do something about the side road next to the HaRTaL Shop in Tupapa,” a smoke signaller texts to 188. “It’s pitted with holes, has no gravel, nor is it sealed. Just as I began to think it could not get any worse, I was almost at the top of the road when suddenly there were two humps and a big dip between, caused by erosion. By then it was too late to turn around and I kept going but almost could not make it over one of the humps to get to the back road. The road is not only a danger it is also a disgrace.”