Anti-corruption in Fiji

This article discusses the anti-corruption measures taken by the Fiji government and the progress made towards fighting corruption. It also suggests ways in which the international community can encourage Fiji to fight corruption.

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Anti-corruption in Fiji 1
Worth noting is the fact that the Fiji government has criminalized corruption activities and
provided penalties for the same in some of its statutory legislative instruments. Fundamentally,
the Fiji independent commission against corruption Act of 2007 has been instrumental in the
fight against corruption. Specifically, the Crimes Decree (2009) outlaws bribery. There is
political will on the part of the Fiji government in fighting corruption. Alongside the Crimes
Decree, Fiji has implemented prevention of Bribery promulgation (2007). Basically, these two
pieces of legislature seek to discourage and penalize public officers from being engaging in
bribery related activities. Essentially, Fiji has criminalized active and passive acts of bribery
(Transparency International 2013). Also, the amended proceeds of crime (Amendment) Act of
2004, provides penalties for crime proceeds and dictates the ways and steps in which such
proceeds and benefits can be recovered as an anti-corruption measure( O.E.C.D. N. d). Overall,
Fiji is living up to its obligations under the UN Convention against corruption.
Noteworthy, Fiji is part of the United Nations Convention against corruption (UNDP
2011). As part of its obligations under the convention, Fiji has implemented various domestic
laws to curb corruption. As part of its undertaking under the UN convention. Worth noting the
UN convention against corruption is sometimes known as the Merida convention. Alongside the
convention, Fiji is part of the Anti-corruption Initiative for Asia and the Pacific (O.E.C.D N. d).
Undoubtedly, Fiji is making steps towards honoring the United Nations Convention against
corruption obligations through the implementation of various domestic laws and institutions.
Noteworthy, Fiji has enacted several legislative pieces such as the Crimes Decree 2009, Fiji
independent commission against corruption 2007, Bail Act of 2002, Sentencing, penalties Decree
2009, State service decree among others(UNDP 2011). Besides, legislative pieces, the Fiji

Anti-corruption in Fiji 2
government has made timely and adequate budgetary allocations for the FICAC to carry out its
mandate of fighting against corruption.
Notably, is the fact that Fiji became a member of the convention on 14th May 2008.
Unfortunately, Fiji lacks a single document which adopts all the provisions of the convention
into domestic law thus there are fragmented pieces of legislation touching on the convention
(Transparency international 2013). In addition, the fact that the Fiji government has established a
public body (FICAC) to deal with corruption incidents is proof of its commitment to the
convention. Primarily, the Fiji government created the Fiji Independent Commission against
corruption body as the key institution in the fight against corruption in the public sector (Passas
2010). The commission was founded in the year 2007. However, there have been complaints as
to the effectiveness of the commission to handle corruption cases due to the fact that it is only
able to handle 5 percent of the cases annually (Graue 2018). However, the prosecution of high
profile persons engaging in corruption is a good trend towards winning the war on corruption in
Fiji. Despite the successes of the FICAC, there is much to be done to reduce the backlogging of
cases.
Fiji’s implementation of the Anti-corruption action plan for Asia and the Pacific has
enabled it to fight corruption in the public service. Particularly, Fiji has implemented Public
service Act, Fiji island revenue and customs authority contain some of these provisions and
disciplinary steps in the event that corruption activities are committed in the public service
(O.E.C.D. N.d). Additionally, the fact that the Fiji government provides budgetary allocations to
the independent commission goes a long way to show its commitment towards fighting the vice
(Fiji independent commission against corruption 2015). Also, the fact that the Fiji government
has established enforcement officials, such as judges, the police service towards the

Anti-corruption in Fiji 3
implementation of anti-corruption laws shows commitment to the fight against corruption.
Owing to the fact that some military and political leaders have been prosecuted for engaging in
corruption activities goes to show the political will of the Fiji government in fighting corruption.
Noteworthy, the Fiji government has made significant process in fighting against public
embezzlement of resources.
What the international community could do to encourage Fiji
Unfortunately, most global economies are not close to winning the war against corruption on
their own and Fiji is no exception. This can be attributed to a lack of development and
monitoring strategies (Manandhar 2014). Through global partnership initiatives, anti-
corruption monitoring strategies can be easily implemented for better anti-corruption outcomes.
For Instance, in the year 2013, the Kuala Lumpur statement on Anti-corruption strategies was
produced to help regional countries develop and monitor anti-corruption measures. It is
important that there be a partnership between global bodies and national bodies fighting
corruption for better outcomes due to the global nature of corruption. Sometimes corruption
activities transcend borders and without international cooperation on the matter, the war against
corruption is far from being won hence the need for international training workshops on the
different strategies for fighting corruption. It is important that countries help other countries in
prosecuting and recovering proceeds of corruption. Due to over shore accounts, corrupt public
officials loot and save corruption proceeds offshore.
Overall, Fiji is making steps toward fighting corruption through the fight is yet to be over.
Remarkable, Fiji is part of the UN Convention against corruption. Also, Fiji is part of the Action
plan against corruption Asia and the Pacific. In honoring both commitments, the Fiji government
implemented a public fighting corruption body, FICAC. Evidentally, the Fiji government has

Anti-corruption in Fiji 4
created criminal legislation providing for offenses, prosecution, disciplinary procedures and
sentencing of corruption-related offenses.in addition, there are proceeds of crime legislation in
place to recover illegally acquired proceeds. However, the fight against corruption can be fully
won with international cooperation through the development and monitoring of strategies for
fighting corruption. It is imperative that there e international cooperation between nations in
fighting corruption and recovery of such proceeds. Simply put ,Fiji has made substantive
progress on the implementation of the UN Convention against convention.

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References
Fiji independent commission against corruption. (2015).2015 Annual report. [Online].Available
at http://www.parliament.gov.fj/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/FICAC-Annual-Report-2015-
1.pdf[Accessed 22 March 2019]
Graue, C. (2018).Fiji’s Anti-corruption body overloaded with complaints, says ANU report.
ABC News [Online]. 5. Feb. Available at
https://www.abc.net.au/radio-australia/programs/pacificbeat/fijis-anti-corruption-body-
overloaded-with/9398116[Accessed 22 March 2019]
Manandhar, N. (2014).Anti-corruption strategies: Understanding what works, what doesn’t and
Why? [Online].Available at https://www.undp.org/content/dam/undp/library/Democratic
%20Governance/Anti-corruption/UNDP%20ACS%20Asia%20Pacific%20%20Anti-corruption
%20Strategies.pdf[Accessed 22 March 2019]
O.E.C. D (N .d).Anti-corruption Policies in Asia and the Pacific self-assessment report Fiji
islands [Online].Available at http://www.oecd.org/countries/fiji/35028637.pdf[Accessed 22 May
2019]
O. E.C.D (N. d).Fiji; Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2004. [Online].Available at
http://www.oecd.org/site/adboecdanti-corruptioninitiative/39830493.pdf[Accessed 22 March
2019]

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Passas, N. (2010). Anti-corruption agencies and the need for strategic approaches: a preface to
this special issue. Crime, law and social change, Vol 53, issue 1, pp 1-3
Transparency International. (2013).Corruption and Anti-corruption in Fiji. [Online].Available at
https://www.transparency.org/files/content/corruptionqas/Overview_of_corruption_and_anti-
corruption_in_Fiji.pdf[Accessed 22 March 2019]
UNDP. (2011).Criminalization and law enforcement: The pacific‘s implementation of chapter
III of the UN Convention against corruption. [Online].Available at
http://www.pacific.undp.org/content/dam/fiji/docs/regionalreport/UNDP%20PO
%20Criminalization%20and%20Law%20Enforcement.pdf[Accessed 22 March 2019]