The Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) is the latest public entity to accept FICAC's invitation to conduct a Corruption Prevention and Risk Reduction workshop in its bid to improve public service delivery ever since the reformation of the institution from FIMSA (Fiji Islands Maritime Safety Authority) to MSAF, two years ago.

The one-day assessment was conducted on 03^rd September, 2013 at the Fiji Ports Corporation Limited Training Room,Muaiwalu House, and was attended by senior management of the institution including the CEO, Mr. Neale Slack.

“It is a timely awareness campaign by FICAC to have this Corruption Prevention and Risk Reduction (CP2R) assessment conducted because the institution is currently reviewing its policies and procedures and so with knowledge that we have derived from the CP2R, we now know what to consider when reviewing our policies, says MSAF Legal, Risks & Audit Officer, Mavis Joseph”.

Participants added that they were aware of the MSAF policies regarding the overall code of conduct of each employee and understanding it was not a problem. It was just that there were some grey areas that they needed clarification on; which at times sees them doing something with a clear conscience that is perceived otherwise by members of the public and could be labeled as “corruption”.

“We have all experienced situations in which our professional responsibilities unexpectedly come into conflict with our deepest values’ and as such we are caught in a conflict between right and "right". And no matter which option we choose, we feel like we've come up short. These troublesome grey areas are one of the reasons why we are conducting this CP2R assessment. Using this tool will help these organizations identify these areas and then recommend changes on how best to address these ethical issues in their respective work areas, says Principal Corruption Prevention Officer, Siteri Rabici.

MSAF CP2R participants included surveyors, engineers, compliance and enforcement officers, the quality assurance officer and the legal officers who contributed positively to discussions that will improve MSAF's public service delivery and administrative efficiency.

At the conclusion of the CP2R MSAF workshop, CEO Neale Slack delivered a powerful speech in which he informed MSAF participants of forthcoming changes that will take place within the organization. He told participants that each staff has a responsibility to create trust and cultivate cultural values. Each person must weigh alternatives and make choices in light of personal values and goals, but also with consideration to organizational and professional success. Decisions have to be made that are optimal and that we can live with in the long run.

“As leaders wake up to needed reforms, there will be an increased emphasis on the need for training and coaching on ethical and moral values. There will be an increased emphasis for ethical responsibility in leaders if organizations are to thrive, adds Ms. Rabici.