Press Release

Ministry of Youth and Sports joins Anti-Bribery Campaign

Posted by Media Team 16 July 2024

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has become the latest organization to join the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption’s (FICAC) “I Don’t Accept Bribes” campaign, led by the Honourable Minister Jese Saukuru.

The campaign is a joint nationwide initiative by FICAC with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the UN Pacific Regional Anti-Corruption (UN-PRAC) project, funded by the New Zealand Government.

Speaking at the launch this morning, held on the second and final day of the Ministry’s two-day Senior Management Meeting at Trans International Hotel in Nadi, Acting Deputy Commissioner Francis Puleiwai says today’s event demonstrates once again how the FICAC-UNDP anti-bribery campaign is truly reaching everyone right across Fiji.

Ms Puleiwai, who was accompanied by Manager Corruption Prevention Ms Kolora Naliva, says bribery is globally the most common form of corruption that will not just directly harm the people of Fiji, but it will also damage the indispensable relationship of trust that must be built and maintained between those that govern and those that are governed.

The Acting Deputy Commissioner adds that this is particularly so in the public sector, where corruption undermines democracy and the rule of law.

Speaking to the participants of the Senior Management Meeting, Ms Puleiwai says the campaign cannot complete success until everyone – in every town and village across the country- is aware of the dangers of corruption and the damage that it causes.

She says today, the UN’s global work against corruption is framed by the 2030 Agenda and the imperatives of meeting the commitments of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Specifically, Ms Puleiwai says the SDG 16 includes commitments to fight corruption, increase transparency, tackle illicit financial flows and improve access to information. By promising not to engage in or entertain the corrupt practice of bribery and publicly demonstrating this commitment, Ms Puleiwai says the participants are making Fiji a better place for everyone.

She congratulated the Ministry of Youth and Sports for showing true commitment to join FICAC’s Anti-Bribery campaign and wished them every success in the cooperation and collaboration to help in the fight against bribery and corruption in our country.

The event saw Ms Puleiwai badge the Minister Jese Saukuru and senior management officers with the “I Don’t Accept Bribes’ pins.

Later in the program, Principal Corruption Prevention Officer Ms Banuve Wainimala presented an Anti-Bribery and Ethics & Values presentation and answered queries from the participants.