"Your [FICAC] investigation will confirm to you that the Minister, we say, without any authority and in abuse of his power causing financial loss to the Government, had for 2016 alone used $2.6M contrary to all regulations, procedures and contrary to law. The seriousness of what he has done is that because it is without control it can lead to corruption and definitely to nepotism. Consider the $26,000 for Boarding Fees to children in Taveuni Schools? Other schools will be asking to be treated in the same way and they will be asking why the Taveuni Schools should get that benefit and not others...After you have obtained the necessary record and information from the Education Department, you will see that so far the Hon Minister has unlawfully used over $2M and it may well exceed $6M."
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Shadow Education Minister, Mika Leawere visits the FICAC Office to lodge complaints of corruption against the Education Minister Reddy.
PARLIAMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI
OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF OPPOSITION
PO BOX 2352, GOVERNMENT BUILDINGS, SUVA PHONE: 3225 652, FAX: 3315 063
_______________________________________________________
10th November, 2016
The Deputy Commissioner,
FICAC,
Suva.
Dear Sir,
RE: COMPLAIN AGAINST HON MINISTER OF EDUCATION- HME INITIATIVES ACCOUNT
I wish to lodge a complaint, on behalf of members of the public who have come to the opposition office, against the Hon Minister for Educations HME Initiative Account (Hon Minister for Education Initiative Account). Specifically I ask that you attend to the Ministry of Education and investigate the authorization and operation of the HME Initiative Account. I know that you have wide powers and I plead you use that to demand that all books and communications relating to the HME Initiative Account are brought to you.
I ask that you conduct your investigation with the view to the possibility of laying charges against the Hon Minister for abuse of Office and, causing financial loss and other chargers that you may do under your powers.
I wish now to outline to you some facts about the HME Initiative Account that I hope will be confirmed to you by your own evidence during your investigation to warrant the laying of those charges;
1. The setting up of the HME Initiative is unauthorized and unlawful because it is against all procedures including the Financial Management Act, it is also unbudgeted. The Ministry of Education has an Asset Management Unit that takes care of all monies approved by Budget to be used by schools that have submitted their request under approved procedures
2. HME Initiatives Account will be confirmed to you by your own investigation, is a duplicate of the Asset Management Unit (AMU). But AMU funds are all approved by Budget. HME Accounts are funds for operations purposes that have been unlawfully diverted to the HME Initiative Account. The diversion of Funds, unlawfully, to the HME Account is what, we say, amount to an Act that causes financial loss and the authorization for that by the Minister is an abuse of his power of office.
After you have obtained the necessary record and information from the Education Department, you will see that so far the Hon Minister has unlawfully used over $2M and it may well exceed $6M
For 2016 alone, the following Schools have benefited from the unlawful and unwarranted activity of the Hon Minister.
SCHOOL PROJECT APPROVED COST
Tagitagi Sangam School 1 Classroom $ 10,000.00
Naseyani Primary School $10,000 for the renovation of teachers qrts $ 10,000.00
Nukuloa Sanatan Dharm School Classroom $ 20,000.00
Naikelikoso Primary School $30,000 for a School quarters; and, $20,000 for maintenance of School $ 50,000.00
Waibunabuna Primary School $10,000 for Completion of Ablution Block. $ 10,000.00
Bouma District School $40,000 for 1 x 2 Classroom $ 40,000.00
Nakobo District School $7,000 for Maintenance of Dining Hall. $ 7,000.00
Nabua Primary School $30,000 for School Renovation. $ 30,000.00
Vunivau Primary School Renovation of ablution Block and School classrooms - the remaining to be sourced from FEG and donations $ 3,000.00
Komo Village School $30,000 teachers Quarters $ 30,000.00
Natusara Primary School Renovation of Existing Quarters $15,000 and Construction of Teachers Quarters $30,000 $ 45,000.00
Magodro District School Renovation of ablution block: $5000, Construction of two quarters: $60,000, Construction of 2 class rooms: $30,000 $ 95,000.00
Lomolomo Public School $50,000 was given for ground floor work $ 50,000.00
Vaturu District School 1. Construction for Teachers Quarters - $30,000.00, 2. Construction for ECE Classroom - $ 5,000.00 $ 35,000.00
Shri A D Patel Memorial School $25,000 for Two Classrooms $ 25,000.00
Nabila Public School $10,000 for Maintenance work - roof. $ 10,000.00
Bouwaqa Primary School $30,000 for Teachers Quarters. $ 30,000.00
Dreketi Sanagam School $20,000 for Kindergarten Classroom. $ 20,000.00
Vitogo District School $10,000 for School Fencing. $ 10,000.00
Ratu Naivalu Memorial School $50,000 for Full Renovation of Deteorating School Facilities. $ 50,000.00
Wainikoro Public School School Fencing, Walkways, relocate tap area, paint school buildings and renovate staff quarters $ 15,000.00
Bua Primary School Renovation of ablution Block and School classrooms - the remaining to be sourced from FEG and donations $ 3,000.00
Ratu Ilaisa Memorial School $25,000 for 1 Teacher qrts and $10,000 for Kindergarten Classroom $ 35,000.00
Namataku District School Renovation of teachers Qrts $ 20,000.00
Nadrala Sangam School $10,000 for ECE Building. $ 10,000.00
Mavua District School 2 Classrooms $ 50,000.00
Yalavou Public School Toilets and Staff Quarters $ 50,000.00
Nabukaluka District School $40,000 ($20,000 for Lab and $20,000 for Library) $ 40,000.00
Ucunivanua District School $40,000 for 3 tearchers Qrts and $10,000 for ECE block $ 50,000.00
Turagabeci Primary School 30,000 for renovation of 3 teachers Qrts $ 30,000.00
Navurevure Primary School 1 x 2 Classroom 1 classroom $15,000 1 Kindergarten $20,000 $ 35,000.00
Nailega District School $30,000 for Teachers Quarters. $ 30,000.00
Ratu Veikoso Primary School $50,000 for School Project. $ 50,000.00
Vutia District School Dining Hall $20,000 and Ablution Block $17,000 $ 37,000.00
Nakini Village School New Teachers Quarters $ 35,000.00
Malake Village School Generator - AMU to Provide $3,000 and Fencing - $4,000 and Ablution Block - $15,000 $ 22,000.00
Rakiraki District School $28,000 for School Fencing. $ 28,000.00
Wainimakutu Village School Construction of Dormitry $ 40,000.00
Navunikabi Catholic School $7,000 Ablution Block and $25,000 Teachers Qrts $ 32,000.00
Yanuca Island School $30,000 for Teachers Quarters. $ 30,000.00
Wainiyavu Primary School 2 Teachers Quarters $43000 and School Renovation $7000 $ 50,000.00
Dudley Intermediate School School Fencing and retaining wall $ 4,300.00
Nuku Catholic Primary School One classroom $ 25,000.00
Nuku Catholic Primary School One Quarter $ 35,000.00
Namuka District School
$50,000 for Renovation of Boys and Girls Hostel.
$ 50,000.00
Seaqaqa Central College Purchase of New Furniture for the New School Building $ 7,300.00
Uluivalili College $35,000 for Three Teachers Quarters $ 35,000.00
Niusawa Methodist High School $50,000 for 1 x 2 Bedroom Staff Quarters. $ 50,000.00
Niusawa Methodist High School $20,000 for staff quarters and 3 class room (remaining money to be provided by Rotary Taveuni) $ 20,000.00
Holy Cross College $5,000 for IT Lab (remaining money to be provided from FEG. $ 5,000.00
Niusawa Methodist High School $20,000 for staff quarters and 3 class room (remaining money to be provided by Rotary Taveuni) $ 20,000.00
Ratu Finau Secondary School $30,000 for Teachers Quarters. $ 30,000.00
Nasesevia Junior Secondary School $1,000 for Office Furniture, Teachers table and Teachers Chair $ 1,000.00
Nasesevia Junior Secondary School 1x2 Teachers Quarter $50,000.00
Maharishi Sanatan College Development for New Primary School and Furniture for Yr 1 $ 50,000.00
Maharishi Sanatan College Furniture for the year one students $ 1,000.00
Dawasamu Secondary School Duplex Staff Qrts 2 berrom each $ 30,000.00
Davuilevu Methodist High School 1 x 4 Classrooms $ 50,000.00
Waidina Secondary School Maintenance work on 12 Staff Quarters $ 35,000.00
Ra High School Three Classroom $50,000 and Three Teachers Qrts $45,000 $ 95,000.00
Wainimakutu Secondary School $5000 for Buldozing and $3500forstaff Qrts $ 40,000.00
Lami High School $10,000 for upgrading of Science Lab and equipments $ 10,000.00
Basden Anglican College Construct two class room and basic work on driveway and hall $15,000 has been approved for driveway project $ 50,000.00
Nasesevia Junior Secondary School construction of quarters $ 50,000.00
Taveuni Schools
Boarding fees to children $ 26,000.00
Ratu Peni Neumi Infant 2 x 1 teachers quarters $ 35,000.00
Sasa Village Kindergarten 1 Staff Qrts for ECE Teacher $ 10,000.00
Koronitabua Preschool Need two classroom for kindergarten / Class 1 & 2 $ 30,000.00
Viseisei Kindergarten Kindagarten Project $ 10,000.00
Nakaidrau Kindergarten School $5,000 for Completion of Kindergarten Classroom $ 5,000.00
Dakuni Village Kindergarten 2 Staff Qrts for ECE Teacher - To be decided by HME
Dakunaicake Kindergarten $20,000 for Teachers Quarters. $ 20,000.00
Total Fund by Honorable Minister $ 2,031,600.00
Your investigation will confirm to you that the Minister, we say , without any authority and in abuse of his power causing financial loss to the Government, had for 2016 alone used $2.6M contrary to all regulations, procedures and contrary to law. The seriousness of what he has done is that because it is without control it can lead to corruption and definitely to nepotism. Consider the $26, 00.00 for Boarding Fees to children in Taveuni Schools? Other schools will be asking to be treated in the same way and they will be asking why the Taveuni Schools should get that benefit and not others.
I hope you will conduct an investigation and I request a progress report of what you are doing and the outcome. This complaint is also copied to the Auditor General with the request they conduct their own investigation under their procedure and ambit of work.
Yours Faithfully
Hon Niko Nawaikula
Cc: Auditor General’s Office- Please Conduct your own Investigation
and provide me with a progress report.
Leader of the Opposition
