Money administered by the Fiji Prime Minister’s Office for the development of specific target groups was not fully utilised in 2006, according to the Public Accounts Committee.
For instance, the office had budgeted $120,000 for use by descendents of Melanesian labourers, brought to work in Fiji cotton plantations during the blackbirding era of the late 1800s.
However, only a quarter of the budget ($29,000) was spent.
The committee, in its report on the General Administration Sector - 2006, submitted to the Bainimarama Cabinet expressed concern at the under-utilisation of the funds, amounting to 5 per cent of the budget provisions.
Apart from the allocation for ‘Melanesian Vasu i Taukei’, it also highlighted the Small Grant Scheme, which was allocated $1,561,800, but spent $1,515,641; and Village Improvement Scheme - allocated $1,361,800, but expenditure incurred savings of $850,600.
The PAC reported that the under utilisation meant either there was over-budgeting or that the target groups were unaware of the existence of the scheme and did not apply for assistance.
“Either way, it meant that another sector needing funding was being denied,” it said.
The committee also reported on outstanding accountable advances, especially those taken by the Private Secretaries of the Prime Minister.
It described “the blatant use” of Statutory Declarations to substantiate the use of funds without providing invoices etc to support the expenditure.
“The use of declarations was the result of poor maintenance of records by the officers and reflected negligence and possible abuse,” it said.
