Corruption rife in private sector: AG

Fiji’s Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said corruption is common in private sectors.

He made the revelations while addressing participants at the Fiji Business Forum at the Holiday Inn in Suva today.

Sayed-Khaiyum said for the past few weeks, they have uncovered more allegations of corruption and fraud within some government departments where private sectors are involved.

“That is no way that that is a misappropriate of funds or overpaying whatever you may call it could have taken place if it was not for the private sectors encouraging theft or bribing those people,” he said.

“Purchasing officers for many private sectors have wonderful homes, not just one but more than one. First, there is corruption in the private sector itself.


“Many factors that are undertaken by many business directors should have seen them in prison.”

However, he said the fact is the laws were not adequate at that particular time for the commissioning of those acts.

He said they cannot face the front of the law because at that time the law did not exist.

“The Company Decree will be released next year and hopefully to set out standards.”

He said that it needs to be understood by the private sector that business does not operate in isolation.

“If you want your business licenses or approval done quickly, please understand that in order to get those approval do not short circuit the system.”

He said businesses operating in isolation are setting a dangerous precedent.

He said there is a need for significant improvement of various services and a meeting of the mind as well as a need to assess critically, recognise the loop holes, recognise the area of weaknesses and try and focus on it.

“By throwing negativity on the floor without solution, nothing will be achieved.”

Suva Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Br Nur Ali said businesses in Fiji need to work together and stop with the back-biting.

Dr Ali said jealousy has no room in business and people need to work together in order to achieve their target.

By Ropate Valemei