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The Ombudsman and long time permanent secretary, Fred Fakari, reveals that much of the corruption in the Public Sector is legal corruption.
He made the revelation this week whilst speaking during a radio show to launch the latest Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) released by Transparency International (TI). The ranking places Solomons at 42 which according the TI points to a very corrupt public service.
At the Forum, which was organized by Transparency Solomon Islands, the panelists expressed concern in the public service and how they were affected because of corrupt practices and suggested ways to deal with corruption in general.
One of the key panelists was Fakari who during his brief time on air also contributed to the discussions.
On corruption in the public service, Fakari said much of corruption in the public sector is legal corruption.
He recalls that a call for three quotes is often complied with.
However, Fakari who was a long time permanent secretary before he was appointed as the Ombudsman, said the price is “you either take it from the computers inside the office, or you take it from someone outside who gets it from you. So it is between the procurement officer inside a ministry with his driver who is asked to collect it and the supplier.
He adds: “The price that the government buys very much depends on the driver who collects the goods. When I was with the mainstream public service I had investigated some of the concerns.”
Fakarii continues: “You see a proforma invoice, the person’s name is there and when you ask for his office, he tells you he operates from his house. If you investigate further you’ll find out he works for one of the preferred suppliers. So when you look at the prices on the proforma it costs $19,000 but when you find the real price it is $1,200. So you can conclude the that person takes the items from the shop he works for which is also a preferred supplier for the government. These are the things. They are legal in the sense that they followed the procedures that are required by the government but the problem is they decided on the price themselves.”
On a way out, Fakari and other panelists said the focus now should be on the new generation to ensure that they are properly taught to avoid being trapped in a corrupt system.
They pointed to parents and schools as those should be tasked to take a pro-active role by educating a new generation of leaders so that when they enter the public service and help improve the system.
