Fiji Youths: unleashing creative approaches to serious issues

 This blog piece was originally published in the Transparency International website .International Youth Day global snapshot: young… - Transparency.org 

From Fiji to Lithuania to Bangladesh, meet some of the young people making a difference around the world by taking matters INTO THEIR OWN HANDS!

Youths4IntegrityFiji members at a workshop on Anti-Corruption

Lati Shalom and Grace Konrote joined Youths4IntegrityFiji at just 14 years old. Drawn in by their fun and creative approach to learning about corruption, she quickly began volunteering to run activities herself. “Rather than just saying ‘corruption is bad’, we’re trying to approach it differently by encouraging an integrity mindset in people. We go on tours of parliament to encourage more democracy, and make films and TikToks to educate the public.”

Although some of their actions are lighthearted, the group has also recorded videos on fraud, spoken out against a draconian new police bill and taken to Twitter to demand that the prime minister protect a whistleblower who exposed corruption in the university education system. Working with Transparency International’s national contact in Fiji, they even helped the national university to develop a short online course on ethics and anti-corruption.

Although some of their actions are lighthearted, the group has also recorded videos on fraud, spoken out against a draconian new police bill and taken to Twitter to demand that the prime minister protect a whistleblower who exposed corruption in the university education system. Working with Transparency International’s national contact in Fiji, they even helped the national university to develop a short, free online course on ethics and anti-corruption.

Excited YFIs with @JosaFiji (who sang 2 anti corruption songs&Amania!❤️at the Launch of the Ethics&Anticorruption Course-joint venture between Fiji Nat Univ&Integrity Fiji/Transparency International.We were inspired by FICAC Commissioner Rashmi Aslam's speech.Thanks also to FNU https://t.co/GgG1bbCUoe

— youths4Integrity FIJI (@youths4integri7) 15 July 2022

Youths4IntegrityFiji even organised workshops with the Fijian elections office to encourage young people to vote in the December 2022 National Elections and do their part to hold public officials accountable. As part of the workshop, participants held mock elections to learn how supervisors will tally and calculate election day results.

“I have this sense that young people feel their vote doesn’t matter,” another member of the youth group Selenia says. “We’re trying to change that.”

Watch Selenia and her fellow youth members speak about steps towards more ethical procurement processes in government.

Both women, only 23 years old, are now part-time staff with Transparency International’s national contact in Fiji, working to create space for even younger people to become active members of the community.

Anti-Corruption Advocacy in Fiji

The people of Fiji voted for change in December and elected a new government, ending the 16-year rule of previous coup leader Frank Bainimarama.  Positively the new government’s 100-day plan, which it has already started to fulfil, includes commitments to repeal laws and decrees which undermine human rights, media freedom, freedom of association. But, as one of the few countries in the region with a national anti-corruption agency, its elimination would be a serious step backward for the new administration. Let’s hope that the Fijian government reconsiders its views on FICAC – so Fiji can retain its leadership in the Pacific and the fight against corruption continues.

 In another example of a government toying with the idea of removing key safeguards, the newly elected government of Fiji in its 100 day plan announced plans to phase out Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC).

FICAC is in place to investigate and prosecute public sector corruption, as well as encourage the public to report suspected corrupt activity. Yet it is being reported that the new government considers FICAC redundant and plans to relegate anti-corruption efforts to the police and other law enforcement agencies who reactively investigate and prosecute. Without an independent and central coordinating body to assess corruption’s root causes and try to implement policies to stop it before it happens, this strategy would only accomplish part of what’s needed.

The people of Fiji voted for change in December and elected a new government and prime minister, ending the 16-year rule of previous coup leader Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama.  Positively the new government’s 100-day plan, which it has already started to fulfil, includes commitments to repeal laws and decrees which undermine human rights, media freedom, freedom of association. But, as one of the few countries in the region with a national anti-corruption agency, its elimination would be a serious step backward for the new administration.

Let’s hope that the Fijian government reconsiders its views on FICAC – so Fiji can retain its leadership in the Pacific and the fight against corruption continues.  

 

 

 

Implications of the CPI 2021 for Young Fijians

 Shalom Tehilatti, Grace Konrote and Samu WalosioIn 2005 when Fiji’s Corruption Perceptions Index came out, we were 5, 3 and 6 years old respectively. We were too young to understand the implications of Fiji having a score of 40 out of 100. For the next 8 years from 2006 to 2013, Fiji did not have National Elections. Fiji was also not featured in the CPI until the latest release in 2022. 

We constantly hear remarks that we see illiberal democracy as normal as we did not live through a liberal democracy milieu. The CPI journey from 2005 and the non appearance in between, has reflected our own journeys from childhood to young adulthood, living through the COVID-19 pandemic and socio-economic challenges. Life had not been easy in 2020 - 2021, because Fiji relies on tourism and when tourists stopped coming, we struggled immensely.

Credit where it is due

We feel that we have to give credit where it is due. We may not always agree with the way things are run in Fiji but in their own fumbling way, the Fijian Government has scored 55 out of 100 in 2021. This gives it a rank of 45 out of 180 countries. This is a basis on which we can all work to increase our CPI score. 

A New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Officer (We were funded by them in 2019 and continue to receive their funding through Transparency International) noted that Fiji is a country where its anti-corruption agency (set up under the provisions of UNCAC) actually works. 

We feel that Fiji should not feel smug comparing our score to Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands or PNG. As the hub and the largest economy in the South Pacific, Fiji should be aspiring to emulate Australia and/or New Zealand.

Politically aware and active

We feel that we should be politically aware and be active in ensuring that democracy is nurtured and that human rights is protected. We are inspired by the statement of Ms Delia Ferreira Rubio, the Chair of Transparency International that, “Human rights are not simply a nice-to-have in the fight against corruption. Authoritarianism makes anti-corruption efforts dependent on the whims of an elite. Ensuring that civil society and the media can speak freely and hold power to account is the only sustainable route to a corruption-free society. “

Transparency International’s analysis showed that upholding human rights is crucial in the fight against corruption, with countries who violate civil liberties scoring lower on the CPI.

Transparency International noted that since 2012, 90 per cent of countries have stagnated or declined in their civil liberties score. They add that corruption undermines the ability of governments to guarantee the human rights of their citizens. This affects the delivery of public services, the dispensation of justice and the provision of safety for all. In particular, grand corruption committed by high level officials usually combines the large-scale, transnational theft of public funds with gross human rights violations.

  Young people need to be anti-corruption fighters

Although many young Fijians are more interested in Uni studies and getting employed afterwards, we feel that they should be politically active and fighting to curb corruption. Our demographic group had the lowest margin of voters in the 2014 and 2018 National Parliamentary Elections. 

This apathy is the kind that breeds corruption. We can change the way things are done by strengthening the integrity pillars of Parliament, the Judiciary, the Civil Service, Religious and Cultural Institutions. 

There is no indication that voters in the 18-25 age group will vote in huge numbers in the 2022 Fijian National Elections despite the well-meaning efforts of the Fijian Elections Office. 

Fijian CPI journey

The Fijian CPI journey from 2005 to 2021 is also a story ‘in progress’ for us at Youths for Integrity and our NGO, CLCT-Integrity Fiji.  We have to model good behavior. This week we completed our organizational and project audits and it was very pleasing. 

We have our work cut out for us – The CPI 2021 results for Fiji has come out and the hard work needs to be done to ensure that Fiji’s score in 2022 increases rather than decreases.

We are so thankful for the wonderful support provided to us by Board Members and Staff of Transparency International New Zealand, the TI Pacific Office and all friends and well-wishers throughout the world. It means so much to us in our fight against corruption.

Youths For Integrity FIJI Raises Red Flag on Sextortion

 

Youths For Integrity Fiji (YFI) has raised the alarm over the high sextortion rates recorded in the Global Corruption Barometer 2021 for Fiji and the Pacific. YFI Leaders Samu Walosio, Grace Konrote and Lati Shalom, who had formally presented the GCB findings at its November launch, explained that the culture of silence and the cultural taboos placed around healthy discussions of sexual issues could be contributing to the high rates of sextortion. 

“Corrupt people know that victims will be too ashamed to report incidents of sextortion because it is usually the words of a vulnerable girl or woman pitted against a powerful government official.”

The Youth Leaders noted that, “According to Transparency International, the sextortion rate in the Pacific is one of the highest recorded so far in any region of the world where GCB Surveys have been conducted. 38% of people surveyed in the Pacific Islands have experienced sextortion or know someone who has. A disturbing 40% think that it happens occasionally in their countries!”

The Youth Leaders explained that in sextortion, “sex becomes the currency of the bribe and people are forced into engaging in sexual acts in exchange for essential services, including health care and education. Globally, girls and women are overwhelmingly targeted for sextortion.”

The Youth Leaders noted that the GCB Pacific 2021 highlighted “that almost four in ten respondents across the region (38 per cent) have received requests from public officials that are sexual in nature in exchange for government services or benefits at least once in the past five years, or know someone who has. 

The highest rate was reported in French Polynesia, where an alarming 92% of respondents admit having experienced this form of corruption themselves or knowing someone who has. Extremely high rates of sextortion were also reported in New Caledonia (76%) and Papua New Guinea (51%). 

Much lower rates were found in Fiji (11%), Samoa (10%) and Tonga (5%). The high regional average aligns with the high rates of sexual and gender-based violence recorded in the region, which far exceed the global average.”

They said that what was disturbing was that respondents across the Pacific appeared  to find it hard to assess the extent of the problem. Only 21% think that sextortion happens often, while 37% think it happens rarely or occasionally and 24% think it never happens.

Walosio, Konrote and Shalom suggest that there is need for further investigation and community dialogue to better understand and address this shocking form of corruption. Victims especially girls and women need to report incidents where they have been propositioned into sex in exchange for essential services.”

Pacific-based ‘Youths for Integrity’ Network Choose Whistleblowing Vice Chancellor as “Pacific Integrity Champion 2021”

 Authored by Grace Konrote, Shalom Tehillati, Maria Yavala and Samu Walosio on behalf of YOUTHS FOR INTEGRITY FIJI.

Professor Pal Ahluwalia, the whistleblowing Vice Chancellor of the prestigious University of the South Pacific (USP), has a courageous story that seems like it came out of a popular Netflix thriller movie. In November 2018, he was appointed Vice Chancellor after an international head-hunting search found him to be the best candidate for the position.

In March 2019 (after whistleblowers from within the University approached him) he prepared a confidential report alleging widespread financial irregularities under his predecessor, including allegations of massive salary increases, misappropriation of allowances and unearned promotions.

The Vanuatu Daily Post (11/9/2019) reported that the auditor BDO Auckland provided a damning report largely vindicating Ahluwalia. Some of Ahluwalia’s allegations were not possible to verify “due to the level and/or quality of documentation retained by the USP”, it highlighted. The BDO report stated that concerns about financial irregularities had been raised during three consecutive audits and were still unaddressed.

In 2020, Professor Ahluwalia was suspended by the USP’s Executive Committee made up of appointees of his predecessor. There were massive protests from students and staff and his suspension was overturned by the University Council.

ABC news reported on February 4^th, 2021 that about 13 police and immigration officers raided Professor Ahluwalia’s on-campus home just before midnight. He and his wife were given a few minutes to pack and then driven at high speed in a three-car convoy to Nadi, where they were placed under police guard and then bundled off on a flight to Brisbane.

In a statement, the Fijian Government said Professor Ahluwalia and Ms Price were ordered to leave Fiji after continuous breaches of the Immigration Act. "No foreigner is permitted to conduct themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence, public safety, public order, public morality, public health, security or good government of Fiji," the statement reported on ABC news on 4/2/2021 noted.

Professor Ahluwalia admits in a report in FBC news on 25/11/2019 that as a whistleblower, “it has been a year of hell. I have suffered enormously and so has my family for doing the right thing. There have been many days I have contemplated why I have come to Fiji but I felt there was a calling, that I had to give back and as God is my witness that you know what I did was the right thing. And I think at the end of it once we get over all the emotions the best thing is that this will never happen again.”

He emphasised that his motive for writing the report was due to the fact that he was a new Vice-Chancellor and was constantly receiving information from whistleblowers within the university. 

 Professor Ahluwalia’s contract was recently renewed by the University Council and he will now be based in Samoa. The Fijian Government has provided a statement through Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum stating the appointment of Professor Ahluwalia as the USP Vice-Chancellor is illegal. Sayed-Khaiyum clarified that the charter and the regulations of USP are quite specific. “As the contract says, when a person’s contract is terminated because of the fact that their work permit gets cancelled, their contract automatically gets terminated. That is what is stipulated. The process is to advertise the position, go through a selection panel and then appoint a vice-chancellor.” He adds that Fiji’s position in the appointment of any vice-chancellor was to follow the established process. (Reported in the Fiji Times on 7/6/2021.)

 Professor Ahluwalia told the Guardian on 7/2/2021, “I believe integrity comes from the top down. I want to show people that it’s possible to do the right thing.”

 In a Pacific region suffering from the huge challenges of the pandemic, there is need for courageous whistleblowing leaders and Professor Ahluwalia stands out as a great role model especially for young people.

The University of the South Pacific is a shining light of higher education in the region, and over the years it has mentored the best and brightest students. Professor Ahluwalia’s courageous whistleblowing action has upheld the culture of integrity with region wide support from other key stakeholders – Pacific leaders, civil society organisations, media and Pacific youth. For this we are very deeply grateful.

On the occasion of World Whistleblower Day, Youths for Integrity Fiji has chosen Professor Pal Ahluwalia as PACIFIC INTEGRITY CHAMPION 2021.

 We call upon Pacific leaders to build on this positive momentum and create a stronger supportive environment for the emergence and protection of many more whistleblowers like Professor Ahluwalia across the region.

 We also call for urgency in finalising the investigations around the USP governance allegations made to enable justice and reform to ensure that public resources are effectively utilised for the delivery of quality education for Pacific youth across the region.

 YFI is a national online network of 3,800 youths who are part of CLCT INTEGRITY FIJI (accredited National Contact for Transparency International.) The network was set up for high school, tertiary students, school leavers, young adults, youth leaders and young professionals interested in advocating for Integrity and Anti-Corruption in their schools, communities, sports groups, social web networks etc.

My self-journey into the challenging world

 Paulini Ledua 

One of our dynamic Youths for Integrity Leaders, Paulini Ledua, recounts her upbringing and her current youthful self-journey to adulthood. A touching story of finding one’s self identity and striving for integrity in a challenging world. Paulini talks about her journey with YFI and says, "If you don't have integrity, you have nothing. You can't buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing.”

Growing up in a family full of boys was not easy as I had no one to talk to about things that was happening around me. But the big advantage was that they were all a big help to mom and dad when it came to looking after me - whenever I was sick - and also I made myself a small sister/small brother (lol)!!

I had a complicated childhood which made me stop trusting others sometimes  but as I grew up, I finally found people that I could trust and I managed to open up to my parents and siblings. In my teen years and being raised up by strict parents, it seemed quite unfair for me sometimes but I was glad they kept me away from temptations of this world.

Even though there were brothers, they made sure I was fine as most of the time; I needed all of their attention due to medical reasons. Dad and Mom were always concerned about my future as the boys would be okay without them but not me. Reaching high school, I managed to get good grades and yes I was tempted mostly by my school friends and Mr Headache was my best friend every time before exams but it never stopped me from making my parents proud.

When I reached tertiary, I finally saw how the city operated and to be honest I was so scared that I used to ask one of my cousins or my dad to drop me to school (FNU Nabua) while I did Foundation in Science and yes waking up early mornings wasn't easy but I had to, so that I could finish my studies and make sure that my dad's money wasn't being wasted as I was a private student not on a scholarship. Traveling everyday was a huge change as my primary years and secondary years were just half an hours walk from home and thus it took me a while to adapt but I gradually did.

Reaching the second trimester of my study, Dad started to get sick but  with God's continuous support and blessings I did well and got to finish the two trimesters well and  had time to spend with him before his last days. I then applied for Bachelor's of Nursing that same year (2017) after getting my results and yes a week after Dad's passing I got my Offer Letter from the University. It was heart breaking as Dad had worked hard to support me study and I only wished he was there to receive the news but God had plans for him thus I was just glad that I made Mom & Dad proud even though we had a rough year.

Continuing my studies in Tamavua was a challenging one but Mom made sure everything was carried out well and even though we didn't have enough, she still managed to take good care of us. For the three years of studying, Mom was both the (Mom and Dad ) of the family and i was more close to her in those years and yes I missed Dad in those years and all I could wish for was to finish my studies well, start work and pay back Mom for all that she and Dad had given me. Some nights in the dorm, I used to cry cause of feeling home-sick and most of the time wishing Dad would pay me a visit as he always did it whenever I went to my relatives for sleepovers or weekends but I had to accept reality and just study hard.

Two years passed, and I finally accepted that Dad was gone and yes my relationship with Mom was a bit of 'Tom & Jerry' as I tended to drive her crazy and vice versa but one thing that didn't change was her checking up on me everyday and I always prayed that I finished  study quickly and gave Mom the best vacation she could ever get so that made me push myself further to study hard. 

Almost to the end of the year, a cousin of mine introduced me and my younger brother to a workshop that was carried out for youths and we managed to join it which is called " Youths for Integrity" and yes it was a good choice that we made.

We learned a lot from that leadership group and yes Dr V was like a Dad to all of us youths that had joined and Integrity was a Big Word with a huge meaning and i would always carry a quote with me all the time and it goes by "If you don't have integrity, you have nothing. You can't buy it. You can have all the money in the world, but if you are not a moral and ethical person, you really have nothing.”

 A year passed, and I managed to reach my last year of studying. I was so happy whenever our results would come out as I would always call mom to show her my progress and seeing a smile from her meant a lot. I always felt like jumping up and down whenever she smiled and yes it was a great start to the end of my tertiary life. The year was full of challenges as well due to COVID-19 but I managed to get through. Mom started to get sick again in the middle of the year and most of the time I would cry in my sleep as I would be worried about her but I was almost there so just had to be strong and keep pushing forward.

Most of the time, whenever I had a patient die, i would always get emotional and teary eyed forgetting that I was in the hospital. Sometimes I think of Dad when I see an older men dying or Mom whenever I see a lady lying in her bed in pain. I would try my best to hold my tears but instead tears would roll down my cheeks and next minute I'm in a room crying and trying to stop at the same time. Seeing patients struggle on their beds always makes me sad but yes I always try my best to help them and provide them the best care they can get.

I don't know why but I had financial problems when it was almost to the end of my attachments in the hospital and peri urban attachments but Mom always hugged me every time and told me "It's ok, don't think about it too much, just focus on your attachment," and yes it wasn't easy as I had been having panic attacks, so every time I went through stressful days i would just stop everything and breathe slowly and just think of Mom.

She would always give the best hugs and I would always be a big baby whenever I went home.

My last week of attachment, was one of the worst days of my life as my stuffs were stolen during my shift and it was also my last time seeing mom when she came over to hug me and also for me to give her something (she was scared I would get another panic attack, that she hugged me so hard while I greeted her in the taxi) but I held my tears back cause if I didn't, I would be going back to the ward with teary eyes but little did I know, it was my last goodbye.

Going back to the dormitory with a headache and tiredness, I thought of making something for myself for dinner and I had to ask Mom about the recipe. Sitting down, sipping my tea, it was awkward to me that Mom didn't call as she always called in the morning and evening. So, instead of waiting for her call, I called her and to my surprise it wasn't her answering but my uncle and I was feeling lost as to why she wasn't answering the phone. I asked for Mom and all I got was silence from my uncle and then he passed the phone to my aunty and all she said was, "Can you come by taxi to us?"

Hearing that made me worry and wonder if Mom was admitted again. Leaving all my tea stuffs, I got my room key and ran out of my room to get to the road, on my way to get a taxi (running up our longest driveway) my aunty called again and she told me that Mom had passed away.

I cried standing in the middle of the road and I almost fell down as I couldn't think straight and couldn't stop crying. I was a bit lost at that time and wondered how she could leave me like that. I didn't have my roomie around as it was on a Friday evening and the only people I could find was my best friends. I called them and cried like a baby while they were making their way to the campus car park. I seriously looked like a baby crying that night but still couldn't believe she also left me alone with the boys. Seeing her lying in her death bed made me lose hope to finish  tertiary but i had to be strong to push  my younger brother to finish his exam even though I felt like running away to a quiet place to shout "Why, God?"

Saying our goodbyes to her a week before my exams was not easy and all I could think of "I can't do it anymore" even though I smiled at everyone, I was crying my heart out inside and felt like drowning in the deep ocean. I couldn't stay at home after the funeral as I would keep crying in my sleep so staying at the dormitory was my escape from missing Mom at home. Weeks went by then I realized that God had plans set forth for us and that Mom had done all her best to raise us well and it was her time to go, so I had to stop asking "Why God?” and just thank God for her time with us.

Finally, exams came by and I managed to do it, with both my parents on my thoughts. Home was quiet, and the atmosphere was different but yes I had to move on and seeing all her clothes hanging in my room got me in tears everyday but life was such that I had to keep moving forward even though it was the hardest thing to do. Graduation day came by and as much as I was so happy that day, I missed both Mom and Dad and only wished they were there with me to receive my Certificate.

To conclude, God knows what's best for us and even though I lost both parent's at a young age, I'm still thankful for their time, and all the things about life they had taught me and my brothers. I'm now seeing what Mom has always been talking about and that is God is Good and he looks after his people no matter what. He may be late in blessing you but He always chooses the right time.

A legacy of faith

Rusula Adikoila Cavalevu

Hi YFI and readers of this blog, first off I want to say that I am encouraged and excited by those of you who already wrote amazing stories in this platform. It is a great source of inspiration to all of us.

I wanted to share a brief story that touched my heart during this pandemic. It is about a 70 year old woman. The woman and her daughter moved into a flat beside mine last month. The daughter works as a security officer and her mother most of the time stayed home by herself.

Last two weeks in the middle of the night, I heard moaning and I thought that I had a bad dream, but No! It's the lady next door calling for help with emotional soft voice, "Lewa kere veivuke". 

I ran out and heard that it was her. I opened the door and saw her lying on the floor. She called to me, “Lewa please help me.”

I moved the wheelchair and lifted her and got her from the room to their sitting room. I asked her what she wanted. She said she fell off her bed as she tried to take her tablet which she coudn't reach.

“Am in pain lewa,” she said.

I asked, “Where's your daughter?”

“She sent me a message that she slept over at her friend's place and will come home after her shift 12 o'clock tomorrow.”

I was thinking that if she's my mother I will not leave her like that. I can see the pain she's been through seeing her swollen leg and severe headache.

After she took her tablet she asked me if I can come and help her get to the shower the next day as she feels weak.

I agreed telling her, “If you need anything just call me on my phone. I will see you tomorrow morning and before I go, please can i pray for us?”  

She said yes.

After the prayer I say goodbye and came back home.

Next morning after my devotion I prepared pancakes with jam and took it to her.

When I called her aunty she responded that she woke up already.

I boiled the hot water and took it to her bathroom, After her shower, we sat in the couch in the living room and I changed her dressing on her wound.

I prepared her breakfast by 9 o'clock and we chatted until 11am.

She shared that she was so thankful that I was there when she needed help.

Her daughter came about 12:15pm and  she saw her sitting in the living room watching TV looking happy. She came to me thanking me for what i did when she's not around and I told her, “You have to remember they will leave us one day while we still have the chance to see them, we give them our best protection, stay beside them in moments of suffering, loving and caring for them as they are our source of blessing.”

From that day till today she came back home straight after work and she really changed the way she treats her mom.

In closing, we will be rewarded for every good deed, for every person we encourage, for every act of kindness.

We are building a legacy of faith.

!!Thanks!!