There is confirmation today that Fiji Sports Council CEO, Ratu Gilbert Vakalalabure and Manager Operations, Litia Senibulu have been suspended with pay from last week for 21 days, and the CID are also investigating the allegations of abuse of office relating to the Fiji Sports Council.
Sports Council’s Deputy Chairman, Peter Mazey has confirmed to us that Vakalalabure and Senibulu were suspended after the Board received legal advice.
The next step will be decided after the 21 day period.
They were earlier sent on leave however Prime Minister and Minister for Sports, Sitiveni Rabuka had directed the Board of the Fiji Sports Council to immediately suspend Vakalalabure, to allow the independent investigation into allegations of misuse of funds to proceed without hindrance.
Rabuka had also removed Jese Saukuru from his position as Minister for Youth and Sports, and said that the decision allows the Police to conduct a thorough investigation into allegations of abuse of office relating to the Fiji Sports Council.
Mazey also says he understands the investigation report by independent investigators, Pherrus Financial Services will result in a set of recommendations that will go to Prime Minister Rabuka and Minister for Youth and Sports, who will then decide on what happens.
Mazey also highlights that each headline of the allegations given publicly in the terms of reference given to the independent investigators includes almost full pages of allegations within that.
Mazey has also confirmed to us that the Criminal Investigations Department from Police has also approached the board regarding the Police investigation.
Meanwhile it has been confirmed that Ratu Gilbert Vakalalabure’s brother’s law firm, Vakalalabure Lawyers is based at the Fiji Sports Council premises and they have a tenancy agreement for a
11 square metre space.
Mazey says the rent is $300 a month.
He says that they have received confirmation that the rent is up-to-date, and the rent payment was being made through a deduction from Gilbert Vakalalabure’s salary.
When asked by fijivillage News on whether Vakalalabure Lawyers was legal counsel for the Fiji Sports Council, Mazey said that the Board had stopped Vakalalabure Lawyers from being their legal counsel last year due to a perceived conflict of interest and the engagement of the law firm was done without full Board approval.
Looking at the independent investigation -
According to Week 1 of the Terms of Reference of the investigation, they have looked into the contra deals with Fiji Airways and others, the Fiji Sports Council U20's Rugby 7's Hamilton Trip, the Sports Council U20's Sevens Team and Council Sponsored Sports Tournaments and the restructure of operations and staffing including pay rises.
Week 2 of the investigation includes the appointment as Executive Chairman of Gilbert Vakalalabure indefinitely, CEO Appointment, driver overtime for private use, staff engagement, contracts and tender processes, and motor vehicles.
Week 3 of the investigation include alleged rampant mismanagement and unauthorised expenses, response
to Board resolution, staff concerns and reported breaches of policy and or law, agreement with Infinite Power Clean Energy Ltd, SportsWorx Agreement – Brett Jenkins and Pacific Procurement Management and Investment Services.
A whistleblower who is a former staff member of the Fiji Sports Council has maintained many decisions being made were not approved by the Board which included business class travel under the Sports Council contra deal with Fiji Airways for Vakalalabure, his wife, the Sports Minister, Jese Saukuru and his wife's travel without the Sports Council's Board approval.
This contra deal was for the Sports Council.
All these issues are under investigation.
