Quote: SUVA (Wansolwara Online/Pacific Media Watch): Bureaucratic procedures in government are preventing the free flow of information and hindering investigative journalism in Fiji, a panel discussion on a "freedom of information law for Fiji" heard today.

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Title -- 4525 FIJI: Bureaucratic obstacles 'hinder investigative journalism'
Date -- 2 October 2004
Byline -- None
Origin -- Pacific Media Watch
Source -- Wansolwara Online 30/9/2004
Copyright -- USP Journalism
Status -- Unabridged

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Bureaucratic obstacles 'Hinder investigative journalism'
http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/wansolnews/2004/september/wansol3009042.html

By Joanna Olsson

SUVA (Wansolwara Online/Pacific Media Watch): Bureaucratic procedures in government are preventing the free flow of information and hindering investigative journalism in Fiji, a panel discussion on a "freedom of information law for Fiji" heard today.

University of the South Pacific journalism lecturer Steve Sharp said investigative journalists particularly found it almost impossible to obtain the necessary information from government.

"For a journalist who is doing an investigative story, government and employees must be prepared to supply the budget and resources to complete an investigative assignment," said Sharp.

Funded by the European Union, today's workshop at the Fiji Teachers Association hall was cohosted by the USP journalism programme and the Citizens¹ Constitutional Forum (CCF), a Suva-based NGO that advocates democracy and human rights.

The panelists who deliberated on a Fiji draft Freedom of Information (FOI) bill included Fiji Labour Party MP Krishna Datt, columnist Seona Smiles, who was recently awarded USP's first postgraduate Diploma in Pacific Media Studies, the Fiji Media Council secretary Bob Pratt and lawyer Richard Naidu.

Information Minister Simione Kaitani and Opposition Leader Mick Beddoes were also present.

According to Sharp, the bureaucracy involved in obtaining documents and information from government officials was tedious and sometimes impossible.

Sharp and Naidu agreed that this difficulty was not necessarily the withholding of information but rather the officials or employees responsible not being aware that they had the authority to disclose the information.

Opposition Leader Beddoes, who opened the workshop, said freedom of information was an essential part of good governance, transparency and accountability.

³We need a change away from being a passive and accommodating society to a more inquisitive and outspoken one on matters of importance without fear of intimidation,² Beddoes said.

While supporting the recommendations of the draft working paper, Beddoes said the protective measures recommended for whistleblowers could be used to discredit an innocent person and that in such cases the whistleblowers should be subject to legal action.

Naidu referred to the "culture of silence" prevalent in Fiji and the Pacific, saying that FOI legislation would create a culture of openness.

He said the government would need to provide the infrastructure to support any FOI law it introduces.

"This is a very technical area and there is very limited resources in government. We have to look at providing the resources, personnel and building the infrastructure."

Information Minister Kaitani said Fiji's "political realities and constitutional issues" were hindering the swift implementation of the law.

"We will facilitate the legislation but there are a lot of outdated issues that need updating. But we¹re very committed."

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