An academic at the University of the South Pacific in Fiji Dr Steven Ratuva says corruption is so widespread that a special body to combat it is timely.
Fiji's president promulgated a decree setting up the country's first ever Independent Commission against Corruption with punitive penalties for those who are guilty.
The commission has the power to investigate, search and seize documents over corruption and bribery allegations in any public entity.
Dr Ratuva says corruption is particularly an issue during elections and there are numerous corruption cases that haven't been dealt with properly.
"A lot of people in the public sector and the private sector have been accused of corruption and it appeared that our judicial system and our political system was not in a position to address the issue of corruption effectively so perhaps this is the chance to do that."
Dr Steven Ratuva says a police anti-corruption unit has been trying to crackdown on corruption but the problem is so big a separate entity is needed.
