12 Nov 2012

Fiji interim government urged to publish draft budget

6:15 pm on 12 November 2012

A civil society group in Fiji says the interim government should publish its draft budget estimate if it is serious about improving transparency.

The budget is due by the end of this month.

Albert Cerelala of the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific says people in Fiji are not getting access to key documents in a timely and consistent way.

"The average citizen is denied a meaningful participation in the budgeting process. The processes that have been put in place are a form of tokenism, you invite citizens half way through the year when most of your budget policies have been set. What we're saying is you've got to open up the processes much earlier."

Mr Cerelala says other critical reports like that of the Auditor General have not been published since 2005.