SUVA – Fiji earned a transparency score of six out of 100 in the latest independent global report of budget transparency and accountability around the world.
The Open Budget Survey 2012 by International Budget Partnership said Fiji’s open budget index — an assessment of the availability of eight key budget documents made available by the central government in each country — was well below the average score of 43 for all the 100 countries surveyed.
“Fiji’s score indicates the government provides the public with scant information on the national government’s budget and financial activities during the course of the budget year,” it said.
“This makes it challenging for citizens to hold the government accountable for its management of the public’s money.”
The report said government had the potential to expand budget transparency by introducing a number of measures which could be achieved very quickly and at almost no cost.
Meanwhile, the Foundation of the Peoples of the South Pacific International in collaboration with International Budget Partnership, would launch Fiji’s Open Budget Survey results and recommendations as well as the Global Open Budget Survey 2012 today.
