Narrative
Full Description
Project narrative
According to the July 2012 Audit Report from Fiji, the Chinese Embassy covered the airfare of members of the Fijian Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing, and Environment to travel to Malaysia and China in April 2009. The Former Chairman's air ticket to Malaysia cost 5,670.97, while a Board Member's air ticket cost 4,035.08, amounting to a total of FJD 9,706.05 funded by the Chinese Embassy towards the trip. The Former Chairman's route was Brisbane/Sydney/Kuala Lumpur/Shanghai/Hong Kong/Brisbane. He went to attend bilateral talks for secondment of a Structural Fire Engineer and a Technical Assistant to the National Fire Authority and follow up with the relationship established with China Fire Services in 2007. John Low departed Nadi on 18/04/09 and returned on 03/05/09. The Board Member's route was Nadi/Shanghai( via Seoul)/Nadi, and he went to follow up with the relationship established with China Fire Services in 2007. He departed Nadi on 23/04/09 and returned on 30/04/09.
Staff comments
Jetta Fire Technology (Suzhou) Co., Ltd. also covered the airfare for another board member (see Record ID#70578). Approval for the overseas trip was granted on March 31, 2009, by the Minister for two board members to travel to Malaysia and China with the Chief Executive Officer. However, the Audit noted that 3 board members traveled to Malaysia while another 4 board members and the CEO visited China in direct breach of the approval granted by the Minister. (See Audit Table 7.5).