THE Lautoka City Council has welcomed the involvement of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to train its workers in identifying corruption or corrupt activity in their daily dealings within the Sugar City.
The initiative comes as FICAC prepares to embark on a community-based approach to train municipal council staff on FICAC's role in monitoring corrupt activity.
Minister for Local Government and Urban Development Colonel Samuela Saumatua said this was part of his ministry's commitment to exposing corrupt activities and at the same time, to create awareness for stakeholders.
"Lautoka City will be the first municipal council to have its staff undergo this training and in return, the council will assist FICAC in its operations," he said.
"We have had a lot of complaints on corruption against municipal council staff but with these developments, we will certainly see more transparency from our municipal councils."
LCC special administrator Praveen Bala said municipal workers needed to be well versed with the Crimes Decree, especially in relation to their work.
"There is a need for our workers to fully understand the role of FICAC at the same time to be educated on the Crimes Decree," said Mr Bala.
"This is a good initiative and we are looking forward to embarking on this program.
"The training will educate our workers who will then spread the message to the ratepayers on the role of FICAC in the fight to keep our community free of corruption," he said.
"Also this will help the people of Lautoka to stay away from corrupt practices."
Col. Saumatua said other municipal councils will be looked at after the Lautoka training was completed.