Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau will act as Prime Minister after PM Voreqe Bainimarama flies out today for Japan and later New York.

It is the first time that he will be acting PM. It shows Mr Bainimarama’s confidence in him.

Also away from the country are ministers who have acted as PM before.

They include Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Minister for National Security, Defence and Foreign Affairs Inia Seruiratu, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Mereseini Vuniwaqa and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Disaster Management and Meteorological Services Jone Usamate.

Mr Koroilavesau is the fifth Cabinet Minister to ascend to the acting role.

He said yesterday: “I accepted the acting role with humility.”

He said the appointment was a privilege, an honour and an important responsibility.

He is regarded as one of the hardworking ministers who is often seen serving people in the rural and maritime areas.

It is understood Mr Bainimarama has a lot of confidence in Mr Koroilavesau – that the nation will be in good hands while he and other ministers are away overseas.

Mr Bainimarama, in his capacity as president of the Fiji Rugby Union, will be at Sapporo, Japan, tomorrow to help cheer on the Fiji Airways Flying Fijians as they play the Australian Wallabies in their Rugby World Cup opener.

Then he travels to New York to attend the United Nations climate summit where he will join Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum will then travel to Montreal, Canada, to attend an international aviation meeting.

Mr Bainimarama will visit Cuba and Fijian medical students thereafter New York.

Mr Seruiratu is also heading to New York for the climate change summit.

Mrs Vuniwaqa is in Kenya attending the Commonwealth Women Ministers meeting. She will travel to New York on Sunday to be a panellist at the climate change summit next week before returning home.

Mr Usamate is in Samoa attending a meeting there. He returns on Monday.

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