$2M Cabinet Expansion: Not a Worry

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has brushed aside concerns over the $2million expenditure on the recent Cabinet expansion.

Minister for Finance Biman Prasad confirmed that the recent move to add three more Cabinet ministers and four assistant ministers would cost Government $2m- and not $1m as earlier stated by Mr Rabuka.

Yesterday, when queried if the cost was too much when Government was met with competing priorities, Mr Rabuka said: “It is part of our journey, we will have to find the money for it.”

Despite strong criticisms from political opponents and the public, Mr Rabuka was adamant that the move was priority. He also defended the performance of the initial Coalition Government ministers.

“I am not concerned about the figure we will spend in the Cabinet expansion,” he said.

“It is something that we have to pay for.”

Former PM Mahendra Chaudhry labelled the move as irresponsible.

“It is not justified considering the current critical state of the economy and public finances,” Mr Chaudhry said

“I do not believe that superficial changes of this nature will provide any relief to the people from the chronic problems of high cost of living, unemployment, poverty, rising crime rates, corruption and crumbling infrastructure.

Unity Fiji Leader and former Reserve Bank Governor Savenaca Narube said the people were paying for unwanted expenses.

“The credibility of this Government is rock bottom. On one hand, they say they are not able to stabilise the national debt because of spending demanded by the people, but on another hand, they have increased their salaries, paid themselves $10,000 annual tax free allowance, sent a 100-member delegation to COP29, and continue to increase the number of Ministers and Assistant Ministers,” Mr Narube said.

‘Absolute hogwash’

Opposition Member of Parliament Jone Usamate (pictured) labelled the move as an absolute hogwash.

“It reflects that this Government has too many Ministers who cannot deliver, and a Prime Minister who does not have the gumption to get rid of them,” Mr Usamate said.

“It also reflects that because this Government has abused the civil service, they do not have the right persons occupying key roles as permanent secretaries and deputy secretaries in some ministries.

“Government should never have rewarded their cronies by putting them in those positions at the expense of career professional civil servants who have spent years honing and perfecting their abilities.”

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