Assistant Minister denies using government vehicle for private event

Assistant Minister for Commerce and Business Development Sachida Nand has denied claims that he used a government-funded vehicle to attend the Andhra Day Celebration in Lautoka in his capacity as president of the Dakshina India Andhra Sangam of Fiji.

Mr Nand was the chief guest at the celebration, which was held on Wednesday at Lautoka Andhra Sangam Primary School.

He was responding to concerns raised on social media questioning his use of a government vehicle to attend an event organised by the cultural organisation he leads.

Mr Nand said he attended the function solely in his official capacity as Assistant Minister for Commerce and Business Development and not as president of the organisation.

"I think people raising those concerns on social media need to differentiate between official engagements and private functions," he said.

"I was invited here in my capacity as the Assistant Minister for Commerce and Business Development and not as the president."

Mr Nand said it was important to distinguish between his official responsibilities and his personal affiliations, adding that he had been formally invited to officiate at the public celebration as part of his ministerial duties.

He said the same protocol applied to all organisations that invited him to attend events in his official capacity and that accepting such invitations formed part of his responsibilities as Assistant Minister.

Mr Nand also said his speech and attendance at the event were entirely in his ministerial capacity, with no reference made to his role as president of the organisation.

He argued that holding a leadership position in the organisation should not prevent him from carrying out official engagements when invited in his ministerial role.

Mr Nand called on the public to distinguish between official and private functions and urged greater maturity in public discourse.

He said attending community events as an invited government representative was part of his public responsibilities and that he accepted official invitations regardless of his personal affiliations.

Mr Nand said he was committed to transparency and had addressed the concerns publicly to clarify the circumstances surrounding his attendance.