Koya Rebuts Rabuka’s Claims About Denarau

Rabuka has no right to speak on tourism until he owns up to his short-sighted demand to keep Fiji closed.

The Minister for Tourism Faiyaz Koya made this comment following recent claims made by The People’s Alliance Party (PAP) leader Sitiveni Rabuka that Denarau was a shadow of what it used to be.

“We’ve opened Fiji for happiness and we’re making our tourism industry more successful and sustainable than ever,” Mr Koya said.

“We’ve never needed his politics to do that, and we never will.  He should admit he was wrong and move out of the way of our recovery before he makes a shadow of Fiji’s future.”

Mr Koya reminded Fijians of what Fiji’s future would have been had the Government bowed to the demands of the Opposition.

“Had we followed the timid vision of Rabuka and the PA (The People’s Alliance), we’d have zero to celebrate today,” he said.

“Zero flights to Fiji. Zero visitors. And zero new jobs for our people.”

He said at the crossroad to Fiji’s recovery, it was Rabuka who demanded that Fiji’s border be shut.

“We shut out his criticism and opened the country – helping return tens of thousands of Fijians to the jobs they love.

“Now, he’s strutting around Denarau trying to sweep his failure under the rug with showy distractions.”