Kumar Slams PM’s Cabinet Expansion

Opposition Member of Parliament Premila Kumar has criticised Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s recent Cabinet expansion, questioning the abandonment of his Government’s pre-election pledge to reduce costs and government size.

According to Ms Kumar, instead of addressing inefficiencies or holding underperforming ministers accountable, Prime Minister Rabuka has expanded his Cabinet by appointing seven additional ministers and assistant ministers.

“What happened to their promise of reducing government size and cutting unnecessary costs?” Ms Kumar asked.

“Instead of streamlining the government and holding underperforming ministers accountable, the Prime Minister has expanded his Cabinet, creating a bloated structure at the expense of hardworking Fijians.”

She pointed out that before the election; both Mr Rabuka and Finance Minister Biman Prasad had promised to reduce the size of the government.

However, the current administration has now grown to 34 ministers and assistant ministers, one of the largest in Fiji’s history, with 22 cabinet ministers and 12 assistant ministers.

“This isn’t a reshuffle. It’s a bailout for underperforming ministers and assistant ministers who continue to hold their positions, enjoying perks, all at the expense of hardworking Fijians,” said Ms Kumar.

“Rather than moving ineffective leaders to the backbench, the Prime Minister has opted to preserve the status quo—at the expense of the people.”

Ms Kumar also raised concerns about the financial burden the expansion places on taxpayers already struggling with a high cost of living, questioning why government is prioritising political payoffs instead of addressing pressing national issues.

“Why add unnecessary expenses to taxpayers already struggling with a high cost of living? Why neglect critical national issues while funding political payoffs?” Ms Kumar asked.

“The funds wasted on this bloated Cabinet could have been used to address urgent national needs, such as supporting families devastated by recent floods, addressing chronic shortages of medicines in hospitals, providing free bus fares for citizens aged 60 and above, and repairing the country’s crumbling roads and bridges.”

Ms Kumar dismissed this as a sign of desperation, saying, “This is not governance; it’s desperation.”

However, Mr Rabuka had stated that the expansion was not necessarily a bid for power or to prepare for the 2026 General Election but a means of ensuring that Government improves its efficiency and delivers its services to the people of Fiji.

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