Ministerial trips over long weekend raise taxpayer concerns
Coordinated presence of top Government officials abroad for Fiji’s 55th Independence Day raises questions about early election campaigning.
Monday 13 October 2025 | 21:00
Overseas trips by several Cabinet ministers over the weekend has raised eyebrows about whether the co-ordinated overseas presence serves as early election campaign activity funded by taxpayers.
Photo: AI Generated
Overseas trips by several Cabinet ministers over the weekend has raised eyebrows about whether the coordinated overseas presence serves as early election campaign activity funded by taxpayers.
The Prime Minister, President, at least six Cabinet ministers and an assistant minister travelled overseas to celebrate Fiji’s 55th Independence Day with the Fijian diaspora.
The Government officials fanned out across multiple countries:
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- Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka - Sydney, Australia, where he thanked the diaspora for their $448.5 million in remittances during the first four months of this year;
- President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu - Swinton Barracks, United Kingdom, marking the first Fiji presidential visit to the military camp
- Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka - Jerusalem, Israel, attending the Feast of Tabernacle;
- Employment Minister Agni Deo Singh - Geelong, Australia;
- Information Minister Lynda Tabuya - Limestone Coast, South Australia;
- Women’s Minister Sashi Kiran - Auckland, New Zealand;
- Justice Minister Siromi Turaga - Wellington, New Zealand; and
- Assistant Health Minister Penioni Ravunawa - Geelong, Australia;
The overseas trips come amid ongoing scrutiny over ministerial travel costs.
