Ministers Overseas Trips Under Spotlight

The number of recent over­seas travels made by cabi­net ministers for official engagements has come under the spotlight.

Former Reserve Bank of Fiji governor and Unity Fiji leader Savenaca Narube said this was an area parties now in Govern­ment and Unity Fiji had spoken out strongly about during the administration of the Fiji First Government.

Mr Narube said this was par­ticularly on their wastage of tax­payers’ money.

Last week, nine government ministers were out of the country on official engagements including Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and all his deputy prime minis­ters.

“One of the major areas of wast­age that Unity Fiji identified was the excessive overseas trips by ministers,” Mr Narube said.

“The shoe is now on the other foot. Instead of cutting down on overseas travel, it appears min­isters in the Coalition Govern­ment are travelling even more,” he said.

“It is a classic case of changing tune when one receives the travel benefits.”

Mr Narube said there were a few other things that the parties in Government criticized the previ­ous government of, but they are continuing them unchanged.

He added that Unity Fiji would put out a list of these issues soon.

“Voters can make their own con­clusions from the behaviour of the Coalition Government,” Mr Narube said.

“All I wish to say at this time is that a Unity Fiji Government would firmly stand on principles and will do what we promised we would do. Governments are voted into power because of what they promised the voters.

“We have seen so many times governments that change colour once they gain power. I believe that this is a critical lesson that voters should learn from. Many times, we are our worst enemy.”

Questions sent to the office of the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance on how much allowances the ministers get during ministe­rial visits were unanswered when this edition went to press.

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