Nearly $1m border security funding returned

Nearly $1 million earmarked to strengthen Fiji's border security was returned to Government after the Ministry of Immigration abandoned plans to fund a new passenger screening system through the national Budget.

Minister for Immigration Viliame Naupoto revealed last week during the 2026-2027 National Budget debate that the $978,261 allocated in the 2025-2026 Budget for the Advanced Passenger Information and Passenger Name Record (API-PNR) system was not spent because the project shifted to a self-funding model.

Mr Naupoto said the funding was returned to the Ministry of Finance after the vendor proposed building and operating the system without direct Government funding.

"We did not use the money that was allocated last year because it is under a self-funding model," Mr Naupoto said.

He said the vendor had adopted the same funding model in other countries, allowing governments to introduce the passenger screening system without paying the upfront cost.

The API-PNR system collects passenger information before travellers arrive or depart, providing immigration authorities with an additional tool to identify high-risk travellers and strengthen border security.

The disclosure came after Opposition MP Premila Kumar questioned how the money allocated in last year's Budget had been used.

Ms Kumar also raised concerns about airport security following reports that a person left Fiji despite being under a stop departure order. She argued that border security should receive greater investment to prevent similar incidents.

However, Mr Naupoto said the incident was unrelated to the API-PNR project or the returned allocation. He said it involved Fiji's Immigration Border Management System (IBMS), which is a separate system.