PM Rabuka defends $141,849 overseas travel bill

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has defended the $141,849.20 taxpayers paid for his seven overseas trips, saying Fiji “must be present” where decisions affecting its economy, oceans, climate and trade are made.

Mr Rabuka released the full breakdown in a post today. He said the figures had also been provided to Parliament.

The most expensive trip was to Israel and the United States for the opening of Fiji’s embassy in Israel and the United Nations General Assembly.

The trip cost $87,658.34, comprising $49,891 in airfare, $28,861 in accommodation and $8,906.34 in meals and incidentals. No host or sponsor contributed.

His visit to Japan, which ended with the signing of the Lomavata Kizuna Partnership Agreement, cost $16,769.53. Japan covered the cost of meals and airfare.

The Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in the Solomon Islands cost $16,299.05, including $13,034 in airfare. The Solomon Islands Government paid for accommodation.

Other trips cost:

• Australia, Fiji Day celebrations – $8,580.84
• New Zealand and India – $7,707.55
• Australia, Vuvale Partnership visit – $3,970.01
• Papua New Guinea, Melanesian Ocean Summit – $863.88

Australia covered his accommodation and airfare for the Vuvale Partnership visit.

India paid for his accommodation and airfare, while Papua New Guinea covered airfare and accommodation.

A Sydney-based association partly funded the accommodation for the Fiji Day celebrations.

Mr Rabuka said meals and incidentals covered food and daily expenses, with the amount depending on the length of each visit.

He said technology should be used where possible, but “we cannot always achieve the same influence through a computer screen as we can through face-to-face engagement”.

He also criticised party leaders who said they would cut travel costs if in Government.

“It is easy to make those statements from the sidelines,” he said.

“Every dollar is taxpayers’ money, and people have every right to question how it is spent,” Mr Rabuka said.