Tabuya Denies Claims of ‘Sex, Weed’ Use

The Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya has spoken for the first time after nine months against her alleged drug and sex scandal with education minister Aseri Radrodro.

Ms Tabuya denied the allegation while speaking during the 1st Speaker’s Debate in the Third Term of Parliament, at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva on Tuesday.

Ms Tabuya said the allegation had “one ambition, to character assassinate, degrade and vilify” her as a woman politician.

“I’d like to share my personal experience dealing with an affair with a fellow minister,” Ms Tabuya said.

In January, the infamous alleged sex scandal resurfaced following a series of intimate photos and Viber messages leaked on social media.

“An allegation of drug use which led to my removal as deputy leader of my party (People’s Alliance),” she said in her speech.

“While they were merely allegations, I had to endure attacks on social media vilifying me and labelled as the minister of bonking and weed by certain social media influencers.”

Ms Tabuya said her alleged counterpart did not have any repercussions from his party.

She used the experience to challenge political parties to promote women’s candidacy.

“What is a leader to do, let alone a woman subjected to this type of violence,” Ms Tabuya said.

“Technology facilitated gender-based violence or online violence, what is the recourse when it crosses borders with international laws? Our cybercrime laws and online safety laws are not sufficient to protect a woman and they need a thorough review.”

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