Calls for the removal of Lynda Tabuya, Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, intensified this week following her controversial suggestion of imposing the death penalty for traffickers of significant amounts of illicit drugs in Fiji. Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry condemned her remarks and urged Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to dismiss her, asserting that she spoke on serious matters without proper consultation with the Cabinet or the Prime Minister.
Chaudhry emphasized the need for adherence to protocols when addressing such crucial issues. Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube echoed this sentiment, criticizing Tabuya for her disrespectful comments and suggesting that the Prime Minister should implement clear policies to manage his ministers effectively.
In her remarks, Tabuya expressed her desire for the death penalty to be enforced in Fiji to combat drug trafficking, highlighting vulnerabilities at the country’s borders and the necessity to protect citizens. However, her statements faced significant backlash from various quarters, including human rights defenders and the Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission (FHRADC), which labeled her comments as a grave violation of human rights. Other critics, including the Minister for Home Affairs Pio Tikoduadua and the former director of FHRADC Shaista Shameem, voiced their concerns about the cruelty of the death penalty, noting its absence in Fiji’s 2013 Constitution.
During the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga, Prime Minister Rabuka remarked that Tabuya should have sought Cabinet consultation prior to making her controversial statement regarding the death penalty. He characterized her comments as unfortunate and stated that such significant issues should be handled at the Cabinet level.
Rabuka revealed plans to address Tabuya’s remarks in the upcoming Cabinet meeting, as the death penalty remains illegal under the 2013 Constitution. Notably, this is not the first instance where Tabuya has attracted negative attention, having faced allegations pertaining to illicit drug use and an extramarital affair earlier this year.
In his speech to the Fijian community in Tonga, Rabuka reaffirmed the government’s commitment to combatting Fiji’s drug problem, pledging to identify and eliminate those involved in the illegal drug trade. He advocated for a collective effort to address crime in the country, citing measures taken in Sabeto Village to restrict nighttime movement to reduce drug-related activities.