Crossbencher Member of Parliament Mosese Bulitavu has defended the special dinner hosted by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
The dinner, held on Tuesday evening at Suva’s Grand Pacific Hotel, was an occasion for the Prime Minister to acknowledge the contributions of Government Ministers and Assistant Ministers over the past two years. Spouses of these officials also attended the event.
Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry criticized the dinner on Wednesday, calling it “lavish” and “sickening.” He further condemned the extravagance, noting how Fiji frequently seeks budget support from Australia and New Zealand. This criticism has highlighted concerns over the Government’s spending decisions.
Finance Minister Biman Prasad directed all comments to Prime Minister Rabuka, who did not comment when approached. This outlet has sent questions and is awaiting a response.
Defending the event, Mr. Bulitavu explained that the dinner was budgeted under the Prime Minister’s Entertainment Account, a long-standing allocation. He remarked that Mr. Chaudhry should be the last to criticize Prime Minister Rabuka, referencing Mr. Chaudhry’s 2014 conviction for breaching the Exchange Control Act by investing money outside Fiji without notifying the Reserve Bank, resulting in a US$1.1 million fine.