The Fiji Government will hold its inaugural “Fiji Government Communications Conference” in Suva, an initiative driven by Minister for Information, Environment and Climate Change Lynda Tabuya to tighten coordination between government communication teams and public officials. Tabuya said the event, “years in the making,” is being convened at a crucial moment when the need for clear, responsible and timely public communication has never been greater.
Speaking about the purpose of the conference, Tabuya said it aims to ensure that public servants and ministers engage more openly with the media and the public. “It’s actually good timing, we need to be aware of these things,” she said, stressing that transparency is a core duty of those who hold public office. The conference, she said, will reinforce the expectation that ministers speak directly to journalists and citizens rather than rely on intermediaries to deliver core messages.
Tabuya was explicit about the role of media liaison officers, saying they are not intended to speak on behalf of ministers. “That is something that we hope is avoided, because we would like the ministers themselves to speak to the media,” she said, noting that ministers represent the “decision-maker” and that public confidence is strengthened when information comes directly from the highest authority on an issue. At the same time, she framed communicators as crucial support personnel who must prepare ministers for media engagements.
“This is also the message we will be sharing with our communicators, that they prepare their ministers well,” Tabuya said, adding that communicators should equip ministers to handle interviews and public questioning effectively. Her remarks underline an effort to professionalise and standardise how government information is packaged and delivered, and to reduce mixed messaging that can arise when spokespeople and ministers provide differing accounts.
The launch of the conference comes against a backdrop of heightened public and media scrutiny of government conduct and recent changes within Cabinet. Ministers and officials have faced intense coverage in recent months, and the new communications forum appears designed to foster a more cohesive approach to media relations across ministries. Tabuya framed the event as part of ongoing efforts to modernise and strengthen government communication practices rather than as a quick fix.
Organisers say the conference will bring together government communication teams and public officials across ministries to discuss best practice, though Tabuya’s comments to date have focused on the broad principles organisers expect to promote: direct ministerial engagement, well-prepared interviews, and responsible dissemination of information. Further details on participants, agenda and timing have not yet been released.
Leave a comment