Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told communicators at the inaugural Fiji Government Communications Conference this morning that clear, well-timed messaging — including actions and body language, not just words — is essential to the government’s success and to maintaining public trust. Rabuka warned that communicators must serve as a reliable bridge between the state and citizens, particularly as misinformation and rapid social-media circulation make accurate public understanding more fragile.
“When people understand what government is doing and why, they are more likely to trust, engage and participate in democracy,” Rabuka said, stressing that the timing and manner of government communication can determine whether a message calms or confuses the public. He pointed to recent episodes of panic buying and concerns over fuel supply as situations that required swift, consistent and clear messaging to prevent unnecessary alarm.
Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya described the conference as a historic move toward a unified approach to government communication. “The goal is to move with one voice, build confidence, and deepen trust between government, the media and the public,” she said as she opened the sessions and outlined the administration’s communications priorities.
Tabuya used the platform to launch two major tools aimed at confronting misinformation and strengthening government messaging: the SAUTU Counter Disinformation Framework and a Government Communications Guidebook. Both documents are intended to give government communicators practical tools to identify and respond to disinformation and to coordinate messaging across agencies amid a rapidly evolving technological landscape, officials said.
Organisers framed the conference as the first step toward a cohesive communications strategy that spans ministries and agencies. The emphasis on non-verbal cues, actions and punctuality reflects a broader recognition that public confidence can be undermined by mixed signals or delays — a point Rabuka underscored by citing the need to manage public expectations during supply-sensitive episodes like fuel shortages.
The launches come as governments worldwide grapple with how to counter false or misleading content online while preserving credible channels of information. For Fiji, the new framework and guidebook mark an attempt to professionalise state communications and provide frontline staff with a shared set of practices for responding to fast-moving stories and social-media-driven rumours.
By convening communicators and rolling out these resources, the government is attempting to institutionalise a single, coordinated voice across departments — a development officials say is vital to preventing future confusion and rebuilding public trust after recent disruptions. The conference is expected to set the groundwork for follow-up training and inter-agency coordination, with communicators tasked to apply the new framework in daily information management and public engagement.
Leave a comment