Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has dismissed Youth and Sports Minister Jese Saukuru effective immediately and ordered the immediate suspension of Fiji Sports Council chief executive Ratu Gilbert Vakalalabure as the Fiji Police Force launches an independent probe into allegations of abuse of office and misuse of funds.
In a statement released on Thursday, Rabuka said the decisions were necessary “to allow the relevant authorities to carry out their work without interference” and to ensure due process. “In light of the seriousness of the allegations raised, and to ensure that due process is respected and that the relevant authorities are able to carry out their work without interference, I have dismissed Honourable Jese Saukuru from his position as Minister for Youth and Sports, effective immediately,” the Prime Minister said.
Rabuka told the Fiji Sports Council board he had directed them to immediately suspend Ratu Gilbert Vakalalabure to allow the independent investigation into alleged misuse of funds to proceed “without hindrance.” The allegations involve both possible abuse of public office and the mishandling of public resources connected to the operations of the Sports Council, Rabuka’s statement said, though no criminal charges have yet been laid.
The Prime Minister emphasised that the government treats allegations concerning public office “very seriously,” and reiterated expectations that all public office holders maintain high standards of conduct. Rabuka said the move was intended to protect the integrity of the investigation and the proper management of public resources while the police determine whether any offences have occurred.
To preserve continuity in ministry operations, Rabuka has assumed the Youth and Sports portfolio himself. He did not say when a replacement minister would be named, leaving the ministry under his direct oversight while investigators work. The Fiji Police Force confirmed receipt of the matter for investigation but gave no further details about timelines or specific allegations.
The Fiji Sports Council — the statutory body that oversees national sporting facilities and programs — will now be responsible for implementing the suspension of its chief executive and cooperating with both the board-level directives and the police inquiry. The Prime Minister’s action signals a firm stance by the government on internal accountability at agencies that manage public funds.
No comment has yet been released by Jese Saukuru or Ratu Gilbert Vakalalabure. The police investigation is ongoing and is expected to determine whether the allegations warrant criminal charges, administrative action, or both. The Prime Minister’s dismissal of the minister and the suspension of the CEO mark the latest development in what Rabuka framed as an effort to protect public trust in the management of Fiji’s sporting institutions.
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