Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka warned on Friday that a widening trust gap between citizens and state institutions threatens Fiji’s social and political resilience, as he pressed for renewed efforts to rebuild confidence at the National Social Cohesion Stakeholder Conference in Suva.
Officiating as chief guest at the gathering this morning, Rabuka placed particular emphasis on what he called “vertical social cohesion” — the relationship between the state and its people — saying it is central to how citizens perceive public institutions, access justice and benefit from government services. He said inclusive political processes and transparent decision‑making are essential building blocks for long‑term stability. “Today’s stakeholders conference serves as a pivotal platform for inclusive dialogue and knowledge sharing, bringing together the diverse voices of our nation to co‑create a unified vision for a more harmonious and resilient future,” he said.
Rabuka argued that trust in government grows from consistent, equitable service delivery and fair access to opportunities, and warned that the erosion of that trust can deepen social and political divisions at a time when Fiji faces mounting economic and global pressures. His remarks framed the conference as a turning point for shifting the national conversation from managing symptoms of discord to rebuilding the institutional foundations that sustain cohesion.
The conference is part of a broader social cohesion agenda promoted by the United Nations Development Programme, which links good governance and inclusion to national stability and development. Stakeholders at the event — drawn from government, civil society, community leaders and development partners — are expected to explore concrete steps to strengthen institutional trust and improve citizen engagement, including mechanisms to increase transparency, accountability and access to justice.
Rabuka’s speech arrives against a backdrop of other government and institutional initiatives aimed at restoring public confidence. In recent months the Fiji Police Force has begun a review of the Police Act — part of efforts to modernize policing and rebuild community trust — while the Fijian Elections Office has rolled out a Community Election Advocates programme to boost civic engagement and volunteer linkages between electoral institutions and local communities. Conference organisers say the current dialogue seeks to knit these sectoral efforts into a cohesive national strategy.
Organisers said the conference will continue through the day with panel discussions and working groups focused on unity, inclusion and rebuilding confidence between the state and communities. Participants aim to produce recommendations that can be fed into ongoing policy reform and programming under the UNDP framework, signalling a sustained push by both government and development partners to place citizen‑state trust at the centre of Fiji’s resilience agenda.
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