Fiji PM Rabuka vows to strengthen democracy with due process, civil service reform and independent probes

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Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka told parliament on Friday that Fiji’s democracy is strengthened not by accusations alone but by evidence, due process and respect for the rule of law, as he sought to reassure MPs and the public amid recent concerns over governance and institutional credibility.

Speaking in his right of reply after several members raised questions about transparency and the integrity of public institutions, Rabuka said the government remained “committed to strengthening accountability mechanisms, ensuring transparent decision making and respecting the independence of key institutions.” He emphasised that where concerns arise they must be dealt with through proper legal and institutional processes rather than through unsubstantiated claims.

Rabuka pointed to ongoing Civil Service Reform Programmes as central to that effort, saying the reforms are aimed at lifting professionalism, tightening performance evaluation and bolstering accountability across the public service. “These reforms are designed to ensure that the civil service remains competent, impartial and focused on service delivery for all the people of Fiji,” he said, signalling an administrative push to restore public confidence in state agencies.

The prime minister also said policies are being strengthened to ensure public servants — including teachers, healthcare workers and frontline officers — can carry out their duties in a safe and respectful working environment. He reiterated the government’s support for independent probes into allegations of misconduct within public institutions, but stressed such inquiries must be conducted through the proper legal frameworks. “Where allegations of misconduct arise within the public institutions, the Government supports independent investigations conducted through the proper legal institutional frameworks,” he said.

Rabuka’s remarks come against a backdrop of high-profile personnel changes and anti-corruption scrutiny within government. In late June this year, Minister Kalaveti Ravu resigned from Cabinet after being charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), prompting the appointment of Alitia Bainivalu as Minister for Fisheries and Forests. Those events have intensified parliamentary and public focus on how appointments, investigations and accountability are handled.

The prime minister’s comments mark the latest development in an ongoing parliamentary conversation about institutional independence and transparency. By underlining procedural safeguards and the civil service reform agenda, Rabuka signalled his administration’s intent to address governance concerns through formal mechanisms rather than public accusations — a stance likely to shape how future allegations against officials are investigated and communicated.