Calls have intensified this week for the dismissal of Lynda Tabuya, the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, following her controversial suggestion of implementing the death penalty for drug traffickers in Fiji. Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry urged Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka to remove Tabuya from her position, stating that her comments were made without prior consultation with the Cabinet or the Prime Minister, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.
Chaudhry’s demand received support from Savenaca Narube, leader of the Unity Fiji Party, who emphasized that Tabuya’s remarks showed a lack of respect for the Prime Minister. He criticized the current leadership, suggesting that the Prime Minister needs to enforce stricter guidelines to prevent ministers from making uncoordinated statements.
In response to the rising drug trafficking problem, Tabuya expressed her desire to see the death penalty reinstated in Fiji, calling for protection of the populace and acknowledging the vulnerability of the country’s borders. However, her comments faced backlash from various sectors, with human rights advocates and social media users decrying her call as a violation of human rights. The Fiji Human Rights and Anti-Discrimination Commission and legal experts noted that the death penalty is not permitted under the 2013 Constitution, and the Minister for Home Affairs, Pio Tikoduadua, suggested a more humane approach.
During the 53rd Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Tonga, Prime Minister Rabuka stated that Tabuya was incorrect in her assertion and should have consulted the Cabinet before discussing such a sensitive topic. He remarked that significant issues should be addressed within the Cabinet framework and expressed hope that these concerns would be raised in the upcoming Cabinet meeting.
This incident adds to Tabuya’s recent controversies, which included allegations of illicit drug use and an extramarital affair earlier this year. Prime Minister Rabuka reiterated the government’s commitment to combating the drug problem in Fiji, emphasizing the need for collective efforts and strategic actions against drug-related crimes.