Crossbench MP Mosese Bulitavu has come to the defense of a special dinner hosted by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, which has been described as lavish. The dinner took place on Tuesday evening at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, serving as an opportunity for the Prime Minister to recognize the efforts of Government Ministers and Assistant Ministers who have dedicated themselves to their roles over the past two years.
The event also included the spouses of attendees. However, former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry criticized the dinner, labeling it as extravagant and “sickening.” He pointed out that such opulence is particularly embarrassing given that Fiji frequently seeks financial assistance from Australia and New Zealand.
Chaudhry’s remarks have highlighted concerns regarding the government’s financial decisions. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Biman Prasad referred all inquiries about the event to Prime Minister Rabuka, who did not provide a comment when approached. Questions have been submitted to him, but responses are still awaited.
In his defense, Bulitavu explained that the dinner was funded through the Prime Minister’s Entertainment Account, a budget line that has existed for many years. He further contended that Chaudhry should be the last person to criticize Rabuka, referencing Chaudhry’s own legal issues stemming from a conviction in 2014 for breaching the Exchange Control Act, for which he was fined $1.1 million.