Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that Pio Tikoduadua, the Minister for Home Affairs and Immigration, has been temporarily relieved of his responsibilities, with an Acting Minister appointed in his place. In a conversation with FijiLive, Rabuka characterized the situation within the Department of Immigration as a regrettable episode that highlights issues of leadership and management.
While the Prime Minister did not disclose the name of the Acting Minister, he indicated that he will be addressing pressing matters with the interim appointee. Additionally, he confirmed the suspension of the Director of Immigration and several senior officials within the department.
The developments follow Tikoduadua’s disclosure on Thursday regarding potential unauthorized passport issuances. It has come to light that passports may have been issued to children of individuals linked to the Grace Road human rights allegations, all purportedly executed without Tikoduadua’s knowledge or the necessary permissions from senior management.
Tikoduadua has expressed his intent to step aside temporarily to facilitate a thorough investigation into this unauthorized passport issuance.
This situation serves as a wake-up call for improved transparency and accountability within government operations. Following the inquiry, there is hope for strengthened procedures that ensure such incidents are prevented in the future, fostering greater trust in public institutions.
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