Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has expressed his view that Members of Parliament do not require new laptops and mobile phones. He stated that the devices provided to him at the start of his term are still functioning well. His remarks follow the publication of a tender for high-end gadgets by the Department of Information Technology and Computing Services.
When questioned about the matter, Mr. Rabuka emphasized that these assets should be allocated only to those who truly need them. “The need is my question; whether we really need it,” he remarked, adding that his current phone is performing adequately.
The leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry, criticized the proposal, stating that it would impose a financial burden on taxpayers. In response, Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad described these claims as “misleading,” clarifying that it is a parliamentary issue and does not involve ministers.
“Parliament has a budget,” he noted, explaining that the parliamentary budget operates independently of the executive, and decisions regarding provisions for members are made by the Secretary-General and Speaker of Parliament.
Ro Filipe Tuisawau, the Leader of Government in Parliament and deputy leader of The People’s Alliance party, stated that ministers have not yet been assigned new devices and are still using those issued at the beginning of their terms. He clarified that he continues to use his initial phone and personal laptop.
Judith Kotobalavu, the general secretary of the Fiji Public Service Association, commented that the situation reflects a concerning disconnect between parliamentary decisions and the challenges faced by ordinary Fijians. She urged the government to cease this culture of entitlement and focus on policies that would better address poverty, healthcare, and economic recovery.
Inquiries have been made to the Parliament secretariat and Leader of the Opposition Inia Seruiratu, but no responses have been received.