Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka hosted a special dinner at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva, which has drawn criticism for its perceived extravagance. The event, held on Tuesday evening, included Government Ministers, Assistant Ministers, and their spouses, and was intended to thank them for their work over the past two years.
Mr. Rabuka emphasized the camaraderie and friendship among the Cabinet members during the event, expressing a desire to continue their work positively.
Former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry criticized the event, calling it an embarrassment given Fiji’s reliance on budget support from countries like Australia and New Zealand. He pointed out that such lavish expenditures seem inappropriate, especially as the country recently received $86 million in support from Australia.
Mr. Chaudhry questioned the source of funding for the event, highlighting that the nation struggles to afford a minimum wage of $5 an hour for its lowest-paid workers. He accused the ministers of enriching themselves and holding lavish parties while the rest of the nation continues to face financial struggles.
Chaudhry stressed that the ministers are already well compensated and that they recently awarded themselves significant increases in salaries and allowances, despite public outcry. He remarked that this is the first time since Fiji’s independence that such events have been organized for Ministers and Assistant Ministers and criticized the use of taxpayer money for what he deemed an unnecessary extravagance.