Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has formally apologized to journalists who were left waiting outside the Office of the Prime Minister (OPM) during a recent event marking the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with representatives from the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance Company (PCRIC).
Rabuka delivered his apology, acknowledging a breakdown in communication regarding media access and invitations. He clarified that the Prime Minister’s Office was unaware that journalists had been invited by the organizers responsible for the signing. “We weren’t aware that you had been invited by those that were responsible for the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement with the insurance, the catastrophe insurance people, and we apologise for that,” he stated.
The Prime Minister stressed the importance of coordinating media attendance through official government channels for all events involving the Prime Minister or other ministers. “Responsibility for those that come to functions where the Prime Minister or one of the other ministers can come to must come through our media representatives or the director,” added Rabuka.
In response to the incident, Webmedia South Pacific, the organization tasked with inviting the media at the request of PCRIC, has also issued a formal apology. They explained that the media was informed of the event on short notice, with less than 24 hours to prepare. The invitation was extended with the understanding that all necessary protocols had been addressed between PCRIC and the Prime Minister’s Office, but it became clear upon arrival that procedures were not finalized, leading to the exclusion of media representatives.
Webmedia emphasized that the incident was not a deliberate attempt to exclude the media but rather a miscommunication regarding established procedures. They acknowledged the significant inconvenience and frustration caused to journalists who acted based on the invite they received.
Both Prime Minister Rabuka and Webmedia have expressed regret over the handling of the situation, assuring that efforts will be made to adhere to protocols in the future to avoid similar issues. This commitment to improved communication reflects a positive step towards ensuring better relationships between the government and the media, reinforcing the importance of transparency and accessibility in public events.
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