The Public Service Commission has criticized the Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry for spreading disinformation with harmful intent. Chaudhry recently claimed that a grand party hosted by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka for Ministers and their spouses at the Grand Pacific Hotel was an insult to impoverished Fijians struggling to afford food.
However, PSC Chairman Luke Rokovada clarified that the one-and-a-half-day Permanent Secretaries Retreat, entailing an overnight stay at the Pearl Resort in Pacific Harbour last month, was a capacity and team-building exercise, not a “picnic” as Chaudhry suggested. Rokovada emphasized that the sessions concentrated on leadership, innovation, and future planning, where Permanent Secretaries discussed their vision for Fiji up to 2030 and beyond.
The topics covered during the retreat included diversity and inclusion, data collection, cybersecurity awareness, the HIV/AIDS crisis, and modernizing Fiji’s bureaucratic system. Rokovada highlighted the importance of these sub-committees, such as the ‘Removing Red Tape Sub-committee’, ‘Future of Work Sub-committee’, HIV/AIDS Sub-committee, and the Removing Waste Sub-committee, in addressing these challenges and integrating the PSs given their demanding schedules.
Rokovada called Chaudhry’s suggestion that the 20 Permanent Secretaries attended the retreat purely for enjoyment “ill-advised and irresponsible.” He also noted that the retreat was cost-effective compared to previous retreats under the FijiFirst Government, which involved more expensive and longer stays.
Rokovada also addressed the Civil Service Day celebration held on July 5, stating that it was conducted without an allocated budget. This event, which included community service activities, a wellness program, and public information sessions, aimed to promote government programs and policies to the public. He remarked that the public turnout was positive and the engagement meaningful, providing a comprehensive view of the civil service’s internal workings.