Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has announced that Youth and Sports Minister Jese Saukuru has received approval to travel to New Zealand with the Fiji Sports Council’s Under-20 Rugby Sevens team. The travel is scheduled from January 28 to February 5, 2025, following a request made by the Permanent Secretary for Youth and Sports on January 20, 2025.
In his statement, Mr. Rabuka clarified that the initial submission did not indicate whether Minister Saukuru’s spouse would be traveling with him. He mentioned that while it is customary for ministers to be accompanied by their spouses during official trips—whether funded by the minister themselves or sponsored by the host country—these arrangements must be explicitly stated in the original documentation. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of full disclosure for such requests, as they are evaluated individually.
Due to rising questions about this trip and other matters concerning the Fiji Sports Council, which is overseen by Minister Saukuru, Mr. Rabuka has arranged a personal meeting with the Minister to delve deeper into these topics.
Furthermore, he addressed inquiries regarding the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), emphasizing that the commission operates independently as mandated by the Constitution. “As defined in the 2013 Constitution under Section 115(6), FICAC is an autonomous entity; neither I nor the Government can direct or control it,” restated the Prime Minister, reinforcing the principle of separation of powers in governance.
This proactive communication from the Prime Minister reflects the government’s dedication to transparency and accountability, fostering public trust as Fiji addresses both sports administration matters and governance challenges.