Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna recorded $51,415.96 in Government-funded overseas per diem and related allowances, the highest identifiable amount among serving Ministers and Assistant Ministers in a parliamentary response covering May 2025 to August 2026.
A per diem is a daily allowance paid to officials travelling on Government business to meet expenses such as meals, accommodation, local transport and incidentals.
The figures were provided by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka in response to a written parliamentary question from Opposition MP Inia Seruiratu seeking details of official overseas travel and expenditure.
The response, dated October 1, revealed that 182 official overseas trips were undertaken by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Ministers, Ministers, Assistant Ministers and former Ministers during the 16-month period.
Mr Tunabuna’s disclosed allowances covered six overseas engagements, including visits to Barbados, Australia, New Zealand, India and Germany, Italy and Mongolia.
iTaukei Affairs Minister Ifereimi Vasu recorded $40,015.28 in per diem payments for official visits to the United Kingdom, New Caledonia and Australia.
Finance Minister Esrom Immanuel followed with $37,615.59 in disclosed allowances for visits involving Singapore and France, India, Australia and Uzbekistan.
Rural and Maritime Development Minister Mosese Bulitavu recorded $34,910.63 in separately identified per diem and daily subsistence allowances.
The parliamentary response also recorded $22,184.29 in meals and incidental allowances for Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. This amount does not represent all accommodation and other travel expenses incurred during his overseas engagements.
