Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday fired one back to those who have been questioning how much he gets in allowances while on an overseas trip.
Mr Rabuka made the comments while addressing the Fijian community in Cook Islands who had organised a farewell function for him.
“Some of us have been criticised for the allowances that we get from our own government,” he said.
“They do not realise how important it is, how important it has been for the communities of the Pacific.
“For the leaders to come together and talk very freely.
“And they go back with joy of seeing the true spirit of the Pacific, the Pacific way of talanoa and the family way of vuvale, maintaining the peaceful nature of the Pacific.”
Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad says the public can expect a “substantial reduction” in ministerial allowances, when he moves a motion in this month’s Parliament session.
While talking about ministerial allowances, Prof Prasad also pointed out that all members of Parliament were still on a 20 per cent pay cut, which was introduced in 2020 by the former government, as part of COVID-19 mitigation measures.
The Prime Minister arrived back home early this morning on a Fiji Airways charter flight after spending eight days in Cook Islands where he attended the 52nd Pacific Forum Leaders Meeting.
