Local communications company Vatis was paid more than $889,000 over a three-year period, by the Department of Information under the FijiFirst administration for social media management services.

Prime Minister and Minister for Information Sitiveni Rabuka revealed this in a written response to a question from Assistant Education Minister Iliesa Vanawalu.

Mr Vanawalu asked the PM to inform Parliament of how long Vatis Communications managed social media platforms of various government ministries through the Department of Information, and the duration and monetary value of every contract.

Mr Rabuka said Vatis was engaged by the Department of Information from September 2019 to January 23, 2023.

However, he said, the department did not have the specifics of the engagement by the various ministries.

“The Department of Information entered into two one-year contracts with Vatis, commencing on September 24, 2019, and October 1, 2022 respectively, which also included provision for extensions,” the PM said.

“The first contract between the Department of Information and Vatis commenced on September 24, 2019 and was valued at $280,000 VIP.

“The second contract which commenced on October 1, 2020, was valued at $295,412 VIP.”

Mr Vanawalu also asked the PM whether Vatis was awarded the contract and formed before or after the publication of the first tender advertisement was published but not before the tender or expression of interest was officially closed.

Mr Rabuka said according to the Registrar of Companies records, Vatis was established on January 22, 2018, while the advertisement for the initial expression of interest for a social media management firm was posted on August 17, 2019.

When asked if the two main persons in Vatis were closely connected to a political party and whether the firm was in charge of the party’s social media platforms, the PM said the Department of Information was unable to comment on the matter as it was not privy to that information.