Minister for Rural and Maritime Development Sakiasi Ditoka has defended the Coalition Government in organising a repatriation flight from Israel in 2023.
On his social media page, Mr Ditoka said Government had done its part by organising the repatriation flight, securing the air corridors, negotiating flight windows and handling the schedules.
“These are matters that only governments have the authority to negotiate,” he said. “But when it comes to charter costs, as the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has rightly stated, defaulting passengers must pay their dues.”
He said the organiser should have considered the risks from the outset.
“Now don’t try to blame Government for the Fiji Airways saga. As the Deputy Prime Minister, Viliame Gavoka, has already said, this is a purely commercial arrangement and should be treated as such.”
