OPPOSITION MP Premila Kumar has questioned Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s leadership, saying his latest Cabinet reshuffle reflects uncertainty at the highest level of Government rather than a clear plan for delivering results.
In a statement, Mrs Kumar said the reshuffle raised serious concerns about whether the Prime Minister had a clear strategy for managing key ministries.
“The recent Cabinet reshuffle exposes a serious question about the Prime Minister’s leadership,” she said.
“Does he know who he wants to put in charge of his Government’s most important ministries?”
She pointed to the sugar portfolio, noting that Mr Rabuka removed Charan Jeath Singh from the ministry in January and appointed Agriculture Minister Tomasi Tunabuna, only to return the portfolio to Mr Singh months later.
“So what went wrong?
“Was the Prime Minister wrong in January? Did Mr Tunabuna fail to deliver? Or was the original decision made without a clear strategy?
“The Prime Minister owes sugar farmers an explanation.”
Mrs Kumar said the sugar industry was too important to be subjected to “ministerial musical chairs”, arguing that farmers needed certainty, consistent policies and long-term planning.
She also highlighted the Public Enterprises portfolio, which has shifted from the Prime Minister to Mr Singh and now to Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamikamica.
While acknowledging the Prime Minister’s authority to reshuffle Cabinet, Mrs Kumar questioned the purpose of the repeated changes.
With the next general election due by February 6, 2027, she said the Government should be focused on results instead of reshuffling ministers.
“Enough of the musical chairs. The time for experimenting is over.”
