GOVERNMENT staff will only be allowed to travel overseas if their trips are fully funded by external partners, as Fiji continues to tighten spending under fuel and budget pressures.
While highlighting this, Environment Minister Lynda Tabuya said ministries are now strictly following Government circulars issued by the Prime Minister, which restrict non-essential international travel.
“All our staff have had to reduce or stop travel altogether internationally,” she said.
Ms Tabuya said the Government had tightened travel approval processes to ensure public funds are not used for non-essential overseas trips.
While speaking on the fuel crisis, she said travel was now only approved in cases where external partners fully cover the costs.
“Now we have given some leeway, where if it’s fully funded by someone else, then we can attend,” she said.
She said the policy was part of wider efforts to manage operational costs while ensuring the Government continued to participate in important international engagements when necessary.
“Ministries must now carefully assess which meetings and conferences are essential and which can be avoided.”
She said the approach ensured that the Government remained engaged internationally, while also being responsible with spending at home.
