PRIME Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has defended Minister for Information Lynda Tabuya’s trip to Israel, saying her participation is essential to presenting the trip from a woman’s perspective.
“There is a lot of interest in Fiji, and a lot of anti-establishment sentiment has been expressed,” Mr Rabuka said.
“We’d like someone to go there and bring out the reality on the ground from a woman’s point of view, noting that we have servicewomen also in the Middle East.”
When asked whether this responsibility should fall to the Minister for Women, Mr Rabuka was clear: “No, Minister for Information.”
Speaking on Ms Tabuya’s travel to the Solomon Islands for the Pacific Islands Forum, despite director information Samisoni Pareti already attending, he said her attendance was mandatory because of “a lot of interest in the zone of peace”.
“She justified her going to the Solomons because of a lot of interest in the zone of peace, and the declaration and the memorandum of understanding that we signed with Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, and the Marshall Islands.”
An alleged list of government officials travelling with the Prime Minister that was circulated online showed Ms Tabuya, Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua, and Republic of the Fiji Military Forces Commander Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai would be part of the official delegation.
Questions about the authenticity of the list sent to the Prime Minister yesterday remained unanswered.
