The Fijian Media Association (FMA) town hall meetings in Labasa and Savusavu have shown the critical role of information in deepening democracy and improving government accountability.
Addressing Parliament, Information Minister Lynda Tabuya said the sessions proved that when people were properly informed, they engaged more meaningfully in national decision-making.
“Information is the lifeblood of a healthy democracy,” Ms Tabuya said.
“As we’ve seen at the FMA town halls, through it, people hold us accountable, through it, they participate meaningfully in the life of the nation.”
She said her ministry would lead a nationwide “listening tour” to gather feedback directly from the people.
“You will see me in village halls, at the bus stand, behind the tanoa, not to give speeches, but to listen.”
Ms Tabuya said these face-to-face sessions would guide new reforms, including civic media fellowships, AI-powered SMS alerts, regional archive centres, and live multilingual updates on government services.
The minister pledged to digitise half of the National Archives by the end of 2026, saying the government’s website would be relaunched in January 2026 to ensure accessibility in all three official languages.
“Let me earn your trust not with apologies, but with action,” Ms Tabuya said.
“Let me prove that redemption in public service is not only possible, it can be powerful.”