Chaudhry questions Rabuka’s priorities, calls for action on crime over overseas trips

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka should first bring peace to the people from the intolerably high crime rate at home instead of peddling his 'Ocean of Peace' abroad, at a cost of $3,000 per day to the Fijian taxpayer.

This has been highlighted by Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry who says the Prime Minister needs to get his priorities right.

He says the crime situation in the country has worsened under his watch and people no longer feel safe in their own homes, let alone in the streets.

Chaudhry says the latest shocking report of a person allegedly dying in Police custody in Nadi and his body dumped elsewhere, has shaken the people's trust and confidence in the Police.

He says the Coalition’s failure to appoint a substantive Police Commissioner for over two years has set the Force adrift.

The former Prime Minister says Rabuka’s frequent absences abroad have come at a high cost to the nation, and not only in terms of money.

Chaudhry says he has, more importantly, failed to keep an eye on the government at home which is his primary responsibility.

He says the Prime Minister’s overseas travel records indicate that he is amassing a fortune in tax–free travel allowances.

The FLP Leader says Rabuka may someday want to tell the poor of this nation, struggling under the yoke of his self-serving government, just how much he has pocketed in travel allowances in the last two years.

Chaudhry says Rabuka has failed to inculcate discipline in his government and to hold himself and his ministers accountable for improper conduct, as proven time and again.

While responding to questions on Straight Talk with Vijay Narayan, Prime Minister Rabuka has made it clear that Ministers who will not be performing will be moving out, irrespective of who they are.

While responding on key performance indicators for Cabinet Ministers and what they have to achieve year after year, Rabuka says they have their objectives, mission and vision statements.

He says he was spreading himself thin and w as too embroiled in his own portfolios and did not have time for leadership.

Rabuka says this is changing very quickly and he has been instructing the Ministers.

You can watch the full Straight Talk interview on our website, fijivillage.

Rabuka is currently in the United States to attend the national presidential prayer breakfast organised by the National Prayer Breakfast Foundation and the U.S. Congress.

Questions have been sent to the Office of the Prime Minister.