No detention centre in Fiji, Immigration Ministry must really look into – PM

A shocking revelation has been made by Prime Minister and Minister for Immigration Sitiveni Rabuka, as the number of illegal immigrants into Fiji has doubled within a year, and there are no detention centres for illegal immigrants, which his Ministry for Immigration must really look into.

While responding to a question from the Leader of Opposition, Inia Seruiratu, on the progress of the discussion on setting up a detention centre, Rabuka says at the moment, there is no detention centre in Fiji, and illegal immigrants are held with convicted criminals.

He says a better resolution would be to avoid or prevent immigrants from staying longer than they should be.

The Prime Minister says there are more than 8,000 illegal immigrants in Fiji presently, and this number has doubled within one year, as reports from 2023 showed that there were 4,709 illegal immigrants in January.

He adds that it was a concern for the then Minister that the number had increased.

When questioned by Opposition MP Jone Usamate why some Pacific Islanders remain in the country, the Prime Minister says the main reason for Pacific Islanders overstaying their permit or their allowed time is kinship.

Rabuka also highlighted in Parliament that today was a very important day for him because, on the 6th of December 1987, he gave away all the powers he had.

He says he gave it back to Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, made him President and went back slowly to the camp.

He also says he remembered in 2006 he was sitting in the same Parliament venue which was a court room and he was told that he was not guilty and a free man.