This week, in “A Conversation with the PM”, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka addresses a range of pressing issues raised by The Fiji Times readers. From traffic congestion and electoral laws to government housing and climate resilience, the PM provides insights into ongoing policies and future plans. Key topics in this edition include potential railway solutions to ease urban congestion, the Government’s stance on political rebranding ahead of the 2026 elections, and efforts to improve healthcare and infrastructure. The PM also weighs in on controversial proposals such as limiting vehicle ownership, strengthening hate speech laws, and implementing roadside drug testing. Read on as he responds candidly to public concerns, outlining the Coalition Government’s strategies and challenges in shaping Fiji’s future.
1. Congestion problem – Meli Bogileka, Lautoka
FT: Many have pointed out the severe traffic congestion, particularly along the Suva-Nausori and Lautoka-Nadi corridors. Given the growing concerns, do you see the introduction of trains as a viable solution? And could China’s involvement in building these trains be an option?
PM: Traffic congestion has been a problem for Fiji, especially around the urban and peri-urban areas and the main arterial routes are also affected even on the highway. There have been studies and plans drawn up for highway bypass roads going from the Suva-Nausori corridor bypassing the Suva area either from the Kings Road — Sukanaivalu Rd junction in Nabua, or the Ratu Mara Rd — Princes Rd junction taking all the non-Suva destined traffic towards Lami, beyond Korovou. There are also ongoing studies and assessments on the feasibility of railway transportation with two of the leading railway proponents, Japan and Germany. So, in answer to this question, I say “yes”, it is being considered. Congestion on our roads is indeed a major issue in our towns and cities. The Coalition Government is already moving towards finding practical solutions. As part of this effort, public consultations on options to better manage traffic flow on our roads have begun. Suva held this public consultation just last week. From what I read, some good suggestions have been raised including carpooling and flexi working hours for schools and government workers, to mention a few. These are short to medium-term solutions of course. In the longer term, options like the construction of freeways and trains as the letter writer had proposed may have to be considered.
2. Re-election issue – Rajend Naidu, Sydney
FT: Do you remain confident in the support for your leadership within the People’s Alliance Party, especially considering the emergence of 14 proposed political parties aiming to contest the 2026 General Election?
PM: Anybody who is not confident of being elected should not even think of standing for elections. Yes, I am confident in the support of my party, both from our sitting members of parliament as well as from party supporters across the country. This is something I am very proud about the members of The People’s Alliance. By September this year, we will be three years old as a political party. Just 14 months after it was launched in the chiefly village of Nawaka, The People’s Alliance was in government as the major partner in the three party Coalition Government. Although we have had a few jolts and shocks here and there, in the main we have done very well as a political party. We have reached across the aisle in parliament and we have boosted our numbers in the House. Our coalition with the National Federation Party and SODELPA remains intact and strong. This is something we should be very proud about and I want to thank all our party members and supporters for all they have done and continue to do for their party. I am confident of my leadership in my party, so I will lead my party into the next election, with the aim of winning.
FT: What is your perspective on the rebranding of the former FijiFirst party into the Fijian First Party, and how do you think this will influence the political landscape leading up to the next general election?
PM: What’s in a name? The people look at the people involved! Whether it is rebranding or resuscitating, my perspective is welcome back!
3. Electoral laws – Pita Soroaqali, Rakiraki
FT: Should electoral laws be reviewed to ensure fair competition, including penalising parties that fail to meet the 5 per cent threshold?
PM: It will be an argument on the quality of democracy Fiji believes in, in relation to our concept of universal suffrage or universal franchise. The review of our electoral laws was a decision of Cabinet and this process is already underway with the appointment of four commissioners under the chairmanship of former chief justice Daniel Fatiaki. The Fiji Electoral Laws Review Commissioners plan to hold public consultations across the nation and I will urge your writer, Pita Soroaqali to take advantage of this opportunity in participating in the process of bringing about electoral laws that are fair and just for everyone.
4. Coalition Government performance – Areki Dawai, Suva
FT: Some critics argue that the Coalition Government’s approach and promises have fallen short of expectations. What do you say to those who feel the leadership has missed the mark?
PM: Rome was not built in one day. Nations and national development cannot be completed in one term of governance, and will never be completed. To try and meet everyone’s expectations is virtually impossible for any government in any country. Coming into office in the face of a huge unsustainable national debt, crumbling infrastructure in our water supply, our roads, our public hospitals and health centres, the Coalition Government know that it will take many years and a huge amount of money to sort out the mess that we inherited. We also know that while many of our people have been crying for government assistance in whatever situation they find themselves in, the Coalition Government will not be able to assist nor satisfy everyone’s aspirations or expectations. That is a sad fact of life. This is not to say, however, that we have given up, or that we will shirk from the challenge. Far from it. This is what we have inherited and all my Cabinet ministers including our assistant ministers are working hard to bring about the changes our people want and deserve. Remember, Rome was not built in a day, so this process of rebuilding and re-strengthening Fiji will take years. All I seek from people like Areki Dawai is their understanding and patience.
5. Equality and unity – Vijay P. Madhavan, Suva
FT: You’ve been praised for your stance on unity and equality in Fiji. However, there are calls to make derogatory remarks, such as “Go back to India”, illegal and punishable by law. What is your response to this suggestion?
PM: It is already in the law books — any utterances of a racial slur or that instigates racial hatred is punishable by law. We all abhor hate and derogatory speech, and all of us must play our part in calling out people who do so. Already hate speech and utterances that seek to incite violence or an insurrection is a criminal offence. While it may be difficult to stem out completely derogatory and racist remarks like the ones highlighted by your correspondent, the onus is on each and every one of us to;
1. Not indulge in such unpleasant and unacceptable speech, and;
2. Call out those who do.
6. Government housing – Jioji O. Toronibau, Labasa
FT: What plans are in place to address the maintenance and improvement of government housing, particularly in areas like Sukanaivalu Barracks and Vaturekuka?
PM: Ministries should have their own infrastructure repair and rehabilitation programs and budget, so that they are presentable and in good states of repair always — keeping abreast with the maintenance and repairs for damag caused by “normal wear and tear”.
PM: Government quarters in all our four divisions were in poor and debilitated state when the Coalition Government took office. The Ministry of Civil Service is responsible for quarters that come under the Government Pool Quarters classification. Both of the areas cited by your correspondent are in Labasa and under the Ministry of Civil Service, a maintenance and renovation work for Government Pool Quarters is currently underway. To date, renovation of 14 quarters in the Labasa area have been completed, and 10 more will be repaired shortly. Sukanaivalu Barracks is the property of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.
7. Renewable energy and infrastructure – Noleen Billings, Savusavu
FT: How does the Government plan to equip regions such as Rakiraki for renewable energy investments it advocates? If we’re not ready for such investors, what steps are being taken to align infrastructure with green development goals, and how is this being addressed at the Conference of Parties?
PM: Government will cooperate with investors wishing to develop renewable energy sources, but take into consideration the resource and landowners concerns. In areas where the landowners refuse to cooperate, the Government must look for alternatives because “Access to Affordable, Reliable, Sustainable and Modern Energy for all” is SDG 7. The need for renewable energy investments is underscored in the National Development Plan 2025-2029 and Vision 2050 of the Coalition Government. The NDP compliments the Fiji Climate Change Act 2021 which mandates that key national policies have to be aligned with Fiji’s Low Emissions Development goal to reduce emissions and achieve our enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution targets of 30 per cent emission reductions in the energy sector and achieving net-zero by 2050. Our updated Nationally Determined Contribution emphasises efforts to mobilise domestic and new investments toward sustainable development pathways that are focused on building synergies and bridging internal capacity and resource gaps. In fact these NDC targets for investment in renewable technologies has the potential to modestly lower expected average generation costs, and to significantly reduce financial risk for our electricity grid, improving energy security and serves as a risk mitigation measure against oil price volatility. The Coalition Government does recognise a need for collaboration and dialogue with the Energy Fiji Limited (EFL) board for alignment of policies with the NDP and the NDC targets, and to accelerate targeted investments for renewable energy technology and grid-integration plans.
8. Vehicle ownership proposal – Ravneel Sharma, Navua
FT: The recent proposal by the LTA CEO to limit vehicle ownership to curb traffic congestion has sparked outrage. What is your stance on this proposal, and what alternative solutions will the government consider to address traffic and economic concerns?
PM: Ownership of vehicles can be seen as a right, governed by law, which limits ownership to those that will not threaten public safety by owning vehicles. The Government can raise vehicle taxes and duty to restrict imports and sales, to keep the vehicle population compatible with the roads infrastructure, but more on fuel consumption importation, which is the major portion of Fiji’s imports. I believe this proposal is still under review and this has not reached the implementation phase yet. If limiting vehicle ownership will assist the Land Transport Authority in managing our roads better, then it is worth looking at. Our traffic congestion in many of our towns and cities are reaching crisis levels and I will urge the LTA and all relevant partners to bring about solutions that will alleviate traffic congestion.
9. Healthcare and tourism – Manavesi Lockington, Lautoka
FT: Many are concerned that the government prioritises tourism development over improving healthcare facilities. How do you plan to balance the development of world-class resorts with the urgent need to upgrade Fiji’s hospitals and healthcare services?
PM: Lockington is talking about two totally different issues. Hospitals and healthcare services are funded by government while the development of world-class resorts are funded by investors. I do not concur with the assertion that tourism development is being prioritised at the expense of healthcare facility improvement. I will urge your correspondent to consider the following. Each year for the past two years, Government allocated over $450million for the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. The ministry’s allocation is second only to the Ministry of Education’s budget allocation. The recent appointment of an Assistant Minister is testament to the priority Government accords to the public health sector. With the support of the World Bank, Government initiated a review of Fiji’s health sector in 2023 and from this report, we now know what our population health status is, and what we need to do going forward. Government has also increased the ministry’s capital budget to fund renovation and refurbishment works of the country’s public health facilities. Working with the Government of Australia, I launched early this year the re-development and Master Plan Project for the Colonial War Memorial Hospital in Suva. This is a $14.5m assistance by the Australian Government for which we are grateful. Last year we had introduced a suit of measures to improve pay and working conditions for our public health workers including increasing the retirement age, civil service wide pay rise including specific pay raises for various cadres of healthcare workers. It goes without saying that Government remains committed to lifting the health service and health status of the people of Fiji and we will continue to collaborate with and work together with like-minded partners to ensure we have a far better public healthcare system than the one that we inherited two years ago.
10. Roadside drug testing – Meli Bogileka, Lautoka
FT: At a recent public consultation, it was revealed that roadside drug testing has not yet been approved in Parliament, despite growing concerns about drug use among young drivers. Can you assure the public that this Bill will be passed to enhance road safety?
PM: I support the idea raised by Bogileka, and I will follow it up with Cabinet. There has never been any consultation on the Bill regarding roadside drug testing. There is also no existing legislation for the Fiji Police Force to conduct roadside drug testing. Furthermore, any drug testing from any person would require the consent of that individual since urine or blood and any body specimen (saliva, spit, hair, sweat, fingernails, or breath) will have to be extracted as sample for testing.
11. Public utilities and climate change – Edward Blakelock
FT: Prime Minister, do you believe the ongoing issues with public utilities are more a result of climate change or a lack of political will, management, and administrative effectiveness?
PM: All of the above! Climate change has increased the severity of rain, winds and sea level rise, they damage public utilities beyond previously budgeted regular and progressive maintenance. Government can increase maintenance and repair budgets and reduce “growth” budgets, i.e more repairs and maintenance less new kilometres of new roads!
FT: If governance and administration were strengthened, how confident are you that Fiji could better adapt to climate change challenges?
PM: Climate change is not determined by governance, however, good development strategies eg; in the development of renewable energy sources, sustainable use of natural resources like forests, can help reduce carbon emissions, contributing to global atmospheric carbon emissions reducing global warming, contributing to sustainable changes. One option, Fiji and the Pacific Islands have avoided because of the misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the Rarotonga Treaty on Nuclear and the Pacific, has restricted the discussion of the use of MMR’s (Micro Modular Reactors) as a sustainable source of clean and affordable energy in the small economies of the Pacific.
12. School bullying
FT: Given the recent reports of bullying incidents in Fiji’s schools, what immediate measures is your government implementing to address this issue?
PM: Although this was “situation normal” during my school years, it is not a “taboo” issue. Parents, teachers and all, must collectively hold hands and cooperate to stem out bullying in schools.
FT: There is concern that the current school behaviour management policies may not be effectively deterring bullying. Are there plans to review and strengthen these policies to ensure a safer learning environment for all students?
PM: It must be a community effort and agreed solution — the schools’ communities, teachers and parents organisations, churches and old scholars association coming together to talk about the problem and work out solutions that can evolve into the future culture of school life without any trace of bullying.
13. Electoral law reform commission
FT: The Electoral Law Reform Commission, chaired by former chief justice Daniel Fatiaki, will begin consultations next week to review electoral laws.
Does the Government have the political will to ensure that the commission’s report will see the light of day?
PM: It will all depend on whether the Constitutional Electoral Provisions can be changed or not.
No matter how good their report and recommendations are, if the Electoral Provisions of the Constitution are not amended — it will have been an exercise in FUTILITY! If the Coalition Government did not have the political will, the Electoral Law Reform Commission would not have seen “the light of day” in the first place.
