Fiji's Foreign Minister Defends Official Support for Overseas Representatives

Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister Sakiasi Ditoka has asserted the need for appropriate official support for the nation's representatives traveling overseas, while simultaneously rejecting extravagance in government spending.

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officials representing Fiji must receive the necessary protocol, security and logistical support to effectively carry out their duties.

Ditoka emphasized that officials representing Fiji must receive the necessary protocol, security, and logistical support to perform their duties effectively. He clarified that the extent of this support should be determined by the office holder's position, their responsibilities, and the specific nature of their engagement.

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the level of support should be based on the position of the office holder, their responsibilities and the nature of the engagement.

This principle, he noted, is especially crucial for the President, who holds Fiji's highest office and serves as the country's international representative. The same standard applies to the Prime Minister, ministers, ambassadors, and other authorized government personnel.

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this is not a call for excessive spending.

However, Ditoka was careful to distinguish this from a call for excessive spending. He stressed that public funds must be managed responsibly, and official travel should remain reasonable, necessary, and within the government's financial means. Fiji, he concluded, must find a balance between controlling expenditures and ensuring its representatives are well-equipped to advance the nation's interests abroad, as they carry Fiji's name and interests when engaging with foreign governments and international organizations.

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public funds must be used responsibly and official travel should be reasonable, necessary and within Government’s means.