Venkat Raman
Auckland, January 15, 2025
Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka has dismissed Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya from his Cabinet saying that his decision was ‘in the light of the recent events concerning her conduct.’
She will however remain as a Member of Parliament.
Mr Rabuka said that he decided in the interest of the people of Fiji.
It is understood that a private video (showing her in the nude) which she had intended for her husband was leaked to social media and called a ‘criminal invasion of privacy.’
She will be succeeded by Sashi Kiran, a member of the National Federation Party, a member of the current Coalition Government.
Party Investigation ordered
FijiVillage News quoted him as referring to some moves to expel Ms Tabuya from the People’s Alliance Party. If this eventuates, she may lose her Parliamentary Seat.
“The Fiji Constitution states that the seat of a Member of Parliament becomes vacant if the Member is expelled from the Political Party for which he or she was a candidate at the time of the election and the expulsion was under the rules of the Political Party relating to Party discipline, and the expulsion did not relate to any action taken by the Member in his or her capacity as a Member of a Committee of Parliament,” Fiji Village said in a news item.
The seat of the Member of Parliament becomes vacant only upon receipt by the Speaker of a written notification signed by the Leader and the Secretary of the Political Party notifying the Speaker that the member has been expelled from the Political Party.
“Mr Rabuka said that the People’s Party National Legal and Disciplinary Sub Committee has 21 days to respond to a report he received from a Party Member on Christmas Day. He confirmed that he received an email which prompted him to ask Ms Tabuya for an explanation regarding her nude video online. He also received a Party Member’s Report which he forwarded to the General Secretary and Acting Chair of the Party’s National Legal and Disciplinary Sub Committee to begin an investigation.
Inia Seruiratu lashes out
The following is another report that appeared in FijiVillage:
Vijay Narayan
Opposition Leader Inia Seruiratu commended Mr Rabuka for his decisive action in dismissing Ms Tabuya as Minister for Women, Children, and Social Protection.
However, he said that the situation raised serious concerns about alleged potential criminality and a possible cover-up involving both the former Minister and The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC).
Mr Seruiratu said that he would raise the issue in the Fijian Parliament to see that it gets the seriousness that it deserves, as the Fijian people deserve no less than honest, transparent, and accountable leadership.
He said that Ms Tabuya had earlier declared that she has been divorced from Robert Semaan since 2016, a declaration that exempted her from declaring his assets.
According to Mr Seruiratu, recent admissions suggested that they are still allegedly married.
He said that it raises serious questions around issues of honesty, transparency and integrity – three foundational qualities expected of a public servant.
“There has been a private video involving Tabuya in circulation, making matters worse. While Ms Tabuya said that the video was a private matter between her and her husband, this contradicts her earlier claims of being divorced. These further dent Ms Tabuya’s credibility of her leadership and the trust of the public.”
Mr Seruiratu said that Ms Tabuya is the Co-Chair of the National Taskforce to Address Pornography in Fiji and that the position calls for a very specific and strict code of conduct on matters of this nature. “Hence, Ms Tabuya is highly compromised,” he said.
