Pressure is mounting on Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka for his decision over the fate of the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Lynda Tabuya.

This follows the decision by the People’s Alliance party’s executive council to remove Ms Tabuya from her position as deputy party leader on Monday night, effective immediately, over allegations relating to “sex and drugs scandal”.

But the decision by the Prime Minister, who, according to the 2013 Constitution, has the powers to appoint and dismiss Cabinet ministers, will not be easy.

For one, Ms Tabuya has been his loyal follower when he decided to appear in politics again in 2018 and then again when he resigned from SODELPA to form The People’s Alliance.

Two, that loyalty also came with big financial backing from Ms Tabuya including community support. Ms Tabuya bagged the biggest number of voters in the 2022 General Election for the party, with 11,965 votes.

The outcome of the decision follows a complaint by a party member who called on the party to investigate Ms Tabuya’s alleged sex and drug scandal that had been circulating on social media, blogs and through mainstream media.

Ms Tabuya faced the party’s sub-committee on February 12 at the Wesley Methodist Church in Butt Street, Suva.

On Monday, the party concluded with an incriminating statement of the ‘sex and drugs scandal’ as: “The People’s Executive Council particularly considered the severe and likely irreparable damage and disrepute that the scandal and the allegations surrounding it had brought to the Party’s image and reputation.

“The Executive Council therefore resolved, in the best interest of the Party, that the Hon. Lynda Tabuya be removed as Deputy Party Leader effective immediately as at the time and date of its decision, yesterday the Monday, 4th March 2024.”

The sub-committee, whose members names have not been made public, has been tight-lipped about the allegations when queried by the media.

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The allegations took place while Ms Tabuya and then Minister for Education, Aseri Radrodro, were on an official trip to the Parliament of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia, on August, 2023.

The Fiji Sun understands the disciplinary sub-committee had obtained solid evidence, resulting on the decision made to remove Ms Tabuya from her deputy leader role in the party.

“The Hon. Lynda Tabuya was informed immediately via the appropriate official Party communication of the Executive Council’s resolution,” the statement signed under party general secretary Usaia Waqatairewa said.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at the opening of Parliament in Suva on March 4, 2024. Photo: Leon Lord

A report was presented to the Prime Minister by the sub-committee on Monday night after the 2024 Parliament opening.

The Fiji Sun has been reliably informed that the PM is seeking legal opinion before making his call.

Fiji Sun could not obtain a comment from Mr Rabuka who is currently in Perth, Australia, who will deliver the RFMF Naval Division’s vessel RFNS Puamau to Fiji.

Ms Tabuya said she would not comment any further. She was in Tailevu yesterday handing over kitchen appliances to women in the province.

BACKGROUND

The scandal began when screenshots were made public alleging Ms Tabuya involved in an extra-marital affair with the now back-bencher Mr Radrodro.

Mr Rabuka sought an audience with the pair when the allegations first surfaced last September. Both denied any wrongdoing.

As a result, Mr Rabuka made a public statement confirming that he had met with the two Members of Parliament and both had confirmed that the allegations had no truth. Meanwhile, Ms Tabuya was removed as Opposition Whip in December.

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