Fiji Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirms termination of the Corvis contract. Video: The Fiji Times
By Arieta Vakasukawaqa in Suva
Qorvis Communications and Vatis — the two controversial public relation companies employed by the FijiFirst government to manage its public relations work — have been terminated.
This was confirmed by Fiji’s Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka outside Suvavou House yesterday during an interview with journalists.
Rabuka said the two companies would be investigated without disclosing more details.
- READ MORE: Graham Davis exposes Qorvis and Bainimarama
- Lawyer Draunidalo replaces Aiyaz as COC appointee in Fiji controversy
- FijiFirst seems to be ‘confused’ over role of Aiyaz, says Naidu
- Aiyaz ousted as Fiji MP over taking public office, rules Speaker
- Fiji’s PM Rabuka hits back: ‘We’ve every right to appoint and disappoint’
- Fiji’s draconian media law to be repealed for ‘free society’, says Gavoka
- 2022 Pacific political upheavals eclipse Tongan volcano
- Other Fiji reports
FBC News reports that Rabuka said: “I gave instructions earlier for their termination, the cessation of any appointment with them, and investigations on how the funds have been used and how much.”
He said the Ministry of Information would carry out work for the government.
Corvis has been highly controversial over its handling of Fiji public relations.
Heated debate over Qorvis budget
In 2017, there was heated debate over a motion to decrease the budget allocation for Qorvis Communications was moved by the opposition, now the government.
A budget of $1 million had been allocated for services from Qorvis Communications which was described as an “international public relations, advertising, media relations and crisis communications firm”.
National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad, then in opposition but now co-Deputy Prime Minister said the government did not need Qorvis Communications.
However, then Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum interjected and told the NFP leader to “stick to the motion” and not “make speculation”.
Arieta Vakasukawaqa is a Fiji Times reporter. Republished with permission.
