Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka today held a bilateral meeting with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Rt Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and her delegation in the lead-up to the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting that begins in Nadi on Monday, 9 February.
Also joining Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka at the meeting were the Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka; Acting Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Hon. Siromi Turaga; Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister, Dr. Lesi Korovavala; Solicitor General, Mr Ropate Green and Permanent Secretary for Justice and acting Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Social Protection, Miss Selina Kuruleca. Accompanying Rt Hon Botchwey were her senior Commowealth Secretariat officials including the Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, Dr. Arjoon Suddhoo.
The meeting marked Prime Minister Rabuka’s first engagement with Secretary-General Botchwey since her appointment, during which he congratulated her on becoming the first African woman to serve as Secretary-General of the Commonwealth. He reaffirmed Fiji’s full support for her tenure and commended her vision of a transformed Commonwealth, particularly her emphasis on trade and investment as drivers of economic transformation, empowering women and young people, closing the digital divide, and strengthening innovation and strategic partnerships.
Prime Minister Rabuka also welcomed the Secretary-General’s efforts in steering the Commonwealth’s focus towards resilience, climate action, economic growth, and sustainable development areas that closely align with Fiji’s national and regional priorities.
Reflecting on Fiji’s long-standing relationship with the Commonwealth, the Prime Minister recalled Fiji’s contribution to Commonwealth forces during the Malayan Emergency and the nation’s pride in that service. He acknowledged the challenges Fiji faced following its suspension from the Commonwealth, noting that the country has since re-engaged through continued constitutional evolution and democratic reform.
Prime Minister Rabuka highlighted Fiji’s proposal of the “Ocean of Peace” concept—later promoted at the United Nations General Assembly—as a reflection of Fiji’s commitment to peace, cooperation, and global progress.
On governance, Prime Minister Rabuka noted that Fiji has made steady progress in strengthening its democratic systems and institutions, with general elections expected later this year. He expressed confidence in the electoral process and welcomed continued Commonwealth technical assistance, particularly in electoral observation, legal reform, and institutional strengthening.
Acting Attorney-General Siromi Turaga outlined ongoing programmes focused on rehabilitation, legal review, and the re-engineering of technical assistance, including support linked to elections and judicial processes.
Climate change featured prominently in the discussions, with Prime Minister Rabuka highlighting the persistent threat posed by sea-level rise and extreme weather events. He expressed appreciation for the Commonwealth’s support in enhancing Fiji’s climate resilience through adaptation, mitigation, and resilience-building initiatives.
The Prime Minister acknowledged assistance provided through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), which has supported Fiji through extensive human and institutional capacity-building initiatives. To date, CCFAH support has helped mobilise nearly US$1 million in climate finance, including funding for an electric shuttle bus project, with a pipeline of climate-related projects valued at over US$60 million currently under development.
Discussions also focused on preparations for key upcoming Commonwealth meetings and events, including the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Nadi from 9 to 12 February 2026, the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting in London on 6 March 2026, Commonwealth Day on 9 March 2026, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow from 23 July to 2 August 2026, and the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) to be held in Antigua and Barbuda from 1 to 4 November 2026.
Prime Minister Rabuka acknowledged the scale and influence of the modern Commonwealth, noting that since its founding in 1949, it has grown to include 56 member countries across five continents, representing one-third of the world’s population.
Secretary-General Botchwey expressed optimism about the outcomes of the meeting, highlighting the strength of the Commonwealth’s 56-member network in sharing best practices and providing mutual support. She noted opportunities for cooperation in judicial reform, election observation, truth and reconciliation processes, legal drafting, renewable energy, climate action, and sustainable development.
Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration across key priority areas, including governance, climate action, ocean sustainability, trade, innovation, and regional stability, to ensure the benefits of Commonwealth membership continue to reach communities across Fiji and the wider region.
