Fiji's Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama is overseas. We know that because a senior government official has confirmed it.
But where he is or why he's away is anyone's guess.
Frank Bainimarama. Photo: Fiji govt
Speculation is rife among the local media and online that the Fijian leader is seeking medical treatment abroad.
Bainimarama was last seen in public attending the funeral of an official from the iTaukei Affairs Board in Suva on 5 January.
Following the devastating floods caused by Tropical Cyclone Cody on 10 January, the Prime Minister was nowhere to be seen.
Instead, his Disaster Management Minister Inia Seruiratu has been doing the rounds - visiting affected areas.
Seruiratu has also has acted as PM in Mr Bainimarama's absence in the past.
TC Cody left one person dead and widespread damage to homes and infrastructure.
A massive clean-up campaign is underway across the country.
When contacted this afternoon, Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete said Bainimarama is overseas but he could not give any details about the PM's visit.
"The prime minister is abroad but the details of his visit are not with me. I have been in the islands the last week and have only got back into town.
"But maybe you could talk to the Minister for Economy and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum."
Fijian Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama meets the family of the late Ratu Serufoama Savu Dakuna following the funeral service in Suva on 5 January. Photo: Facebook / Fijian Affairs Board
Sayed-Khaiyum has not responded to a request for comment including officials in the PM's Office and the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
Fiji's opposition says Bainimarama should have informed the public before leaving the country.
National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad told RNZ Pacific Fijians have a right to know what's happened to their leader.
"We don't know anything as far as who is the acting prime minister if the prime minister is not in the country," Prasad said.
"We don't know why the prime minister is away. There is no information from the government."
"We have the right to ask questions, where the prime minister is. In any decent democracy - if the prime minister is going abroad, the honourable thing for the government to do is to inform the people.
"If he's not around and people are asking questions, then it's incumbent upon the government to say where he is and why he's not seen around," the NFP leader said.
Reports state Bainimarama is seeking medical treatment abroad. He is known to come to New Zealand for his medical check-ups.
It is not unusual for the Fijian leader to travel overseas for medical assistance.
National Federation Party leader Biman Prasad Photo: RNZI
But critics say if the prime minister is not able to seek medical treatment in Fiji amid the Covid-19 pandemic, he could be in a serious condition.
Former Fijian prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka said Bainimarama should have made an official announcement to Cabinet and to the nation if he was not in the country.
"There should have been an announcement if the Prime Minister was not here," Rabuka said.
"They should have announced before he left the Cabinet. And the Prime Minister informs Cabinet I'm going away for two weeks and in my absence, so and so will be acting PM.
"We need to be confident that the leaders are speaking to us and not listening to this minister, whose portfolio is totally different from health, talking to us about health or another minister talking to us with a different portfolio talking about another portfolio," said Rabuka, who is now leader of the Peoples Alliance Party.
A media conference is scheduled for later today.
New Zealand and Australia's departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade have not responded to queries over the whereabouts of the Fijian leader.
The Australian Health Ministry said it would comment once it had all the facts.
Fiji's Sodelpa leader, Sitiveni Rabuka. Photo: RNZ / Koroi Hawkins
