Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka held a bilateral meeting with the Secretary-General of the Commonwealth, the Rt Hon Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey, and her delegation ahead of the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting, which begins in Nadi on 9 February.
Also attending were Foreign Affairs and External Trade Minister Sakiasi Ditoka; Acting Attorney-General and Justice Minister Siromi Turaga; Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister Dr Lesi Korovavala; Solicitor-General Ropate Green; and Permanent Secretary for Justice and acting Permanent Secretary for Women, Children and Social Protection Selina Kuruleca. Accompanying Botchwey were senior Commonwealth Secretariat officials, including Deputy Secretary-General Dr Arjoon Suddhoo.
The meeting marked Rabuka’s first engagement with Botchwey since her appointment. He congratulated her on becoming the first African woman to serve as Commonwealth Secretary-General and reaffirmed Fiji’s full support for her tenure. He commended her vision for a transformed Commonwealth, particularly her emphasis on trade and investment as drivers of economic transformation, the empowerment of women and young people, closing the digital divide, and strengthening innovation and strategic partnerships.
Rabuka also welcomed Botchwey’s efforts in steering the Commonwealth’s focus towards resilience, climate action, economic growth, and sustainable development—areas closely aligned with Fiji’s national and regional priorities.
Reflecting on Fiji’s long-standing relationship with the Commonwealth, Rabuka recalled the nation’s contribution to Commonwealth forces during the Malayan Emergency and its pride in that service. He acknowledged the challenges Fiji faced following its suspension from the Commonwealth and noted the country’s subsequent re-engagement through continued constitutional evolution and democratic reform.
He highlighted Fiji’s “Ocean of Peace” concept, later promoted at the United Nations General Assembly, as a reflection of the nation’s commitment to peace, cooperation, and global progress.
On governance, Rabuka noted Fiji’s steady progress in strengthening democratic 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 Turaga outlined ongoing programmes focusing on rehabilitation, legal review, and the re-engineering of technical assistance, including support linked to elections and judicial processes.
Climate change was a key focus, with Rabuka highlighting the threats of 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 capacity-building initiatives.
The Prime Minister acknowledged assistance provided through the Commonwealth Climate Finance Access Hub (CCFAH), which has supported Fiji with human and institutional capacity building. To date, CCFAH 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 covered preparations for upcoming Commonwealth events, including the Commonwealth Law Ministers Meeting in Nadi (9–12 February), the Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting in London (6 March), Commonwealth Day (9 March), the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow (23 July–2 August), and the 28th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda (1–4 November).
Rabuka noted the scale and influence of the modern Commonwealth, which since its founding in 1949 has grown to 56 member countries across five continents, representing one-third of the world’s population.
Secretary-General Botchwey expressed optimism about the meeting’s outcomes, highlighting the strength of the Commonwealth’s 56-member network in sharing best practices and providing mutual support. She identified opportunities for cooperation in judicial reform, election observation, truth and reconciliation processes, legal drafting, renewable energy, climate action, and sustainable development.
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration across key areas, including governance, climate action, ocean sustainability, trade, innovation, and regional stability, ensuring the benefits of Commonwealth membership continue to reach communities across Fiji and the wider region.
