IN the last few days, the main topic of discussion has been last week’s 48-hour strategic meeting held at the Suvavou House at the same time as the Opposition was trying to serve their election petition on Government MPs.
Government ministers actually met, discussed, ate and slept at their meeting venue.
The Attorney-General said that FijiFirst parliamentarians left the comfort of their homes to discuss “low hanging fruits” and the deliverables for
the year.
Government may have done us Fijians a great favour.
To hold such an important meeting at Suvavou House for two consecutive days and nights tell us that government meetings can be held anywhere, not in expensive hotels, maybe just with the addition of proper security personnel.
It is interesting to see how much in taxpayers’ money would have been spent if the two-day strategic meeting was held at a hotel in the Central
Division.
This is the total cost for at least 30 personnel spending two nights at a top Suva hotel with meals provided.
- Hall Hire: $1000 per day = $2000;
- Rooms: $350 per room inclusive of breakfast= $21,000;
- Buffet lunch: $60 per person (depending on menu) = $3600;
- Dinner: $80 per person (depending on menu) = $4800;
- Total: $31,400.
Now if it was held at another hotel near Suva:
- Conference room hire: $700 = $1400;
- Rooms: $199 local rate inclusive of breakfast = $11,940;
- Lunch: $15 (depending on menu, price could be higher) = $900;
- Dinner: barbecue $58 per person = $3480;
- Total: $17,720.
Whichever way they would have gone, that was a huge saving — up to $31,400.
This money can now be used for capital projects and could even be diverted to assist with rehabilitation works for families and communities still recovering from the wrath of Severe Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Meanwhile, there was also something that struck me on Wednesday evening (December 12).
What was striking that evening was the show of support by youths, who received support themselves from people bringing food or money for
them as they camped outside Suvavou House.
These were Fijians from all walks of life and different ethnicity who were bringing food for the youths, saying “thank you for what you are doing, know that we are behind you and we support you”.
So, with big cost savings made by the Government MPs billeted in Suvavou House and a passionate youth who kept an eye on them there, we can only hope that it’s all for a prosperous and better nation.
May God bless Fiji!
