Ketan Lal Caught Lying About Tongan Navy Visit, Says Minister Bainivalu

Minister for Fisheries and Forestry Hon. Alitia Bainivalu has condemned Opposition MP Ketan Lal over what she describes as “baseless” and irresponsible claims regarding the visit of a Tongan naval vessel to Lakeba.

In a statement released yesterday, Minister Bainivalu said she was surprised by how quickly Mr. Lal had rushed to the media without verifying the facts, falsely suggesting irregularities in the arrival of the Voea Ngahau Siliva, Tonga’s naval patrol boat.

Earlier, Lal had claimed that a Tongan navy vessel had arrived unchecked by authorities in Lakeba with dignitaries and crops—a claim that has since been proven to be completely false.

“The vessel arrived in Suva and berthed at the Republic of Fiji Navy’s Stanley Brown Base after full diplomatic clearance coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all relevant border agencies, including Immigration and Biosecurity,” Minister Bainivalu said.

She noted that Fiji Navy Commander Commodore Timoci Natuva had confirmed in the Fiji Sun that the visit followed standard clearance and berthing protocols. Upon arrival, the Tongan crew also presented their sevusevu to the Fiji Navy, in line with Pacific traditions of respect.

The minister added that security and logistical arrangements for the cultural visit were coordinated by the iTaukei Affairs Board and the Fiji Police Force, with Republic of Fiji Military Forces engineers deployed to Lakeba as part of the preparations.

Minister Bainivalu rejected claims that the delegation disembarked at Lakeba without immigration or quarantine checks, describing such suggestions as misleading and an insult to the hard-working officers who protect Fiji’s borders and enforce biosecurity laws.

“Fiji is not a country where border and quarantine controls are bypassed. These allegations undermine the dedication of our officers who work every day to uphold our laws and safeguard national security,” she said.

Lal’s short political career, after entering Parliament with a minuscule number of votes, has already been marred by controversies, including allegations of broken promises to local charities and community groups.

“If Mr. Lal truly cares about transparency and public confidence, he should first seek accurate information from the responsible authorities, rather than spreading speculation and politicising a historic event celebrating the strong ties between Fiji and Tonga,” Hon Bainivalu said.