Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka confirms that he tried to intervene in the Joyce Aviation Academy issue as it involves a lot of people.
Rabuka says he had asked that they solicit the support of the International Civil Aviation Organization Authority, to come in and audit our safety requirements.
Insert: Rabuka on Joyce Dec 17
Earlier in Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Civil Aviation, Viliame Gavoka had said that safety cannot be compromised because aircraft demand precision, infrastructure demands vigilance, and the global community demands regulatory integrity after Joyce Aviation Academy's Aircraft Maintenance Organisation Certificate, expired on 22nd November 2025 following a regulatory assessment that identified repeated and serious non-compliances.
Gavoka says in this industry, shortcuts cost lives, and standards are the only currency of trust.
He says aviation safety is not just a technical requirement, it is a matter of trust, of lives, and of Fiji's standing in the global community, and it is the principle that underpins every decision we make and the foundation upon which our tourism economy and international credibility rests.
The Deputy Prime Minister says safety is neither optional nor negotiable, it is a rule that governs our aviation system and protects every passenger, every crew member, and every aspiring student in this vital sector.
When asked by fijivillage News, Gavoka confirms a team from Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji is being deployed to work with the team at JAG focusing on areas where weaknesses have been identified.
He says they have to do some handholding to ensure compliance meets the required standards.
Gavoka stresses that the CAAF people are professionals and will not compromise on safety, and their position on safety is very clear.
@fijivillage.com Rabuka confirms that he tried to intervene in Joyce Aviation Academy issue
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