13 Apr 2022

Fiji representative at Palau conference tests positive for Covid-19

3:22 pm on 13 April 2022

At least one member of the Fijian delegation to the 7th Our Ocean Conference has reportedly tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival to Palau.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Photo: Facebook/Fiji govt

According to online reports from a former Fiji government advisor, several members of the country's delegation, including the Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, are self-isolating.

RNZ Pacific's Moera Tuilaepa-Taylor who is currently in Palau covering the forum has confirmed that Mr Sayed-Khaiyum failed to turn up at an event on Tuesday, but no reasons were provided for his non-attendance.

The Fijian authorities have not made any statements on the matter.

A year ago, in April 2021, the Attorney-General caught the virus when he allegedly gave a lift to an infected FijiFirst donor who had been in India on the flight returning Sayed-Khaiyum to Nadi following his heart bypass operation in Singapore.

He was a panellist at the 'Preserving Maritime Zones in the Face of Climate Change and Sea Level Rise' and attended the session via videolink.