Fiji PM Rabuka orders fresh probe into resort poisoning
Fiji's government is conducting a fresh probe into a pina colada poisoning incident after an Australian victim revealed their distressing experience.
Seven people, including four Australians, fell ill after consuming drinks at the five-star Warwick Resort on Fiji's Coral Coast in December.
Deputy Prime Minister Viliame Gavoka said a toxicology report showed there were "no illicit substances or methanol" involved.
One of the victims disputes this, saying she was violently shaking after "two sips" of an odd-tasting pina colada. She fell unconscious and spent three days in a coma in a Fiji hospital before a medivac flight and another six days in an Australian intensive care unit.
She spoke to the ABC under the pseudonym Suzanne to protect her identity.
"I've spent the last four months trying to recover, seeing lots of specialists, heart specialists, neurologists, blood specialists, trying to recover," she told the ABC.
Suzanne believes Fiji and the Warwick Resort is attempting to bury the significance of the incident and is considering legal action against the hotel, which she says has not apologised despite the "traumatising" incident.
Following the interview, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka conceded the initial testing may have been wrong.
"My first reaction, and probably the most logical response from me as prime minister, is that I have not been told the whole truth," he told the ABC.
"I would like all government agencies to cooperate if it's more than just a case of probable poisoning, accidental or intentional ... it will affect Fiji as a tourist destination.
"And if anybody is culpable in neglect or culpable in their deliberate attempt to harm people, they will be brought to justice."
Almost half of Fiji's GDP comes from tourism, with Australia and New Zealand providing the biggest share of visitors to the Melanesian paradise.
Mr Rabuka said would-be tourists should not be put off by the December incident.
"Fiji is still the same. That incident is an isolated one," he said.
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