5 Dec 2016

Fiji government distances itself from app launch

2:58 pm on 5 December 2016

The government of Fiji says it has not endorsed an app which Fiji's prime minister Frank Bainimarama launched last month.

Fiji PM launches Instacharge app in Suva

Fiji PM launches Instacharge app in Suva Photo: YouTube

The Instacharge app was developed by an American Douglas Stewart and launched at Suva's Grand Hotel in the presence of the local dignitaries, promising to be able to recharge a phone without a charger.

Critics dismissed the app as a con but the app developers have said a full statement will be released this week on the questions many are asking.

Fiji government Youtube feed about Instacharge launch

Screenshot of Fiji government Youtube video of Instacharge launch - video has now been removed Photo: Youtube

The telecommunications minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said Mr Bainimarama did not at any stage endorse the product, nor did he say the product worked.

The minister said Mr Bainimarama used the event to highlight that Fiji has made great strides in telecommunications, particularly in the ITC sector.

A Fiji government video on Youtube about Mr Bainimarama's launch has been removed.

A screenshot of the sparsely detailed Instacharge website.

A screenshot of the sparsely detailed Instacharge website. Photo: RNZI

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs