Never has the old saying “a week is a long time in politics” resonated more strongly than in Fiji over the past seven days. This time a week ago, Bill Gavoka was SODELPA leader and outlining his priorities to the regional media. Now the AG’s father-in-law and “lame duck” leader has been sautéd in the political wok, and a lot sooner than I … [Read more...] about # “NEXT MATCH, NEW TEAM”. RABUKA’S MASTERSTROKE
# AND THE WINNER IS? “QUACK, QUACK!”
I expressed the view in last week’s curtain raiser for the vote on the SODELPA leadership that the party could choose a baboon and still have a good chance of beating FijiFirst in the 2022 election, such is the government’s parlous electoral standing. But never in my wildest imaginings would I have thought that SODELPA would choose a lame duck in … [Read more...] about # AND THE WINNER IS? “QUACK, QUACK!”
# SODELPA CHOOSES ITS LEADER
The Fijian people will know this weekend who will lead SODELPA into the next election in 2022 and, on present indications, the name of the country’s next prime minister. Because in the absence of any reform of the ruling FijiFirst Party to make it more competitive after its near defeat in 2018, Frank Bainimarama’s government is heading for … [Read more...] about # SODELPA CHOOSES ITS LEADER
# A TANGLED WEB OF SECRECY AND CONTROL (PT3) DONATIONS TO FIJIFIRST
The Opposition Leader, Sitiveni Rabuka, has embarked on an intriguing course of action by lodging a formal complaint with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) about campaign donations made to the ruling FijiFirst Party. The action is not only going to test the genuine independence, transparency and accountability of FICAC but … [Read more...] about # A TANGLED WEB OF SECRECY AND CONTROL (PT3) DONATIONS TO FIJIFIRST
# UNHOLY STORM IN A TEACUP. CUI BONO?
“Diwali uproar” screamed the CJ Patel Fiji Sun, characteristically throwing more heat than light on the debate about the merits of daytime fireworks intruding on the Christian Sabbath during the Hindu Festival of Lights. Anyone glancing at the government-controlled Sun might have thought that temples were being desecrated or Hindu devotees set upon … [Read more...] about # UNHOLY STORM IN A TEACUP. CUI BONO?
# US AMBASSADOR TO PACK HIS BAGS
The American ambassador to Fiji, Joseph Cella, is destined to become one of the shortest serving US envoys after his patron, Donald Trump, was given his marching orders by the American people in the presidential election. As a political appointment, he will soon be replaced by either another political appointment chosen by the election victor, Joe … [Read more...] about # US AMBASSADOR TO PACK HIS BAGS