In the 42 years since independence, there can have been few Fiji Days more inspiring than Wednesday’s celebration, or one so filled with hope for a better future. It was a magical day in which the country united both formally and informally and our spirits soared with the unveiling of the new-look Fiji Airways. The stunning new livery to be worn by the airline’s new A330s couldn’t be more authentic. It speaks to every Fijian in a way that we can all identify with, certainly judging from the enthusiastic, even ecstatic response of the audience at the re-branding function at the Village Six cinema complex in Suva. As the new aircraft loomed into view on the big screen and the locally-created fuselage motif was finally revealed, there were gasps of appreciation and spontaneous applause. There’s only one description for the new design. A triumph. It certainly makes the current Air Pacific aircraft look very tired and old in one fell swoop.
Everyone will have had their own experience of Fiji Day but what was striking for Grubsheet this year was the positive note to everything. The Bainimarama Government decided that we’d all grown a bit complacent about the importance of our national day. So it commissioned an advertising campaign aimed at getting us to reconnect with the celebration, encouraging us to “put up a flag and put down a lovo”. The television and print campaign – with its underlying message of racial and social unity – was polished, inspirational and another unadulterated success. Thousands of people – many of them decked in the flag – turned out at formal Fiji Day celebrations across the country. And then afterwards, they returned to their homes and neighbourhoods to celebrate.
Grubsheet was pretty cynical about the lovo bit until I spoke to a Indo-Fijian lady in one of the government offices when we all went back to work. “You wouldn’t have had a lovo, would you?, I said, expecting her to tell me about a curry lunch. “Yes!”, she replied. “We dug a pit and heated the stones and cooked all the usual things – dalo, chicken, pork. And then we had all the neighbours around”, she said. The new Fiji? No, just the old, only better.
Grubsheet watched the march through Suva marveling at this year’s turnout, reputedly the biggest Fiji Day crowd ever. How fantastic that Suva turned on a beautiful day after the miserable weather of the past. How wonderful that so many people joined the procession, calling out “Bula vinaka” and “Happy Fiji Day” to the many spectators along the route. It was a river of blue winding its way from the Flea Market through town to Albert Park, interspersed with the brass bands, kids on their parent’s shoulders, the extroverts breaking into their dance routines to the usual kailas and general merriment.
Grubsheet was standing outside the Holiday Inn, where during the coup of 1987, I witnessed Indo-Fijians being beaten by the racist mob, the dream of a united Fiji shattered. It was the worst of times that no-one who lived through them will ever forget. Yet twenty-five years on, that dream is being slowly rebuilt. And as I stood on precisely the same spot and watched the multiracial crowd pass by, in the highest of spirits and with the old tensions gone, I was struck by the enormity of the change. It is the best of times – or at least a hell of a lot better than it was then.
And so to the military parade – the official Fiji Day celebration to which the invitations say “formal, medals to be worn”. There were certainly lots of them on the chests of our fighting men. Whatever can be said about the RFMF, they certainly know how to put on a good show. From the time the parade commander, Lt Col Sitiveni Qiliho, bellowed out his first command, we were treated to an immaculate display of discipline and precision. The blue berets of the United Nations worn by some of the soldiers also reminded us of the RFMF’s valued contribution to keeping the peace way beyond our own shores. The enthusiastic applause that erupted for the parading troops is ample evidence that whatever the views of a handful of human rights advocates, many ordinary people appreciate their contribution to our collective security. They help keep us safe and unmolested, the greatest human right of all.
For Grubsheet, two things stood out as the President left the parade ground and the occasion dissolved into friendly informality. The first was the sight of the American military attaché, Colonel Boswell of the US Marines, in friendly conservation with local officers, including the RFMF Chief of Staff, Brigadier-General Mohammed Aziz. The Aussies and the Kiwis were again nowhere to be seen. The second was the sight of the Military Commander and Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainmarama, seeming relaxed and utterly at ease with the crowd. He posed happily with the redoubtable Bubu Kini, the elderly Naitasiri lady who is a regular at almost every public event. And as he stood there, ordinary people, and especially children, started to come forward to shake his hand and be photographed with him. Tentatively at first and then en mass as it became obvious that the PM was thoroughly enjoying the encounter.
It is the antithesis of the image of the feared dictator portrayed by the anti-government blogs. It is the Prime Minister’s political opponents who have cause to fear him at the ballot box when democracy returns. Because Grubsheet has never seen a Fijian leader more relaxed and connected in the presence of ordinary people. Not Ratu Mara, not Timoci Bavadra, not Sitiveni Rabuka, not Mahendra Chaudhry and not Laisenia Qarase. They all had an element of reserve and awkwardness that is totally absent in Commodore Bainimarama. He will be a star campaigner come election time.
And then the evening’s events, first the official Fiji Day cocktail party at Government House hosted by the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau – resplendent in a red bula shirt – and the supremely elegant First Lady Adi Koila Nailatikau. The guest list ranged across the broad church of the Fijian elite. Earlier in the evening, the President had broadcast an unusually pungent Fiji Day message in which he openly campaigned against calls for the country to be declared a Christian State. Grubsheet wondered about the private thoughts of some of the Methodist Church leaders present at Government House. And of one of the Government’s staunchest critics who was also present – the Rewa high chief Ro Teimumu Kepa. Yet this was a day for remembering the ties that bind rather the issues that divide. Glasses suitably charged, the President proposed a toast to Fiji Day and everyone responded with one voice. Government House has never looked better and is certainly one of the most majestic legacies of colonial rule.
And so finally across town to the Air Pacific launch – undoubtedly the hottest ticket of the year for Fiji’s beau monde. The invitation stipulated formal wear, which had the men dusting off dinner suits long forgotten at the back of the closet and the women sliding into their slinkiest ball gowns. Sweltering Suva frankly isn’t the best place to be dressed up like a penguin and the Prime Minister very sensibly broke the dress rules and turned up in a bula shirt. Now that’s real leadership in Grubsheet’s books and the precedent has been set for breaking all the sartorial rules at future events.
In his speech, Commodore Bainimarama said he could think of nothing that symbolised Fiji’s independence more than its national airline and now it would carry the nation’s name when Air Pacific becomes Fiji Airways next year. “It is essential to Fiji’s sense of worth and the independence that we celebrate on this day. It makes us all proud. It makes our spirits soar.” We all drank to that too. And then had another. And another. It was that kind of day. The best of days. A day that Fiji shone brightly again. A day for dreaming.
Impresionante!
Fiji Day celebrations for me were just fantastic.
Oh man – you should have seen all the people who participated and the march, the band, etc…………….. just fantastic! If you came – you will certainly agree. Actually I traveled quite a distance to witness this event. And it was really a worthy one.
The thing is – whether we are pro or anti the VB Govt – we must remember that this is our beloved nation and we must be proud of it.
We must protect our beloved Fiji and move her to a prosperous future.
Go Fiji Go………….. and God bless Fiji!
What’s happened to the usual critics – bowled for a six
I would have loved to be there to smell everything and clean my eyes seeing our people in all those colours and all those wonderful smiles, now my eyes getting blurry, but as my work is on the other side of our planet, I just have to make do and imagine what Graham wrote,vinaka vaka levu Graham, moce mada vaka lailai
It was a wonderful Fiji Day because at last we are all Fijians united in a vision for a strong and self reliant Fiji that is no one’s girmitya waiting for handouts.
As we went back to work – oh, what work in the Govt Buildings, Graham Davis – to write this piece? And those photos – oh, boy, oh boy – exclusive right to run behind, in front and the back of the dictator to capture best shots for Qorvis? As to the logo – beautiful, just beautiful – but more the reinforcement of Fijian Fiji than the multi-racial Fiji Day atmosphere you conveyed to us.
Oh dear, another sour puss lost in cyber space having strayed from Coup 4.5.
Sounds like someone has insecurity issues!
Graham, there is nothing sour – in any case, Coup Four Point Five was founded by Indo-Fijians and is still run by them – so there must be something rotten in the state of Fiji, you pussy!
Ah, not just any old stray but a trusted insider. Sour nonetheless.
Dance Dance, Dance away Tabale , right to the Kingdom of Tonga !!
Ther’s a new Fiji on the horizon, untainted by racism of past !!
Really shows how immature you are when you start calling other people female body parts! Very childish!!
Excellent day for Fiji. Truly triumphant.
I find it absolutely disgusting on opening the Fiji Sun that it is re-producing your article – there is definitely a conflict of interest or are you trying to kill to birds with one stone – making money from Qorvis and appeasing the dictator in Fiji
Crosbie Wlash reveals your dark side:
Then comes another Australian journalist and Grubsheet publisher, Fiji-born Graham Davis who now spends half of every week working in Fiji for Qorvis, the Bainimarama PR consultants.
Please ‘Fijian Trooper’ I humbly ask of you to please refrain yourself from these types of comments.
Graham can publish his articles wherever he likes – there’s nothing wrong with that. For those who are against the Govt – you too have right to publish whatever you like in whichever media outlet you want. There’s nothing wrong with that – provided the media outlet is willing to publish it.
If we do not wish to read someone’s article then we just flip the page and ignore it. We are not forced to read anything.
I read both pro and anti VB Govt comments and just gather the good and serious points from both – and make up my own mind in seeing things more clearly.
If you think readers needs to read a counter to Graham’s views on certain issues then please feel free to advice us. We need to have tolerance and some respect for one another and try and really see what they’re trying to say so we can identify problems and look for its solutions.
Hope you will take heed of my humble request as we the ordinary people are tired of all these back-stabbing, finger-pointing, and all the rudeness.
We want to move forward – please!!!
What a great article! Keep it up and coming Graham!
Graham, thank you for writing an article which focussed on the qualities that bind us, rather than those that divide. It’s been a long time coming and I appreciate it. I hope it’s the first of many more.
@ Fijian trooper,
I’m not sure if you’re trying to stir abit of emotion from Graham or just don’t have the understandings of how the press operates. The Fiji sun isn’t reproducing Graham’s article rather publishing his views hence it clearly states that the article belongs to Graham. Along the lines of quoting individual or organisation comments, statements, etc etc.
If reading an article about the joy of every Fijians on the celebration of our anniversary makes you disgust then I wonder what makes you happy???
As for appeasing Frank and making money from Qorvis seriously fella in one short three line paragraph you manage to deviate from the topic in strides more enormous then Jenifer Lopez bottoms – no disrespect to Miss Lopez I for one am a very big fan.
In your rather too short comments you mentioned Graham working for Qorvis twice, fella we know, just like other readers of Fiji sun we are educated enough to make up our own mind, don’t disrespect us.
Anyways back to the topic, what a very proud and jolly period we are having as a country, truly independent especially from certain regional players, a brand new name of our airline that will line up besides some great airlines in various international airports where everyone would be able to see the Fiji name and straight away associate it with our beautiful island paradise, something we can all be proud of. Same goes for our great personnel in the military who regularly do Fiji proud in various UN peacekeeping missions worldwide.
Slowly we’ll get there, go Fiji go.
Thank you moto bitu, fijian trooper is a sore loser and an idiot not worth replying to.
Gracias moto bitu, soldado de fiji es un mal prededor y un idiota vale la pena respondera.
@ Fijian Trooper
Whats wrong with birthday celebrations?
Dont you believe in celebrating anniversaries with members of your household – spouse, children, your mother, father etc?
Isn’t celebrating such occassions a universal human trait of caring that sets us human apart from the animal kingdom?
Are you human?
Or is that your hatred of the current government has stripped you of all your humanity?
You sound like the Taliban.
Go and cry into your beer you souless creature.
Reading Graham Davis’s piece on Fiji Day celebrations makes me wonder how long has he lived in Fiji, how much of their feelings he is in touch and familiar with or even how he could conclude that the new design on the Fiji Airways tail is the collective sysmbolism of Fiji’s happy people.
I must admit, I didn’t know that Graham Davis was now living most of his life in Fiji, and I wonder if I’m correct in thinking that the Regime pays him to put a angelic white lime coating on the cemetery filled with rotting bones that is really Fiji.
A handful we might be, but democracy advocates around the world are the only voices allowed to speak for the grassroots people. If Graham thinks that attending formal functions at Government House or witnessing the launching of the national airline’s new look is the true indication of feelings throughout Fiji, than I would like to disagree with him. In fact, those functions cannot be more detached from the realism of actual spirits or feelings of individuals, families, groups or the nation.
In the six years since the illegal takeover of government, the regime has not been able to live up to their promise of cleaning systems of corruption. Instead, they have damaged Fiji’s economy, abused human rights and used the military to intimidate the populace into delivering a picture of normalcy and “everything is OK” to the international community. At the same time, creating similar offences themselves, some on bigger scales. That cannot be put down to “what we have to do to bring change”
No one can tell me that the international community is irrelavant to Fiji’s growth. So it is paramount that Fiji satisfies their requirements for an engagement and subsequent association.
What the regime has been doing is searching for countries who would somehow agree with their illegal position, approve of their roadmap to democracy or ultimately LEGITAMISE their existence.
That is the oxygen the illegal regime is longing for, and Graham Davis is trying to convince the people who read his grubsheet that they have attained that.
No, they haven’t Graham. and a parade, a formal function at Government House or the new design on the tail of Fiji Airways, nor the one name/identity will provide that for Bainimarama. An election or a return to true democracy through the ballot boxes will. It has to be a return free of flaws, conspiracies, intimidation or involvement of the military. Only then, will legitamacy be obtained.
The Sydney celebration of Fiji Day could be, if not, bigger than Fiji’s own celebration. They are not there because they support Bainimarama, because they are celebrating an important part of our history. They are also there to help our young upcoming sportsman/women be recognised, fashion designers and music groups be exposed to Australia and most importantly, to meet up with friends and families from Fiji. To describe the celebration as an indication of Bainimarama’s sucess is impish and in my view a bad attempt, a very bad attempt to convince anyone, except those who have benefitted from the coup, like Graham Davis himself.
To conclude here, I am inviting Graham Davis to the AGM of the FDFM Australia as its President, to come and hear a counter argument to his/Bainimarama’s stance, also convince us with true evidence of growth in all sectors of Fiji’s operating machinery. I can tell him, that I can provide him with evidence of an argument he wil find hard to respond to.
John Baledrokadroka,
Stop using Suli’s name as a front for your postings.
You are a coward for doing so.
Suli does not live in Fiji. He only bases his info on hearsay. I live in Fiji and am better attuned to what people think and feel at this time. Most of all I pay tax to the Fiji government whereas Suli does not…and therefore he has no moral right to criticise what going on. But the morality of his situation is lost on this poor deluded soul.
As a i’taukei I dont have any issue with the use of i’taukei symbols as national icons. After all we have been using the drua, the saqamoli, the tanoa etc since the colonial days. So whats with the pbjection now with the use of the ‘Teteva’?
The lady who designed the teteva motif has no problems having it used. She is being renumerated for it. So whats the big deal?
Whi are you to speak of behalf of all other i’taukei? We have got the gen on you now that you have enetered this space.
Werent you arrested by Australian Police some years back for pushing drugs there in OZ? Please come clean on this because thats what we hearing here on the streets of Suva. So whats drug pusher lecturing to us about morality?
E sega ni e via rogoci iko…na tamata macawa.
Comment on coup.5 regarding Suliasi’s piece:
Anonymous Anonymous said…
Sa bau dua na da o rawata Suli. O Grahan sa lai BBC, ABC qai mai vosa. O iko o borthy wavoki tu ga ena engineer ni mataivalu ni Viti. Vakaluveni yarayara ka dau vesu mona wavoki tu ga ena gauna ni cakacaka. Tukuni mada mai vei keimami na cava o sa bau rawata? Tamata a bula tu ga ena Dole se unemployment benefit ni Australia. Sa rauta mada! Borthy!
English translation – Have you even achieved anything Suli? Graham has extensive experience and he can talk. But you, you were nothing more than an engineer in the army. All you did was impregnate women around the place and conning people wherever you went. Tell us, what have you really achieved? You have been living all your life on welfare support and unemployment benefits in Australia! Stop wasting your time!!!
Hahahaha those comments summed it all up for you Suli? Please crawl back to your dirthole….its people like you who somehow feel an inch of importance over that side but we all know that when you go back to Fiji, you’ll be nothing more than the water boy filling the basins for the grog mix for the real MEN!
Toso Viti.
David Pfilger was hired by Air Pacific. Can we say that the Interim Government had a hand in his hiring? Of course. Down from $98 million loss to a $11 million profit in 3 years is no small feat.
Now we see the success of the Air Pacific. Not only temporary but we can see a brighter future and the current board of directors have set a platform for future success. Never have I seen a scale of planning and implementation as this.
Suliasi cut the crap and give credit where it is due.
Tomasi,
I have invited Graham Davis to Adelaide, to attend our AGM on the 17th of November. There he can see another side to his views and opinion. He could at least counter balance what he sees in Fiji with other views and opinions from others excluding the FDFM. Now, that would be a forum where Graham Davis can hear what others FREELY think and say – and where he can sell the story of his illegal regime. I am looking forward to hearing from him.
@ Suli
You know where to shove your invitation…..up a place where the sun dont shine!
You guys have fired all your shots – ‘Black Tuesday’…’Operation Jericho’…your (sorry Fraenkel, Lal, Mara & JB’s) ‘Ten Point Plan’ etc…all collapsed…..no one in Fiji is the least bit interested in following the garbage your mob puts out
Do you know why?
Because you guys have nothing constructive to offer. You dwell on the past and want the old racially divided Fiji to return where certain people are able to keep their snouts in the trough and keep the rest of their taukei brothers poor.
Komai above has asked that you explain yourself as we have never heard of you before – your education, employment, record of public service, achievements, police record etc.
Only after you do that will we be able to judge whether you have the qualifications and credibility to speak on anyone’s behalf. The info I am getting from around the grogbowl here in Suva about you are pretty negative so far. No one gives a shit about you. So please explain yourself so that we of the current generation who do not know you can judge for ourselves.
It is our future in Fiji that you old scumbags there in Oz and the US etc are messing with.
SD
Why on gods earth would anyone in their right mind want to go to Australia to learn about what is happening in Fiji. Think about how stupid that sounds, just take one moment to reflect. Especially when we can walk out our font door and speak to every day Fijians in our own country, those Fijians who are taking advantage of the positive changes this government has introduced. We can drive into the rural areas and speak directly to the people of this country, we can understand their concerns, need and wants.
Or as you suggest we can get on a plane and travel to Australia to listen to a bunch of ‘has been’s’ who have no bloody idea what is happening in their own country, except what you brainwash them to believe, and listen to them tell us how bad things are back home. Remember this is a home that most of them have not stepped foot in for years.
Reality and perception are miles apart.
Definition of a ‘has been’
A person, especially one formerly popular (not sure you were ever popular Suli) or influential (I think NOT), who continues in their field after their popularity or effectiveness has peaked and is now in decline
And how many people showed up this time? Was it more then five!?
@ Suli
I have a better idea. Why dont you and Baledroka2 demonstrate some real courage and leadership by going to Fiji and (10 personally present your views to the Ghai Commission (2) organise a public meeting to present your views on as you have posted.
Its time you present yourself to the Fiji public – your educational qualifications, your record of public service, your financial background including your debt situation, your Police and Military record etc.
If you want people to come on side, you have to be transparent. You really show us that you really have the goods to speak on behalf of others you claim to represent because talk is cheap. Any fool can claim they speak on behalf of others.
So, please show us that you are both (Suli & Jone) men of courage by coming to Fiji and speaking out like you have done on the internet and in the media there in Australia.
If you decide to come over I am sure my brother Chand will be pleased to invite you around for a few bowls on the verandah at Bob’s Eletrical in Ono Street, Samabula. Areh Chand baya…batao!
Oh my brother…bula. AAre yaar these guys ..well quite frankly I just don’t know what to write about these guys….I’d like to have an open debate with Brij/Friggin Fraenkel/and this Wadan guy alone my brother….all three versus me…you just taki for me.
Anyways if this Wadan guy decides to contest (I think Suva City Gujratis) are preparing him for this)…..we might collide….keep on posting my brother….always a pleasure to read good and informative postings and hopefully will provide the ammo…..to take on these guys.
Kind regards
@ Chand
Bula bro. Just sitting here with a mate enjoying a cold ‘Vonu’ at the beach restaurant @ First Landing Resort in Vuda.
Aaah…Fiji….the place to be
PS: many people here do read postings on this site. It helps them form an opinion of what is going on. So keep up your posting
Moce mada
@ Chand,
Bro…next tme you coming home for a visit give me a yell…..I know a lady here in the canefields who makes the best crab suruwa…ek dum kalas this one bro…we just buy the crab and give her $50 to cook it up with a few roti’s. She knocks it all up in les than an hour…..her family is happy…we happy…so all is good.
God Bless Bro
@ Komai,,,,,
Next time I come home (very soon), i will give you a yell yell too baraca. Love to have some crab surwa and roti.
Cheers …………………………………….!!!
You welcome bro
Just swung by for a quick roti at ‘Tata’s’ curry shop on the Nadi back road (next to Hindu temple there).
They advertising curry ‘Junglee Murgi’ as curry ‘uncivilised chicken’.
Thats their English interpretation of junglee murgi
Only in Fiji, bro!
Stay safe
Suli
Instead of posting your crap in matavuvale, you tube and coup 4.5 come to fiji and explain to us what your organisation is all about. Barking from across the Tasman wont give you any credibility.
Majority of grassroot Fijians dont know who you are and dont care. Qai lako mai ni sa oti na veidigidigi baleta na qai qo sa na qai ga o malekate se o cate, se kuvai.
Who is this fellow Suli?
From postings above he is an unsavoury character who has a murky past.
Same too with Baledrokadoka, that bullshiot Army ‘Land Forces Commander’ who only lasted one day in the job.
Graham, can we get a rundown on these two guys?
I suggest anyone with info on these two guys should email Graham direct.
Lets find out who these two guys really are
Leaving political views aside as expressed by some), thank you Graham for your very interesting, informative and encouraging coverage of the celebrations in Fiji.My heart and prayers are for Fiji’s blessings of our Lord.
Can I make a general plea for people to make their comments here in the English language?
It is an English language website for all readers. The same goes for Bhutanese or Swahili. Vinaka.
So will you be coming to the FDFM AGM Graham ? It’s in Adelaide on the 17th of November.
Suliasi, it’s thoughtful for you to invite me but I think there is little point in me taking up the invitation, judging from your previous comment. As you clearly indicate, you are not open to my arguments about the benefits of the Bainimarama Government’s reform program and it’s clear that I beg to differ about your own ideas for Fiji. In any event, Adelaide is a long way to go for an idealogical arm wrestle, however entertaining that might be. Thanks anyway.
@ Suli
Will your Viti Revolutionary Front (VRF) be providing security at this meeting in Adelaide?
Will Mara be there? And will he, like the last time, let JB do all the talking n explaining?
What about the FDFM mentors John Fraenkel and Brij Lal – will they be there too?
Are you able to provide us with an agenda or program of that meeting?
Will you be providing people with your CV so that we can determine your leadership credentials?
If you want us to support your FDFM group you need to be more open and transparent. We are not fools you know.
By the way, are you able to confirm your drug dealing conviction that people here in Suva are talking about?
Hey – so who from the free press will be attending, and how many photographers? Here’s another great opportunity to illustrate to the world the strength behind your movement!
Please also publish the venue for this, not just the date, across all online publications in all languages and all media channels across the pacific. Let’s take your message to the world!
How about catering – if a good cause doesn’t do it, the prospect of a free feed will? It’s bound to be a sell out! Now there’s an idea – what about selling tickets? You’ll make millions!!
@ Graham
This is the sort of self-promotion and taukei crap that Suli promotes on the Matavuvale website. It is exclusive only to one race..more than that, by using his own dialect Suli is being more exclusive. He is deliberatley thumbing his nose at your ruling to keep it in English. It time to wipe this scumbag from this site
Hey muchachos, is this the same suli dude who is a big time blogget in matavuvale and who has a gringo as a sidekick.
Vinaka vakalevu Vili e na vosa dodonu & momona.
(Thank you Vili for your straight talking)
Suli should tell us who he is – public service record, education, employment etc.
After all he is saying he represents some people and that he is the leader of that clutch of ethno-nationalists in Oz who want a return to the old Fiji.
He is crying out for democracy but a requirement of democracy and especially leadership in a democratcic society is for leaders to be transparent.
Lets see if Suli can meet this most basic standard that he is demanding of others. Let the public be the judge.
Vakamacalataki iko mai Suli. (Explain yourself Suli)
Suli
Can you form a political party with you as party leader and contest the next election. Ken zinck, kaitani, ted young and vayeshnoi in nz will be your members.
Get with it brother; Ken got out of Fiji – do you think he’s even remotely interested in Fiji now, let alone going to Adelaide? Hell no! He’s made it to the promised land and frolicking with the rest of his kai vatas. Why go back to Fiji and work for aliving when you can sponge off the Aussies? My bet is he’s on the look out for a new wife so he can get residency. Lock up your daughters!
All exchanges here in the i’Taukei language have been excised. I made a ruling on this some months ago and logic dictates that I be consistent.
I regret if this upsets some people but I repeat that this is a site for everyone in Fiji and English is the common language. There are plenty of i’Taukei sites but this is not one of them.
These exchanges also break the house rule that the comments must be relevant to the subject of the article.
Thank you all, for the profound interest in my qualifications and work history but I must say, you guys have shown some arrogant attitude in demanding I present these here while none of you have done the same. Some of you are even writing under pseudonyms yet you want details of what Iam and have achieved. You make me laugh but it is a free world and you all have rights to say what you want.
Me on the other hand, will excercise my rights to voice my opinion and if you want to know about me, you can do whatever you need to do to know me. It shouldn’t be hard.
As for you Graham Davis, it’s a pity you will not allow other views to be considered in your decision making. I said that you could hear what OTHERS have to say about the situation in Fiji – NOT my view or that of FDFM. They are independent speakers and you could even have a chance to ask a few questions if you like.
Since you have declined, I will conclude that Bainimarama’s views are the ones you prefer to believe without the check mechanism of an opposing argument. I thought that this would provide you with a more concrete and educated position of issues at hand.
Anyway, good-luck with your promotion of the illegal regime.
@ Suli
You are the one who is claiming to be the leader of this pro-democracy group. No us.
All we want is a better idea of your leadership credentials. If you want to put yourself out there, and if you want us to follow and support you, dont you think we need to know more about you and your organisation and its forthcoming meetin in delaide as per my post above.
How about you put up your CV for us to judge? Stop side stepping the issue
Meantime, have a blessed Sunday
@ Suli
There you go again, ducking and weaving…avoiding the question people in Fiji are asking.
Who are you? What are your qualifications? What makes you think you should lead us away from the current government? etc etc.
Vosa mai, kauka ni levea tiko na taro momona eso (stop ducking the question people are asking)
We belong to the new Fiji and we will not follow any asshole who claims to be a leader. You have told us in your earlier post that you are the leader of a pro-democracy group in Australia and you have invited Graham to attend your meeting in Adelaide.
But when people ask you about your credentials as well as other questions about this meeting, you side step the issue. Na cava o lamutaka? (what are you afraid of?).
Tell us about yourself and your achievements. If not you are just another conman and BS artist in cyberspace…another useless oxygen thief….
Komai,
Col. Jone Baledrokadroka doesn’t write for me or make decisions for me. I can do that on my own.
Thanks for the clarification.
Now please answer the questions other posters have been asking you about your qualifications to lead us away from Bainimarama and his government.
Your credibility is on the line here my friend.
Make no mistake. If you cant stand up to scrutiny and are not prepared to be open and transparent about yourself, then you are a CONMAN.
Please now explain yourself. Many of us want to make informed choices. permit us to do that by simply explaining your leadership ansd public service qualifications.
Oi, o iko….Suli,
Sauma mada mai na taro e cake (please answer the questions posed above by various posters)
Kakua na lamusona tiko (dont be afraid)
Suli,….. luveni kawa ca o iko…..vosa mai
(Suli, you mongrel, please speak up …respond to requests for you to explain yourself )
Keimami se waraka tiko na nomu i’ vakamacala
(We waiting still for your explanation)
Suli
Why should we show our qualification here when none of us professes to be a leader or pres ident of anything. Just who the hell are you dude, you aint speaking for me or people in my yavusa.
Graham
S daunitutu thinks that he is some kind of ayatollah who lives abroad and try to sweet talk the fijians to stand up and fight the regime for him.This guy is believing his own BS.If this is the kind of people who are aspiring to lead the Fijians, may god help the fijianpeople.
Graham, I’d suggest that you give a little slack on our Sister’s and Brother’s who write in our different dialects provided that whoever writes in our Fijian language and dialects translate it in english in open and closed brackets, just like how Pious have done above, sometimes we express ourselves better in our language and the massage hits home, it’ll be a plus too for those who were born in Fiji but don’t speak or understand the language, this’ll be another opportunity to learn our language.
Vincent, I don’t have any trouble with that at all.
Suli daunitutu holds no formal qualifications or a public service record. He is a phony period.
Suli
If wadan narsey can go and talk in Fiji without retaliation from the regime why cant you? My problem here in the US is I am living here illegally and I am only doing this so I can get my papers, and I dont know how long I am gonna wait
To
Tevita Korodrau.
So you leaving here in the illegally just like Roko Tui Dreketi’s daughter. I go to work everyday and pay taxes so that our US government can improve health, education and infrastructure. I don’t want my tax money in anyway help illegal aliens like you and Kepa’s daughter.
If you wondering how i came to the greatest country in the world (USA), i came legally.
Not only that I served in the military. Yes signed a blank cheque to the USA willing to give the ultimate sacrifice.
And im patriotic to the US not to Fiji.
I just want to ask you and all former Fiji citizens are you patriotic to the country stay in or Fiji.
One more thing my nationality now is American but my ethnicity is Indian.
Was proud the day i become a US citizen. The blue Fiji Passport was used to start charcoal in the bbq.
So to all former Fiji citizens please be loyal to the country that you hold citizenship of. You cant serve two masters at the sametime.
@ Kumar,
Pal, if you really used the fiji passport to start the charcoal for your BBQ, then you are definately an insane, stupid and an idiot.
The soil that brought you up, fed you, clothed you, educated you and made you what you are today don’t mean anything to you anymore?
Shame on piglets like you and to those who think like you.
Beena pendi ke lota hai tum !!!!!!
Kumar
Dont claim to be a soldier when you are not you coward. A soldier will never burn a passport because I was also a soldier in the 82nd airborne division and served in Panama.
I still have my Fijian Passport and jumped with it to Panama to oust Manuel Noriega and is still one of my prized possession to this day even though I am a naturalized US citizen
Suli who has grown fat living on welfare, and has not denied the allegation that he once peddled drugs, is not a role model for future generations. Just drink your grog (brought at Australian taxpayers’ expense), have a talanoa, have dinner, go to bed, and repeat the next day.
can’t even do an honest day’s work and trying to preach to th erest if us. who the hell do you think you are?
Fijian community has better leaders and role models than you. You just talk too much, but never achieved anything; you don’t even have a record that you can publish. Just a loser and an opportunist, a waste of time and space.
Do us al a favour and crawl back into the hole you emerged from.
Suli,
It doesnt matter if we hide behind pseudonyms! We’re not the ones calling for Fijians to rise again..your cronies did that in 1987 and 2000….unfortunately, Fijians and i-Taukeis are no longer as gullible as you would like to believe! Thats why your FNPF video lacked substance and something else….yes, credibility!
So why don’t you post your qualifications and your credentials here once and for all so we can judge for ourselves about the man that wants to apparently bring Fiji of its knees!!!!! While you’re putting that one up, maybe you want to talk a little about your experience, your work history, maybe some family history! Dont worry, we wont use your ‘kawa ca’ (bad blood) against you! We just want to see what kind of hole you’re shouting from!
So be a man!!!!! How’s about it suli? Your CV and experience or is the shocking realisation that you are nothing more than a nobody really starting to sink in…AGAIN?
Some very interesting comments directed at Suli, one thing he forgot is actually Fijians enjoy a good gossip hence coconut wireless is a common slang. All the details of his life might actually originate from some of his inner circle of friends. Alas he might have actually realise now that being a political leader comes with afew strings and on those strings transparency is at the top.
I’m interested to see if he will actually answer some question or atleast try. Otherwise he’s barking into the wind as well just like the other similar self proclaim democracy fighters. One thing I find strange is that he invited Graham to Aussie to hear other side of opinions yet he failed to realise actually it would be easier if he just type it in here because not only Graham should hear his side but so do the rest of us or does he not think we’re worthy it.
Atleast in here we can debate about it therefore getting his views scrutinised and if he manages to withstand our debates then he would have a pretty solid reason to his opinion.
It’s one thing manipulating the common villager and less educated Fijian as for the educated ones like most of us in here, we’ll that’s a different ball game all together. If he does decide to air his views here then he should be prepared for a cross check scrutinised debated.
@ Marcy & Moto Bitu
You guys hit the nail right on the head with your post above.
Suli has lived in Ozzie all these years and fails to grasp that there is a new Fiji – we now have a more enlightened educated public who will not be conned by CONMEN and rabid ethno-nationalists like Suli who think their ‘vesu mona’ tactics will work on us.
We demand credible leaders because our experience has taught us that we have been used by these unscrupulous, self serving, semi literate ‘vesu mona’ types of which is the perfect example.
When you question them about their commitment to the democracy by telling us about themselves (education, public service record, military record etc) they shut up and crawl back under the rock they came from.
We will hold aspirational leaders to account for themselves in the way many posters have banded together on this forum to demand that of Suli. I think that is a good sign. It is reflective of what I said eralier – WE WILL NOT BE CONNED ANYMORE!!!
Lets stand up for our children and grandchildren by demanding more from those who aspire to lead us. We expect robust intellectual debate on important issues that affect our future.
Clearly this Suli is a ‘no body’ with nothing to offer the people of Fiji. We still waiting for him to explain himself. But he has retreated in the face of our demands for transparency.
Lets maintain the pressure these wannbe leaders.
suli ,is this where you hiding now ,I’ll get my troops to rally you here ,you up for it ,just dont run away from the other forum where you posted LIES ,and never showed uovto apologise
the FDFM and DFFM USA needs be classified as terrorist group
suli is a former disgruntled army officer from rabuka regime ,the FDFM and DFFM are just conning their own ppl ,the biggest conman is tevita korodrau of DFFM USA president
the DFFM USA consist of overstayers in Santa Rosa ,their leader is conman tevita korodrau
Dear Suli,
You have once again proved what a coward and sly con man you are! Nevermind, its not like we didnt know or anything. We thought that with your current preaching, you would have had the balls to present your background so that we could either support you or mock you! Judging from your lack of response, I guess the forum will go ahead with mocking you! But its not really just mocking you, its actually laughing AT you! We have come to deduce many things about you which include;
– sly character quite common with con men
– shady character quite common with con men
– unfounded allegations quite common with con men
– no balls ..again quite common with con men
Please save all the dole money that you’re collecting from the Australian taxpayers (which included my hard earned cash) and take a trip down to Fiji and see for yourself that there is a big difference between whats happening there as opposed to the little party thats taking place in your head everyday!
I’m sure that Air Pacific/Fiji Airways will offer you 30% discount! In order to make you feel more welcome, we will take you to your village where those from your family now have access to free education, good roads, electricity, water and medical facilities.
@ Marcy
You know that when bullies and cowards are faced with people with stronger morals and convictions, they retreat back into ther holes. Thats what Suli has done. He has shown himself up as being both of these.
More importantly, he has shown himself as being a ‘no body’ ….a drug peddler, a bigamist, a conman, an absconding debtor, a man who was dishonorably discharged from the military etc etc.
Yet he presents himself in cyberspace as being the defender of democracy in Fiji.
He and his fellow conmen in the democracy movement in Oz, NZ and the US, criticise Frank yet they dont even match up to Frankks record of military service, personal standards behaviour and leadership compared to Suli, Korodrau (the overstayer in the US) and Tawawili, that fat and useless dole bludger in the US who was kicked out of the Army for offering sexual favours to soldiers in the showers……Sick!
What village this dickhead (Suli) is from?
And now some commenters on C4.5 are alleging that Graham Davis is gay and has HIV. What a horrible bunch of people! Also guys, one kerekere…no need to interact with Suli D, he’s irrelevant. He really is.
Sorry Bro,
You cant ignore these scumbags who claim the higher moral ground than us normal people when their own record leaves a lot to be desired.
They have to taken head-on and their hypocrisy exposed for all the world to see.
I agree with Kathy. We have to make a principled stand and demand more of those who think they should represent us. After all we have been conned before by these low-life’s of which Suli is the perfect example.
We cant have more of what was dished out to us in the past by unscrupulous polticians. Suli is trying the same game, but in his stupidity he thinks we have not progressed beyond 2000.
We have a right to engage and stand up against these opportunistic scumbags.
Suli D believes he is the Fijian male version of Aung sung suu kyi
Quite frankly Matt, no one gives a rats arse what Suli (the dole bludger) thinks.
He needs to get a decent job and stop being so pretentious.
Thought I should get that in, during a break in the ‘X Factor’, my kids and I are watching.
My husband cooking up a curry for us ….ya…hows that for domination?
Am I a Domantrix? No way.
LOL
Suli D….. redemption
Suli D = Setani in a human form.
Wei lei!, na bula (Oh! what a life), Looks like Suliasi Daunitutu stood on the Kadi’s(black ants) nest, it’s not easy to stand long on a Kadi nest, no wonder he lost hope and side stepped all the questions and requests, well, at least he gave us an opportunity to know his weakness
@Komai
That crab surua sounds veli veli nicely,I might just give you a yell too when I come home for a break.
God bless
The so called fdfm meeting in adelaide chief guest will be teimumu kepa who will update the members on the situation in fiji. After that they will soli for teumus pocket money. Easy way to make money, no sweat.
Then it is clearly an SDL meeting.
Why all this pro-democracry BS when they are nothing more than an overseas wing of the SDL?
Agree with Suli. @ those opposed…Typical kaiviti attitude asking for credential crap before hearing the substance of what one has to say.
Yes Fiji Day Sydney managed to collect over 10k Fijians from All different backgrounds considering our Multicultural Theme. Can i just remind you all that like Graham Davis, we live in a world of free speech hence the outspokenness of Suli and FDFM…whether they live in FJ or abroad we have ties and support the vanua, whther it be families living in urban and rural communities; than most of you hence their credibility and substance to voice.
People such as Graham aim to boringly bring disunity and shake the epitome of disunity amongst our people.
Sorry Graham but growing up in FJ does not cut it in terms of credibility for the majority…all you bring is a jaded views that is misconstrued and race defined…we just want peace and free voice in our country so as a responsible journalist, give us something that is unequivocally truth with the intention of uniting our people rather than taunting and irresponsible reporting and worse a vehicle for propaganda and lies…
@ Tia roko,
Yes you’re right we live in a world of free speech and Suli has every right to present his view, as I have said in my previous comment that its better if he presented it here too since not only Graham needs to hear it but so do the rest of us Fijian.
Now as for his credential, well that comes with the territory. To put it simply words and action have to go hand in hand and action is proven through past action and experience. For example a common conversation around the grog bowl is how to improve the sevens rugby team when it looses, people with wise and big words always have their say, people will hear it perhaps nod in agreement but after awhile they move on, now take a person by the grog bowl vs an ex national sevens rep like say Serevi, who has experience to go with his big words, now tell me who will people most likely believe?
Asking for credentials is not a typical kaiviti attitude, actually the typical attitude is quite the opposite which is why previous politicians have successfully manipulated them. It’s very much a western trait and what this shows is that the modern Fijian have been educated hence old school political manipulation through big words don’t fly no more.
Please don’t insult our intelligence with your backward comments, I conclude by leaving you with one of the worlds famous quote, “action speaks louder than words”.
Sa dr yani.
Hmmm wonder if my post will be posted or was it culled?
Just very quickly the background of Suliasi Daunitutu, went to Draiba Fijian School thence to Suva Grammar,he did not finish form 4 so he joined the Army in 1975 with Rural Develoment Unit,posted to Makogai with his troop.
He was a cook, he was famous wearing a green vest when in the Galley troops dont feel like eating when he’s the duty cook,why? sa rui duka, always complaining and never been honest. But he played Basketball for Fiji, and love smoking.
As for JB and the rest, I shall return.
Ni Bula,
Ihave explained in brief, who SD is, he is also known as DEE, he left this country for Aussie, leaving behind his poor wife and kids, I remeber going to watch the annual Sukuna Bowl few 2years ago, his father was sitting in front of me with SD children and his wife. Sd is now married to lady in Canberra and leaving on dole,few months back they were suprised when PSPMO Lt Col Tiokduadua visited them and also inviting them to come to Fiji, the invertation was from PM.
JB was the main guy behind the death of the CRW soldiers, it was his man from the Force Mobile that conducted this task under his instruction,his man also killed Niumaicere.
Au qai bulogoci kemuni tale yani.
Ni Dei!!