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The saga of contemporary Fiji– the clash between the country’s opposing political forces  - can be very bruising if you become a participant. For its attempts to explain why Frank Bainimarama isn’t the devil incarnate, Grubsheet has been threatened with bashing, shooting and hanging. And all in the space of the past week. Why? Because we’re deemed … [Read more...] about #108 BELONGING IN THE NEW FIJI

"Fark you fat stupid uneducated palagi lard and kiss my ass": It beggars belief that the Samoan Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, would have as his media advisor someone like Tupuola Terry Tavita, who contributes such gems to Grubsheet.  What an adornment to Samoa this world class wordsmith surely is! What an adornment to the … [Read more...] about #107 SILENCING TUILAEPA’S RACIST LOUT

One person will be watching the current trial of Laisenia Qarase with more than usual interest - his predecessor as prime minister and would-be political partner, Mahendra Chaudhry. Will he or won’t he be convicted? Chaudhry knows that if Qarase is found guilty, he’ll be removed from the political scene and theirs will be the briefest of … [Read more...] about # THE POLITICS OF WATCHING AND WAITING

UPDATE -RESPONSE FROM DR MARC EDGE IN THE COMMENTS SECTION: You have to wonder what is going at the Fiji Times when its senior reporters write blatant commercials masquerading as news. How else to explain the piece below by Verenaisi Raicola extolling the virtues of the Cozmo Lounge in Suva? At the very least, this puffiest of puff pieces should … [Read more...] about #105 TESTING TIMES (UPDATED 8/7)

MORNING AND AFTERNOON UPDATES OF THE PROCEEDINGS FROM FIJI VILLAGE: The most high profile legal case in Fiji since that of George Speight is underway in the High Court in Suva  - the long awaited corruption trial of deposed Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase. Right up until the last minute, Qarase’s lawyers had been trying to get the proceedings … [Read more...] about #104 TRIAL OF THE DECADE (DAILY REPORTS)

The New York Times and its sister paper, the International Herald Tribune, have carried the first in a series of stories on Fiji by Matt Siegel, their Sydney-based correspondent who gained unimpeded access to the country last month. There's no significant news break, which is mildly surprising considering Siegel had lengthy sessions with both the … [Read more...] about #103 NEW YORK TIMES ON FIJI