The Fijian Government’s Look North policy in global affairs is well known – the change of axis forced on it by the uncompromising stance of its neighbours, Australia and New Zealand, in the wake of Voreqe Bainimarama’s 2006 takeover. What’s not widely appreciated is that the Government is also pursuing a Look North policy of a different kind – a domestic one. It’s engaged in a concerted effort to develop the Northern Division of the country in a broad arc from the western tip of Vanua Levu across the second biggest island to the third, Taveuni, and some of the islands in between. It’s one of the Government’s most ambitious projects but one that largely passes under the radar amid the day-to-day obsession with political events – the difficult birth of the new constitution and who will or won’t be allowed to contest next year’s election. This Look North policy could have far reaching consequences, demographic and economic. It certainly has the potential to alter the traditional dynamic of Fiji’s population flow, to arrest the urban drift to Suva and keep many Northerners happy where they are, with jobs and sustainable futures. It may even encourage more Fijians to move to the North, a prospect that undoubtedly pleases the burghers of Labasa – Vanua Levu’s biggest town.
Scores of millions are being spent on new infrastructure projects to end the traditional isolation of the North and its provinces of Bua, Macuata and Cakaudrove. Roads, schools, jetties, health centres, nursing stations, housing projects, Government Service Centres– all manner of initiatives are either completed, underway or planned. There’s not exactly a boom taking place or a mass migration to the North, more that a region that has always been chronically neglected is now getting some of the infrastructure it so badly needs. Suddenly, the sleepy North – where change can often be imperceptible over generations – isn’t quite so sleepy anymore.
Grubsheet grew up in Savusavu – the island’s other main town – in the 1950s and still finds it pretty much a facsimile of our childhood memory. In those days, there was no road to Labasa – the sugar town across the mountains – nor any way to get to Bua except on horseback or by boat. The Hibiscus Highway to Buca Bay had only just been built and was regarded at the time as a wondrous feat. Now an excellent road links Savusavu with Labasa and turn left on that over the mountains and the road is sealed all the way to Dreketi. But after that comes one of the worst stretches Grubsheet has ever had the misfortune to traverse – the muddy, stone-strewn track from Dreketi to Nabouwalu and the ferry terminus that links Vanua Levu to its big brother island, Viti Levu, to the south.
This week, Grubsheet met the Prime Minister off the ferry at Nabouwalu and accompanied his party for a portion of his tour of the North. He sets a cracking pace on these visits, three or four major events a day punctuated by travelling time and a total of ten formal speeches this particular week. It might leave his entourage exhausted but the PM seems to relish what used to be called treks in colonial times and especially his contact with ordinary people. Politics is all about authenticity and these exchanges can’t be faked. Of course, the PM keeps saying he isn’t a politician. But when that day comes – as most believe it will – he needs no training in how to engage with the public. The encounters are overwhelmingly spontaneous and warm, the jokes flow freely, the rapport instantaneous.
Those around him know that the PM can sometimes be testy, even fearsome, when he rebels against the sense of being trapped in the hothouse of government in Suva. But out here, he exhibits an air of genial informality. He thrives on his contact with ordinary people, who he says matter more to him than anything else. He seems to genuinely like them and they bring out the best in him, including a propensity for spontaneous acts of kindness.
Heading out of Nabouwalu towards Dreketi, our twelve-vehicle convoy bounced over canyons rather than potholes and sloshy mud rather than stony gravel. At one stage, the Prime Minister insisted on a detour to a side road that someone had told him was even worse. Sure enough, it was, and even one of the military vehicles became bogged. Suddenly the PM noticed some of the local children returning from school along the side of the road. They were all immaculately dressed in spotless white shirts and blouses but the rain-soaked mud was up to their ankles as they gingerly picked their way through it, cheerfully waving as the PM’s motorcade passed. Something seems to be triggered in Bainimarama in situations like this – his training as a soldier to act decisively merging with a decidedly sentimental aspect to his personality.
As they made their way home, little did these kids know that the Prime Minister wasn’t just feeling sorry for them – as the rest of us were – but was already on the phone organising assistance. 120 pairs of gum boots are now on their way to the local school for 120 pairs of feet. “I don’t want those kids coming to class and having to sit there with dirty wet feet”, he explains with the tone of a concerned parent. Those around him say there are dozens of such instances in Bainimarama’s working life. Some are publicised, some are not. But they all speak to a person far removed from the caricature of the brutal dictator peddled by the PM’s critics and the anti-government blogs.
By now, of course, those critics are gagging as they read these words. “Grubby” is an apologist for the dictator, an enemy of democracy, an agent for the destruction of the Fijian people. No. We’re calling it as we see it and what we see isn’t what the anti-government blogs claim. Nor, for that matter, what we’ve seen from Fijian leaders before. There’s a clear preference on the Prime Minister’s part to deliver better outcomes for ordinary people rather than get tangled up in the political intrigues that arguably prevented former leaders from doing the same. On this trip, as on others, the overwhelming refrain from the grass roots is warm appreciation that after years of feeling neglected, ordinary people are finally being listened to and receiving the basic services to which they’re entitled. And from the Prime Minister comes the constant refrain that it’s not enough to make promises. His Government is determined to deliver.
By this stage, one imagines, the critics are gagging even more. It’s the usual Davis apologia for the regime. These people, they claim, are forced to make these speeches because they know what will happen if they don’t. Well, the difference is that Grubsheet was there and they were not. The point is that authenticity and spontaneity are virtually impossible to fake. No one forces these people to do or say anything. They’re making speeches of support for the Bainimarama Government because it is demonstrably delivering better services for ordinary people, and especially in remoter parts of Fiji. The new schools and health centres aren’t cardboard cutouts wheeled in by the dictator – the kind of facades you see on movie sets – and then wheeled out when the media caravanserai moves on. They’re permanent reminders in the everyday lives of many that their interests matter for once. Government is listening, and delivering better access to electricity, clean water, roads, telecommunications, education, affordable housing, legal aid, skills training and government services.
Beyond mere distance, this is the real chasm between some of the attitudes of the educated middle class in Fiji’s town and cities and the rural poor. They simply don’t have the luxury to sit around debating whether our parliament should be bicameral or unicameral. Daily life is a constant struggle, sometimes heartbreakingly so. They would hardly be impressed if the PM merely came and sat with them in a makeshift vakatunaloa – as he did repeatedly on this trip – made promises and then left. What they’re seeing for the first time is a well-oiled government machine – Bainimarama and a clutch of ministers and permanent secretaries – swinging in behind their pleas for assistance and delivering tangible results. Those results underpin Bainimarama’s popularity and will be the springboard of his political career, presuming he takes up the challenge.
There’s another crucial element that is also overlooked – the distinct sense of unity and purpose that has taken hold in the country and replaced the racial and political divisions of the past. His critics allege that Bainimarama only embraced the multiracial ideal to give a veneer of respectability to a craven lunge for power. Yet he delights in the outward expressions of racial unity his rule has produced, clearly proud of having bestowed the title of Fijian on every citizen. In Labasa, he reveled in the sight of schoolchildren singing the national anthem in the three languages, so much so that when they asked him for a new building, the deal was virtually sealed on the spot. A case of sentimentality getting in the way of due process? Who cares. Genuine needs are being addressed.
The wonderful thing about the North is the seamless nature of race relations, the number of Kai Idia who speak perfect Fijian, the number of i’Taukei who speak Fiji Hindi. It’s not unusual to see Indo-Fijians sitting crossed legged among their i’Taukei neighbours at formal indigenous welcoming ceremonies, something Grubsheet has rarely seen elsewhere in Fiji. At the opening of the new Bua Nursing Station, there was an extra element, a generous gift from a local Indo-Fijian family – the Singhs – of an acre of freehold land on which to build the facility plus a $5000 cash donation. As the Prime Minister thanked the family, there was an audible chorus of vinakas. But what struck Grubsheet most was the sight of Mrs Singh giving media interviews afterwards in perfect Fijian, saying that her family wanted to put something back into the community as a gesture of thanks to their i’Taukei neighbours. How strange that such a supposedly backward part of the country be setting a national standard for racial integration. It certainly bodes well for the long-term future of the North – truly the way Fiji should be.
On his journey this week, the Prime Minister opened or launched all manner of facilities on Vanua Levu, Taveuni and Rabi – jetties, ice works, coconut processing plants, revamped health centres, rebuilt housing for hurricane victims and more. Yet easily the most significant event occurred on Friday at the ground-breaking ceremony outside Dreketi for the $228-million project to upgrade the road to Nabouwalu. It will take four years for the China Railways One company to rebuild and seal the remaining 70 kilometres of highway and finally provide a smooth, seamless route between Nabouwalu and Labasa. It’s easily the Government’s single biggest infrastructure project – 700 local jobs – and the cornerstone of its plan to accelerate development in the North. As the Prime Minister said in front of an audience that included the Chinese ambassador, it’s impossible to overstate the importance of this project. It will transform the economic prospects of the North and the lives of its people.
As things stand, Bua is the least developed of the country’s fourteen provinces. Yet it already hosts some major industrial ventures – a Chinese bauxite mine and Tropik Wood’s pine chip installation. Upgrading the road will not only be a major boost for them and the sugar and tourism industries but seems certain to attract more investment from companies that have baulked at setting up in the North because of a lack of infrastructure. But above all, it will be ordinary people who benefit – less stress, less dust, shorter travelling times, easier access for children to school, easier access to markets for small business people, easier access to health services for the sick. And for the first time, the prospect of further development and the prosperity that invariably accompanies it. As the Prime Minister put it, truly the road ahead is paved with opportunity. For the North and Fiji as a whole.
This article has subsequently appeared on Pacific Scoop NZ
I have come across one important thing in life…..very important: That is if you do things truthfully and with your heart, you have nothing and nobody to fear.
Sometimes you will need to stand alone but eventually truth triumphs and the following grows…
If you’re truthful, love and compassion comes naturally.
……like in bed, you cannot fakeit….and I take it that some will not know of the difference.
Thanks GD for the lovely piece.
In all that looking north I hope they looked at the run way in savusavu when are they looking at extending this? The biggest tourism area in the north keeps getting overlooked! Maybe they are looking to far north ! I hope the PM went down to see the environmental disaster on the Bua coast caused the Chinese bauxite robbers!
I’m lost for words ……………… all I can say is ‘thank you Mr. PM for all you have done for our beloved country.”
Yes I certainly agree – you have been the best performing PM Fiji has ever come across.
A PM who really cares about Fiji and its people.
His definitely getting my vote if he stands.
What you have posted is quite true – PM is much better out with the people than he is in the city or in front of the media. He is quite a populist figure in that regard. He is definitely very charismatic with the people
His weakness is that his Govt is not transparent enough, and he has given too much influence to one or two people in his inner sanctum, who wield this influence petulantly and egotistically for their own Macchiavellian ends.
These two factors taken together feed the famous Suva rumor mills and talanoa sessions around the grog bowls of Suva, and by extension the blogsphere.
If he dealt with these two issues – he would be a shoo in at the next election – assuming we have one!
Thanks Graham. It’s nice to see a piece about the grass roots developments taking place, which we hear so little about amidst the maelstrom of politics.
Good piece Graham.
What is so easily seen is the difference between a ‘Leader’ and a ‘Politician’.
An excellent post and very easy to read Graham.
Also pleasing to see development in the North. I was privileged to enjoy a village stay with an Indian family in Labasa two decades ago, thus connected with the story personally.
Good work.
Yes good to see 120 pairs were arranged on the phone but did they delivered? Can we get confirmation of this? I hear they are still waiting.
Winston, do you really think we are all that stupid? You “hear they are still waiting”? You can’t have even known about this story until the PM mentioned it yesterday or you read it in these columns last night or this morning. You have no idea which school it was or what settlement the children came from because it hasn’t been disclosed. So how can you have heard anything?
This happened late on Monday in a remote part of Fiji. The road has been blocked for some of the time and you can clearly see the picture of the military vehicle bogged on the same road. You can’t just click your fingers in this part of the world and deliver 120 pairs of gumboots. It is now Saturday. The gumboots have been ordered and doubtless they will be delivered. But let’s just get back to you.
This is the pathetic level of much of the anti regime propaganda. Sowing seeds of doubt and hoping everyone is so gullible that they will grow. And so we get “Oh, yes he might have done something good but I hear that he hasn’t delivered what he promised”. Bro you’ve tried to be too clever by half and you’ve been well and truly exposed. Labasa!
Hey GD let us all know once the gumboots are delivered. We wait in great anticipation. If the prison officers can work barefoot then not sure why kids needs gumboots will be what Frank will be thinking. Just ask the Taveuni prison officers.
Ps: wipe the brown yogurt of your face.
Cheers
BlackHat
So, Winston, no answer to the way in which I caught you out with a shameless lie. I’ll tell you something already, bro. You have drowned in “brown yoghurt”.
Only one caught out is you. Watch this space.
Yeah right. Pants around your ankles and still standing? Qori.
Winston,
…”If the prison officers can work barefoot then not sure why kids needs gumboots……..”
You see Winsi boy I can’t be as diplomatic as Riverside,Joe and mind you even GD has been courteous enough to offer you “brown yogurt”….
Everytime a numb nut like you appear on this blogsite, I have to restrain the mongrel…
Everytime a numb nut like you appear on this blogsite, the mongrel is forced to look towards his bitches and shake his head……
He even scratches his fleas out and look at numb nuts like you and shakes his head……alas he is still happy with his bitches and fleas.
He only needs someone to scratch his balls….
Sorry GD didn’t think the gumboots would hit your nerve so hard. You see when making promise to kids and then not delivering hits my nerve. I take it you have had the chat with you buddy frank and advised him that he needs to deliver. Took someone like me to ensure this is done.
You may have simply slipped it into your blog to get some sympathy but took someone like me to keep the bastards honest. Watch this space now that I have your attention.
Your lie has been exposed Winston and your credibility is now shredded.
Dont bother posting anymore coz no one will believe what you say
TAMATA LASULASU
Winston
Typical c4.5 comment based on hearsay and ucu mai duru.
You’re keeping the bastard’s honest, Winston? What a joke. You lied about having some kind of inside knowledge that the gumboots hadn’t been delivered so honesty ain’t exactly your strong point. Your pants are on fire, liar, and it was child’s play to expose you. Stick around by all means but it’s like shooting fish in a barrel. Or in your case, turkeys. Idiot.
What an uplifting and illuminating account this is, Graham, of what is happening in the Northern Division of Fiji. PM Bainimarama is clearly focused on the strengths Fijians are bringing to economic and social development and opportunity, while leaving his naysayers, including the Australian and New Zealand Governments, in the dust of his victories!
Fiji needed a strong and honest leader! All future leaders will be judged based on what this PM is doing! He has fixed the security of this nation. Fixed the hospital system, repaired the shortage of docs… even the Private hospital is struggling to recruit our CWMH doctors.. they are for the public system. Roads and Water departments restructured… More accountability of all finances. FICAC, efficient police force, efficient prisons system.. lands issues sorted, Land bank, Kings road done, New planes, new notes and hopefully new flag too, Laws modernized, repaired the scholarships system, there more scholarships on offer now, support for disabled people, new prison facilities, More digital access, FNU, UO Fiji, …..the list is endless!!! What did the chiefs and previous governments do…NOTHING ..except I can say… endless fighting of their share of the cake.. being a native I am ashamed that I was part of the problem..My views are changing now.. a revolution is occuring and I am glad to be part of it! Just read the papers and see the number of scholarships on offer..Turkey, Taiwan, China, Cuba, Australia,..PSC, Disadvantage scholarships,.. We can only move forward, PIF and the commonwealth groups may become irrelevant…Nobody really cares of PACER Plus will stop dumping of substandard good into pacific countries.. Yeah right.. Mutton Flaps anyone… show me evidence before Fiji can ban it.. but it was done.. under this PM! Thanks again sir..
Thanks GD. What a fine display of responsible reporting and journalism. This is the reality on the ground, not what Michael Field wants the international community to believe.
Thanks Graham and thank you honourable Prime Minister. You have fixed our roads, our electricity and our water systems, our sugar industry and our relationship with China. The Chinese have brought in all these skilled workers to built our infrastructure that we Fijians can sit around the grog bowls a little longer. And thank you for standing by your man when the media around the world try to portray Fiji as a human rights abusing dictatorship. They know nothing about your easy affability and your total honesty.
Can someone enlighten us on this gumboots?
Sai,
It’s a pleasure ……………
From Wikipedia the Wellington also known as the Gumboot;
Wellington boots are waterproof and are most often made from rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) a halogenated polymer. They are usually worn when walking on wet or muddy ground, or to protect the wearer from heavy showers and puddles. They are generally just below knee-high although shorter boots are available
@Patriot
You forgot one more important reform. The dishonest lawyers who have been ripping off their clients for years are now getting their just desserts in the Legal Commission.
Graham, I take it you paid for your own expenses, while accompanying Frank, for I see all the photos have your byline to them. There is a big difference – if an elected government had done all these – there would have been hue and cry in Parliament – no tender advertised etc – Chilean economy did very well under General Pinochet – for he did whatever took his fancy – so stop gloating about all these developments.
Yawn.
Taxpayer, the problem is none of the elected government in Fiji since Independence did any of these. They were all busy lining up their pockets and forgot about the “grassroots” whom they only visited just before elections to make promises which never eventuated.
3 Days, 28 postings and 2 numbnuts. Do we take the silence of the rest as an acknowledgement of the great job being undertaken by the government.
Or if we were to go by the logic of Winsi boy, we should be watching this space and having a hotline set up to the PM and the rest of us on the bright side become his messanger boys. Or alternately we should ready the drum and the fire to smoke up the great messages he is about to deliver……….oh…this reminds me of the great revelation Wilson…still waiting for his revelation…must have disappeared from the scene/jumped the fence/cin cined/changed id.
Frankly why am I shooting blanks…….oh its monday (should be capital M…eh cin cin).
Oh its so painful to be a taxpayer these days……especially now that one has to work and pay tax.
Pictures maan…pictures….I love to watch them…….even the occational pono….now I got that wRong eh cin cin.
…now Chand you’re getting dirty on the public forum……you will AROUSE the lefties and the tree hugging morally morals……
Damn its monday…
Very Good Article Graham.
Thank you PM – great work and achievement Sir.
I’m so living this great achievements…………………. yeah!
You mean ‘loving’ ‘Lighthouse’
Yeah…………….. me too!!!
No he lives it and loves it! Like the PM who obviously lives and loves his work with the grassroots. No bad word. With the real Fijians.
Certainly agree …………….. I’m living and loving it too ………….. every single moment as I know we are on our way to a better Fiji.
A Fiji for all and one where real development reaches everyone – even if you’re so remote.
The person calling himself/herself Winston or Winsi has been banned from these columns permanently. I do not normally censor, unlike Coup 4.5 and certain other blogs, except in cases of racism or obscenity. There is a new category. Willful repetition and the use of Grubsheet to wage what amounts to a political vendetta.
This person was allowed to make their point on a number of occasions yet insists on waging a sustained campaign on the same subject. In their last comment posting, this person boasted about “keeping me busy”. This indicates to me that these comments have nothing to do with making a legitimate point or expressing an opinion.
Subsequent comments on Coup 4.5 prove the real intent of this writer. Provoke a ban on Grubsheet and then crow about being censored. This is accompanied by the absurd claim that I concoct the comments that appear on this site. Adios to someone with far more hours in their day than I have.
Bula Vinaka Graham,
If I was you, I certainly wouldn’t have banned Winston or Winsi on Grubsheet because he/she permanently had “flashing lights” on his/her head via the comments that was submitted. Am probably stating the obvious here; the contribution that one makes on any blog, speaks volume of a person’s intellect or lack of. Infact, I looked forward to reading Winston’s comments for good laugh when I’ve had a hard day in the office. But then again, I do respect your decision to banish him/her from this column as the culprit was really feeling out of place-you probably did him or her a favour.
On that note, I wish to highlight a point that has bugged me for a while, which I have no answer to. So please help me if you can. Why can’t we Kaivitis (majority) have the ability to discuss issues and learn that sometimes you don’t have to agree and refrain from abusing and swearing at each other? It doesn’t happen on Grubsheet (thank God) but certainly the case in other blogsites. I believe in exploring all views and I have tried to read contibutions in other anti-regime blogsites but by-jolly Coup 4.5, Turaga levu na Kalou. It is embarrasing Kaivitis calling each other all sorts of names and verbally abusing people’s mothers and sisters etc. Not sure whether we (Kaivitis) sometimes struggle to have constructive discussions without being emotional when someone disagrees with your views or what is it. This is the wrong strand to bring this up GD but I had to get that off my chest, as a Kaiviti.
Thank you Graham for banning that idiot. When you post something constructive at c4.5 they ignore you, but print the stupid ones filled with obscenity and anything bad to happen to the goernment members.
The new Airbus has arrived… looks fantastic, flyover over Suva was cool!! cloudy day in Suva with light drizzle – a fitting salute to our new posture and confidence! The Sun is out now… expect a bright future for Fiji! The opposition squealers can continue to squeal… Progress is measured by deeds not by promises… Roads are improving.. I am seeing less potholes and more progress!! When a nation has more lawyers than engineers then we understand what the everyday focus of the nation is!! We need people to fix the infrastructure not talk about it.. There are a lot of improvements and we can only improve on these.. All those years of those useless MPs in government arguing over and over… and never delivered anything to anyone…we see progress now and feel it too. The poor common citizen does not have the money to travel overseas … the focus is on food and security.. This government is not ideal but it is delivering the common people services in heaps!! The elitists can go to democratic heavens and leave us the common citizen alone in people. We care not for your wealth or position or your entitlements.. the new Fiji is for everyone! God bless this land… things can only get better! ‘Onward Fiji, towards our future!
What a proud moment for Fiji and its people. Congrats govt of the day. What a turnout from all around the country. Towns and cities came to a halt, like when the Melbourne Cup is on. This is also a strong message to the “democracy morons”, in various parts of the world. What is on display here is a fraction of the silent majority, not 15 to 20 people attending a democracy BS protest.
@Patriot
You Forgot to mention that the number of scholarships on offer now dwarfs what was available previously… seems we can all take part in educating ourselves. Once only those who would be entitled to be leaders were given scholarships… now anyone can apply.. all treated fairly! .. just go and see for yourself… http://www.psc.gov.fj... Never saw these when I was trying to educate myself. The new kids are lucky. All this while we are struggling.. Image where we will be if all sanctions are gone .. we will be flying with an educated workforce…
Patriot and Scholarship,
Very true and thanks for reminding. In the 50/50 scenario my scholarship was taken away from me because the “other” guy’s father had connections……..
Today I feel blessed because I am a common man and will always remain with the common folks. Education is the key. We may not all have degrees, but being with the right people/families and having the right attitude towards life and one another builds a good neighbourhood. A good neighbourhood builds a great nation.
In the so called democratic India, the politicians call themselves ‘the ruling elites or the ruling class’. ANZ don’t say this but have their children in private schools and on special mentoring programs……the so called democracies.
Thanks and regards
Following on from ‘Patriots’ posting above the flyover of the new Airbus was well worth witnessing. I took the advice from one of the radio stations and went down to the new seawall area at Nasesse. Arriving at 9 a steady stream of people turned up and what a superb area for all this new revamped facility is.
Great to hear the cheers from many as it flew past twice but the loudest came from one of the nearby schools but they cheated because they had the numbers.
We hear so much doom and gloom these days and it seems that too many walk around without seeing or recognising improvement that is so evident around us.
So what are some of these improvements ? Well, in just a couple of kilometers driving back into Suva there’s the tidy looking foreshore, you pass the Grand Pacific coming back to life after being a derelict building for so long, the road markings are looking more proffesional, flower beds are impressive and the Suva area is looking generally tidier.
But my biggest smile today had to be for the very proffesional looking policeman with such pride on his face walking in the road against the oncoming traffic ensuring a group of returning schoolchildren remained safe.
Indeed, a very proud and inspiring moment for the ‘new’ Fiji.
I was at Port Denarau and everyone lined along the deck near ‘Lulu’s, down past ‘Cardo’s Steakhouse’ etc to see the new Airbus come in and descend into Nadi. It was inspiring moment and everyone there, locals and tourists alike, applauded enthusiastically.
If ever there is a defining moment in the changes that we are now experiencing – change always bring a certain amount of pain for some who refuse to accept change (like those Luddites in the Democracy movement in Oz, NZ & US) this was it.
Like many others around Fiji, it was also an emotional moment in the sense that the aircraft with its stunning ‘Teteva’ symbol, was the unifying symbol that we who support the new Fiji were all looking for.
No one who saw the aircraft today with its ‘FIJI’ billboard as part of its livery, remained uninspired. It was truly a special moment that will live forever in the mind and spirit of those who were able to witness this moment in time.
For those Luddites or morons in the Democracy movement overseas; you guys need to realize you are no longer relevant in the new Fiji.
A new Fiji is being created out of the shambles of the past.
Special bula to my bro Chand and his family. Special ‘baby mix’ of kava tonite bro. God Bless
Vinaka Komai,
Yes, it was truly a moment to treasure.
My kids came back from school on a high after what they saw.
Wonder what morons like Suli- Dauniveidulu, JB-Balenakulina, Rokoucoi-lui, Brij Lal, Jon Fraenkel et al, would say about this special moment?
None of them have stepped foot in Fiji for past 5-10 years or so, yet they remain the ‘experts’ on Fiji matters ! Yet they still present as such!
@Kathy- Their “vesumona” tactic days are numbered because people that matter, the grassroots in Fiji are now realising that there is a “dawn of new era” in Fiji whereby their needs are of paramount importance to the regime.
If anything this current Bainimarama led government is showing the people that their issues can be dealt with swiftly and evenly.
Dina sara.
I forgot to include that fat and useless Tongan from Ono i Lau, now living on the dole in Wisconsin, USA. I refer to none other than Loru Tawawili, ex pay clerk in the Army who, I am told, after 15 years service made it to the giddy heights of Lance Corporal.
The best thing? I can proudly call myself a Fijian.
A proud day for all Fijians to see our brand new plane with our name and our culture.
People cheered where I was as it came cruising past and then circled back again.
The new Fiji is all around us.
Seeing Fiji on the belly as it flew over Suva felt gooooood! Maybe on next plane we can write BULA!
FIJI
BULA
MOCE
love it! LOL or
BROKE
Vinaka Graham
A good informative post.
It is pleasing to see the North getting the development attention it deserves. It has been a long time coming. No doubt, the benefits will be enormous for the locals and for Fiji as a whole.
May not be the perfect govt but at least its doing something that other past govts failed to deliver which is much needed development thats long overdue, especially on vanua levu.
Frank is definitely doing something for the people unlike those selfish past leaders who were just there for power and their own interests with the casual BS to entice voters.