Grubsheet and Fijileaks are irritants that the Coalition largely ignores. But when two bright, young iTaukei who are clearly budding intellectuals pen a devastating portrait of a government wallowing in dysfunction, it’s another matter altogether. It is sit-up time.
This is a cancer that could easily metastasize and swamp the body politic as a whole. And especially the nation’s young people, who are starting to show distinct signs of questioning the nation’s direction under the Rabuka government. So the new Minister for “Information”, Lynda Tabuya, has sprung into action with a response that currently heads the government’s Facebook page. (see below)
The article in question – by Jone Salusalu and Metuisela Gauna of the NGO, SEEP (Social Empowerment and Education Program) – is buried down-paper on Page 49 of Saturday’s Fiji Sun. Yet by the usual standards of the supine mainstream media in Fiji, its contents are unusually forthright about the failures of the Coalition government.
Here’s just a brief sample, with the full article below:
Oi Lei. This kind of thing isn’t meant to be part of the mainstream media narrative. But the government now has a specialist minister to counter such heresy, someone who also happens to be an expert at unethical conduct – the Coalition’s Dishonourable Minister for Propaganda, sorry Information – that lamentable drug-taking strumpet, Lynda Tabuya.
Her response shortly. But first, the full blasphemous statement of the facts.
Ouch. A couple of young iTaukei whose opinions matter have finally called the government’s bluff. So what do we do, Team Rambo?
Well, in the old days, young Salusalu and Gauna might have found themselves explaining themselves to the police at Totogo or before then, up at the Camp. But now, what awaits them is arguably just as gruesome – one of the first “crisis management rapid responses” that Lynda Tabuya has made a centrepiece of her new ministerial post.
She can’t attack the writers personally so what’s the next best thing? An indirect assault on their intellectual position with a whole lot of defensive claptrap that merely serves to underline the government’s dysfunction.
“Freed Fiji’? “Democracy in Action”? Pull the other one, Lynda.
You really are genuinely thick. If you’d ignored this article, it would have largely stayed obscure on Page 49 of Saturday’s paper and today’s fish wrapping. Instead, by giving it a ministerial response, you’ve drawn even more attention to it and broken the first rule of PR:
NEVER elevate your critics or opponents.
Almost immediately, a far more credible political figure has responded – Mere Rakuita, the former Mere Vuniwaqa, who now works for the Pacific Community but once held the position the Queen of Porn held before Sitiveni Rabuka sacked her – Minister for Women and Children.
Yes, cut the political drama and cut the bullsh*t, Lynda.
Mere Rakuita is a genuine role model for Fijian young people. You will always be a tart. And it is a wonder your patron, Sitiveni Rabuka, thinks that you of all people, can blunt the growing disillusionment with his government.
It isn’t just because you are no bloody good at propaganda but because you are a strutting, bodice-heaving personal embodiment of the Coalition’s ethical problems. And an albatross around the government’s neck that will weigh down its political fortunes all the way to polling day.
Mere Rakuita will not thank me for this. But we need her and people like her back in the parliament and we need Lynda Tabuya out.
I have said it before in relation to Francis Puleiwai and Kuliniasi Saumi and I will say it again. There are wonderful iTaukei men and women of integrity who uphold the best traditions of public service in Fiji. But they are being eclipsed by people in this government whose primary concern is to serve themselves.
The day of reckoning is coming as sure as the beat of a gold Rolex watch, which if the latest rumours are true, Lynda Tabuya gave the Prime Minister to curry favour with him for her return to cabinet.
I’d normally say tick, tick, tick at this point. But a Rolex is famously silent, which makes it the perfect device for a ticking time bomb.
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The comments from the two reflect the ‘trust deficit’ that was first reported by the team conducting the 2024 National Security & Defence Review. The erosion of public trust in Government was also reported in the Fiji Times.
The Coalition Government and Lynda Tabuya has tried to downplay the lack of public trust but they do so at their own peril.
A new brand of leadership is required. The recycling of the same old politicians is very much part of the coup culture in Fiji.
Absolutely! As a first key step, that “new brand of leadership” at all levels of national governance – Legislative, Executive and Judiciary – should be devoid of all those involved in at least one of the four coups, especially their founders from 1987.
Current leadership at all these levels is littered with those possessing the dreaded green/red striped ties. Even the Opposition Leader still proudly wears his.
And somehow, our First Citizen is also Commander-in- Chief of the very Forces whose Northern HQ he himself had trashed only 25 years ago.
WAM WTF – What a Mess, Welcome to Fiji!
So refreshing to read the views of Jone and Metuisela from SEEP. Congratulations.
Truth can be bitter and unpalpable especially to the current Coalition hypocrites, but the reality and the true feeling of the more enlightened and truly educated young people cannot be disguised. These two have a platform like SEEP to espouse their views but the majority will vote with their feet, come 2026.
There are others like Ratu Rakuita , a shining light from USP, but driven to NZ by Pal & USP, but where he can enjoy real academic freedom is anther example of people we all look up to to use the mighty pen for the sake of society.
The Coalition can ignore the masses at their own peril. Just tune into what is currently happening in Indonesia, from all accounts a Conservative nation but where the mass protests against the self-determined increase in perks for the MPs, have led to huge protests and the President yielding to the demands. Sounds familiar??
Well if Tabuya really believes in the new freedom under the Coalition, let us see if the governments approve such marches, peaceful protests and demonstrations against the myriad of issues facing our country and of course if the Simpsons, Vijay Narayans et al have the balls to cover it.
I thought Fiji was run by dogs, naash it apparently run by pigs who like to get all muddy and dirty and stinky.
Sit back and enjoy the destruction caused by Biman Rabuka coalition.
Mereaeini Vuniwaqa is a woman of higher professional standards not only by the superior qualities she has but also the work she was able to deliver during her tenure !
The same cannot be said about the whoring Lynda Tabuya whose own role whilst Minister was to simply pay lip service- something she’s good at and which is why she has been given the platform to be Minister for Misinformation!
The Rabuka government has failed the people of Fiji desperately and no matter how much the spin doctor LT wants to manipulate information, people are not fooled ! Rising food costs and high unemployment; escalating crime and racial bigotry are at the highest levels ever in Fiji not to mention the apparent drug use pandemic and HIV infections that is supposed to be one positive victim per day at the very least.
Let us therefore watch keenly what happens next as the COI report is buried and all attempts are made to create distractions away from the obvious break down of general public service .
Sa rauta na lasu Lynda. You definitely are thick ! How embarrassing!!
These alternative commentaries are like the balolo…rises and dies sea fodder. The sea snakes and Medusa Lynn Does Aseri thrive and will Lord over the captive majority.
This sure is all about trust, and there aren’t enough years left, in even the youngest generation, to rebuild trust after all the crap this Coalition Government has delivered.
The government PR machinery is both hopeless and clueless. It has been from day one. The right arm doesn’t know what the left is doing. A bunch of amateurs. Maybe they should bring back Vatis. Including GD😅
I was with Qorvis, not Vatis. But thanks for the vote of confidence. 🙂
Sorry? I meant bring Qorvis back. But on second thought, not even Qorvis can give this government any credibility. You cannot put lipstick on a pig.
Lynda Tabuya’s recent press release is nothing but spin. To claim that reform and inquiry are part of a healthy democracy is to tell Fijians what they already know.
What she doesn’t say is far more important: the recommendations from the tribunal and the commission of inquiry have been left to gather dust.
She says that reforms on 17 recommendations to strengthen laws and oversight are in progress, but reforms mean nothing when those who abused their positions, lied under oath, and perverted the course of justice continue to walk free. Where is the accountability? Where is the justice?
Tabuya boasts that the Coalition government is open and transparent while branding the last government as dictatorial. If this government is truly transparent, then why are the Chief Justice, the Acting DPP, the Chief Registrar, and others facing serious allegations still sitting comfortably in office? Why haven’t they been suspended? Why hasn’t action been taken?
This is not openness. This is not transparency. This is protection of allies under the guise of reform. Until there is real accountability, Lynda Tabuya’s words remain nothing more than political spin.
Well, you can put lipstick on a pig, but it remain a pig!
It is like the well known Indian saying – “A donkey will always remain a donkey, you cannot change it into a horse”.
Many in this forum thought the top donkey had changed but we all now know the reality.
Every time coup daddy goes to India he gets extra motivation to come back and attack the Vulagi’s right to be equal citizens.
He went to do his Masters in India, came back to carry out 1987 coup. He went to get his titanium knees in India, came back to support the army mutiny to take over the barracks. He went to beg for aid now and will change the constitution to a racially discriminating one.
Porn Queen on the other hand is putting out “nothing” statements. According to her, her pathetic coalition government is reforming and addressed the COI. How about telling everyone who is your husband and why did you lie about it for starters.
Anyway, in accordance with all the appointments made by this government and the PM, Lynda has all the ideal qualifications to be the next PM.
She is dodgy, as thick as two bricks, a liar and sex fiend, useless with no ideas, a drunk and drug taker, an adulterer and a third rate whore, a fake Christian and most importantly she is an iTaukei and the people love all these things in their PM.
All the right qualifications for the top job. There is no question in my mind – wait and watch. Did I mention she knows how to use TikTok and social media. After eating Fiji Airways planes she goes whoring around the world in the same airline, business class.
She is all class – ask her. I mean no class.
The Government is trumpeting another $400m for rural roads, yet the Fiji Roads Authority can’t even pay its major contractor what’s already owed. That failure is pushing a private company to the brink, forcing more job losses on top of the major cuts earlier this year. Instead of new promises, how about meeting existing obligations? Until then, this Government and its agencies look less like leaders and more like liabilities.