The news that the new Labour Government in Britain intends to abolish the remaining hereditary peers in the House of Lords - the upper house of the British Parliament - shows just how backward Fiji has been in restoring the Great Council of Chiefs. This is especially so when chiefs like the Qaranivalu - the high chief of Naitasiri, Ratu Inoke … [Read more...] about # FIJI BUCKS THE TREND ON HEREDITARY PRIVILEGE
# STRANGE BEDFELLOWS ON THE PUBLIC TEAT
Fiji is such a broadminded place that no-one thinks anything of the Minister for iTaukei Affairs, who is in business with a convicted Chinese gangster, appearing in public with the chief who instigated the 2000 mutiny in which seven people died, the Education Minister who almost beat the Prime Minister’s daughter to death in a domestic violence … [Read more...] about # STRANGE BEDFELLOWS ON THE PUBLIC TEAT
# MORE STAFF-INDUCED TURMOIL AT USP
All institutions have rules about the leaking of confidential internal information and the University of the South Pacific is no exception. So that when Dr Tamara Osborne – a USP lecturer and President of the Association of USP Staff – went on the record in an Islands Business article back in March with internal deliberations to which she had been … [Read more...] about # MORE STAFF-INDUCED TURMOIL AT USP
# TUPENI BABA. A BETTER ACADEMIC THAN POLITICIAN
As a journalist, Vijay Narayan - the News Director at CFL-Fiji Village - is showing clear signs of erratic conduct, as well as being demonstrably biased in favour of the Coalition. But did he really have to kill off Professor Tupeni Baba twice when reporting his death at the age of 81? As in "the late former...passes away". No-one likes to … [Read more...] about # TUPENI BABA. A BETTER ACADEMIC THAN POLITICIAN
# JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED
Christopher Pryde has been kept waiting for justice to be dispensed for 15 months in violation of the Constitution since he was suspended as DPP. Sharvada Sharma - the former solicitor general - has been kept waiting six months as the Coalition government refuses to comply with a High Court order that he receive $3-million in compensation for his … [Read more...] about # JUSTICE DELAYED IS JUSTICE DENIED
# ONE SEARING IMAGE CAPABLE OF CHANGING THE COURSE OF HISTORY
A 20 year-old registered Republic wearing a T shirt from a pro-gun Youtube channel sets out from home carrying an automatic rifle and tries, and very nearly succeeds, to assassinate Donald Trump. A press photographer carrying a camera sets out at the same time to cover Trump's rally without knowing that he or she is about to capture an image that … [Read more...] about # ONE SEARING IMAGE CAPABLE OF CHANGING THE COURSE OF HISTORY