The upheaval in FijiFirst triggered by the rebellion of more than half of its MPs against a party directive to vote against the parliamentary pay rise is causing concern in Australian policy circles, according to an article in the journal of the country's foremost foreign affairs think-tank - the Australian Strategic Policy Institute … [Read more...] about # FRESH REGIONAL CONCERNS ABOUT POLITICAL STABILITY IN FIJI
# GIVE ME A HUG. BAIMAAN ROLLS OVER FOR THE QUEEN OF TARTS
Lynda Tabuya has publicly accused Biman Prasad of lying. She has publicly accused him of trying to do a deal with FijiFirst behind the Coalition's back. She has ruined his budget strategy by requiring him, at the last minute, to find an extra $8.1-million for increased salaries and benefits for the nation's pampered MPs. She has dragged the NFP's … [Read more...] about # GIVE ME A HUG. BAIMAAN ROLLS OVER FOR THE QUEEN OF TARTS
# O SORRY, EH? BUT WE’RE STILL TAKING THE MONEY
The utter cynicism and insincerity of this Prime Minister and this government screams from the contents of extraordinary statements made by Sitiveni Rabuka this afternoon in which he apologises to the Fijian people for "not having handled the MP's pay rise issue well" but also insists that his Finance Minister, Biman Prasad, just has to find the … [Read more...] about # O SORRY, EH? BUT WE’RE STILL TAKING THE MONEY
# IS THERE NO LIMIT TO THE HUMILIATION THIS MAN WILL TAKE? (UPDATED)
Biman Prasad makes much every Girmit Day of the humiliation the British and Australian colonials visited on the first indentured labourers. But the "kuli", "yes, sahib" mentality evidently lingers on as the NFP leader happily munches the shit sandwiches continually dished out to him by Sitiveni Rabuka, Lynda Tabuya and his other Coalition … [Read more...] about # IS THERE NO LIMIT TO THE HUMILIATION THIS MAN WILL TAKE? (UPDATED)
# THE TRAGEDY OF A FIT BODY AND AN UNSOUND MIND
Sitiveni Rabuka is the opposite of Joe Biden - seemingly fit in body yet losing his marbles one by one as the months progress, as opposed to the physically frail US President who appears, from this distance at least, to remain sound in mind. Today's Fiji Times not surprisingly makes a virtue of the Prime Minister competing in the Oceania Games … [Read more...] about # THE TRAGEDY OF A FIT BODY AND AN UNSOUND MIND
# FRANK BAINIMARAMA “CANNOT BE LEADER OF FIJIFIRST”
We now know why there is a standoff between FijiFirst and the Speaker of the Parliament, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, and the Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa, over the status of Frank Bainimarama as party leader and why the 17 MPs ousted from the party for supporting the emoluments increases are stubbornly insisting they are still FijiFirst MPs. … [Read more...] about # FRANK BAINIMARAMA “CANNOT BE LEADER OF FIJIFIRST”