Rajiv Sharma has been one of Grubsheet's most avid correspondents since we began publishing again last August and also one of my greatest critics, continually objecting to my use of the term " genuine democracy" to characterise the return to parliamentary rule under the Bainimarama government. While I have suspended writing lengthy political … [Read more...] about # WHEN OPPOSITES COLLIDE IN FURIOUS AGREEMENT
# AG GOES UNDER THE KNIFE
(From the Grubsheet Facebook page): Confirmation from high level sources in Suva that Fiji's Attorney General and effective number two in the Bainimarama government, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, has undergone a heart bypass operation in Singapore. He also received surgery to repair a hernia. While the AG had flagged in one of his nightly "budget … [Read more...] about # AG GOES UNDER THE KNIFE
# A KANGAROO COURT AND OFF I HOP
Three weeks ago, I wrote on Facebook that the resumption of Grubsheet for 2021 was being postponed out of consideration for the national effort to assist the victims of Cyclone Yasa and Cyclone Ana. I made the observation that it was not the time for politics but for supporting the authorities to get help to those who needed it most. The inspiring … [Read more...] about # A KANGAROO COURT AND OFF I HOP
# “NEXT MATCH, NEW TEAM”. RABUKA’S MASTERSTROKE
Never has the old saying “a week is a long time in politics” resonated more strongly than in Fiji over the past seven days. This time a week ago, Bill Gavoka was SODELPA leader and outlining his priorities to the regional media. Now the AG’s father-in-law and “lame duck” leader has been sautéd in the political wok, and a lot sooner than I … [Read more...] about # “NEXT MATCH, NEW TEAM”. RABUKA’S MASTERSTROKE
# AND THE WINNER IS? “QUACK, QUACK!”
I expressed the view in last week’s curtain raiser for the vote on the SODELPA leadership that the party could choose a baboon and still have a good chance of beating FijiFirst in the 2022 election, such is the government’s parlous electoral standing. But never in my wildest imaginings would I have thought that SODELPA would choose a lame duck in … [Read more...] about # AND THE WINNER IS? “QUACK, QUACK!”
# SODELPA CHOOSES ITS LEADER
The Fijian people will know this weekend who will lead SODELPA into the next election in 2022 and, on present indications, the name of the country’s next prime minister. Because in the absence of any reform of the ruling FijiFirst Party to make it more competitive after its near defeat in 2018, Frank Bainimarama’s government is heading for … [Read more...] about # SODELPA CHOOSES ITS LEADER