As the national flag – our “noble banner blue” – flies over the celebrations this weekend marking the 50th anniversary of Independence, it’s worth remembering just how close Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum came five years ago to getting rid of it altogether. Our cover photo is of one of the 23 designs that emerged … [Read more...] about #IT’S OUR FLAG, NOT THEIRS. DEFEND IT.
#SITIVENI RABUKA: THE FEAR FACTOR
“Disunity is death” is a truism in politics everywhere, as is another famous saying that “a party that can’t govern itself cannot govern the nation”. Yet it’s a clear sign of the decline of the ruling FijiFirst government that even a party as divided as the SODELPA opposition is now the preferred choice of the Fijian people to win the next election … [Read more...] about #SITIVENI RABUKA: THE FEAR FACTOR
#ER, CORRECTION. LOOK WHO GETS A MEDAL TODAY
Just as I was starting to think that the 50th anniversary of Independence medals are going to worthy recipients based on yesterday’s awards ceremony, look who pops up today? Fiji's Queen of Nepotism and Conflicts of Interest, Nur Bano Ali - the aunt of the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum. You can read all about Aunty Nur in Part 2 of … [Read more...] about #ER, CORRECTION. LOOK WHO GETS A MEDAL TODAY
#UNUSUALLY INDEPENDENT. THE MEDALS LIST
Congratulations are due to the 32 distinguished Fijians who received 50th anniversary Independence medals at a ceremony at State House in Suva yesterday (Sunday Oct 5). In one way or another, they are all deserving recipients. Yet a striking feature about the list is the obvious fact that the Fiji College of Honour, which devised it, appears to be … [Read more...] about #UNUSUALLY INDEPENDENT. THE MEDALS LIST
#A TANGLED WEB OF SECRECY AND CONTROL (PT 2)
RULE BY FEAR, THE INFLUENCE OF THE AG'S FAMILY AND USP. We demonstrated in Part 1 last week how the Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, has breached accepted standards of corporate probity in countries like Australia and the United States by stacking the board of the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) with individuals who support him. And … [Read more...] about #A TANGLED WEB OF SECRECY AND CONTROL (PT 2)
#COMING ON FRIDAY. THE USP DEBACLE
An extract from the next instalment of A Tangled Web of Secrecy and Control: The Fijian Attorney General's action in cutting off Fiji’s contribution to the University of the South Pacific is extraordinary. It is a slap in the face for regional solidarity and the principle that has underlined USP right from the time it was founded half a … [Read more...] about #COMING ON FRIDAY. THE USP DEBACLE