The owner of Communications Fiji Limited, William Parkinson, got the nickname “Pupu” or “Poo Poo” Parkinson – depending on your ethnic upbringing – for his uncertain control over his bowels when he was at primary school in Fiji. But he is inflicting veka of a more pungent kind on the nation as a whole now that he and CFL-Fiji Village have compromised their independence by accepting $1.732-million in annual funding from the Coalition government.
CFL is yet to report a story that has been on every other media outlet in recent days – the “where is the DPP, Christopher Pryde?” saga that is a glaring embarrassment for the Coalition as the reinstated Pryde continues to pick up a $250,000 salary while being absent from Fiji for more than 100 days as the Judicial Services Commission refuses to give him an answer to repeated requests to clarify whether he is to be suspended again on false charges of financial misconduct.
It is incredible that the media outlet that is the home of Vijay Narayan‘s “Straight Talk” has been so bent that it has completely avoided reporting a story of such national significance as Christopher Pryde outlining why he hasn’t returned to Fiji after he was exonerated by three judges and reinstated to one of the principal offices of state.
Why hasn’t CFL-Fiji Village reported it? We are entitled to draw our own conclusions. That it isn’t in the government’s interests. Because it closely follows CFL accepting $1.7 million in taxpayer funds days after it announced that it had doubled its profits. Fiji’s sole privately-owned commercial radio network is on the government drip. And in a glaring instance of journalistic corruption, it has simply ignored a story that is an embarrassment to the government and the state.
Now within days, CFL is showing clear evidence of being a Coalition propaganda outlet – dutifully headlining Biman Prasad‘s budget consultations as its lead item on Sunday night. Yes, Fiji, what it judges to be the most important story in the nation at the end of the weekend. It is an item that is pathetically anodyne and on any proper journalistic evaluation, is totally unworthy of being lead item. Except that Biman Prasad has used your money to pay for it.
“Pupu” Parkinson and his bent-talking lackey, Vijay Narayan, are a disgrace. They now have the skid marks of journalistic corruption on their tattered undergarments because they have clearly been bought. And it is the saddest of days for the integrity of the media in Fiji. Supposedly free but never more subservient and under the boot of the almighty public buck.
Grubsheet challenged Vijay Narayan a couple of days ago to do his job with integrity and report the Christopher Pryde saga. He has failed to do so. And instead leads CFL-Fiji Village tonight with an astonishing masipolo propaganda piece on the man who has bought the support of a profitable private media organisation with your money.
You have the power to do something about it, Fiji. Turn the bastards off.
Fellas, we are not impressed.
Days after you signed the government deal, you are showing signs of being in Biman’s pocket.
You have sold your journalistic souls for $1.7-million of our money. Journalistic scum. Or pupu. Take your pick.
UPDATE MONDAY AM:
When the media deliberately abandons its role to ask the hard questions, those questions go unanswered.
CFL has violated its duty as a media organisation to hold an elected government to account and conspired with those in power to subvert the public’s right to know.
Not to worry … The sorry state of the local media will benefit from a few of their key leaders having put some flowers in their hair and gone off on another globe trotting junket- this time to San Francisco. Thanks for the postcards (fb selfies).
Added:
San Francisco
International Visitors Leadership Program.
Ian Simpson. Vijay Narayan. Fred Wesley. Others.
They have got their priorities in order. Full chow then off to the local Fijian kava bar. Sightseeing to follow and perhaps the odd token attendance at the professional development activities on the programme.
They have their kailoma cheer crowd who like their posts back at home. That’s all they do. They don’t care who pays for these fancy trips abroad.
They are nothing but a group of nobodies. Three quarters of their cheer leading crowd eat dhal and rice and Punjas breakfast every third meal while they show off their expensive meals.
OMG – you have this one wrong GD – POO is his name from the Fijis studio 54 days. He was the real swinger. I totally agree with your comments – media ethics and integrity out the window now when you are funded. They are all stooges to Fiji govt on the day.
It might have followed him into his “swinger” days but I have it on impeccable authority that it comes from his days in short pants. He is welcome to set the record straight in these columns.
VJ Narayan is the most disliked Fiji journalist- he betrayed his people for money – is he Indian or wanna be Fijian? – crap fatty journo with poor English – his brother Satish is a legend – chalk and cheese – he should stop eating at Zamzam and telling people his interview exploits – VJ please learn from true journalists like GD – nothing last forever – end is coming for VJ and shit pants William.
Wtf is he pretending to do with his bullcrap put on iTaukei accent? Sounds like a grog doped Naboro latrine cleaner. And interview style is something else, well nothing really !!
Stay in SF my friend, and do everyone a favour – DON’T COME BACK.
Isa – what irony. Poop and co don’t report anything relevant because it will screw their funding. Poop is still wondering about his stains after big night out ( wiffie knows but she got her own secret ) but they all claim to be Fiji’s leading media.
Charles ( “I know media” ) is poop’s underwear sucker like Vijay. It’s disgusting that the media industry sold us out, Stan Simpson inclusive – no morals – Graham please keep them in check – bravo – wish we had your analysis in our media world so half of us stop waking to Grubsheet only (no disrespect)
GD, There has been a change in Fiji media. Whether there has been progress is a different discussion.
In goverment and media, civil society and NGOs, institutional ‘neutrality’ has made cowardice into a policy.
Go Vijay and Stan – your minister Cum Cum no either thinks he is ASK that can control Media – learn from ASK rather than thinking you better than them – even ASK had flaws.
Vijay sold his ass and soul to Baimaan and Rabuka well before they came into power. Aiyaz had been saying that well before but no one believed him. Baimaan and NFP were buying off the media in return for rewards after the elections. The list includes prominent people as well who were offered bribes and rewards in return for votes.
So it shouldn’t come as a surprise that a shithead like Vijay who thinks he is the best journalist in Fiji will selectively report on what suits his corrupt agenda. It’s glaringly obvious that Vijay will do anything for money.
GD, why don’t you run Zoom interviews building to the next election? I am sure you will create a great opportunity for some real talk. Only the qualified candidates will come your way. Satish Narayan’s straight talk will become a dead past (where it already belongs).
Do it, GD!
Those consultation attendees look very unhappy and disengaged. Is all ok? Isn’t this what you all voted for?
Hey Pupu, can you lot do a story on Tabuya please. She has given all her wages to her not-registered charity. We are keen to hear from our 233 Samaritan Lundah.
Please, have her on the next Straight Talk. Simply because that’s the kind that suits your talk.
Fiji Village’s Vijay Narayan and Anish Chand from the Fiji Times are already being exposed on various Facebook forums. Both are what we call jhaoas ( loafers)
Some of us used to look up to a few prominent citizens as bastions of integrity and they included William, Lenora, Richard, Manoa and Sashi, among others. What has happened to them? Amazing about turn! They are all now wealthy but actually cheap.
GD
Irrespective of the merit of Pryde’s case, it is totally obscene and scandalous for a third world country like Fiji, with so many societal issues too numerous to name, paying someone a quarter of million dollars in salaries and other expenses for doing nothing. Similarly, there is another judicial office holder (Malimali) under suspension, in receipt of full salary and idling at home.
Aid donor countries and foreign embassy officials should take note of this diabolical situation of a dysfunctioning country, called the Banana Republic of Fiji. A laughing stock!
You are mistaken about Barbara Malimali. The Commission of Inquiry into her appointment asked for her suspension but it was refused. And for the entire period that the “rotten” circumstances of her appointment has been investigated by a judge, she has continued in office.
She has been allowed to sack FICAC’s head of investigations after he gave evidence at the Inquiry and intimidate other witnesses. And that is truly diabolical.
Aid donor countries will not blink an eye as they continue to pour funds to influence government the exact same way the goverment has influenced local media by buying them off with local taxpayer funding.
In fact, some of the same donor countries might even be envious of how easily our government has managed to silence local media into being compliant, straight talking puppets FOR the government.
What’s all this about Willame Pookinson?
Why are the same Fiji media executives on all the trips – Stanley Simpson, Fred Wesley, Vijay Narayan, Rosi Doviverata, Indra Singh and Reginald Tui? Are they the only journalists in Fiji? When will we younger journalists get our opportunity? I notice Makareta Komai is on the San Francisco
International Visitors Leadership trip too. She is not a journalist she is administrator at PINA. She has never covered need for a long time so why was she picked? She is taking the place of a real journalist. It shows how corrupt Fiji Media Association is. Fiji media association officials are to Fiji media what PAP coalition government is to the country – corrupt. Overseas missions need to open their eyes and see what’s happening and ask for transparency and fairness rather then be part of the corruption problem in the Fiji media association. GD you can do an article please.
I think you just did. 🙂
You younger journalists will get your chance to travel, but to nearby Tonga, Kiribati, Samoa, Labasa etc.
Those senior executives will take all those distant trips to developed countries, for daily allowances, frequent flyer points and other privileges like visiting their kaivata diasporas. Not to mention their FB postings of pride.
The challenge for younger journalists is to be fair on distributing such overseas trips to your subordinates when you become senior executives yourselves.
However, the bigger challenge is what Fred, Vijay, Rosi et al. will do with their San Fransisco learnings to clear the mess that Fiji’s media is in and help steer our country to a genuine democracy.
Graham, your depth of journalistic experience adds much needed analysis of beggar nation Fiji’s, shitty politics. Politicians crapping on struggling citizens and giving themselves huge pay rises with full chow.
However, your shitty comments on William Parkinson must have Talatala Davis, spinning in his grave.
That you smear a man’s character in such a personal and degrading way is a low blow.
Yeah, absolutely we agree that Fiji Village should have covered the Pryde Scandal by now.
However, kerekere, can you drop the nastiness. Leave all the nasty comments to your readers and maybe this pseudonym business should be illegal. Noone should be able to defame someone’s character under the guise of anonymity.
The occasional whoopsie early in life is hardly a smear on Parkinson’s character. It might have been a smear on his underpants but the real smear on his character is contemporary – taking public money when you know the cupboard is bare to the tune of more $10-billion and you are making record profits.
Talatala Davis would actually be spinning in his grave that supposedly respectable members of old kai valagi families who are meant to be role models have joined the pigs at the trough.
That is what is genuinely “shitty”. It was called greed in Viti Makawa and generally frowned upon. And manipulating the news in exchange for public lavo is unforgivable.
Mr Knat, anonymity is an unfortunate necessity in this freedom loving country. Especially for those of us who don’t get $1.7m to be quiet.
More particularly so being nameless is necessary to freely express and participate in public forums such as this. To be able to contribute opposing views openly without fear of Tudravu’s boys knocking on the door helps us sleep at night. The fear is real.
The local gestapo have the power to throw persons in remand, work with the outstanding brilliance of the ODPP and laisani crabs, to haul persons before the independent, unbiased and transparent courts (the CJ clown included) for sentencing faster than you could say poo poo.
Our fearless press will then report the news fairly, decrying the muzzling of free speech.
HIV through the roof. Lack of basic medical supplies. Government busy using taxpayer money to pay private media companies. Why?
Kleptocracy or kakistocracy? Both?
Cronyism?
All wrapped up under “Fiji style”
The recent $1.7 million grant awarded to Communications Fiji Limited (CFL)—a profitable private commercial company—is not only unjustified, but raises serious questions about the independence of the media and the integrity of governance in Fiji today. This decision reeks of political favouritism and appears to be a calculated move by the government of the day to buy silence and secure positive coverage from media figures such as William Parkinson, Vijay Narayan, and others.
Let’s be clear—this grant does not appear to be about supporting media freedom or strengthening public service journalism. It’s about propping up a friendly narrative, insulating those in power—namely Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and Finance Minister Biman Prasad—from legitimate scrutiny, and shielding key institutions like the DPP’s Office, FICAC, ministers and others from tough questions the public deserves answers to.
Why is it that CFL, particularly Vijay Narayan and his editorial team, are silent on critical issues affecting ordinary Fijians—skyrocketing cost of living, collapsing public health services, deteriorating education standards, failing infrastructure, and bloated ministries that deliver little to the people? Why are they not investigating or commenting on cases involving Lynda Tabuya, the DPP’s selective prosecutions, or FICAC’s inaction? And what about questioning government on Trump’s tariff implications on our exports to US?
This isn’t journalism. It is shameful propaganda dressed as reporting. The public relies on the media to hold power to account—not to cheerlead for those in office. The acceptance of such a grant from the very government they are meant to scrutinise compromises every principle of editorial independence and public trust.
Fiji should strongly condemn the government’s blatant use of public funds to reward compliant media voices. We also call out Vijay Narayan and CFL for their failure to uphold the journalistic ethics they claim to represent. At a time when Fijians need transparency and fearless truth-telling more than ever, they have chosen loyalty to power over loyalty to the people.
Since the grant comes from the taxpayers, how will CFL or others who enjoy such grants paid by taxpayers, account for the usage. It is daylight robbery- people tax money is given by government to a profitable private company to increase its profits and salaries rather than doing service to the people of Fiji.
This is not just unethical. It is a betrayal. Shameful.
There is a saying in Hindi
“Where there’s looting, just join them”
“Where there’s trouble, just run away”
This has been happening since independence.
Exactly !
After every coup and change in government, Companies and individuals have joined the beneficiary club.
I have never rated Vijay Narayan as a journalist, contrary to your opinion on “some” of his interviews with key political and opinion leaders in the country. Vijay’s pride is his downfall. He has not trained a single journalist who has gone on the become a better, critical thinking journalist, and therefore he has not done justice to the ordinary Fijian public.
As for Biman Prasad, he is going to go down in history as the worst example of an Indo-Fijian politician. Can you believe that everything Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum used to say about Bimanomics is coming true? He has no idea how to run the finance of the country and his Professorship is good in theory only. Not practical to real life circumstances. I speak to my Indo-Fijian friends and they share with me the disgust they have for Biman. He has no spine to represent their concerns is what they tell me. The lies he sold to NFP supporters will catch up with him in 2026.
Bravo Mr Davis, you called them out – POPO will be shitting himself after reading the truth and the actual people’s reaction. Vijay Narayan is a disgrace to journalism. He holds zero credibility – accepting $ to create positive stories ( not many) or not cover actual facts is appalling for any journalist, CEO or media company. You can’t expect anything less as CFL’s PNG board has the infamous Pramesh Sharma, who did the deal with his mate Biman. This is why Poop has him there – master play.
Willy Parkinson aka poopoo is a disgrace as a media operator – he will be shitting himself once real change happens in 2026 – as for comments here that condemn GD for calling him out as poopoo, they obviously must be living in glass houses like PooPoo – did poopoo really think his shit doesn’t stink – it’s fiji, everybody has a nickname for a reason (Kuta, Rambo, cumcum either), it’s Fiji style.
Wooohooo.
Nice to see our tax dollars at work. Who needs hospitals, medicine, road and education when we can just have this.
Grub exposed Richard, he huffed and puffed and finally went under the rock.
Grub exposed Lynda, she went to different FB account for private use.
Grub exposed Pramesh Sharma, he closed his public FB account and become private.
What will Poopoo and Vijay do now Grub has called them out – close CFL?
Cover stories that they have been paid not to cover? Interesting days ahead for Poopoo and his “I love myself” Narayan – balls in your court, swim or sink forever as public perception is really Poopoo for them.
I am an ex CFL staff member who worked with Vijay and served under William. I left the organisation for an overseas opportunity. The culture of CFL is toxic, sexist and encourages harassment.
Vijay is the most self serving person I have ever encountered in my life. He boosts, gloats and redefines ignorance. The irony is that he is uneducated thus he saves his job by any means including cutting the progression of younger staff. William has been party to this and totally chooses to ignore any misbehaviour at work.
Poopoo has long been his nickname and it’s certainly to do with that infamous party at FM 96 – I was there. This article by Graham Davis was long due to expose the rot in this organisation – well done sir, true transparency.
That has been visible till today. No surprises. See what they put out on FM96 everyday. It is disturbing and they think that they are doing a good job. Absolutely vomit material.
None of them probably hold any journalism qualifications. Just wannabe losers with pathetic slangs.
As dire straits said – Money is for nothing, chicks for free….go Poopoo, you have been caught out.
Hospitals don’t have essential supplies. They rely on donors and NGOs. FIRCA is hounding tax payers and small businesses. Roads are F**KED and infrastructures are collapsing. Cost of living is high.
And now…teachers haven’t been paid and Baimaan magai chinana has the audacity to say that only only a few of them have not been paid and they are making a big deal.
For F**K sake!!!
Let’s ensure this MF never gets in Parliament again and gather all evidence we can against this PIG so that he never gets out of Prison.
Early April someone posted this and I wanted to bring this to the forefront again.
We need some strong voices to expose the media people in Fiji. Few sets of articles has been written in this blog that should concern Fiji Government and donor agencies. GD, it is time that donor agencies are held responsible for every dollar they fund CFL and Leadership Fiji. We must also question the funders of Women’s Fund Fiji where Parkinson sits as a board member.
I quote from one of your earlier posts:
A year ago, Ireen Rahiman-Manuel, an advocate for women and children’s wellbeing, wrote the following on her LinkedIn page and provided evidence of the abuse CFL has on the children of Fiji and the Pacific. She wrote at great lengths and shared this evidence with the Government of Fiji, AusAID, NZAID. She questioned why taxpayer aid funds were given to CFL given its continued abuse on women and girls. This saw AusAID pull back on using CFL in any of its events. Ireen put up a challenge that she will continue to expose the donors if they used CFL. She also highlighted the use of funds for Leadership Fiji, where Parkinson is a director. Donor funds must be ethically used at all times and cannot be used for abusing women and girls.
Rahiman-Manuel wrote:
The media and broadcasting industry plays a crucial role in our everyday lives. And in today’s advanced society we can witness and listen to many things from near and afar.
Like many, I have worked in the Pacific long enough and witnessed so much abuse.
In 2017, a group of us investigated many fraudulent practices at the Savusavu’s Town Council. We discovered the abuse on children by the staff of Communications Fiji Ltd (CFL) and one that was openly entertained by the carnival committee. In particular this was by the FM96 and VitiFM teams.
CFL claims to be the largest media company in the South Pacific and has both media and radio stations in Fiji and PNG. We presented an investigation to the Gov. of Fiji and CFL on the open abuse on children (witnessed locally and globally) and one that occurred during the carnival in Savusavu. We made key recommendations. No staff from CFL were laid off despite the evidence.
Yesterday, 5 years on, I came across more abuse from CFL staff and in particular the FM96 team. This time on women. Now, this organization is usually hired to provide media coverage on many issues and as such womens issues. They associate with children in many scenarios and they have full access to many events. They are probably paid for their services or funded by the government and they get used at donor agency events too. They collect revenue from many different stakeholders.
I am a firm believer in speaking up when we see violence against women and children. What we normalize today becomes the distasteful future of our children tomorrow. Broadcasting and media agencies play a vital role and we can learn to hold them accountable professionally, ethically, morally and culturally.
Let’s not forget our horrendous statistics on women and child abuse in Fiji (and PNG). Fiji is a signatory to CEDAW, the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, and now adopting the UNs Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
I can only request that no one in this team should be allowed near children and vulnerable women. Because the infiltration of abuse keeps growing. Some of this broadcasting happens when children are in public transport everyday. It is deeply unacceptable and unsafe.
Funders and stakeholders who use agencies where women are sexually objectified and children are abused should reconsider their patronage to such organizations. If one continues to use their service then it says alot about their commitment to making any place safe for women and children. Every dollar that you give helps propel more violence today and in future.
I am leaving you with few of the snippets of the concerns in 2017 and what I have seen as of yesterday.
These snippets and images speak a thousand words. Just like the thousand pictures that we sadly create in the minds of the vulnerable when we expose them to such level of vulgarity. Or the thousand drops of lost self esteem and hurt that we create for children when we allow abuse to continue.
End of post.
Guess who was one of the carnival committee members in Savusavu where the children were openly abused? Yes, no other than Stanley Simpson! There you have it Fiji.
Rahima-Manuel’s post is available online at:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ireen-rahiman-manuel-66b25484_the-media-and-broadcasting-industry-plays-activity-7075130509797773313-gaNt?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAABHVi7MBHvB9ZMOwl1BRdi7JSQ3frb5FGWg&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ireen-rahiman-manuel-66b25484_the-media-and-broadcasting-industry-plays-activity-7075957928595230720-t2Fo?utm_medium=ios_app&rcm=ACoAABHVi7MBHvB9ZMOwl1BRdi7JSQ3frb5FGWg&utm_source=social_share_send&utm_campaign=copy_link
Not to be outdone by the Fiji media big shots on their sponsored USA trip for up to 3 weeks, the Fijian govt has announced that minister Tikoduadua is off to the Middle East for 42 days of official travel !!!
Is this another attemp to get into the Guinness Book of World Records for the longest overseas trip by an govt minister. The first Record entry attempt being the nation with the greatest number of ministers per capita and overall regardless of population size.
What could possibly in heaven and earth justify this outrageous length of taxpayer funded mission. It’s not a 40 day fast for sure.
$#@+&$4aarggg
Re.: Pio Tikoduadua
This Minister seems a decent, honest man and one of the few capable Ministers ….but ’42 day overseas trip ‘ ??
I have lived in many countries HKG/JAP,GER, USA, AUS, NZ etc. But I have never, ever heard about any government’s minister to go on a 7 weeks uninterrupted overseas mission ? And no-one in the country says anything …?
PS.: Vinaka vakalevu for your excellent work to keep us informed.
Ms Dean and Pawpaw think they are a super couple – how the mighty fall – VJ is a product of his environment- is it me or nobody noticed the hatred against pawpaw on this site – in fact, most talk like they know him, probably his family and friends, Ms Dean, Richard, Patricia, Ann – that click crowd that Aiyaz under-estimated- his downfall, they laughed – guess what, karma people – everyone reads grub as he speaks what you know you want others not to hear – great work Davis.
42 day ministerial trip at 2000 bucks a day for another govt minister – brilliant for those that wanted change , will Veejay report this or will Mr 10% . Pramesh Sharma or Don Punja ask poop to bury the story – it’s a farce – pooopoo needs to save CFL – poops step up before the shit that’s already hit the fan drops on your head ( no pun intended)
Parkinson is still a Trustee for Women’s Fund Fiji. This organisation is mostly funded by AusAid. Can someone do an OIA through DFAT Australia to check how much money from this fund goes to CFL or any other company associated with CFL please. That includes Leadership Fiji.
Let’s see how does this person benefit from all donor support too.
Iris McKenzie laid a complaint about WP with the government of Fiji. Aiyaz did nothing.
This was after WPs broadcasting team kept using and abusing children in public.
Iris is with Leadership Fiji now.
These people have no ethics in life.
Utterly shameful.
Leadership fiji is William Parkinson as chairman and founder, with his wife Sufi Dean as other founder. Mr and Mrs Poopoo run the show with Rajesh Patel from Motibhai – partners/funders include Motibhai, Fiji Times, NZ High Commission (kiwi tax payer funded) and the Fijian tax payer through FDB. Mr Poopoo uses this vehicle to keep himself relevant – if you have done this course through self funding or company sponsorship, you will know that it’s totally poooopooo. To back this claim, you will note that members include Lynda, Manoa, Barbara and Filimone – all poopoo ministers and agency heads.
Wow – I just read this Grubsheet article on my old mate William – how the truth finally comes out.
Back in the FM 96 days, we used to work like a team – except our loyalty was exploited by William to make millions while we struggled to progress. The big parties were thrown to keep us interested and achieve job satisfaction- it was life in club 54 until we woke up.
This article’s content doesn’t surprise me, William will do anything for $, it was always cheque journalism. Thank you Graham for exposing this long awaited truth – Ps The poopoo story is 100% – it was one of those big FM 96 parties at his house.
Sorry for late reply GD, been travelling – can you please put my feedback
“ it must be hard for William and Sufi to read these comments, however, that’s the price for years of exploitation, bullying, ignoring harassment at all levels, profiteering at human cost and hiding the truth – even worse, unlike pupu’s CFL, this truthful article is written by a transparent journalist who isn’t paid to expose the truth – that’s true journalistic leadership which PuPu should promote in his self serving leadership programme.