These are the faces of the Great Betrayers – the Fiji Times editorial team led by Fred Wesley (standing on the right ) who debase the practice of journalism on a daily basis while they shamelessly boast that they are “free” and are finally, under the Coalition, telling Fijians what they need to know. It is a lie.
Fiji’s supposed newspaper of record since 1869 is a travesty of a newspaper. It routinely distorts information that doesn’t suit its pro-Coalition agenda. It not only reports selectively to the extent of wilfully ignoring facts in individual stories. It ignores entire stories of vital national interest and importance that are routinely covered by Grubsheet and Victor Lal‘s Fijileaks yet never see the light of day in the Fiji Times.
It cannot be excused on the basis that the Motibhai-owned influence peddler and income generator doesn’t have the resources to properly cover stories. The recent analysis by Professor Waden Narsey of the controversial Baledrokadroka Report into the future of the Great Council of Chiefs is a case in point. Professor Narsey dissected the report in a Fiji Times article with the damning conclusion that its entire premise is wrong – that blaming the minorities for iTaukei disadvantage is not only prejudicial to national unity but incorrect in fact. And that there are grave dangers for the nation in pursuing the course that the GCC Report proposes.
It was a highly critical article that demonstrably doesn’t suit the Coalition. What did the Fiji Times do? It buried it so far down-paper – Page 42 and 43 – that most Fiji Times readers wouldn’t have got to it. When FijiFirst was in power, articles by Professor Narsey were routinely given banner headline promotions on the Fiji Times front page. But that is no longer happening as he turns his blowtorch on the shortcomings of the “New Order”, in which the claim of “media freedom” masks a grotesque reality – that Fijian journalists are, as a whole, enablers and appeasers of the new government rather than fulfilling their duty to hold it to account.
Where are Professor Narsey’s regular articles that were a feature of the Fiji Times under FijiFirst? Where are the regular articles by the lawyer, Richard Naidu, in which he would cane the then government for its shortcomings? We can be excused for thinking that Wadan Narsey has been marginalised because he is increasingly critical of the Coalition. And we know why Richard Naidu has fallen silent – because he is part of the Coalition as an NFP stalwart and Chair of the government’s Fiscal Review Committee.
One of the stories the Fiji Times and other outlets have ignored is the alleged conflict of interest displayed by Richard Naidu when as Fiscal Review Chair, he proposed a tax holiday for Fiji Water at the same time that the law firm he owns, Munro Leys, was representing the company. This is a legitimate issue of public interest that ought to have been pursued. And then there is the FT’s selective or non-existent reporting of the Coalition’s full blown assault on the Constitution, the unlawful appointments of the Acting DPP and Justice Qetaki, the sex and drug scandal involving the Minister for Women and Children, the domestic violence history of the Minister for Education. Etc, etc, etc.
It is bad enough that the Fiji Times has abandoned its duty to report without fear or favour and that the Motibhais stand accused of using the country’s oldest media outlet as a vehicle to curry favour with the government and as an adjunct to their other businesses. That in itself is of grave concern for any discerning media consumer. But to add insult to injury, the Fiji Times keeps rubbing our faces in it with its boasts of being genuinely “free” when it is nothing of the sort. It is a cheerleader for the Coalition, which after 17 months has little to show for its tenure in government other than internecine warfare and a whole lot of FijiFirst-style blah, blah, blah.
There’s an astonishing article in today’s Fiji Times by its “West Bureau Chief”, Anish Chand, complaining that the promise of “media freedom” isn’t being fulfilled because the Coalition is failing to assist the media to uncover instances of corruption and wrongdoing by the FijiFirst government. I beg your pardon? That’s your job, not theirs. And why the emphasis on the past? Seventeen months after the election, what about holding the current government to account? The sex, the drug taking, the blatant conflicts of interest? Or the Minister for iTaukei Affairs in a private business relationship with a convicted Chinese gangster, Jason Zhong, who has again been named by foreign intelligence agencies as a “Mr Big” in the drug trade?
And what about Zhao Fugang? The Fiji Times headlined the Home Affairs Minister’s statement that the allegations against the Suva businessmen of drug trafficking were “not new” when, of course, they were. And along with the Fiji Sun, the FT fell hook line and sinker for the Chinese Embassy version of the Zhao Fugang story that it was all a plot by China’s opponents to damage its relationship with Fiji. Where is the probing, independent reporting on this or anything else? Virtually non-existent. And yet these poor excuses for journalists have plenty of time to party and boast.
You have to laugh when Anish Chand cites FijiFirst’s use of the Vatis communications company in his article as an example of alleged instances of unaccountability that warrant exposing. Turn the page in today’s paper and who has written the next opinion piece? The head of Vatis, Arnold Chanel. Whoops. It would be funny if it wasn’t so pathetic – a paper with a perpetual gaze on its own navel and its head up its rear end.
Perhaps the worst thing that Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum did was back in 2010 when he forced the Murdoch empire to divest itself of the Fiji Times. He did it because he perceived they were “anti-government” when they were just doing their job. But when Murdoch left, something genuinely tragic happened. The crown jewel of Fijian journalism was passed to people with no experience of the media and no knowledge of the proper practice of journalism. And the Motibhais have turned the Fiji Times into a parody of journalism – a profitable but worthless rag.
Good only at covering sport and for wrapping dead fish. The least they could do is spare us the constant self-congratulation and hype.
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A national joke worthy of Orwell or Kafka.
“Never mind what you’re doing. You should be helping us to expose the last government, including its links with Vatis”
Whoops. The head of Vatis has an opinion piece on the next page. And what’s the bet that it is a paid promotion for Indonesia in which a benefit has been received that hasn’t been declared.
Only in Fiji, eh?
Grubsheet..Is it possible for you to open another facebook account regardless previous dramas?
Sadly, they have told me that my excommunication is permanent. Which is perfectly OK by me. In any event, I am looking for a better class of reader and not having to deal with the thugs is a big relief.
All I can say is a fish rots from the head. If you have rotten leaders at the top the whole fish starts to stink
RE
Vatis Arnold Chanel opinion: Fiji and Indonesia an exciting future ahead:
There would have been more reality in the article if the writer had written about how Jakarta is literally physically sinking below sea levels and how Fiji is also “sinking” in various measures. Ok correction , sinking in all aspects!
And for the writer to suggest palm oil ?? Hello? See Deforestation and palm oil production in Indonesia .
Is the writer not aware of the stigma in developed countries of Palm Oil as a food ingredient. (For eg A bar of chocolate depending on the manufacturer would state No Palm Oil content or similar disclosure on the product label)
The article or written opinion has no practical value – just wishful pipe dreams. And of no credibility to someone experienced in the agriculture and export / import business in Fiji /Asia.
A bit rich for Anish Chand to talk about media freedom. The guy blocked me on FB after a comment I posted on his thread.
I have said this many times – Anish should just move to the NFP Head Office as their chief media guy.
As long as rabid NFP supporter and Coalition protector, Richard K. Naidu continues to act as unofficial chief censor of the Fiji Times, in his role as legal advisor, the paper has no right to even mention the word media freedom.
Get thee hence, Richard, and allow a thousand flowers to bloom.
Fij’s journalists are still afraid (Lamu) of ASQ
Till to date no journalist have yet to fire him with serious questions
Bombing
Waqavuka
Ministers pay etc etc and Many many more
Tied of listening Sir,Sir ,Sir
Fiji doesn’t have any Sir
Better to call him Ratu would sound better
Not too sure about what’s happening here, what media and freedom is. For the past couple of years I’ve been involved in research, yes on PornHub, and yes on Stormy Daniels. And my partner, well I tell her that I have a lot of materials to cover on Trump and associates and won’t finish until Mia Khalifa too gets smoked out. Now that I’ve mentioned Mia, I gotta do a lot of research on her to my partners satisfaction and that may take a couple of years too. My sources tell me that the new Education Minister of an Island in the pacific called Fidji is interested in my research. I’m told he is currently in touch (ouch) with his country’s Minister for women. Interesting times ahead.
The only worth of fiji times nowdays lies at Charans paper recycling factory that makes the toilet paper. I cant even remember the last time i bought Fiji times.
Its journlists have thier tounges so far up the coalitions guts that they cant even see anything anymore.
Richard Naidu once i though of as an honorable man. I had heated debates with my own family to say people like him would never let common Fijians suffer or fight for eqality of all. How wrong i have been proven…1 of the very few times in my life.
The title suits fiji times well and thoroughly…the great betrayers. You could add a few more names under that title though with Richard Naidu appearing in bold and capitals.
I have lost hope in this government, one i voted for.
I remember asking Richard where is the ToR for his role for the government and the issue given his conflicts of interest.
One would think that this crucial information would be available to the public.
He then published it on X by himself few days later.
It shows that there is no accountability unless someone asks. Do and makeup as one goes.
How much does the government pay Richard for his role now in the fiscal committee?
Just to clarify, not a single payment or benefit of any kind has been received for any of my opinion pieces which are a weekly thing in the Times for quite a long time now. I am genuinely fascinated by Indonesia’s rapid growth in the tech sector, competing with the likes of China and Singapore. Always a big fan of grubsheet and happy to talk.
Thank you Arnold for your clarification of not receiving payment or benefit of your opinion pieces.
The real Stakeholders – now here’s a word NGOs, Govt people and academic experts love to add in somewhere in their speeches – are able to determine the chaff from the wind. Most others clap and cheer vinaka vinaka in hope and anticipation of mana falling from the sky!
While accepting your benevolence this commercial reality is to be considered: Established corporates or those aspirational employ a marketing strategy of free product placement. Eg a Sony laptop used by 007 in a James Bond movie. David Gilmour’s free placement of Fiji Water bottles in Hollywood events in the formative years of the brand are a masterpiece of marketing.
And in reference to the Magic Water company that managed to get ” tax free ” by commercial wizardry, one wonders if what was seen as free was really free, not the free lunch at the GPH summit but the free services of the wizards, advisors and the fortune tellers and fortune seekers!
GD, it looks like the answer to the future of Fiji lies right here with Arnold Chanel, the “investor and business executive with tech experience “.
FFS ! Why didn’t someone think of palm oil, coffee, rubber, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, etc before Mr Chanel? And cocoa and chocolate and we can ‘collaborate’ and ‘joint venture’, using our ‘fertile soil’.
But wait. There’s more. Why stop there when we can have ‘start-ups’ and ‘unicorns’ and ‘cutting edge technology’, and fintech, edtech, e-commerce, push aside tourism for a ‘tech hub’ and there’s a mention of Silicon Valley for good measure! (Sorry, I’m getting my breath back after the buzz words). Why stop there Mr Chanel, how about a launch pad at Nukulau and transport the GCC to Mars ? They’ve been on a free ride to China so why not the Moon next?
In reality GD, he was invited to the launch, got the promotional brochure and copied the narrative to grandstand not realising some facts. For example, Oil palm plantations operate on flat land generally, not volcanic mountainous land as in half of Fiji with the other half of Fiji being too arid. Palm oil consists of saturated fats and that is fast disappearing from products and diets globally. Rubber plantations were tried in parts of Fiji like where Pacific Harbour now stands and were considered uneconomic because of scale just like cocoa and the other dream ventures of Mr Chanel. As for tech and before he turns the sod on developing the next Silicon Valley in Sigatoka Valley, someone point him to Taiwan, Korea, Vietnam, Singapore, Malaysia let alone the Euro countries and China/India and their investment in tech. Just how do you intend to attract PhD students in tech from Bangalore in India to Fiji given the last lot of Indians are already on their way out?
But more than that, and importantly Mr Chanel, understand that unless and until the landowners of say 90% of Fijian land open the ‘native’ land to development, nothing will happen and has never happened. Just ask someone, anyone!
Secondly, the Vulagi brain drain after the first coups and the massive brain drain happening now may leave you holding that brochure in one hand and the proverbial in the other. But that’s ok. It gets you a free article in the Fiji Times, devoid of fact checking.
It saddens me to see the ability to dream diminished in so many people because of this cold harsh world where hate triumphs over the exchange of ideas.
Don’t let the haters get you Arnold.
Dream big.
Look forward to a new four lane highway between Viti and Vanua Levu. Tremendous economic benefits for the North. Could be a collaborative JV between China, India, ADB and Fiji. Will certainly help revive the cacao industry that once was in that part of the country. Cadbury could set up there. Indonesia could help develop Fiji coconut water industry in Savusavu and assist a Fijian exporter compete globally with its own suppliers!
Vinaka toso Viti toso.
PS Don’t spin rebuttal of an unviable ill thought out idea as Hate. People can see through the BS! Nothing personal as long as you don’t make the audience to be gullible fools.
The conflict of interest for Mr Naidu is a serious but fixable issue. As GD is aware he has already been subjected to a legal threat by Mr Naidu for raising questions in the public interest. These threats were certainly a misguided attempt to replace government censorship with censorship by those with the means and connections.
In some ways this unaccountable system of rich elite using threats of court action to shut down legitimate questions in the public interest is way more sinister because usually the public doesn’t find out about it. We only know because GD wasn’t going to be threatened.
So, how Mr. Naidu did it come to this? Once a champ for his profile of media freedom and rebellion the uncomfortable reality is that he’s actually always represented and wants to represent the ultra elite. That’s fine, that’s his choice to do what he wants. Even if he gets his kicks from fooling young people that he’s on their side as a rebel who can operate a twitter account that’s fine too. Hey whatever you need to do Mr. Naidu to get your kicks.
But what’s not fine is to cozy up to government, volunteer to use your legal skills to assist government but really promote the interests of your client. This is called a conflict of interest and depending on what has happened is also called selling out your country’s interests. This is why politicians have to be very careful not to mix the public role with their private interests. In the case of Naidu he has some explaining to do. This starts with explaining clearly how much he was paid by his client if anything? How well was the conflict of interest explained or declared to the government? Was the coalition government fully aware? If the coalition government was not aware how is the decision to grant a tax holiday to a billionaire okay?
The unwise choice Mr. Naidu made was to risk a carefully cultivated reputation so quickly and because he made the mistake that people would not ask questions. Were we supposed to be so happy he’d been part of a loud social media obsessed opposition that we would not notice bad governance from the new government? Make no mistake this has damaged the credibility of the coalition government and NFP in particular and the question everyone in the academic and legal circles are asking is what did Mr Naidu disclose to the government about his dual role and conflict of interest?
It is also important to be aware is that if full disclosure was made as lawyers know then Mr. Naidu in the clear. So why doesn’t Mr. Naidu explain that instead of issuing legal threats against the journalist?
There’s so much on the conduct of police on social mefia today. Officers asking bribes to turn their head away, charging innocent people if the offender can pay them, rude unprofessional behavior, not wanting or too lazy to investigate serious allegations…all that with allegations of drug peddling for a long time.
People of Fiji, be very scared of the police. They are sold out. The commissioner is a headless chicken lost in prayer and the minister too drunk with power to care.
Its jungle law in Fiji now. If you got the money to buy the police, good. If not dont bother going to the station to lodge a complaint. They too busy or too lazy to do anything.
Police vehicles breaking road rules every single day. I dont know whats going on with these guys.
Truly the change is here. Obviously not what most of us voted for.
Scary times ahead.
Unfortunately they went the “Fiji Snub” route living up to Aiyarse nicknaming them the “opposition times” now becoming pro-coalition as pointed out in this article.