The Fijian people are in for an unprecedented period of hardship after Donald Trump has told the world to “go and get its own oil” – indicating that he is going to walk away from the war he is losing in the Middle East.
There has been shock in Fiji at the sudden extent of fuel price increases announced yesterday but only because a complacent government and a compliant mainstream media have kept the people in the dark about the looming crisis.
And make no mistake, the whole world is entering a period of dire crisis in which even the strongest nations will feel a great deal of pain and smaller nations like Fiji will inevitably suffer the most.
If you go no further here because he don’t like bad news, then at least read the following extract from an article in the Telegraph UK about the dire warning from one of the world’s biggest investment banks.
Be afraid, Fiji. Be very afraid. Because this morning’s panic among the nation’s bus operators about the hike in the price of diesel is just the start. And the Coalition government is in the worst possible position to heed their plea for assistance, having increased the national debt from $9.5-billion when it took office to $10.9 billion now and counting.
Instead of tightening its belt and preparing for a rainy day, the Coalition and its gaggle of self indulgent MPs went on an unprecedented spending spree – average salary hikes for MPs of 138 per cent and unforgivable benefits such as the right to import tax-free vehicles.
The Coalition also granted a seven year tax holiday to Fiji’s biggest exporter – Fiji Water – while punishing ordinary people with VAT increases of 15 per cent on a range of items that had attracted a 9 per cent rate when it took office.
And a conga line of MPs and civil servants headed for the airport in an orgy of overseas travel that saw government ministers like Lynda Tabuya claiming travel allowances even when their expenses were being paid for by their hosts overseas.
Well now the chickens are coming home to roost. And, of course, the burden of Donald Trump’s folly in the Middle East is going to hit low-income Fijians the hardest, starting with price hikes for fuel and then higher prices for everything else as the extra costs are passed on to consumers.
It is pointless asking the Coalition government for help. All they are going to do is wrack up more debt to leave to our children and grandchildren. The Rabuka government’s reckless indifference to any notion of responsible fiscal conduct is going to cripple the Fijian people. And remember who is ultimately responsible, Fiji.
Yes, it is partly Donald Trump for starting a war that he can’t win and has decided to walk away from because he can. But it is also a Fijian government which has left the cupboard bare when it was warned about the need to prioritise spending on the essentials – health and education – and cut back on discretionary spending yet instead spent like a bunch of drunken sailors on shore leave.
The only plus is that revenge is just around the corner. Rabuka and his gaggle of misfits are going to face the judgment of the people at the coming election. And no matter how many distractions they throw up – changing the constitution, changing the electoral laws – they will eventually be brought to account.
In the meantime, it won’t be the fat cats in parliament, the civil service and the offices of state who will suffer but low income wage and salary earners and the most vulnerable sections of our population. And that is a cause for national shame and anger.
The Fijian people have been betrayed and will now suffer because of the selfishness and greed of the nation’s governing elite.
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First, the grim reality on global markets that is now being felt in Fiji, with much worse to come.
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Meanwhile back in Fiji…
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And as jet fuel prices rise, a crisis looms for the national airline, Fiji Airways, having already announced a shock loss.
Here’s that graph on the rocketing cost of jet fuel again. And think about how this is going to translate into increased fares and the impact of that on Fiji’s tourism industry, let alone the ability of Fijians to travel.
The entire Fijian economy is now in grave danger as interest rates rise in our tourism markets and discretionary spending falls.
Economists in Australia are predicting three interest rate rises before August as the central bank desperately tries to keep down the rate of inflation amid a prices explosion.
Yes, be afraid, Fiji. Be very afraid. And also be very wary of the mainstream media in Fiji, large sections of which has been bought off by the Coalition with taxpayer-funded grants.
Can you trust them to tell you the truth about what is happening and ignore the government spin?
Answer that one yourself.
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It gives me no satisfaction to point out that you were warned here. An overall snapshot of the Fijian economy before the latest shock events.
Silly Siti is quoted saying “fuel prices are not allowed to go up yet…” and further putting his foot in his orifice by telling the country “now we all may have to start thinking about bicycles as the fuel prices may go up.”
It is mind-boggling and to use Jone Usamate’s favourite word “flabbergasting” to see someone who is the head of the iTaukei government making such statements which show clearly how out of touch he is with his people and the global situation.
If anything, I see a huge social crisis coming to Fiji. With prices of things such as kerosene and premix fuel increasing, people will not be able to afford the fuel needed to run the stoves in their homes or pay for fuel for machinery.
What happens to the grass-cutter who is already barely making enough to feed his family by cutting grass? He cant afford to continue offering his lawn services at the current price and has to raise it. Suddenly, people cant afford his services and he loses business.
What happens to the bean and peanut seller at the market? His cost of kerosene has gone up so he needs to pass that cost to the customers in the buses who buy his products. But now, they cant afford to buy his snacks because he’s raised his prices and buses have raised their fares because of rising diesel costs.
People who are pushed into a corner because they are unable to afford the basic items to be able to feed their children or families become desperate and they will either resort to nefarious activities such as theft or enagage in the lucrative yet incredibly dangerous world of drugs to make ends meet.
As always, Silly Siti was busy with his head buried in the sand and “wasn’t aware” the word around him was collapsing. Now that the country is impacted, his knee-jerk reaction to increase fuel prices is another damning example of why he and his racist lot need to be thrown out.
Perhaps Silly Siti could sell that $100K Rolex to help the poor iTaukei out in Fiji or Lynda sell some of her drugs and help the country out. Even Biman could help out given the vast sums of “paisa” he has made diddling his business shares and the millions awarded to his wife in the form of “educational grants” which has landed him in court.
Ref: https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/no-fuel-price-hike-yet-says-rabuka/
Correction -titanium knees done by world class expert Indians surgeons in India. Who says Shiti Sona Rolex doesn’t like Indians?
Thanks for the reality shock, GD.
ps Buying electric cars is no help if all hydro and solar electricity is already fully consumed. Horse drawn vehicles and work boats with sails will be in vogue again.
I have already mentioned this to your page GD – The LORD of Heavens and Earth is about to return sooner than we expected to save His just & fair, the 144,000 people mentioned in Revelation 7 and 14.
We are getting closer to the close of probation as clearly stated in Revelation 22:11, and the crunch of the matter was mentioned by Prophet Daniel more than 2,500 years ago in Daniel 12:1-2: Its time for everyone who believes in the Living God Yahweh to repent their sins and hold onto the faith until the close of probation …the Sunday LAW decree will come first imposed by the beast…the Great Nation…
God Bless us all as we through little pains before the real pains comes in…Jesus Christ is the only way to salvation!
God helps those who help themselves. Jesus isn’t going to save us from this.
Hell must be big to take all the leftovers if only 144, 000 are going to heaven !
One would have to be really special to get in that bunch, given the billions that have existed since time began. A very elite group.
When everyone involved is complicit with Government run by nincompoops, what do you expect? Your comments should be editorial headlines in every media publication in Fiji. As long as you are riding the gravy train.. no-one’s complaining.
The outbreak of war in the Middle East was always going to see the price of a Barrel of Oil go up and as it continues and looks like the US is about to walk away from it and adopt a ‘Me’ policy and the rest of the world will suffer.
This rising price will have significant impact on Fiji and on the Fiji economy, with everything from food to transport and things like building materials going up in price. Tourism, so important to Fiji’s economy, will be affected by rising jet fuel costs, possible contraction of tourist numbers and rising operating costs within Fiji.
One of Fiji’s biggest tourist market Australia has seen the price of Unleaded petrol hit $2.58 a litre and diesel at $3.32 a litre. The Australian Government has just announced it will halve fuel excise for 3 months at a cost to government of $3.2 Billion, this will see a price drop of 26.9c a litre. If the current price in Australia (without fuel excise reduction) were to be applied to Fiji it will see Unleaded at $3.95FJD and Diesel at $5.08FJD a litre.
What can the Fiji Government do? Very little as it in a deficit budget position!
It has in the last 3 years done nothing to alleviate that position. If anything it has in the last 3 years made things worse! The following is a guide:
Government debt is now at $10.95 Billion – $1.45Billion more than when they to office; and
Cost of Government has gone up by $1.306 Billion in three years.
Plus, headline inflation is expected to gradually rise over the course of 2026 given the lower VAT rate and the bus fare subsidy.
So, the current Government have by their spending and lack of financial management, have created the position of no reserves or contingencies to deal with this other than to borrow more!
Can Australia and others help? Not really, they have the same problem with the Oil situation plus they already help Fiji to the tune $600-700 Million already.
Maybe they could have less Ministers and Assistant Ministers, less Civil Servants, less overseas travel, less cars, phones, computers etc.
Aree,this is nothing new.
The whole world is going through the same.
Mr Trumpy cocked the whole world up.
He did a turn around after election when he boasted about ending the wars that was happening around the world.
Now he is asking the world to look for their own oil.
Fiji people need to understand this, as other countries have already been hit at the pump for almost a month now.
This was coming anyway and every country is finding ways the cushion this effect.
Blaming government won’t help.
Save fuel and plan trips.
Horse,bicycle, foot will make you healthy.
Wastage won’t help.
Not sure what is the fuss about!
This is real, accept it.
Government is to be blamed. We have sided and supported the aggressors.
Keep blaming government and things will fall from the sky as you are refined.
Lose a match,blame referee.
Lose a tournament,blame the coach.
Keep blaming and nothing will come to you.
The the day each individual starts blaming and understanding its own mistakes, he or she will prosper.
Most average Fijians have already hit rock bottom multiple times so this will affect the above average “working class” more who have loans, mortgages, etc to pay off. The average income earners are trapped in a cycle of earn more spend more thus unconsciously setting a debt trap for themselves and worse if the only source of income is their 9-5 / 8-4 jobs which probably qualifies around 80% of the working population.
While those who been struggling have adapted already. The culture of community living will get Fijian families through in times as such compared to individualistic lifestyle in the developed world. Barter system during covid was proof. Fiji and its people are greatly blessed more than they realise.
Meanwhile, in other news, failed finance minister badhia Baiman Prasad was interviewed by Vijay Narayan about the fuel crisis.
Half the time the bastard from babasiga spent defending Rabuka. It’s so demeaning. Rabuka keeps kicking Baiman in the arse and Baiman keeps licking those same boots. This man has no shame or dignity. He is a boot licker to the core. A disgrace to the Indo Fijian community.
The other half of the interview he spent saying what even a high school economics student understands. He is desperately trying to remain in the public eye and continue being relevant but no one cares about what he has to say. No one is listening. Everyone on social media is heaping abuse on this opportunist.
By now everyone knows what a pathetic finance minister he was. He is talking about policies to cushion the impact of the fuel increase but when he was finance minister, he increased VAT to 15%. That after promising to reduce the cost of living. He is a liar talking through his arse.
Even Rabuka has no time for this miserable piece of sh*t.
Can someone please explain how a tax holiday was issued to billionaires?
Check overseas bank accounts!
It should be one of the first acts of any incoming government to order an inquiry into the circumstances of what happened.
We need special emphasis on whether the Chair of the Fiscal Review Committee, Richard Naidu, or his firm, Munro Leys, have received any financial benefit from his/their client, Fiji Water, in the wake of the FRC recommending the tax holiday.
Rumours abound and they need to be properly investigated in the interests of transparency and accountability.
The piss poor evangelical Christians in Fiji from the Prime Minister up to his coterie of has-beens must be thinking about what God has done to Fiji. God gave the Itaukei lands but no oil, rare earths, or anything remotely that they can sell. God did help the itaukeis by allowing indentured Indian labourers to help them develop.
In spite of this, the arrogance that Rambo displayed by opening up an Embassy in Jerusalem and refusing to acknowledge the genocide in Gaza shows how indifferent and cruel he is. Fiji also voted for UN resolutions with the United States last week chaired by the US representative blaming Iran.
Take a bucket and beg for oil Sitiveni…fill up any drum you can find. Tell the petrol sniffers in your province to share the hanky around bro. Ask Mr Resnick of Fiji Water to try and turn it into oil. You were sent by God to show the iTaukeis the way.
Go phuck yourself indeed Prime Minister, you heartless prick.
While people suffer with cost increase, our coup leader Buka is busy Satanyahu to set up an embassy here. Buka also betrayed people of 3 months fuel stock.
Word is that Biman, also known as the Dogla from Dreketi, ignored advice from within the Finance Ministry to not increase VAT. He listened to that other bastard, Richard Naidu, who has no expertise in policy making.
Richard was working for the advantage of his Munro Leys client, Fiji Water.
Biman lied to the voters to achieve power and once he got there, the self serving bastard betrayed them. He and his fiscal review committee chairman Richard took the voters for fools but it has backfired.
Biman’s political career is over for good and NFP is finished as well. That’s the doing of Biman and Richard. That’s their achievement.
At least Biman can enjoy the pay increase funded by the VAT hike which he planned with Richard and paid Richard back with Aspen and FNPF legal contracts.
Biman’s antics like sexually harassing NFP’s Japanese candidate’s wife and appointing his alleged lover Kirti Patel to 3 boards, even though she was unqualified, has caught up with him. Karma has bitten him on his skinny arse.
Just go on social media and see how intensely he is disliked. People spit at his name. He has been exposed as untrustworthy and self serving. The bitch Richard Naidu has also been exposed for a money making hypocritical bastard.
Would you mind putting “alleged” bastard and “alleged” bitch? Richard Naidu clearly has the means to insist on the alleged bit.
As the record shows they are both certified bastards of the highest order.
With Aussies clamouring for Taxes on Resources, it it nigh time to revisit the taxing of Fijis natural resources by MNCs to Cushion the Cost of Living. And divert the surplus vat collected during this ‘panic buying’ to fix shit up and FATKATs go on OPTIFAST to trim excesses.
And GD you should follow the style of Betoota
All of us that supported Biman, including Grubsheet, were deceived by him into thinking that he was some competent and ethical leader.
Once in power, his actual qualities came out, which are-
1. He is a liar
2. He is very selfish and would go to any extent to protect his position.
3. He is totally scared of Racist Rambo.
4. He does not really know Economics… has never talked like an economist would.
5. He is a lousy economic policy maker.
6. He does not care at all for the national interest.