The former trade unionist and Airports Fiji staffer, Ben Kush, has long been waging an intense campaign on social media to localise the two most critical jobs in Fijian tourism and the national economy – the leadership of Fiji Airways and Tourism Fiji. He wants the CEO of the national airline, South African André Viljoen, and the head of Tourism Fiji, Australian Brent Hill, replaced by Fijians.
Kush would normally be crying into a vacuum – a legend in his own mind in thinking that he and his overly-ambitious kai vata have the ability to occupy these lofty positions. But there’s a much more serious element to this campaign because Ben Kush has genuine influence in high places. To the extent that he intends standing as a People’s Alliance candidate in next year’s election. And part of that campaign is to step up his calls for foreigners like Viljoen and Hill to be removed and replaced with locals.
Here he is in the Fiji Times just days ago applying political pressure to appoint a local as chief financial Officer of Fiji Airways – one of the most critical jobs at the airline because it involves having the expertise (and ruthlessness) to enforce the strictest financial discipline in an industry where the slightest miscalculation can be the difference between staying in the air and crashing.
As Air Pacific, Fiji Airways was perilously close to going broke – and at a time when the current Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica, had a senior role at the airline. Grubsheet understands that at a time of wildly fluctuating fuel costs, Air Pacific had just five weeks of saqamoli left to keep it flying before a new management team was installed under the last government to seize the controls at the last moment.
The rest is history. A slow return to profitability, a new name – Fiji Airways – ageing aircraft replaced by more fuel-efficient planes, the extraordinary feat of weathering the global Covid pandemic when many had written off the airline as a lost cause, a return to sunnier economic skies and less turbulent air, more new aircraft and more routes to scoop up the passengers needed not just to keep the national airline in the air but the entire Fijian economy afloat.
Fiji Airways has had three CEOs since it was rebranded – the American Dave Flieger, the German, Stefan Pichler and André Viljoen, each of whom presided over the airline’s gradual revival. But by far the most successful of these has been André Viljoen, the tough former boss of Air Mauritius whose career in the airline business was forged in southern Africa and included once having a gun put to his head.
Viljoen has since taken Fiji Airways into the stratosphere for reliability and service. It has been named Best Airline in Australia and the Pacific at the prestigious Skytrax World Airline awards for the past two years running and its exceptional in-flight staff have won best cabin crew for four years running. Fiji Airways has also improved its global ranking in the top 100 airlines, climbing from 15th in 2023 to 14th in 2024 to finish ahead of Qantas and Air New Zealand.
This is an astonishing accomplishment for a small airline that once came so close to disaster and for anyone capable of rationally examining the evidence, ought to be a source of great national pride. Even on the basis of the old adage – “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” – nothing must be allowed to mess with the current management at Fiji Airways.
Viljoen and his team have taken the national airline to unprecedented heights and deserve the respect and heartfelt thanks of every Fijian. Instead, there has been a running campaign to denigrate them on social media, led in large part by Ben Kush, who wants to put the futures of hundreds of people at risk so that he and his kai vata can be given the controls.
This is what he told the Fiji Times back in January:
So where is the evidence for this claim? It doesn’t exist. On the contrary, not obtaining the best foreign expertise, in the case of Fiji Airways, took it to the brink of disaster.
It must not be allowed to happen again simply because it is not in the national interest. Indeed this madness has the capacity to severely damage Fiji’s overall interests and the interests of every citizen. Why? Because other airlines around the world have recruiters actively trying to poach André Viljeon and his team and if they are tempted to go, the threat to Fiji Airways should be obvious.
A couple of months back, the main French-language newspaper in Mauritius actually reported that André Viljoen had been persuaded to return to Air Mauritius. Only he can say how close he came to leaving. But there was a collective sigh of relief in the tourism industry in Fiji when Viljoen announced that he would be staying on at Fiji Airways after all. Yes, he is that important to the industry and the health of the national economy.
The same goes for Brent Hill at Tourism Fiji, though obviously to a lesser extent because he hasn’t been in the job as long. But the white-anting of both of these men who are critical to Fiji’s success, especially when the global economic outlook is so uncertain and volatile, is the height of folly. Instead of being thanked and appreciated for their service, they are being subjected to attack.
We live in a global world in which in the best people in any field are in high demand. Nationality doesn’t come into it. And the demands from people like Ben Kush to install Fijians in critical jobs just because they are locals is madness. We are cutting off our noses to spite our faces and virtually guaranteeing the failure of some of our most successful ventures.
Of course jobs should go to locals when they are qualified and meet the same standards as expatriates. But the cardinal principle must remain that the best person for a job gets the job. Otherwise we are on a path to national mediocrity and failure. So this movement – and Ben Kush isn’t alone amid a senseless surge of ethno-nationalism across the board – must be ignored for the fantasy that it is. For everyone’s sake.
Strangely, part of Ben Kush’s application for these jobs has been a full-blown attack on the Minister for Finance, Biman Prasad.
If that is the level of his strategic ability, then imagine him running Fiji Airways or Tourism Fiji?
One advice to Ben Kush (aka Lorry Aweh) is to get to know your leader first before shooting off your mouth at anything and everything. Because, while you might think that taking a shot at Biman might win you a ticket for PA 2026, there’s a reason why he is being sheltered by SLR. There’s a reason why Gavoka is still there no matter how much you try to tanish his reputation. There’s a reason why you see old associates (QVSOB, Military Men & Ca’aun bloods) of PM rearing their ugly heads again when they should be in retirement. If you do not fall under one of those categories- Be forewarned- Runnn with your lorry …lol….because you will be disposed off as soon as he gets power just like Turaga, Ravu, Tabuya and all Ministers in the cabinet that are getting to see his true colours.
And by the way… The politics of hate is so 2006. If you want a ticket for 2026… Bring your resume and achievements …because “keimami sa kida”.
Fiji Transparency has exposed fair bit about the nepotism in Fiji Tourism. We have seen senior officials resigning overnight because the exposed corruption was true.
I do think that Brent Hill has the tendency to exaggerate information and that will come back to haunt him.
Given his resume (easily accessible on LinkedIn) raises the question if he was the best candidate for the role.
I am all for merits and I do believe that Fiji has some credible local leadership based right at home. These leaders have worked in the sector and have vast connections locally and abroad. They are now managing bigger resorts in Fiji and abroad. But I am not too fixed that a Fijian has to lead Tourism Fiji too.
Tourism is the economic backbone of Fiji. We need better people in Fiji Tourism. Above all, we need a Minister who is honest and competent worthy to oversee the industry too. I don’t see that in Brent and Gavoka.
We are heading into difficult financial times and Fiji’s tourism is not looking as enticing to Asian countries. So what is Fiji still selling? Happiness? I don’t think we are duped into that happiness slogan any more. People are heading elsewhere and so is the workforce. Yes, you can sell happiness and that doesn’t come by standing and singing and smiling at the tourists with Bula anymore. It comes with 500 other things behind the scenes. I am sorry to say that Fiji’s happiness is more like an agony now.
Has anyone seen the meals on Fiji Airways economy class flights! They are pathetic.
And if that wasn’t enough, how about outright stealing from customers and not responding to emails. Calling Fiji Airways is like a calling the Fiji Police where no one knows who is doing what. The staff are pathetic service people. They lack experience and support services information. I promised myself that I will never step foot in that plane after they partied us at Auckland airport for yet another freaking mechanical problem that took 4 hours to fix. We were on the tarmac for that long. Not even a glass of water was served in the economy class. Most useless airline and expensive airline that serves the Pacific.
The crew on board …well can’t say much. They are simply quite a team to deal with. The lack of professionalism is appalling but then they are changed faster than the bus tyres at home so what can we expect. They can continue to make TikTok and still be famous.
Ben Kush… nothing to say about this guy. What does he do apart from being in coffee shops and blogging? No job I guess. Rabuka’s precious big boy.
So agree re the service at Fiji Airways. They only know how to serve the business class who are usually flying not on their money. We did a LA to Syd flight last year via Nadi. Gone are the friendly staff. They were arrogant and hardly nice. Nicer to my husband which I attributed to the fact he isn’t a local. Nadi to Sydney was nicer but only because I was next to some Minister’s wife who they were serving.
There is no friendliness on the airline or at Nadi Airport. I have said this before, the whole Bula thing will not carry Fiji these days when it comes to tourism. They need to start doing better to attract more sophisticated travellers and be better value for money.
Well they must be doing something right to have been awarded best cabin crew in Australia and the Pacific for four years running. Flying is a lottery. Sometimes you get a bad experience. But public dissatisfaction with Fiji Airways is nothing compared to public dissatisfaction with Qantas. You could always choose Qantas. But be careful what you wish for.
Ben Kush is smart arse who thinks he knows everything and if he doesn’t know something then it’s not worth knowing!
He is at best delusional. He claims to have left a lucrative job in Australia to come and “serve” the fijian people. He has aligned himself as with PAP and is an office bearer but he sometimes claims that he doesn’t support any party and that he is for the people and will wait and see who he supports…but then he also supports PAP and rabuka. In fact he is as delusional and bat shit crazy as Rambo. His borrowed slogan of “lorry aweh” ( the bus is coming) is his supposed catch cry for his campaign. He banishes this idiotic slogan on all and sundry. It’s nauseating.
Maybe he refers to himself as the lorry cos he surely is built like one. Interestingly he is always taking photos of himself with his hands placed over his chest hiding his ample boob’s. I think this cladestine move hide his dudu was becoming too obvious so now he just takes photos from the dudu up.
He is forever telling everyone about his itaukei side of the family to appease the itaukei voter but will never speak up against people like his dear leader rabuka who considers bens other indo fijian half as visitors to the country that big tities wants to become an MP of. Like all of rabakus idiotic lackey brigade of racists and uncle toms, Ben the fat boci is fond of making wild allegations and character assassinations against anyone rabuka doesn’t like..including biman.
The fat prick is surrounded by hard-core grog snipers who urge him on in his quest for political greatness. These are the same people who will note for him cos they already know who they will vote for. It’s not like they have second spare vote to give to thos Johnny come lately who was fired from his fiji job cos he was being disruptive and naughty.
BTW big dudu should note that his name Ben Kush when pronounced by the tourism minsiter he dislikes so much is not actually quite so flattering. You see Bill Gavoka who can only pronounce the “sh” as “s” sound, always ends up saying Ben “kus” and not kush. And “kus” means vagina in a well known sub continental language.
Over to Ben Kus.
100 percent
This two should have gone long ago when government changed.
2 suck ups of previous government .
Tourism is one industry throughout the world that has natural growth .
Unless otherwise if country is at risk.
Tourism grows ,than Airlines grow
That’s how it works.
100 per cent. Idiot.
Palagi to Palagi don’t like truth .
Mr Kush FIRMLY believes in a lot of things, as per his statements quoted in this article.
I believe I can fly – [Song by R Kelly]
I believe I can touch the sky
I think about it every night and day
Spread my wings and fly away
I believe I can soar
I see me running through that open door – Into the CEO’s office or Into Parliament House.
Sincerity of belief doesn’t necessarily equate to ability. Just see what the Localised Coalition Govt has achieved……it’s not a piece of local cake running an Airline or a Nation to International standards and beyond….especially when it seems envy and jealousy are the primary competencies.
Another one left his job in Aussie like Shailendra Raju from nz . Both here in fiji to complete their 2 years so they contest the coming election and fill their pockets . Fiji the land of opportunities.
Why isn’t Ben disclosing that he has, for many years, tried to get into senior management in Fiji Airways?
He has tried through the normal channels, and it isn’t uncommon knowledge he has also tried to tabetabe his way through some of his “connections” inside. Ben needs the steady paisa to flow through, so his hope is to influence enough people to get Viljoen replaced by a local he knows and he can use that person to get into a role.
Ben needs to stop lying and just make it clear that he’s clutching at straws, desperate to find something to keep him and his pension going. Just like Bulitavu and other leeches, Ben is a sandhopper and will jump from party to party for his own gain. It’s time for him to return to the village.
The same Ben Kush would ask his health insurance providers for an overseas medical evacuation and be seen by specialist overseas doctors if he needs surgery.
This is not your local taxi base that can be managed by your Momo, Ben!
Air Pacific had Akuila Savu – airline bankrupted 1984, Ratu Mara auction it for $10 million , Qantas bids successfully, out of the goodness of their souls returned Air Pacific to Fiji with a free , later leased Boeing 747 and the precious NAN-LAX route. Conditions attached with Qantas board members in the airline.
Next comes Andrew local Drysdale, more interested in his house building in Saweni and writing books, locks the airline in fuel hedging at a higher cost than normal- idiot. He neither did good nor bad. Just lived the well paid CEO life.
Then Aussie John Campbell, again had a Chardonnay in hand ,a bula shirt on and bingo, nothing productive happened
Then comes Mike McQuay who rented Andrew Drysdale’s house in Saweni where he used to invite female flight attendants for you know what, naked swimming pool parties.
Then comes John the Chardonnay Campbell again and gets sent home due to coup d’etat.
Along came Dave, then Stephan and the current one Andre and it’s winning awards.
Do we want to go back to the auctions again ?
Andrew Drysdale and his executive team including Manoa Kamikamica dragged FJ out of the largest financial loss in the history of Fiji and was there when they recorded year after year of profits – not a single year of loss. They set the base to make Fiji Airways the success it is today.
Sorry but by 2011/2012, the airline was a basket case and almost went to the wall.
@Kaysee are you sure about that?
Ben is another wanna be like all these Pap clowns – Tanya, Pramesh, Barbara etc – Ask Ben where his money comes from, how does he survive in this world before sledging these people who have saved the industry.
Any smart person would say get the best person for the job, not get the best local person. The success of airlines and tourism is vital for our economy and it needs the best management without constraints of nationality, colour , creed and race. Ben is the least qualified person to comment. Stick to your night day Kus Pus – your intellect is confusing you.
This scenario under Rabuka is same like we had under Qrass-se. Racism, fake threat to top local jobs, indians go back to India, theft, thuggery, et etc against poor indians. Always blaming hard working Indians.
I hope Rabuka can make all Indians illegal immigrants in Fiji. Send them to Australia since CSR is still alive in Oz. They are contractually liable. Queensland has vast vacant land for the Fiji Indians to thrive planting sugarcane, wheat etc. They will make that country more productive. In return send all dumb natives back to Fiji to farm their land.
All Indians and experts gone from Fiji, I can guarantee you, in 5 years or less cannibalism will thrive again. Just look at other pacific island nations where there are no Indians. As usual they are relying on kerekere. Screw the fake christian showbiz these clowns are doing. Nowhere near Christ.
Oh I like the bit about cannibalism thriving again. Imagine all those planeloads of tourists feasting on “long pig”. “Where happiness finds you” as long as you can be quick enough to stay off the menu yourself.
Troy Lee, Rabuka has 2 Titanium knees fitted in India which he is using to kick the people who helped him walk after his itaukei knees gave up, ungrateful bastard!
About time…and agree 💯 percent. Indo Fijians should be made illegal and deported to where CSR is prosperous. Where ever they go, at least they will mostly work hard to better their lives.
At the same time, can itaukei be returned back to Fiji?
Once Indians leave, not only will cannibals come out of woodworks, the economy will collapse. Fiji may need to be ceded by the Great council of chiefs again to the highest bidder.
Fiji Airways has had strong success under the current CEO and it has expanded its traditional holiday market which is brilliant as you need diverse markets in tourism.
However flights to and from Sydney are nowhere as good as they use to be .
I keep hearing about those new planes , where are they ? Flying to the new markets I suspect so I wouldn’t be surprised to see old holiday markets drop off for Asia , but the volume of overseas Fijian workers who visit family or just business travel in general will no doubt sustain the captive market as well as the sheer number of the expanding upwardly mobile world population.
It takes a lot of skill to run an airline but I don’t think it is bad thing that the union guy is breathing down the neck of a long serving CEO. It prevents complacency.
As long as a CEO keeps delivering it is only at contract renewal time can you consider a replacement and that sort of competition is good for everyone whether that’s in Tourism or Airlines or any business. Who knows the next CEO might be from another Pacific nation because nationality is nice but competence is essential.
Bloody locals pay twice as much fares than those who are coming for fun to Fiji.
Urgent flights to attend funerals cost arms and legs.
Food is pathetic .
Airlines staff gives VIP services to tourists, while a local who has paid twice as much fare is not even looked at in the eye.
Not sure who is giving FA high rating.
The Business class is quite a superior product on the A350s, though only kaiviti hired for the cabin attendant role. They say that Indians cannot swim that’s why they’re not cabin attendants. I must say I’ve never seen the kaivitis swim during the flight . I wonder what kind of crap they practice to keep the Indians out of the cabin. Very sad but that’s how they do it, a very anti Christian lot, these HR people at that white hangar .
The food’s good but as an Indian passenger their smile wipes out of their faces when they have to serve you. Never mind we grew up with this racism and probably die seeing it continue. Jesus departed Fiji at Seru Cakobau’s funeral never to return here. He handed it over to the princes of darkness.(okay darkness sounds racist)
Ben Kush…another stupid ass racist and self entitled incompetent f**kwit riding on the lucky win of coalition in 2022 who thinks he is better than other more competent and qualified professionals in the field of aviation and tourism.
Just like Siromi the SWINE, Ben is picking on “white” people and wanting to get rid of them so that his kind can take on the job. And by “his kind” I am not referring to the itaukei generally but idiots like Ben who consider themselves above others especially when it is a person who is of another race.
Little does Ben the bottle head realise that it was his kind that brought down the airline industry in Fiji to its knees and to the brink of collapse. Now that Fiji Airways is flourishing after the FijiFirst Government revived it, Ben wants to take the role and pretend to be king. It will be another disaster like that of NBF if an incompetent and umeritorius imbecile like Ben is to take the role of CEO.
Wonder if he applied for the job? It would be good to see his CV and see what this lunatic is good at.
Ben needs to be reminded that just because you are good at washing dishes, you cannot become the chef.
Totally agree with Grubsheet on this one.
BK mouths off as if he is the expert in everything. Very narrow-minded.
30 years of experience in the aviation industry as what? Air Traffic Controller?
No idea of how a global economy works or how global business operates, let alone the airline industry, which is cutthroat and even more difficult for relatively small airlines such as FJ.
BK should stick to blogging; that’s where the IQ is appropriate, and damage is mitigated.
Kus Pus wants a job desperately. His pontificating trash talk revels he is a proper demonstrable feckwit.
Kus Pus, just say what you want to say: I want job.
More seriously, who is out there “locally” to take the airline’s operations, profits, and high ratings even higher?
Who Kus Pus? You? Baiman? Emeritus rolex? Checkered Manoa? Porn Lyndah? Methnol Blinky? Or another entho-nationalist from the sticks? A “local” CEO from another sector with zero airline experience and knowledge?
Someone from “another Pacific country?” Have we gone insane? Which of our Pacific island neighbors have a world renowned profitable airline? Nauru? Tonga? Vanuatu? Papua New Guinea?
And to those that beech and moan about the food on economy class, do you expect a three course meal prepared by the best chefs in the world?
These people need to fly any one of US airlines to see the sumptuous meals they serve in 6-hour and 8-hour domestic flights, with unlimited free alcohol and beverages and sandwiches. People do not fly to enjoy fine cuisine. They fly to get from A to B.
Fiji Airways is rated 14th out of 100 airlines in the WORLD. Let that sink in Kus Pus.
Wouldn’t it be ironical if the reverse was applied in the matter of locals for local positions:
That all the overseas sports teams’ countries (mainly rugby but not limited to it) that Fijian nationals ply their trade in make a rule that only their locals will be allowed to play in or coach their teams…then
send all the expatriate Fijians back ! What then Mr Ben Kush….and what happens to the expatriates like Mr Ben Ryan who are employed to lift Fijian teams to higher levels..
Hypocrite. Localisation champion but go overseas for medical treatment…local specialists not good enough for you!
Kush….shush. Shut up.
People like Ben Kush are best ignored.
Will be a trouble maker in whatever party he joins.
I wonder whatever happened to his party he was going to set up.
Just another big mouth with a pea brain.
Broke as brown tongue back in Fiji looking for a Prado and govt salary! Borrowed a thousand bucks off me to have busiest political rally! No one turned up!!! Wanna be politician with no idea !! Big hat no cattle !
Ben Kush is on social media for two reasons. To find a female companion and to get support to enter the parliament.
Now having a go at expatriates will get him votes. Like many Fijians, Ben Kush is of the mould who believe sincerely that there are qualified locals to do the job. The same type of qualifications candidates have used to take over the judiciary and majority of the government roles.
Some of these expats can make better money and be closer to their loved ones if they decided to return home. But they are likely are using their experience of running larger organisations and connections throughout the world to challenge themselves in developing a nation void of talent.
If you follow Ben Kush on Facebook he is a big supporter of Rabuka’s nationalist agenda including changing the constitution. He is shallow as they come and driven by his hatred of FijiFirst politicians maybe due to bad blood. I am embarrassed he is from Natabua High School or partly from there partly some unknown Suva school. Natabuans are nation builders not destroyers. He is more like Shailendra Raju and Takanini Squatter settlement resident Rajen Chaudhry. Big motor mouths and nothing to deliver.
Bennie will most likely get his Martintar supporters to push him in parliament. He probably will end up in the arms of the Queen of Tarts, that companion he seeks at some stage but he will never last the distance in any senior role to get anywhere in life as far as the expatriate CEOs he wants deported. When you are driven by hate, you end up destroying yourself and your opportunities. Lori chaldis Bennie boy.
Here’s a refined version of your comment with improved clarity, flow, and professionalism while maintaining the essence of your argument:
I firmly believe in hiring the best person for the job, whether local or expat. As an expat working in Fiji, I understand the dynamics at play. While I can’t comment on Andre, I think the main issue with Brent isn’t a lack of skills or qualifications—it’s that he isn’t acting in the best interests of the Fijian people.
Expatriates are typically brought in for their international expertise and, crucially, to build the capacity of local counterparts. However, there is little evidence of Brent doing this. Who is his successor? Which local professional is he actively mentoring for a leadership role? The answer seems to be no one.
While Tourism Fiji has commendably recruited locals returning from overseas, there has also been significant nepotism and questionable dealings. Brent and his international executive team receive disproportionately higher salaries than local executives. Local staff went years without pay rises, while he and his team continued to enjoy generous packages. During a time when many were tightening their belts, Brent approved a new fleet of vehicles—one of which is reportedly driven more by his wife than by him.
Moreover, he has been vocal about conflicts of interest, even threatening staff with dismissal over them, yet he appears to have his own conflicts. There are strong rumours that his wife was directly appointed to a role she had no prior experience in (having multiple degrees doesn’t equate to relevant experience). Additionally, his partner’s business benefits from consultancy work tied to his organisation, and there are concerns over training programs run by Andre’s wife without a transparent RFT process.
Brent, as the CEO of a marketing organisation, is undoubtedly skilled at marketing himself as the affable Aussie executive, but beneath the surface, there are troubling issues. The fact that whistleblowers within TF are leaking information suggests deeper dissatisfaction. The “coconut wireless” frequently buzzes with reports of unhappy local staff and high turnover rates.
Just my two cents.
The leaks and “buzzes” are chronic in Fiji. It’s the politics of envy more than genuine concern about leadership performance. Just my two cents worth.
Ben’s noise on social media has intensified as he tries to gather popular votes. Lest he forget he is appealing to the existing support base and taking away from someone else.
He is continually attacking Ketan, Aiyaz, Biman, Gavoka, Andre and Brent, then purporting himself as some sort of aviation guru. He’s seems more like an empty vessel and while his notion is that he is of a mixed ethnicity, he has never posted in support of anything for the Indo Fijians.
The ‘white-anting’ has devoured 3 of our most important institutions already: WAF, FRA, FRCS. We’ve got local idiots running the show. Next is EFL where Roko will wield his powers to oust Hasmukh (probably time for him to retire anyway), but the replacement is a disaster in the making. Get ready for the clique of Fiji Water and Rokoseru trying to deliver sustainable electricity.
Never heard of this “Ben Kus” guy until now. Based on the comments above, he looks like he is a first class dickhead – which makes him the ideal person to be appointed to some important role!!! Isn’t that how this government operates? They wish to take Fiji backwards, fast. And the people love them for it.
As reported in these columns, increasingly since the last elections, corruption in Fiji is thriving at all levels and from all angles. Hurting the masses but benefiting the elites.
Wonder then who will represent the country at next month’s anti-corruption global forum? Ben, interested? Or our UN Representative who got his job tailor made and confirmed in record time? Or our failed SODELPA candidate Ambassador to the US? Or the Minister responsible for the government’s business with the World Bank, Biman? Hopefully, there will be no no-show for us.
https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2024/06/11/partnerships-for-anticorruption-global-forum-2025
The growing list of issues involving the ODPP, FICAC, ministerial scandals, false declarations, drug-related offenses, and other concerns—pending charges yet to be determined—raises serious questions about governance and accountability. The Judicial Services Commission (JSC) is also under scrutiny, and concerns continue to mount.
One can only hope that Fiji Airways and Tourism Fiji do not become part of this list. Without these key industries, Fiji would be far more dependent on foreign aid, competitor airlines and budgetary support to sustain its economy.
Fiji Airways, once struggling, was carefully rebuilt under the FijiFirst government, transitioning from losses to profitability. Under the leadership of Fiji First during COVID-19, along with Fiji Airways CEO and Tourism Fiji CEO, the country was recognized as one of the top global destinations to visit after reopening its borders. This achievement was the result of a well-executed vaccination rollout, effective contact tracing, and strategic planning—efforts that placed Fiji firmly on the global map, much like Grace Road’s own branding, which highlights Fiji at the center.
During the pandemic, the opposition took a very different stance. Some questioned the viability of Fiji Airways, claiming it was insolvent. Others suggested shutting down the airline entirely. Some even resorted to mocking the situation with shameful social media antics. Now, ironically, the same voices that once doubted its survival are benefiting from it—frequently traveling abroad on the very planes they once dismissed. The sheer volume of government travel has even raised eyebrows within the Public Service Commission (PSC). At one point, the Prime Minister and all three Deputy Prime Ministers were out of the country, leaving Acting PM Tuisawau to oversee governance.
The contrast in leadership speaks for itself.
Interesting perspective from a Caucasian regarding two Caucasian man…what will the locals do without their expertise advice??…so all this time Andre has not found any locals to train to take over MDCEO or CEO at Tourism Fiji…..
Interesting view attacking a local man that’s covering topics not picked up in the mainstream media…
The fact that the airline is doing well cannot be atttributed to one man only. There are dedicated staff that are working hard behind the scene to ensure that Fiji Airways performs.
Pray tell Graham have you been hired by Andre or Brent to push their agenda online…..
Yes, I’ve got both of them as clients. You know how we “Caucasians” stick together.
What a ridiculous comment. Let’s just replace both of them with the tea lady.
Everyone should reread this again now that Hill and Viljoen are both moving on .
It is important that the most capable candidates gets these appointments in these two critical sectors.