The charging of a Fijian man with one count of rape and one count of sexual assault puts an end to the pretence that the attacks on members of a visiting Virgin Airlines crew in Martintar on New Year’s Eve were being sensationalised by the international media and weren’t as serious as they were being depicted.
There have been repeated attempts in the local media in Fiji to downplay the seriousness of the incidents – with references to “attack downgraded to a sexual assault, not rape” or in today’s lamentable report in the Fiji Times, a reference to “indecent assault”. It was RAPE and there is no getting away from it now that an individual has been charged.
The Minister for Tourism, “Blinky Bill” Gavoka deserves to be removed for his own appalling attempt to downplay the gravity of the attack on visiting Australian airline crew. He tells the Fiji Times that Fiji is “safe”. Nonsense. It is not. Parts of the country are obviously safer than others. But the law and order situation around the nightclubs of Martintar is out of control – according to locals – and anyone venturing there from tourist hotels and resorts in the Nadi area is patently at risk of being assaulted.
It is now clear from international media reports like the following in the Sydney Morning Herald and other Nine Media outlets that there were two separate attacks – the rape and sexual assault of a female Virgin flight attendant and the bashing and robbery of one of her male colleagues, whose attacker is still to be apprehended. Safe eh, Minister? Yeah, sure.
Once again, in the space of a month, the Tourism Minister and the Fijian authorities generally – assisted by certain local journalists – have tried to spin the fallacy that the international media is casting what happened with the poisoning of cocktails at the Warwick Hotel and now the attacks on airline crew as being more serious than they are.
Now that we know that an Australian Virgin Airlines flight attendant was definitely raped and another crew member bashed, the damage is done. We can expect the narrative to become that contrary to the assurances of the Fijian government, Fiji is not as safe as the government is claiming. And any attempt to spin this otherwise is just going to spike media scrutiny and make the whole thing worse.
The Coalition government has developed a habit of burying its head in the sand or pointing the finger of blame at someone else. It is simply outrageous that “Blinky Bill” Gavoka is telling visitors to Fiji that assaults on them could happen anywhere and it is their responsibility to ensure their own safety.
There is no way that the authorities in Indonesia would allow this kind of thing in Bali. They would be in there knocking heads together to protect the goose that lays the golden egg. And Fiji had better do the same to protect our own industry before this gets any worse. The government needs to send a police task force into Nadi to clean up the nightclub scene and the drugs and lawlessness before the economy takes an even bigger hit. Assuming, of course, that the police are not involved, which is what some locals are suggesting.
Because if it becomes an “around the barbie yarn” among the mums and dads of Oz that visiting Fiji and Nadi in particular are potentially dangerous, even the most unworldly Australian knows that Denarau and its resorts are just a stone’s throw away. And the temptation will be for Aussie families to decide not to take the risk and go elsewhere. Like Bali.
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“Indecent assault” says the woeful Fiji Times as it embraces the government’s spin. No, it was rape.
And what actually happened, which is on the front page of Nine Media news outlets in Australia this afternoon…
UPDATE SUNDAY AM
A sudden about-face as reality sets in, including an increased police presence in Martintar.
But this is a much bigger problem than simply what happens along a strip of nightclubs. And the government needs to embrace a concerted, holistic response as tourism operators complain privately (and the opposition complains publicly) that the law and order situation in the country is getting progressively worse.
In the wake of the Virgin Airlines attacks, the Australian government has updated its travel advice for Fiji. The section on crime does not make for happy reading about the place where happiness is meant to find you.
Fiji is NOT safe.
Anyone reading this comment outside Fiji and planning to visit there with their families, particularly if you have women with you, need to rethink their travel plans.
If the women and girls in your family are raped or sexually assaulted, Fijian authorities, including senior government ministers will not help you. They will do everything to cover it up.
You will not receive any medical assistance and you are risking contracting sexually transmitted diseases if you or your family members are sexually assaulted.
DFAT must issue travel warnings, advising travelers to exercise a high degree of caution and stay within the resort to ensure they are safe.
Imagine if your child is kidnapped or raped while on Fiji, how will you handle the situation in a country where the authorities will turn a blind eye to the entire ordeal?
Boycotting Fiji as a tourist trap is the best thing anyone can do.
Speaking of children’s safety, this week in Victoria parade Suva there was a fender bender during the day.
The women driver involved had two children in the back seat while she stepped out of the car to call police.
An itaukei man approached and took off with the woman’s car with both her children still in the back seat.
Tudravu’s elite police located the car in Rewa street later with both children apparently unharmed.
Unreal yet true.
It goes to show that the Fiji Govt and the puppet mainstream media are selective in their reporting and are actively aiding in covering up crimes.
If they can go to the extent of covering up crimes committed on tourists, one can only imagine the level of suffering by locals – especially the minority groups who are targeted and subjected to crimes such as violent robberies, burglary, house break-in, rape and sexual assault, murders, etc. Most of the locals don’t even report it because they have lost all faith in the police who do not possess the requisite professionalism and competency to do their work – most being outright lazy whilst the others are actively involved in criminal activities themselves.
Gavoka was never fit to be a minister let alone manage the tourism sector – his previous track record is anything but successful.
It’s only a matter of time that these coalition clowns truly molest this country to its core.
The government should have the grinning baboon front and center face the international media.
He’ll show up with a bible.
S.Singh from USP, Shame-ima and dunderhead R.Deo should complete this coalition PR dream team.
Together they’ll teach the pesky prying international media a thing or two about proper journalism.
@V4Vendetta,
just a correction, Billy has claimed to “have been there for million years”.
Baimaan and Billy were the ones shouting the laudest when Aiyaz was trying to buy more planes. He had a foresight.
Shameless coalition.
What is with our MPs? One showed the world her bush and the other is putting his nose hair on display. Hand them both shaving gear or a wax pot!!!!!
Hahaha!
We know Weed Bush.
Nut bush
Bush meat
Burning bush
Bush lawyer
Bush fires
Never nose bush.
But there you go.
Like CJ Singh has said a couple of days ago, “go to hell”. That is where we are headed.
Gavoka sounds like Porky Pig out of the Looney Tunes. The Aussies are laughing at him. He gave comments to 7 News saying he was “Shocked” and “Devastated” when he heard about the incident. Really Gavoka? This is what shocks you? This is what has you feeling devastated? Wake up! Mow down the jungle growing in your nostrils and smell the coffee!
Had a friend visit Nadi few months ago. The resort staff suggested 2 or 3 nightclubs that he could visit. One offered to take him out. My friend was robbed. All cash and jewellery was taken off him. The resort staff didn’t turn up to work for the next 2 days.
My friend is a wise person. He was just wanting to go out for a decent drink or two. He didn’t even bother staying or completing his trip to Taveuni for a dive. Returned home to Australia on the next flight.
How horrible that that happened to your friend.
A brief look at the Australian Government’s smart traveller page for Fiji should deter anyone from going.
https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/pacific/fiji
My neighbours contacted their travel agent yesterday after hearing about this and then asking me about the situation in Fiji.
After they heard how bad it was, the wife immediately told her husband to get refunds or get the bookings changed to another destination in the Pacific.
For those who have lived in Fiji and have migrated, and know what Fiji was like, and what it is now, we have a duty to tell people who are planning to visit Fiji what they can expect.
If the Fijians can’t guarantee the safety of their international visitors and continue to cover up these horrific events with the “Bula Fiji smile” facade, we must do more abroad to ensure innocent visitors go elsewhere and not fall prey to these criminals, both in government and on the streets.
If you have Facebook, X, TikTok or Threads, spread the word that Fiji is no longer the safe haven for tourists that it once was.
This website has done an amazing job of exposing these events while the Fijian government did everything to cover it up and pretend it never happened.
Little has also been said about the two tourists who were robbed by the hotel manager in the very hotel they were staying in. Attempting to get some media coverage because the police refused to do anything to assist them, they have in turn been charged for defamation despite the overwhelming evidence showing the manager had perpetrated the crime.
Anyone planning to visit Fiji should read through the various articles here seriously reconsider as the situation is quite bad there and you and your family are at risk of losing your lives.
Worse still, seeking justice against the locals in Fiji may result in you being charged instead.
I worked in Fiji’s tourism industry for many years.
There is so much physical, emotional and sexual abuse on staff by those in power. They poke girls, curse them, direct vulgar statements on guests and their families in Fijian language. All too common even in niche resorts of Fiji.
With HIV on the rise (though not contagious through physical contact) I will be very careful about who handles my drinks, food and my children. I will not trust anyone given the rise in drug abuse too in the country.
Now I am not a tourist but I worked in the industry long enough to say that nothing is safe. A lot is covered up in Fiji.
Like someone said above, do not go to Fiji as a tourist.
It is a dangerous place.
Do not even think of sending your daughters there for a holiday.
And don’t even think it is safe for your sons either.
There is drugs, high cases of HIV, inadequate medical care, rogue police, and an abuser of a Prime Minister. The President is a pedo.
There you have it.
Fiji is the Mexico of the Pacific right now.
With respect, that is an insult to Mexico.
While it is known that drugs in the west are beyond control, villages (Sabeto) being locked down after dark it isn’t even safe for locals. With drug comes the increase in HIV which is now at its worst in Fiji’s history. 95% of pregnant itaukei mothers in Suva are reported to be HIV positive, corrections services are now doing mandatory testing as it is coming in through the remand centres.
No wonder Virgin Australia grounded and detained staff and sent backup and family in. Minimised by Gavoka to ‘in good health’ was far from the truth. There is a high chance the female air steward is facing a prognosis of HIV. The Fijian govt should hang its head in shame, letting this get to this stage while too busy feathering their own nests.
Biting the tourism hand that feeds them while money in the hundred of $1000s was wasted on kalavata wearing and GPH feasting and masi polo to chiefs who have no control over their own villages. What a cluster f#@k!
Close the clubs at 1am, they said. No one will fight in the streets, they said.
See? Reactionary policies don’t solve the problem!
We await the Virgin crew’s allegations, on return to Australia.
I tell you what, this incident would mean nothing to many many tourists.
They still will arrive in numbers.
It may slow down a bit,with few cancelation here and there, but numbers will still grow again.
3 hours to reach a destination and have a holiday without losing a day is too good to be missed.
A thousand Australian dollars gives you 5 days stay in a 5 star hotel including breakfast and drop off to airport is too good to be missed.
A local who goes to Aussie for a funeral or visit a sick family member, would pay more than that.
Tourists needs the climate and beaches which Fiji has.
Fiji airways has excellent service and friendly crew, unlike Qantas that has sh*t service.
Unfortunate incident happened and I do feel for the air crews.
All big boys and girls of tourism industry are on holiday and gone quiet.
Didn’t hear anything from them.
One will find more police and security on streets for a while and then it’s business as usual after few weeks.
“Tourists needs the climate and beaches which Fiji has”.
Just for your information, Australia has the best climate and the best beaches in the world. Fiji has jack shyte when compared to the climate and the beaches in Australia.
Arree
Australians are the highest number lying on Fiji’s beaches and having a sun bathe
12 months through out the year.
Oohh there are lot of sharks(white one’s) looking for food in Australian waters.
Bondi is worst place place to be around this time.
Today we have almost 40 degrees in Sydney.
Katakata levu.
Mr idiot
Go to Bondi and have a sun bathe in 40 degrees temperature.
You will have job done in 15 minutes.
Fiji Airways has the most pathetic service. The food is disgusting.
Agree FJ has terrible service. Bad attitude. No service. The only ones who get the great service are the ones in business and the so called ‘stars’ of FJ.
Matanitar, where the two incidents occurred, is the responsibility of Namaka Police, not Nadi Police. The problem in a nutshell is Namaka has 150 policemen and only 2 vehicles, both under repair.
It’s like the problem at Fiji’s main hospital, the CWM in Suva. They have all these patients but they can’t be wheeled to the operating theatre on the second floor as the main lift is not working.
Multiply that scenario a thousand times across every sector you can think of and you get the true situation of Fiji today.
We are a failed state
We can thank Rabuka and Biman Prasad, the man who commands the purse strings of the country for that.
Fiji is a HIV heaven in the Pacific.
This is now Rabuka’s Fiji.
The useless Fiji media is to blame here for giving rise to crime and sexual assault in Fiji. So is Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Women’s Fund. The media and NGOs have chosen to remain quiet and do selective parrot reporting. They have failed the poor in Fiji.
AusAID must think properly where it is investing and why. For now their donor money is a waste of effort.
Where is Stanley Simpson now?
All he does is post about his aimless Fijian friends and kava. He is well taken care of by this government. He is the most overrated media person in Fiji and his new magazine only gives rise to the coalition jokers in town. They all think they write well. The calibre of journalism has hit rock bottom.
Fiji is a country of opportunity seekers on the backs of corruption. Media is part of this corruption.
A Fiji Police officer told me that many police officers have watched the video for the Queen of Tarts. And that they cannot be bothered about her. There are two other videos. One that is really bad and it is not with the husband.
So here we have it Fiji.
The police officers can’t be bothered.
They have had enough of her and her attention seeking behaviour.
They don’t have the resources nor the IT knowledge to go hunting for anyone.
Their question to Queen of Tarts was why have a video of such sort on your phone and who was the recipient? Was it Rob S? She had no answer. Definitely it wasn’t him as THE CLAIMED HUSBAND.
But as someone said earlier, Rob S is to be carefully watched. This guy has scammed millions in USA. He has the Fijian government in his purse now. He is equally corrupt and he will say yes to anything or craft anything to stay relevant but quiet. This is the new terrorism in Fiji. A scammer is using every tactic and even states he is Fiji born. Together they have used their power to brutally rape Fiji government too.
Go figure Fijians if you are all so smart.
Why is Fiji government and donors using a scammer for their building projects? Can AusAID, NZAid, USAid, and Fiji Government answer this question now!
What due diligence and checks as well as past history of Rob S qualifies him to have access to donor and public funds? This is daylight robbery and another scam.
A friends house was robbed at Xmas, it’s now been 10days and they are still waiting for the police to come and do an inspection- they won’t write a report til they do an inspection. It’s pathetic.
FACTS
The world should know that:
1. Fiji’s Prime Minister is a coup leader and had abused women and children. He is now the leader of the People’s Alliance Party.
2. Fiji’s President is a pedo. He sexually assaulted a 15 year old disabled child and impregnated her. He is also a coup leader.
3. Fiji’s Minister for Education is a woman beater. He nearly killed his ex-wife (who happens to be the daughter of the PM). He never faced any charges. He is now the leader of the Sodelpa Party.
4. Many of the Minister’s in Fiji are under investigation for fraudulent practices with FICAC. None hold any credibility.
5. Fiji’s police is heavily compromised with drug trafficking gangs. Sexual assault is common with drug lords and drug traffickers. Children are increasingly involved in trafficking and prostitution.
6. The Minister for women, children and social protection was recently stood down from her portfolio because of her own sex video trending online. It shows that no one, even the Minister herself, is keen to safeguard those who need care and be respectful enough towards society’s protection. This is not the first time she has used gender based violence card to her advantage.
7. The judiciary is seriously compromised and so is all legal procedures given the current situation in the country.
8. The media has compromised our democracy and safety. They have failed to inform Fijians about the facts and report with credibility. They have failed to hold decision makers accountable. Same goes for broadcasting companies. They have continued to abuse women and children.
9. Donor agencies must be responsible and not give rise to corruption and sex and gender-based crimes in Fiji. Their investments into Fiji is questionable and they show no interest in fixing the misuse of donor funds. Most of the funds are spent on charitable organisations that have selective agenda of their own. They are failing the women and children of Fiji.
10. The tourism industry is the backbone of Fiji’s economy. Many tourists are abused and now we have cases of sexual assault and rape coming to light. This is unacceptable. Our trust is deteriorating fast in terms of safety in Fiji. There is fights in the streets, high drug abuse, high HIV cases, lack of police presence, high levels of intoxicated people in bars, etc. This is putting everyday Fijians and tourists at risk.
Happiness doesn’t find the everyday Fijians in Fiji.
Calling for Action – A Plea:
1. Make a statement as a Fijian and as a tourist. Stand by your ethics and voice your concerns to the public. We will not stand by and let the poor be abused anymore by this coalition government. We will not let the MPs abuse our country.
2. The Military must intervene using its constitutional powers and authority. Enough is enough.
3. Use the hashtag #saveourfiji and #removecoalitionow together. This will give a straight message to the government.
4. Copy and paste this statement on your profile.
The power lies in the people now. Speak up.
#saveourfiji #removecoalitionnow
Tabuya shared the video of the victim girl child survivor on her platform just 10 months ago. This was despite the Police urging that the sharing of the video must stop immediately. This was after all a child in state care. That post on Tabuya’s Facebook profile was shared 2,700 times within an hour! This was by far the largest e-abuse ever recorded on a child in Fiji that was perpetuated by the Minister designated for child safety.
What happened to Tabuya? Nothing.
Fiji Police failed to act and charge Tabuya.
Tabuya said she was trying to put a message across using the gender card.
The government failed to discipline Tabuya.
The women’s NGOs were quiet. Not a word. No vigils.
This government has failed its most vulnerable people, the children.
There is no hope for anyone to be safe.
And again Bravo to Brent Hill!
He wrote on his LinkedIn profile 2 weeks ago.
Starts:
“A difficult 4 days with a relieving conclusion! While of course we empathise with the tourists who’s holiday ended abruptly due to illness, we are so relieved that they’ve recovered and headed home, and that it was confirmed as we had thought, that no methanol poisoning had occurred. Our authorities will continue to try and find the cause, but thankfully it wasn’t sinister nor as bad as the recent Laos tragedy.
The Fijian tourism industry is mightily relieved, coming at a peak holiday period and heading into a big year ahead. We are grateful to the Aspen medical team, and all who worked on this around the clock. Vinaka.”
Ends
Wasn’t as sinister as Laos Mr Hill? Are you for real? Was the aim of this post to get praises? Which you did fully.
How pathetic! The full report was never made available to the families.
Underplaying a situation where the family nearly died is not acceptable.
What have you got to say now about the rape case? And you know too well that this is not the first case that Fiji Tourism knows about. There were more prior to this. What are you all hiding and why?
This is your CEO for Fiji Tourism here Fiji.
Please replace him.
With all the international attention, the police had to get off their kava and act. Now let’s watch the judicial process in action.
What I find sad is other locals and visitors who had been assaulted and did not get same attention? No justice for them but lifelong trauma.
Nadi is rife with illicit activities and walking along the road to get takeout food from nearby restaurants at night is dangerous….does not feel safe. This is a tourist town. Why has the place not cleaned up all these years?
There is no police in sight at night. It hard to get taxi at night too…is it because drivers are scared to operate at night?
Do Fiji police not do anything proactively?
Normally Ngo community workers mingle with locals on the streets at night to steer them away from life of crime and drugs…do they not do this in Nadi?
The government’s response to the shocking theft and rape case involving Virgin Australia’s crew members was poorly managed, showcasing a lack of professionalism.
The Minister for Tourism Bill Gavoka adopted a defensive stance without ascertaining the facts, blaming the media for sensationising the incident. His dismissive comment that this could have happened anywhere is not only a shallow defense but also fails to address the gravity of the situation.
A more responsible approach would have been an immediate acknowledgement of the incident and an assurance that steps are being taken to address safety concerns. Such a response would have demonstrated genuine concern and a proactive stance by the Fiji government. Instead Gavoka’s comments reflect a troubling disregard for the root issues such as Fiji’s weak police force , the rampant drug problem fueling crime, particularly in nightlife hubs, and a general lapse in law enforcement. The recent Warwick Hotel incident only compounds this narrative, further tarnishing Fiji’s reputation as a safe tourist destination.
These crimes are now international news, particularly in Australia – a source of our largest tourist numbers. The damage to the tourism industry is evident and avoidable. However, instead of accepting responsibility and taking corrective measures, the government continues to ignore the broader issue of law and order. The tourism industry, already struggling with high costs and competition, has now taken another blow due to the government’s inability to maintain safety and security.
Gavoka’s handling of the situation underscores the need for professional guidance. His advisors, as well as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, should have stepped in to mitigate the fall out and craft a response that balanced transparency with reassurance.
Effective public relation is crucial in such crises, and a failure to adopt a measured, empathetic, and strategic approach has only amplified the damage.
The government must urgently prioritize two critical areas: improving law enforcement to ensure public safety and overhauling its public relations machinery to respond effectively to crises.
The alleged rapist named and shamed in Australia…making his family proud
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14253443/Man-charged-alleged-rape-Virgin-Australia-crew-member-arrives-court.html