The iTaukei lazy? No. Come on. Stop it. Surely not? How could you possibly say that? You just can’t do that in Fiji.
Er, but it’s not some disaffected “vulagi” saying so this time. It’s an iTaukei and someone at the pinnacle of the government and the establishment. None other than Ioane Naivalurua, the new Minister for Policing, former senior military officer and diplomat and member of the Group of Nine.
The Minister’s comments on the front page of today’s Fiji Sun are sure to spark intense debate. Because it’s rare for a senior iTaukei to be quite so blunt about his own people.
But a lot of things are suddenly being turned on their head. Take the outcry over Donald Trump‘s decision to deport Fijian overstayers in the US. How long have we heard the iTaukei tell the “vulagi” “go back to India” or Valagi or wherever.?
These are often indigenous nationalists who expect special consideration when the boot is on the other foot. Now they are getting a dose of their own medicine from The Donald. And it’s no bad thing that certain self-entitled people are given a reality check.
Mind you, the message hasn’t sunk into Sitiveni Rabuka‘s fat skull. When asked how Fiji would cope with the removal of US aid – another of Trump’s decisions – the Prime Minister retorted that he wasn’t worried. Fiji would get the money from China or Australia.
Naivalurua’s comments are harder to dodge. Does the Prime Minister agree with his Policing Minister that much of society’s ills arise from the laziness of the iTaukei?
Now this’ll be interesting.
* From the Gospel According to Mesake. Or one of those other Saints.
And “Baimaan Prasad” says the crime rate in Fiji is exaggerated! The so called coalition government is nothing but a joke of the century!
Pleaseee! This coming from one of the kilavata squad from the last regime. One of the seat-fillers. Just collecting a pay check and did bugger all. Try looking in the mirror when you say that next time.
Er, he is the Minister for Policing thanks to the Snake shoring up his numbers. And boy does he have his hands full.
Had high hopes for the Minister. He was a top notch soldier. Sandhurst graduate, etc. Then the CRW debacle. Maybe this is his chance to redeem himself and whip that institution back into shape. And he can start by mandatory drug testing. Top on down!
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1A3vUpQeVp/
Sorry I digress. But I had to bring this pearler to your attention. Biman as chief guest at some media conference says he’s glad that Fiji times is not subject to the sedition case anymore…the one you had mentioned earlier. He, Rambo and the entire circus are trying very hard to rewrite history at every opportunity. In this ‘media freedom’ speech he conviniently forgets to mention that the Fiji times was taken to court because it allowed its platform to be used for hate speech and islamaphobic rhetoric by ethno nationalists. Biman is a dirty bigoted pig in the circus controlled by the ring master who’s gone to the US to visit Fiji water HQ to collect his regular bribe money.
Naivalurua is nuts. He should know that becuz they were lazy, vulagis came to develop Fiji. Nothing new. Now, if he has brains he would make positive comments to bring out the natives head stuck in the crack moon crescent. Since Independence, native leaders have screwed natives. When Chaudhry was PM for 1 year only, Fiji skyrocketed. Imagine had he stayed for full term. Scotland – Muslim leader, UK – had Indian PM, Guyana Christian Country – Muslim PM – fastest growing economy in the world. FIJI – racists natives. InSide Church ok – outside all Thieves. Karma is A Bad Biarch. Indians must be removed from Fiji by Australian Govt and resettle them in Queensland sugar cane farming area and establish a city there.
@ troy lee. You have your story of the indentured scheme back to front. Is it because you are lazy to dig up the facts? Do not call unto others what you want not for thyself. Many Indians chose to stay because ‘there is no place like home.’
Clearly you have been misled by Chaudhary’s political hipocrisy. The facts are that Fiji regressed in 2000, as in 1987. Because the vulagi wanted it all and had no respect for the Itaukei. The vulagi never understood nor made any honest emphatic commitment to living with and acknowledging the status of the Itaukei. And it starts with this, if there is anything to be shared, anything to be given, in this country, ask the Itaukei, for it is theirs to give. Consitutions and the rule of law will not establish prosperity for Fiji, example, the ashes of 2000, the hardline agenda of 2006 and the racist nepotism from 2023.
The colonist understood this and worked out how ‘it can be done. The coalition in 1987, labour in 2019 and Bainimarama in 2006, all did not. And look at where this country is at today? The Itaukei are not racists as you point out, they are simple realists. This is their land. Do they want assistance? Yes. Do they need handouts? No. Is the Rabuka led coalition on the right track? Absolutely not.
Anon. You beating around the bush since last 100 years. Look at your kawa? Still struggling eh? The narrative has always been horse crap that vulagi want to take away everything from your lazy bums. 95% of land all owned by your kind, since Independence majority PM Kai Viti. Vulagi never stole anything from your kind. Just admit you were lazy, are lazy and will be lazy. Do us a favour, ask GCC to send all vulagi out of Fiji. You will be killing each other for food in no time. You did not even have your own real God as a matter of fact.
I have a plan to turn fiji around with physical fitness and health. This must be implemented as a matter of urgency.
If anyone is genuinely interested they can request my.
I would love to propose my ideas to the government.
People are not meant to be sitting idle for too long. Some traditions requiring sitting for long periods is not healthy especially when you add in food, alcohol and too much kava.
Youth sports drastically helps cut down on youth drug use.
Coca Cola is a Western Company however you don’t see anyone denouncing Coke. Stop giving kids Coke please.
It seems that Ioane Naivalurua is saying what everyone is seeing but refusing to acknowledge.
And the forced repatriation of Fijians from the United States may add to the problem, as media reports indicate a number of those to be rounded up and sent back are members of criminal groups.
Where is the senile PM on this? Probably waiting a report or ministerial advice as he only reacts when he has some ‘official’ advice! You cannot get more official than the Police Minister!
As for the acting PM and his mutterings, well that is about all they are mutterings of a man out of his depth.
But wait, the blame for this will be those horrible vulagi and if not them then it must be the previous Government. Rabuka will deny any responsibility for the breakdown in law and order and no doubt call for a Commission of Inquiry and sit on his hands until it reports! First rule of politics create an inquiry and deflect the problem to them!
It’s simple.
Look at the prison numbers.
That’s enough.
What annoys me is that the Fijian Govt (& people of Fiji) think that it’s their right to receive aid. I had a go late last year at comments on FB that Australia will just provide money to roads. Seemed to be an expectation and a laughing joke. The Australian Govt needs to stop sleeping and pull out aid. Their reasoning – so that the Pacific is not infiltrated by the Chinese is not an good enough reason. Firstly, the Fijian Govt and other Pacific nations will keep also taking Chinese money. Secondly, what good is Fiji to Aust.
Australian needs to scrutinise the aid it gives and how it’s used. I just saw a comment on the Transparency Fiji FB page re govt vehicles being involved in accidents all the time, a few already in the last week ( looks like drunk drivers given the nature of the accident). One said, well aid will allow us to buy new ones. This is a disgusting attitude given this aid money prevents it from being directed to more deserving causes. We Australians work very hard and are taxed alot without any benefits ( tolls, no medicare really these days etc).
Wish the politicians in Aust were as bold & clever as Trump.
Fiji is filled with self serving locals and expats.
That is the truth anyway but do most itaukei care? Zilch. Most are comfortable in their laziness.
One thing I can agree with the Minister’s statement is the idleness of some of Fiji’s citizen. Let’s do a simple math..a male drinks Kava from 5pm on Friday until midnight. Thats 7 hours of unproductive chatter and activity. The next morning…again unproductive (depending on the kava he drank) and is unproductive for another 3 hours. So in a month that’s a total of 40 hours of idleness which can be directed to a more productive activity. Mind you, these are the minimum..multiply that by all kava drinkers and what do you have? Masses of idle and unproductive citizens. In other words, lazy individuals
He will be treated the same way as the host of the Wasea Bhasha show for saying that Native Fijians don’t study, but play. Every time someone points out the faults of Native Fijians, that person is treated like a criminal while the criminals are treated like angels.
It is good that he has said that. So what is the solution Mr Naivalurua?
Petty crime is getting worse. The videos of pick pockets and grab and runs going around plus those that are not taped but occurred is very concerning. The drug issue in Nabua causing an afternoon melee between students and drop outs means a solution is required.
How about you pass a law and round up any school drop out who is unemployed, not on full time studies and not farming in his village or their parents farm and put them to work. Teach them hard work and discipline. In other countries young people are conscripted to the army. Why don’t we do the same and conscript people to National Youth Centres. Get those thousands military officers sitting and saluting around the barracks to supervise them and get them to boost Fiji’s agriculture and forestry production. So much land available.
I learnt a new word today.
kakistocracy
noun
noun: kakistocracy
government by the least suitable or competent citizens of a state.
“the danger is that this will reduce us to kakistocracy”
a state or society governed by its least suitable or competent citizens.
plural noun: kakistocracies
“the modern regime is at once a plutocracy and a kakistocracy”