We all know that the Aussies and Kiwis are falling over themselves to suck up to Fiji to keep it out of the clutches of the Chinese and inside the orbit of the democracies. But does the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, Peter Roberts, really have to wear a sulu to official functions at which he is representing his government and the Australian people?
The sulu vakaturaga is Fijian national dress. It is not worn in Australia. And so for the country’s official representative to Fiji to embrace it suggests, at the very least, someone trying just a little too hard to ingratiate himself with the locals. Some people less generous might say it is cultural appropriation. But is it entirely necessary?
Grubsheet grew up in a Fiji where no adult outsider wanting to be taken seriously would wear a tailored sulu vakaturaga to any function, let alone in an official capacity. There were one or two eccentric “Europeans” who might have done so but they were never taken seriously. If their sons went to local schools, they might have worn sulus as part of their uniform. And of course, almost everyone wore a casual, printed sulu around the house out of hours just for comfort in the heat.
Are the other diplomatic representatives in Fiji wearing sulus in public? The Chinese, the Japanese, the Koreans, the Indians, the French, the Cubans? Or even the Papua New Guineans, the Ni Vanuatu and the Tuvaluans? Nope. So why is the Australian High Commissioner doing so?
I don’t know Peter Roberts but the perpetual grin on his face suggests that he is a gregarious, party-loving type who is desperate to be liked. But he should do himself and the nation he represents a favour and stop eroding his credibility by embracing a gesture of cultural identity that many people might find quaint and amusing but doesn’t mark him out as a serious person in local eyes.
There will inevitably come a time when the current back-scratching between the two countries gives way to tough talk. When that happens, does Peter Roberts envisage standing in front of a Fijian Prime Minister lodging a formal diplomatic protest while wearing Fijian national dress?
Call me old fashioned, but the Aussie High Commissioner needs to put his trousers back on and rejoin the grown-ups.
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Peter Roberts at his most recent official outing in a double act with the Minister for Health.
But it’s not the first time.
Wearing a sulu for a Christmas Party might be acceptable…
But at official functions? What about the irony of this – High Commissioner Roberts in a sulu and Ro Filipe Tuisawau – the Minister for Public Works – in trousers.
Sorry but the joke’s on you, mate.
And at least do your sandals up.
Too much tabetabe the Aussies. That sulu will fall and fly away to China with the current tropical disturbance near Vanuatu. On a serious note, Australia 🇦🇺 has compromised its foreign policy by forgetting all Fiji issues at the cost of the Chinese threat.
For the benefit of the Aussies:
Tabetabe: To cater to (someone), play up to someone, flatter deceptively to gain favour, to be supportive.
I’d say “flatter deceptively to gain favour” in this instance, wouldn’t you?
GD, all of the above.
Plus ball greaser. Apple polisher, perhaps in Aussie parlance.
In the main, when diplomats do this they unwittingly are taking the micky out of their hosts. Patronising.
Would the egghead do the same if were assigned to, say, the Middle East—put on a thobe and igal on his head. Mr. Bone Saw would not be amused.
Nor would he dare to insult the Japanese wearing montsaki/kimono to an official function.
Safe to say he wouldn’t want to be caught dead in any Papua New Guinean traditional dress—koteka/tapa/Aiba grass skirt, or a tribal Huli wig to any official Sing Sing and other events.
I’ve no idea who this guy is but your comment smacks of the outsider who tries (too hard) to prove his legitimacy by being overly critical of newcomers from his own culture.
You do some good work GD, but was there not a better use of your time and wit than this, and was there not a more worthy target?
Lighten up. old chap. Here’s looking up your own sulu. Labasa!
🤣
Me thinks it’s fair to say his excellency is well within protocol to let his hair down a little bit.
Besides, it’s a comfortable convenient dress to let some air out and some air in too.
😂 “I don’t know Peter Roberts but the perpetual grin on his face suggests that he is a gregarious, party-loving type who is desperate to be liked. “🤣
Totally agree GD. But we all know most, if not all ,these high commissioners are there to party at tax payer’s expense.
I would be betting my money on the British High Commissioner only ever turning up to any interactions with Fijian counterparts wearing his suit and tie, with well polished shoes. Standard dress for someone in that position.
Possibly without the tie on a really hot day.
To match the sulu vakataga, best that HE wears a pair of Ratu Sukuna sandals with it. After all, there are claims that Ratu Sukuna himself had designed both the sandals and the iconic sulu.
Back in my high school days, there were usually just two footwear options to go along with the sulu uniform: either locally-made Ratu Sukuna sandals or, the Czech-made Cebo sandals like the one HE is wearing here.
For the benefit (again) of the Aussies and given my limitations with appropriate English under such circumstances, I kindly ask GS to please help with the Fijian pronunciation of Cebo as well as explain its meaning diplomatically.
Maahn Grubsheet, you lived in Fiji. Don’t you remember it gets so hot and sticky here, and the Auzzie needs to air his polo otherwise it gets quite itchy. Have some respect for your kaivata.😂
GD, did you think for a moment that the man might be transitioning, that this is him testing the waters, sandals off, toes in, skirt on.
I think HR needs to send you off for some gender sensitivity training, you old dinosaur.
I hadn’t thought of gender transitioning. Silly me. 🙂
And there’s not a damn thing DFAT can do about it without contravening Australian anti-discrimination laws.
is that a limp handshake or what?
He musta taken a liking to the local “china”. :o)
This effort by ‘foreigners’ to impress the ‘Fijian idiots’ through such cheap and insulting tactics has obviously taken on a lot more significance with the top Australian diplomat embracing such an approach.
Maybe it is part of the new Australian attempt to develop a more people to people relationship with the Pacific, something which has been a constant struggle, in spite of the hundreds of millions of dollars in sweeteners. I wonder if this is now part of the required DFAT training for international diplomats!
It is amazing how our ‘big brothers’ think they can buy trust through such colonial and outright insensitive postures. Or do they continue to think that we are so stupid.
Nothing quite like our own insecurities in not being able to conduct an independent foreign policy that keeps those DFAT diplomats awake at night or cringing throughout the day.
The Fijians appreciate this and are milking the China threat for what its worth – enjoy it while it lasts.
Eventually those gormless Libs will be back in power in Canberra so not even sticking a ” tabua up one’s backside” (to paraphrase Rajendra Chaudhry’s immortal lines about the RFMF chief on facebook earlier this week ) won’t help much for any Canberra diplomat seeking to curry favour with the Chiefly elites.
The state of that fella. Look at how he is wearing his sandals. He must be from the trailer families.
And the itaukei have the audacity to talk about a $50 note.
Someone should donate a pair of socks to Ro Filipe Tuisowau
You will never see the Chinese stoop to this level of groveling.
Arsetailhia is taking it to another level.