It is typical of the FF government to blame others rather than its own failures for the high cost of living in Fiji, says National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry. Mr Chaudhry was reacting to a comment from Agriculture…
Now that the Fiji Court of Appeal has thrown out the appeal by Aliz Pacific and Nur Bano against the Auditor General for questioning the awarding of a $500,000 contract to the company, the case must not end there. The…
One is forced to ask whether Grace Road is getting government protection. If so, who is being protected here? A questionable cult group that has been accused of holding members against their will in Fiji and indulging in ritualistic violence?”…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry told the Party’s Annual Delegates Conference in Lautoka today that the government’s financial situation was so critical, it was not in a position to pay its creditors. “As a consequence of which businesses and individuals are…
The alleged physical abuse of a teenager by military officers, as reported in the Fiji Times of Saturday 19 October, must be condemned in the strongest terms, says the leader of the Fiji Labour Party, Mahendra Chaudhry. “Instances of arbitrary…
Parliament is not empowered to deal with criminal acts committed by its members: Mahendra Chaudhry Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says he is shocked by the decision of Director Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde that no charges be laid against PM Bainimarama…
“It is time to take an objective and dispassionate look at the future of the Fiji Sugar Corporation and the sugar industry in Fiji,” says Mahendra Chaudhry, General Secretary National Farmers Union: FSC AGM. Fiji Sugar Corporation has announced a…
AG Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum travels all the way to New York to tell the world that “Fiji as a small island nation was held hostage to the climate crisis”.(FT 19 July) While back at home, his government appears to be letting…
FSC should stop playing games with glowing reports of multi-million dollar mill refurbishments and high crush figures when none of its three mills is performing to industry standards. Despite the highly upbeat reports by FSC’s chief executive Graham Clark, it…
Fiji Labour Party has called on the FCCC to inquire into the secret FEA/EFL agreement with Telesource (Fiji) Ltd and its successor Pernix (Fiji) Ltd, to operate and maintain its diesel stations at Kinoya and Vuda. Details of FEA’s agreement…
Energy Fiji Ltd’s (EFL) bid for a 17.27% increase in electricity rates is unwarranted and must be strongly resisted. Such a substantial increase will have a debilitating impact on the economy. It will further fuel inflation and raise the cost…
Energy Fiji Ltd’s CEO Hasmukh Patel is misrepresenting facts by claiming that EFL has lost $100m over the past years because of a decrease in electricity tariff in 2013, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Speaking to members of the Nadi…
The Fiji Government is misleading the ILO Conference currently underway in Geneva with commitments by its Permanent Secretary for Employment and Industrial Relations Osea Cawaru that his government will uphold trade union and workers rights. These rights were under assault…
National Farmers Union president Surendra Lal was arrested at his home around 6pm Monday and held in custody at the Labasa Police Station all last night. As far as we know he is still in custody. He was not allowed…
The chickens are definitely coming home to roost for Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. The lavish spending of the past 12 years, growth based on unsustainable levels of borrowing and consumer spending, instead of the productive sector are now becoming evident…
With $12.5 million of tax payers’ funds involved in the project, it should have kept close audit on financial expenditure, insisting on accountability and transparency throughout. Fiji Labour Party hopes that all those implicated in the Lagilagi Housing Estate saga…
Energy Fiji Ltd’s bid for a 17.6 % increase in electricity rates is unwarranted and must be strongly resisted, says Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “Such a substantial increase will have a debilitating impact on the economy. It will…
Cane farmers must now seriously consider whether they want to continue cultivating cane faced with the continuing low cane prices,” says National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry. “FSC announced a shockingly low forecast price of $53.69c a tonne for…
AG Khaiyum dodged replying in Parliament to queries by the Opposition Leader on a matter indicating a scam saying government does not respond to leaked documents. That is untenable, AG. You must be held accountable same as everyone else. You…
Fiji Labour Party strongly denounces the strong arm tactics used by the Police in arresting and holding overnight unionists and workers involved in the WAF industrial dispute. “This is nothing but intimidation of workers and unions and a denial of…
Now that Fiji has done apologising and dining and fete-ing the wrongly detained New Zealand journalists, it is time to get back to the crux of the issue and that is: Why or How was Freesoul allowed to carry on…
It is difficult to believe that a small group of “rogue” Police officers would have acted on their own volition to arrest three NZ journalists and keep them locked up overnight, as claimed by PM Bainimarama. It is more likely…
We are reliably informed that despite the denials by the Minister and the Banks, there is indeed a problem and it may be quite critical: FLP Economy Minister Sayed Khaiyum has gone out of his way in the past week…
Why do rumours of a coup surface around election time? Why do we invariably have military exercises or parades with armed soldiers in various parts of the country a few weeks before elections? Why do the heads of our security…
“It is a well thought out, forward looking document that endeavours to redeem the pain and suffering inflicted on our people through 12 years of misrule and the anti-people policies of an insensitive government”: Chaudhry. Labour’s 2018 Election Manifesto is…
Bainimarama’s excessive pay as prime minister and his $3000 a day overseas allowance have been the subject of strong public criticism. Particularly considering that his government has kept the pays of ordinary workers suppressed, refusing, deferring or reducing recommendations of…
A Fiji official told CNN – Grace Road Group has established tight connections with high-ranking government officials which makes it harder to arrest them in Fiji even if they are involved in crimes.” – Korea Times Question: Why is the FF…
Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem should admit that his record as SOE has been deeply tainted by the Fiji Court of Appeal ruling against him in a case filed by the 2014 Electoral Commission. The Commission had taken the SOE…
Attorney General Khaiyum says that the operations of Grace Road in Fiji were not affected with the arrest of its owner and cult leader Shin Ok-Joo in Seoul. But Police Commissioner Qiliho announced that Police had commenced preliminary investigations into…
Bus operators are agitating for a fare increase following the recent hike in fuel prices. But have not yet made a formal submission to the proper authorities for an increase. Fiji Labour Party asks what has happened to the…
The Bainimarama government has left a legacy of crippling national debts, more and more taxes and rising costs of living after 11 years in government, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Just before leaving for yet another overseas jaunt, this time…
A major cause of concern is the recent closure of a number of Community Police Posts throughout the country. This has left communities with high crime rates vulnerable to thieves and gangsters. In a number of cases, appeals by residents…
An average national figure distorts the true and grim picture of real poverty in Fiji. There is gross regional disparity in rates of poverty: Mahendra Chaudhry As a responsible political party, the Fiji Labour Party does not manipulate or concoct…
The Prime Minister must stop using religious events and Hindu temples to campaign. It is a despicable act, showing utter disrespect for Hindu religious rites, to manipulate such events for cheap political mileage:FLP PM Bainimarama stands in a temple to…
Economy Minister Khaiyum’s Budget fails to address the crucial issues affecting a majority of our people who have to struggle each day to provide for their families. One must question why an important event like the presentation of the national…
Fiji Labour Party is appalled at government’s unilateral and unlawful decision to scrap the Wages Councils. “The Wages Councils are provided for in law through the Wages Councils Act (Cap 98 of 1960) and cannot be scrapped at the whim…
Fiji today is not a genuine democracy and falls way short of ensuring the democratic principles that the Party upholds. Most seriously, the imposed 2013 constitution is undemocratic and fundamentally flawed as the supreme law of the land, says Labour…
Fiji Labour Party deplores the use of armed soldiers at Bau Island early this morning to arrest Ratu Epenisa Cakobau along with other supporters for questioning. Whatever the merits of the case against Ratu Epenisa, it was a civil matter…
Fiji Labour Party refutes a claim by Senior Legal Officer at the Solicitor General’s Office that Fiji’s laws were already compliant with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). (FT 5 May) “It is ridiculous to make such…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry questions whether Fiji had a future to offer its youth given the high rate of unemployment in the country, mounting costs of tertiary education and a stagnant economic climate. “In a nutshell Fiji today is very…
Is it a guise, a first step towards the privatisation of the Fiji Electricity Authority or Energy Fiji Ltd (its new name) and the sale of its shares as originally planned by the government? As we see it, FEA is…
Human Rights lawyer Aman Ravindra Singh will lead the Fiji Labour Party into the 2018 general elections. His appointment was made at FLP’s National Council meeting in Nadi this morning. More than 40 delegates from around the country met at…
“For the chief legal officer of the government to mislead Parliament is a very serious misdemeanour,” Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said. He is calling on the Opposition to file a motion to have the Attorney General taken before the Parliamentary…
Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum may have deliberately misled Parliament on Monday when he said no data had been collated on ethnicity under the 2017 Census. Because Census Commissioner Epeli Waqavonovono reportedly said they did collate data based on ethnicity but…
Government’s announcement that it will enter into a public/private sector deal to operate our hospitals is nothing new, it is stolen from the Fiji Labour Party manifesto said Labour Mahendra Chaudhry. “A State/private sector partnership to run our hospitals has…
“Civil and political rights are not a threat to government. On the contrary, opening up the space to argue and debate, results in better laws and policies and Fiji will be stronger and healthier for it. All rights need to…
Fiji Labour Party calls for a thorough investigation into the controversy surrounding the reconstruction of schools damaged by Cyclone Winston two years ago. “Attorney General and Education Minister Aiyaz Khaiyum speaks around the subject but has not told us yet…
ATS workers’ long standing grievances with its management came to a head when Riaz Sayed-Khaiyum was appointed as Chair of the ATS Board. Two of the three workers’ directors on the Board were fired when they questioned his appointment which…
ATS staff have been bullied, harassed, suppressed and ill-treated by the company’s government dominated Board since 2009 despite being shareholders. “ATS which began as a model of worker co-ownership of enterprises, has become a dictatorship operation under a government that…
A Lautoka woman who helped her husband misappropriate $286,000 from the Fiji Sugar Corporation has been jailed for 5 years, but no action is taken against a former FSC executive chairman who siphoned off millions of dollars of FSC funds….
Labour is calling on government to restore the FNPF annuity rate to 15%, slashed 50% in 2012. This will be one of the key resolutions at the Party’s delegates conference in Nadi tomorrow. Key speaker at the conference will be…
Qorvis the Fiji government’s image building US-based company, was awarded a $4.7 million contract in March this year to provide communications and public relations services to the COP 23 presidency without tenders being called. The contract breached Regulation 30(1) of…
Academic Dr Ganesh Chand has warned that a society where its “mirror institutions” have collapsed and the three arms of government are no longer independent, that society will be doomed. Speaking to the Labour Convention last Saturday, Dr. Ganesh warned…
Human Rights lawyer Aman Ravindra Singh’s message to the Labour Convention on Saturday was for people to stand up and fight against the denial of their human rights in this country. “You must start getting engaged. Talk to your friends,…
The Fiji First government falls short of internationally accepted standards of transparency, accountability and good governance, Pacific Dialogue Chairman Jone Dakuvula told the Fiji Labour Party convention on Saturday. “It has sophisticated public relations through its foreign Media agency QORVIS,…
The “greed and self-interest” of a small lobby of employers who exercise undue influence with the government have successfully blocked wage increases for workers for years, Father Kevin Barr told the Fiji Labour Party convention on Saturday. Speaking on Social…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry warned that Government’s Green Bond was issued in contravention of the Finance Act. The Government yesterday launched its sovereign Green Bond issue aimed at raising $F100m for projects aimed at mitigating and adapting to problems created…
The FF government is inflicting serious harm on Fiji’s Education service by its continuous interference in the affairs of the Ministry – work that should rightly be handled by the Permanent Secretary and his staff, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry….
As far as I am concerned, the matter is still very much in the public domain. The constitutional provisions in question constitute a violation of our fundamental rights and were decreed by a group of people simply to protect their…
Current deputy chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Mohammed Dean faced allegations of fraud in 2015 when he was employed as Coordinator West with the Education Department. (Ref FT story 14/7) But a full internal inquiry into the allegations was…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says government’s move to peg public sector pay increases to the requirement that employees sign a new contract is “straight out coercion”. “They are using strong arm tactics to impose shorter term contracts on civil servants…
The ordinary worker gets no benefits from Budget 2017-18, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “It is a show Budget which flaunts the allocation of big moneys to different sectors but we will have to wait and see how much of…
The Electoral Commission must be pro-active not passive when it comes to delivering free, fair and credible elections! It stands in danger of losing public confidence if it does not change its attitude to assist in the process of making…
The Fiji Labour Party is extremely concerned that the Fiji Elections Office has procured the services of Pakistan’s NADRA to develop its Election Management System. The company’s credibility is in serious question. Pakistan’s ISI has named some of its top…
With Government and the Unions deadlocked over the issue of a fair national minimum wage, Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry recommends that $3.50 per hour be adopted as an interim NMW to give immediate relief to workers while tripartite negotiations continue…
About 400 cane farmers took to the streets in Labasa yesterday to push their demand for a minimum guaranteed cane price of $100 a tonne and a $10 top up from government for their 4th cane payment. It ended with…
Addressing a gathering of Sodelpa and FLP supporters in Sydney last Saturday, Labour leader Mahendra Chaudhry emphasised the need for Opposition political parties to work together in the run up to the 2018 general elections. A change of government is…
National Farmers Union is questioning FSC’s delay in making the 4th cane payment which should have been paid out at the end of April. NFU President Surendra Lal says the payment must be made this week if growers are to…
The World Economic Forum (WEF) has described severe income inequality as the biggest risk facing the world. WEF founder Klaus Schwab has observed, ‘We have too large a disparity in the world; we need more inclusiveness… If we continue to…
The disturbing manner in which the public consultation process was managed shows a contemptible disregard by the government and the Committee for openness and accountability. More importantly, it is a gross abuse of the parliamentary process, says Labour Leader Mahendra…
Fiji Labour Party condemns as shockingly heartless a statement by Director Akapusi Tuifagalele, National Disaster Management Committee, that victims of last week’s severe flooding should not rely on the government for food rations (FT 22/12). “Of what use is a…
Poor and low income families, unable to purchase life-saving drugs at high costs from private pharmacies, are the major victims of the critical shortage of drugs at government pharmacies, says the Fiji Labour Party. “This is a chronic problem that…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says opposition parties need to form a united front to oppose the dictatorial FF government in the 2018 general elections. “This is what the people want . They want a change in government and this can…
What is wrong with the imposed 2013 Constitution? There are serious concerns over many of the provisions of the imposed 2013 Constitution – quite apart from the fact that it was imposed on the people of Fiji without any consultations…
The sugar industry circus continues unabated while harvested cane rots at the Rarawai and Penang Mills. With the Rarawai Mill out of action since Wednesday last week, only the Lautoka Mill remains operative to crush cane produced in the 6…
Prime Minister’s announcement to reverse the flag change decision is a triumph of the will of the people, says Labour. “It is good that the Prime Minister has finally come to his senses and has decided not to force through…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said the proposed Information Bill denied access to information instead of facilitating it and as such “was nothing short of perpetuating fraud on the people and the Attorney General must be held accountable for this. …
FICAC should not be the prosecuting authority for the Code of Conduct legislation because it does not enjoy the confidence of the people as being independent of the government, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Mahendra Chaudhry’s full submission on the…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has labelled as “draconian and pernicious” harsh penalties that have been prescribed in the Bill against any criticism of Parliament, the Speaker or a Committee of parliament. The full text of FLP’s submission on the…
Any person who criticises Parliament, the Speaker or a committee of parliament faces a $30,000 fine or a 5 year jail term or both, if the proposed Parliamentary Powers and Privileges Bill becomes law. Clause 24 of the Bill…
We are absolutely flabbergasted that Fiji proudly paid $14m (USD7m) hard cash to a US film production company for using Fiji as a location for a TV reality show (FT 11/8). Little wonder the company, Survivor Entertainment Group, was all…
The FF government is calling for written submissions to 6 new Bills BUT this times around, public consultations on the Bills are to be highly restricted – both in terms of the time allocated per person/organisation and those allowed to…
Fiji Labour Party is calling on the government to put a stop to, and investigate, the scandalous abuse of Help for Homes swipe cards by hardware companies. Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry who is in Ba today said he was appalled…
Cane growers are desperately in need of cash assistance from government to begin preparations for the 2016 harvest, National Farmers Union general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry told the Standing Committee on Economic Affairs during consultations on the Sugar Reform Bills in…
Ra cane farmers are seeking a $10 per tonne special payment from government to assist them recover from the massive devastation caused to crops, farm equipment and machinery by Cyclone Winston. The resolution for special assistance was unanimously adopted by…
Budget 2016/17 fails to provide answers to the major socio-economic problems facing the nation. “Under Finance Minister Khaiyum’s stewardship the Budget process is reduced to being a mere exercise in financial allocation. All he does is increase funding for some…
Part of the approach to the Bucalevu Bridge, midway between Rakiraki and Tailevu has collapsed, with the bridge now open to one-way traffic only. Picture below shows the collapsed section on the Rakiraki-end of the bridge. It is clear that…
The National Farmers Union has warned FSC executive chairman Abdul Khan not to use abusive language when responding to growers’ representatives. “We represent the cane growers of Fiji and Mr. Khan must learn to treat us with respect. The Union…
Labasa cane growers are demanding an additional $10 a tonne payment to begin harvesting for the 2016 season. About 500 growers at a National Farmers Union meeting held at the Labasa Civic Centre on Saturday said they did not have…
In his welcome speech to NZ Prime Minister John Key last night, which read more as an apologia than anything else, Voreqe Bainimarama complained that the NZ media still think he and his government lack legitimacy. Referring to the 2014…
On the eve of his visit to Fiji, Prime Minister John Key told his country’s media that “his visit was to show support for the restoration of democracy, although it might not be a perfect democracy”. “I am not saying…
The National Farmers Union welcomes government’s decision to suspend the grossly over-priced Rarawai co-generation project and the sugar-syrup making project at the Penang Mill to allow for feasibility studies to be undertaken. But the Union calls for a thorough investigation…
In three years, FSC executive chairman Abdul Khan and his deputy have picked up a massive $2.4 million in salary – ie $800,000 per year between them. Assuming a 60/40 sharing formula: Mr Khan would have collected $1.44m and his…
“This Bill together with its precursor, the Sugar Industry (Amendment) Act passed by the House of Representatives in August 2015 completes the isolation process of the growers from the mainstream of the industry. The voice of the grower has been…
FLP calls for investigation into a conflict of interest between Abdul Khan’s privately owned company, Pacific Renewable Energy Ltd, which has signed a 12 MW power supply agreement with FEA when he is actively pushing FSC to embark on co-generation…
It is absolutely shocking to see the FF government continue to shamelessly manipulate the parliamentary process to gag the Opposition by restricting its right to free and fair debate. In a democratic society, the Opposition plays the critical role of…
Prime Minister Bainimarama wants to push special legislation through Parliament to penalise victims of Cyclone Winston who may make false claims for relief assistance. But what is more urgently needed is legislation to hold him and his government accountable to…
FSC’s new $17million co-generation plant at Labasa Mill has been lying idle and unconnected to the FEA grid due to major technical problems with its newly installed boiler. FSC borrowed $17m from the Fiji Development Bank in 2014 to construct…
The Media plays a significant role in a democratic society in safeguarding the freedoms of the people. It follows then that restrictions on media freedom lead to a denial of the fundamental rights of our people, in particular freedom of…
Fiji’s economic troubles and the deteriorating state of government finances cannot be fixed just by juggling the financial year as proposed by Finance Minister Khaiyum. The problems associated with this ongoing syndrome have their roots deeply embedded in systemic corruption…