Credible sources in the Finance Ministry have confirmed that FNPF has been told to make arrangements for further loans of up to $500 million to the State to plug a huge hole in its 2014 Budget. Readers will recall that…
The Auditor General’s report (Front page Fiji Times today) is just the tip of the iceberg as far as the complete saga of the regime’s Cabinet salaries are concerned. Firstly, it is now clear that the Ministers of the regime…
The Fiji Labour Party stands vindicated in its condemnation of the regime’s imposed 2013 constitution. The three champions of the regime’s imposed 2013 Constitution This is what we…
Fiji Labour Party welcomes the recommendations of the UN Human Rights Council following its Universal Periodic Review 2014 just concluded in Geneva on the human rights situation in Fiji. We note in particular the Council’s observations on the seriously flawed…
Fiji Delegation to UNHRC suffers rebuff! Mission unsuccessful! Members of the ‘high powered’ Fiji delegation made no impact on the UNHRC in their attempt to paint an acceptable picture of the human rights situation in Fiji. They were bundled out…
As we celebrate yet another Diwali – the Festival of Light as it is widely known – let us reflect on what lies ahead of us as a people. There are those who want us to believe now that elections…
It is highly unethical for the government to issue a decree prescribing ministerial and parliamentary pays just three days before the convening of Parliament , says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. The Parliamentary Remunerations Decree 29 of 2014 was promulgated on…
GENERAL ELECTION 2014 INTERIM REPORT ON IRREGULARITIES BY THE MEMBERS OF THE PARTICIPATING POLITICAL PARTIES INCLUDING FIJI LABOUR PARTY NATIONAL FEDERATION PARTY SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC LIBERAL PARTY September 22 2014 1. INTRODUCTION The leaders of the joint political parties contesting…
Fiji Labour Party regrets the passing away of Kini Marawai, Assistant Secretary-General and a Labour candidate for the 2014 general elections. A lawyer by profession, Kini had started his career as a journalist with the Fiji Times before leaving to…
All four sugar mills are experiencing frequent breakdowns but FSC is keeping mum on the stoppages and their causes, much to the frustration of angry farmers and industry reps. Cane…
Labour thanks all the people who voted for the Party and gave it their support in the general elections just concluded. We have questioned the results of the elections based on credible evidence of gross manipulation of the process and…
Labour will reduce high Cost of Living: Labour will extend the list of basic food, medicine and consumer items zero-rated under VAT; this will include all baby-food Labour will review all levies on goods and services which are…
Fiji Labour Party is concerned at the excessive number of ballot papers, over 100,000, printed by the Elections Office. “The extra ballot papers stand at 21% of all registered voters. This is simply ridiculous,” says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Agents…
Labour’s slate of candidates for the Northern Division with their assigned areas. Voters please note that in the past you have had representatives in Parliament from 71 different constituencies which means you had your own area candidate or parliamentarian. For…
Dear Voter In a matter of days you will be casting your vote in what is perhaps the most crucial general election in Fiji’s history. Fiji today faces its biggest challenge…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HuN7itS7YE&feature=share
In a desperate last minute attempt to buy votes, the Fiji First Party is now making wild and unrealistic promises to the people in its 2014 election manifesto, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “It shows no real commitment to the…
The Fiji Labour Party abhors and strongly condemns the campaign of fear Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama is now embarking on days before the start of voting He is deliberately evoking memories of the racial violence and backlash in 2000 to instill…
http://youtu.be/OSvw2kNawA0
Labour’s candidate list for the Central Division with the specific areas assigned to them. Voters please note that in the past you have had representatives in Parliament from 71 different constituencies which means you had your own area candidate or…
Fiji Labour Party has questioned the distribution of 13,000 rubbish bins in the Nasinu area yesterday (Monday) by Aiyaz Khaiyum of Fiji First as nothing but a blatant vote-buying measure. “In fact by doing so just days before the election…
All kinds of claims, credits and, unfortunately some misinformation, circulate during election times. It is the duty of political parties and candidates to ensure that their claims are historically and factually sound and accurate particularly when a party goes around…
The Fiji Labour Party stongly condemns the decision of the Supervisor of Elections to disqualify FLP candidate Steven Singh, despite the review ruling by the Electoral Commission that Mr. Singh was qualified to contest the 2014 general elections. Labour Leader…
Since 2009, the trade union movement in Fiji has been effectively marginalized by the Bainimarama regime leaving workers, and in particular, those in the civil service , completely at the mercy of employers. Trade unions were targeted because as strong…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says Voreqe Bainimarama’s attack on him in reference to a remark made by SODELPA’s Laisenia Qarase was totally unwarranted. “First of all the statement alluded to by Mr Bainimarama were those of Mr. Qarase’s. Fiji Labour…
Fiji Labour Party condemns the manner in which the regime keeps changing rules governing the electoral process just days before the elections are to be held. FLP is referring to the most recent amendment to the electoral decree which now…
In keeping with Labour’s tradition, our manifesto aims to Put the People First. It is a well thought out, forward looking document that endeavours to redeem the pain and suffering inflicted on our people through the misrule and insensitive policies of…
For the first time in Fiji’s electoral history, political parties and the public will not be allowed to scrutinise voter rolls and raise objections to what they see as invalid voter registration. On 28 March 2014 the regime quietly slipped…
Revitalising Fiji’s rural economy is a critical challenge that Labour intends to address as a matter of urgency. Labour will reverse Fiji’s rural decline. Rural neglect in the past 8 years, coupled with the sharp decline in major agricultural commodities…
Fiji Labour Party continues to receive countless complaints from motorists and from members of the public about what they claim to be the “bullying” tactics of the Land Transport Authority (LTA). Labour is concerned at this mounting criticism from both…
Fiji Labour Party condemns the regime’s failure to maintain a number of bridges on our main roads and highways around the country, several of which are now either closed to traffic or allowed restricted usage. As of the moment 6…
“Moreover, for a political party to amass assets of some $636,000 within just days of its formation under the very restrictive funding provisions in the political parties decree, raises a number of very serious questions. “ The Fiji Labour Party …
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry was chief guest at the closing session of the week-long Farmers Carnival at Lautoka on Saturday evening. The Carnival, run by the National Farmers Union, is an annual event staged to raise funds for needy school…
Neither the Director of Lands nor FICAC has responded to queries from the Fiji Labour Party regarding the illegal development being carried out by China Railway Engineering Group on State land at Bayview Heights in Suva. The site is currently zoned…
Defence Lawyer Anand Singh has expressed strong disquiet that the DPP has chosen to make comments on the case of his client Mahendra Chaudhry when it is still before the courts. But Mr. Singh refutes the claim by DPP Christopher…
At the launch of its 2014 Election campaign on 21st June, the Fiji Labour Party released the names of its first batch of 27 candidates to contest the general elections. FLP’s line-up includes experience from veteran politicians as well fresh, …
A future where I dream that a young man or young woman between the the ages of 20-25 years could stand before a forum like this, some day soon, to articulate their dreams without fear of the barrel of the…
The regime’s constitution is undemocratic, does not reflect the will of the people and will have to be amended by the new Parliament, says the Fiji Labour Party. The FLP statement is in response to comments by Army Commander Brigadier-General…
My message to you in this election is simple: Fiji today stands at a critical crossroads – our future as a nation is at stake. The choice you make as a voter will decide the future of our beloved nation….
“The integrity of the 2014 elections is very much at stake here. These are pre-determined orchestrated moves to rig the September polls. That is why despite numerous requests, political parties are not getting soft copies of the National Voter Register:” …
Bainimarama is the biggest beneficiary of the coup: Labour Fiji First leader Voreqe Bainimarama and his secretary general Aiyaz Khaiyum are themselves the most “discredited” politicians in Fiji today. They need to acknowledge this and stop hurling abuse at politicians…
Fiji Labour Party has called on the Lands Transport Authority (LTA) to immediately uplift the suspension of the road service licence of Empire Buses in Ba. Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said that during his visit to Ba last week-end people…
Permanent Secretaries awarded hefty pay packets, but ordinary workers denied COLA Fiji’s escalating cost of living is a result of insensitive and unjust policies of the Bainimarama regime over the past 8 years, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. The regime’s…
The Fiji Labour Party is questioning the issuance of a development lease on State land in Suva to the China Railway Engineering Group in breach of established procedures. SCC staff say it is a very sensitive matter because the orders…
Fiji Labour Party is confident of its grassroots support and cautions people not to be misled by poll results which have been notoriously inaccurate in the past. The Times Tebbutt poll which has been resurrected by Fiji Times for…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry campaigning in the North this week-end said escalating cost of living was one of the major concerns of people he met with during his tour. Mr Chaudhry said the decline of the sugar industry which…
In Rotuma earlier this week, Prime Minister Bainimarama denied he was receiving a salary in excess of a million dollars. He said his salary would be revealed after the registration of his political party. We say that the salary of…
Fiji Labour Party questions the appointment of former judge Nazhat Shameem as Fiji’s permanent representative to the UN based in Geneva. In a statement issued today the Assistant Secretary-General of the Party, Mr Kini Marawai said that the position was…
The Prime Minister must provide audited accounts of his salary and those of his Cabinet Ministers from April 2010 onwards, duly certified by the Auditor General and the Permanent Secretary for Finance, says the Fiji Labour Party. The FLP call…
Since its inception almost 29 years ago, the Fiji Labour Party has strongly advocated and championed the rights of women. Indeed, the FLP is a trend setter in ensuring active and equal participation of women in positions of leadership be…
Aiyaz Khaiyum is deliberately misleading and misinforming the people of Fiji about the appointment of a Minister for Elections in the past, says the Fiji Labour Party. “Neither in Rabuka’s time nor under Laisenia Qarase was there ever a…
Aiyaz Khaiyum cannot continue to be Minister for Elections now that he has been appointed general- secretary of the Fiji First Party, says the Fiji Labour Party. “Failure to do so will tantamount to abuse of office. It is…
There has been much speculation in the media concerning the leadership of the Fiji Labour Party, following the conviction last month and sentencing last Friday of its leader, Mr Mahendra Chaudhry. The FLP Management Board is to meet later…
Father Kevin Barr: Mahendra Chaudhry is someone …I have come to admire and would consider him a good friend. I also see him as an inspiring person, an outstanding leader, a man of integrity and a fighter for social justice,…
Fiji Labour Party questions a statement by Peter Thomson, Fiji’s Ambassador to the United Nations that Fiji has done better than most Pacific Island nations in achieving the Millennium Development Goals. “In fact, in many aspects of human development, Fiji…
FLP’s mini manifesto setting out the Party’s main policy platform for the 2014 elections was issued in August last year. A more substantial document will be released shortly now that the Electoral Decree is out and a date has been…
No decision or action of the Electoral Commission or the Supervisor of Elections can be challenged in the Courts of Law, under the Electoral Decree This and several other provisions of the Electoral Decree confirm FLP’soft-stated fears that the September…
The Fiji Labour Party questions the accuracy of Fiji Sun’s front page report today (17/4/14) claiming big support for Bainimarama from farmers in the North. The report is sensational and exaggerated, affirming the Sun as just a propaganda tool…
Mahendra Chaudhry has once again won acclaim as the first person to be ever convicted under an antiquated legislation that even the Judge described as “draconian”. The Exchange Control Act (ECA) under which Justice Paul Madigan found Mr Chaudhry guilty…
Fiji Labour Party warns that the Commerce Commission decision to lift the freeze on domestic rents would see an explosion of rent increases and cause more hardship for people already struggling with high living costs. FLP also denounces the Commission’s…
Dr Wadan Narsey has provided two very good articles analysing the Electoral Decree released a week ago. One is titled Bainimarama regime presents Fiji’s electoral nightmare and looks at the chaos likely to be created on polling day as a…
Fiji Labour Party is inviting expressions of interest from Fiji citizens wishing to contest the next general elections as FLP candidates:
Fiji Labour Party will scrap the Road User Levy and revise the unreasonably high fees, charges and penalties imposed on vehicle owners and drivers today. Owning a car is no longer considered a luxury in modern society. Yet, in Fiji…
The Fiji Labour Party questions the appointment of Mohammed Saneem as Supervisor of Elections since he clearly fails to meet the minimum requirements of the post as advertised by the regime in September last year. The advertisement required the applicant…
Voreqe Bainimarama can go around spending millions of dollars on vote buying sprees but this is not going to assure him the support he needs to win the next general elections. Vote buying techniques have not worked in the past….
Attorney General Aiyaz Khaiyum needs to get his own house in order first before preaching to others about transparency and accountability, says the Fiji Labour Party. FLP is referring to Khaiyum’s address at the Fiji Taxi Association general meeting in…
Address by Labour Leader Mahendra P. Chaudhry at the State of the Pacific Dialogue Pacific Islands Development Program East West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii 25-26 January 2011 Aloha, Ni sa Bula Vinaka Good Morning, Ladies & Gentleme I feel privileged to…
Yet another year has ended. It is conventional, as we stand on the threshold of a new year, to take stock of the past in order to prepare for the year ahead. Four years have lapsed since the regime change…
Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has reiterated his concern that the imposition of a 15% VAT will bring acute hardship to the poor and low and middle income families. He was replying to comments on Fiji Village by interim…
FLP sent the following letter to Commodore Bainimarama in November 2009 when the regime called for expressions of interest from those interested in attending the National Dialogue Forum. Labour said the repressive climate under the PER was not conducive to…
To: Heads of Diplomatic Missions The regime’s Attorney General has announced that discussions and consultations on the constitutional process can be conducted freely but we have been informed that the Police still require that permits be obtained for any meetings…
Fiji Media Decree – Top Five Issues ( International Senior Lawyers Project – ISLP) Executive Control of the Regulating Authority: The decree vests control of the Authority which regulates the media in the hands of the executive government officials. Such…
State Proceedings (Amendment) Decree 2012 granting privileged protection to the prime minister and his team in the lead up to general elections is another blatant denial of individual rights and freedoms. Together with the Public Order Decree 2012, it will…
Political parties face more draconian measures that violate guarantees on the right to privacy and freedom of association promised under the regime’s imposed constitution. The added imposition is via amendments to the Political Parties(Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Amendment Decree…
The amendments to the already draconian Political Parties Decree reveal the regime’s pathological fear of existing political parties, says former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. It imposes a $50,000 fine or a prison term of up to five years, on any…
Despite strong opposition from trade unions at home and the international community, the interim government has gone ahead with the enforcement of Decree 35 with the promulgation of Regulations that identify essential industries covered under the Decree. The National Farmers…
It is also discriminatory against existing political parties. All existing parties have to apply for fresh registration within 28 days of the effective date of the decree ie 18 January 2013. New parties have until before the Writ of…
Decree 4 of 2013 is, undoubtedly, draconian and oppressive. Its provisions both for registration and in terms of the administration, operations and conduct of political parties are onerous and harsh. Penalties for non-compliance, or breach of the decree by party…
The Fiji Labour Party is very concerned that important election details are being released by Voreqe Bainimarama during his campaign trail in the Lau group while the Electoral Commission maintains its silence on these important matters. In today’s FBC radio…
Suva under floodwaters? Yes, as preposterous as this may seem, we have just experienced vast areas of the city and its environs under at least two feet of water after less than 12 hours of downpour. Key thoroughfares such as…
It is said, not unwisely, that the guilty will always point an accusing finger at others for their own failings and misdeeds.The Bainimarama/Khaiyum duo, for sometime now, has been accusing “former politicians” and political parties of lying to the people…
The Fiji media has an important responsibility to ensure that the upcoming elections are free, fair and credible – this can best be ensured if the media allows honest, balanced and unbiased coverage of statements and views across the political…
Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop’s confidence is totally misplaced, if she believes that one-day elections in Fiji in September is achievable, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “One day polling requires massive organizational capacity and resources which the Elections Office will…
Fiji Labour Party has called on the Electoral Commission to release the draft Electoral Decree for comments from political parties and the public. “Why is the draft decree being kept so secret?” asked Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry, in response to…
The Electoral Commission’s first and most urgent priority should be to appoint a Supervisor of Elections, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. The Supervisor is the executive head of the Elections Office and should have a major say in the formulation…
The Fiji Labour Party filed its application for registration as a political party this morning. The Party has informed the Registrar of Political Parties that its application was without prejudice to the legal proceedings it filed in the Suva High…
The Fiji Labour Party is concerned that some 20% of eligible voters have not been registered yet, with the promised elections only 9 months away. According to official figures the eligible voter population at 30th June 2013 stood at 628,000…
As Fiji observes the UN Anti-Corruption Day on 9th December, FLP recalls that the 2006 coup was executed to carry out a “clean up campaign” to rid Fiji of corruption. This is an appropriate time to assess how effectively this…
“I know that for many of your life is getting harder. Keeping a roof over your head, putting decent food on the table for your family, and getting quality health care for your loved ones has become a tough challenge….
Commodore Bainimarama’s claim about a turnaround of the sugar industry is not supported by facts obtained from industry statistics, says FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “In fact, the contrary is true. Cane production has been declining steadily since the military takeover…
Commodore Bainimarama’s claim about a turnaround of the sugar industry is not supported by facts obtained from industry statistics, says FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “In fact, the contrary is true. Cane production has been declining steadily since the military takeover…
“Budget 2014 is a reckless, vote buying budget,” says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “You can promise anything. It is the delivery that is important and this government has a record of not delivering on its promises,” he said. Its Budget…
Rising poverty levels, chronic unemployment and high living costs are forcing the people of Labasa to relocate to Viti Levu in search of a better life, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Mr Chaudhry who returned from Vanua Levu in the…
The sugar industry strategic plan announced by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama at the ACP meeting is sheer propaganda as its targets are certainly not achievable in the announced five year timeframe of 2013-2017. It is just a paper plan designed…
Controversy over access to the National Register of Voters and non-compliance with the provisions of Electoral (Registration of Voters) Decree 54 of 2012. (Reference our telephone conversation this morning) I write following the recent media controversy over access to the…
Fiji Day Message by Fiji Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry Fiji today observes 43 years of its nationhood. It should be a time for somber reflection on how our nation and her people have fared over the past four decades…
FLP paper looks at challenges facing political parties in the lead up to the 2014 general elections, the current depressed state of the economy and deteriorating social conditions. It outlines the Party’s major policy guidelines to address these issues (Mini…
Fiji Labour Party denounces the regime’s decision to award hefty pay increases, ranging from 46%-192%, to heads of disciplinary forces and permanent secretaries. “This is outrageously immoral at a time when 60% of our workers earn below poverty line wages…
FLP’s response to statement by Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Bob Carr on the purported Fiji constitution The Fiji Labour Party is extremely disappointed with the statement from Australia’s Foreign Minister Bob Carr welcoming the release of the Fiji regime’s…
The Fiji Times editorial comment today titled “Let us Rejoice” based on the AG’s announcement that the regime’s constitution will be out tomorrow, is something of a laugh. How can we rejoice over something we have not seen, that has…