Bala Dass of FCGA needs to do better than blame the lack of water supply and electricity as factors deterring our younger generation from taking up cane farming (FT 8/6). In fact, most cane growing areas are well catered for…
What is the true state of affairs in FSC? Acting Sugar Minister Aiyaz Khaiyum praises the “tremendous performance” of FSC and its executive chairman Abdul Khan. FSC’s Independent Auditors, however, paint a totally negative picture, even casting doubt on FSC…
Fiji Labour Party is shocked but not surprised at the extremely harsh punishment meted out to SODELPA MP Hon Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu. Reviewing the proceedings of the House yesterday, it is not surprising that the Opposition has decided to boycott…
Parliament today agreed to provide government guarantees of a $110m loan to the Fiji Development Bank and $120m loan to Fiji Sugar Corporation. Of concern to the taxpayer is the fact that neither of these institutions has released its annual…
19th of May commemorates yet another coup in Fiji – Fiji’s third , giving the nation the epithet of Coup-Coup Land – an indication that by now our coup culture was becoming something of a joke on the international arena….
May 14 is the anniversary of Fiji’s first coup. The coup-d’etat on 14 May 1987 not only deposed the month-long Labour-led coalition government of Dr. Timoci Bavadra, it set Fiji on a self-destructive path of political instability and turmoil which…
Fiji Sugar Corporation is withholding announcement of the cane forecast price for the 2015 season because it has been unable to secure buyers for our sugar from this year’s crop. In the past, Tate & Lyle (UK) bought all of…
Cane farmers are saying no to government’s proposal to review the Sugar Master Award to allow for the implementation of a quality cane payment system. A team from the Sugar Cane Growers Council, acting on instructions from the Sugar…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry expresses deep regret at the passing away of former Singapore Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, highly regarded as the architect of modern Singapore. Mr Chaudhry who held Lee Kuan Yew in high esteem as a…
Labasa farmers have called on the Fiji First government to reinstate the democratically elected Sugar Cane Growers Council and to hold fresh Council elections before the start of the 2015 harvesting season. This is part of a 10-point resolution adopted…
The Fiji Labour Party is appalled by the Prime Minister’s comment to Members of the Opposition in Parliament yesterday that they wouldn’t be in the House if he hadn’t staged the coup in 2006. FLP President Lavinia Padarath said…
The Fiji Flag is a national symbol and the people of Fiji should have the right to express their will on any changes to be made to it, says Fiji Labour Party President Lavinia Padarath. . “The flag reflects Fiji’s…
This would be an investment well in excess of “$500 million and would provide employment for thousands of Fijians when completed,” the people were told. You have heard of the $300 million Casino scam – after all the hype, the…
A much-vaunted $500 million project planned for the heart of Suva bites the dust as the chairman of the investment company faces investigation from Chinese government authorities after his Handan Golden Century Real Estate company collapsed in August last year….
Education Minister Reddy’s claim that 653 new teachers are to be absorbed into the primary and secondary school system this year to reduce the long standing high teacher/pupil ratio is suspect unless it can be verified against figures for…
Following the seizure of his passport by Immigration authorities at Nadi Airport yesterday, former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry has written to the Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs seeking answers to a number of questions relating to the incident. We reproduce…
Labour Leader and former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry and his wife were this morning stopped from travelling overseas on their diplomatic passports. Mr Chaudhry maintains he should be entitled to a diplomatic passport as a privilege accorded to former prime…
The $300m project including a casino and convention centre at Denarau was to be set up by the American Company One Hundred Sands Ltd with Larry Claunch promising big returns from the casino and some 1500 new jobs. The first…
The dawn of a New Year is generally greeted with rekindled hopes and aspirations, and firm resolutions to strive for a better and more fulfilling life. For us in Fiji, just emerging from 8 years of repressive, dictatorial rule following…
The extremely lopsided, iniquitous and grossly unfair IRB Sevens deal forced on Fiji TV by the FF Government, wreaks of gross nepotism and abuse of power. We are referring to reports that Information Minister Khaiyum engineered the move to get…
The so-called people’s Prime Minister (elected to office with a stupendous 202,459 personal votes) has been out of the country for the past three weeks on a junket completely oblivious to the crises affecting our people. During his absence:…
In a country that can’t afford to provide decent housing for its growing poor Budget 2015 allocates $12m to the Fiji International Golf Tournament to be held at the Natadola Bay Championship Golf course next year. In 2014 Fiji taxpayers…
A notable feature of Budget 2015 is that it gives with one hand and takes away with the other. Fiji Labour Party has maintained all along that nothing is for free. The regime may be offering free prescribed medicines, water,…
It is unfortunate that the visit of Indian Prime Minister Sri Narendra Modi should have been marred by a boycott by members of the Opposition. The Leader of the Opposition, Ro Teimumu Kepa and 14 of her Sodelpa members decided…
The action of Government members of the Public Accounts Committee to sabotage its work was to be expected given the damning revelations of abuse, mismanagement, fraud, embezzlement and conversion reported in the Auditor-General’s reports for the years 2007-2013. The raids…
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…