NFU replies to Vaniqi Despite the removal of restrictions on the media with the lifting of the PER, the Fiji Sun continues to ignore statements that are critical of the regime’s actions and policies. The Sun did not run a…
ADB’s Outlook 2012 report describes Fiji’s economic growth as “weak… held back by policy uncertainty and structural constraints” resulting in low levels of private investment. Private investment level last year fell to a record low of 2% of GDP compared…
The regime’s Attorney General Aiyaz Khaiyum’s constant rhetoric that political parties have not contested elections without an ethnic agenda, is just crap. The FLP invites him to study the Fiji Labour Party election manifesto of 1999, 2001 and 2006 and…
There is no substance in Attorney General Aiyaz Khaiyum’s defence of his oversight over the elections office, said Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “The involvement of his office in the electoral process is absolutely unethical and detracts from the requirement to…
Today is World Media Freedom Day and it is important to emphasise that along with this freedom goes grave responsibilities for a free, independent and unbiased media. For almost three years since April 2009 the Fiji media was subject to…
The Fiji Labour Party has told the MCG that the regime’s constitutional process cannot be recognized as inclusive, participatory and credible so long as restrictions on human rights remain in place under the various decrees. In a written submission handed…
The Fiji Labour Party has told the MCG that the regime’s constitutional process cannot be recognized as inclusive, participatory and credible so long as restrictions on human rights remain in place under the various decrees. In a written submission handed…
The Fiji Labour Party is absolutely appalled at the insensitivity and utter lack of responsibility FNPF has displayed in its handling of pension payouts. Daily for the past week, scores of seniors have patiently crowded the Pensions office and walkways…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says it is clear from the CMAG statement on Fiji that the Commonwealth is not satisfied that appropriate conditions exist for a credible constitutional process. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) met in London on 16…
Damage to the industry inflicted by the current administration in the past three years is far in excess of any devastation suffered through the recent floods. There is much talk about the form and level of assistance to be extended…
The Fiji Labour Party has urged the authorities to permit evacuees taking refuge at the various schools in the West to remain at these centres until they find alternative accommodation. Women and children taking refuge at the Andrews Government School…
These homes at Utalei, near Korovuto Village in Nadi were completely submerged in flood waters. Families say they have received no assistance since Friday. It is government’s responsibility to ensure that evacuation centres are adequately stocked with emergency food, water and…
The plain truth is that Rakiraki as a self-financing municipality is not viable. The government should not push its obligations on to this rural community which is struggling to survive in the face of a contracting national economy. Fiji Labour…
The plain truth is that Rakiraki as a self-financing municipality is not viable. The government should not push its obligations on to this rural community which is struggling to survive in the face of a contracting national economy. Fiji Labour…
A survey by a Fiji Labour Party monitoring team in the Western Division found that government’s relief and rescue operations failed to deliver timely assistance to the people trapped by floodwaters over the week-end. The survey was conducted by Party…
A survey by a Fiji Labour Party monitoring team in the Western Division found that government’s relief and rescue operations failed to deliver timely assistance to the people trapped by floodwaters over the week-end. The survey was conducted by Party…
Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga must have a very short memory if he needs to be given examples of how the people of Fiji have been enslaved in the past three years, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Under the Public Emergency Regulations…
The FLP National Council meeting held in Ba on Saturday 24 March discussed the constitutional roadmap as outlined by the Prime Minister and has called for it to be replaced by one that is truly independent and genuinely inclusive. The…
Commodore Bainimarama should understand that in a democratic setup, it is the people who decide their leaders, says the Fiji Labour Party. “Whether Laisenia Qarase, Mahendra Chaudhry or anyone else for that matter, are needed or not is for the…
The arbitrary scrapping of the Great Council of Chiefs by the interim administration is an outrageous attack on the paramount institution of the iTaukeis. The GCC or the Bose Levu Vakaturaga has always been an institution highly revered by the…
The constitution review process announced by Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama this morning is unduly prolonged and is predicated on writing up a completely new constitution, says the Fiji Labour Party. Moreover, the regime has imposed its own roadmap on…
The sugar cane crop for 2012 is likely to be around 1.8m tonnes and not 2.1m tonnes as stated by SCGC. “A survey conducted by NFU officials in the cane belt has revealed that the crop has suffered heavy damage…
Commodore Bainimarama’s unwarranted outburst over my remarks about delays in the constitution review process is not surprising. One who professes to be a leader must learn to take criticism in his stride and respond rationally, otherwise he is not fit…
It is important that promises made to the nation regarding constitutional consultations be kept, said Labour Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. “It is now more than five years since an elected government was deposed and the people of Fiji are anxious…
The people of Matawalu, Naviago and Vitogo villages in Lautoka have been shattered by the sheer scale of devastation and destruction of their homes and property by the floods that swept through the 6 kilometre long stretch from Matawalu Village…
The people of Matawalu, Naviago and Vitogo villages in Lautoka have been shattered by the sheer scale of devastation and destruction of their homes and property by the floods that swept through the 6 kilometre long stretch from Matawalu Village…
Massive destruction: Young cane crop at a farm in Drasa ravaged by logs and other debris dumped by floodwaters It will take a long time for the rural community in the flood devastated areas of Lautoka to recover from the massive…
Massive destruction: Young cane crop at a farm in Drasa ravaged by logs and other debris dumped by floodwaters It will take a long time for the rural community in the flood devastated areas of Lautoka to recover from the…
The Ba town is under siege, it seems, as flooding enters its third week. Damage to farms, buildings, goods, roads, water supply, bridges, crossings and household effects run into several millions of dollars. This does not include loss of business…
Rakiraki town is under water again, for the eighth time in the past two weeks. And residents are blaming two new structures at each end of the township as the root cause. Angry residents are calling for an investigation into…
The pictures (above and below) show the utterly sorry state of rural roads, irish crossings, creeks and streams in Ra. The pictures were taken 9 February in Gallau, a few kilometers away from the Vaileka township. “There is too much…
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 assault on individual rights and freedoms. Together with the Public Order Decree 2012, it will…
Residents of Namosau, one of Ba’s leading residential areas, are angry that the Ba Town Council has dumped flood damaged food and other rotting debris in an open area near Govind Park. FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry who is surveying flood…
Fr Kevin J. Barr As usual there was a mixture of positives and negatives in the 2013 Budget. The business community, of course, were overjoyed with the continuation of incentives to investors and there was great hype in the media….
Police presence at FLP consultation meeting The Fiji Labour Party held its second constitutional meeting in Ba last Saturday (June 16). It was attended by 40 participants from Ba, Tavua and Ra. Permit for the meeting was approved by the…
The PER has been replaced by an amended Public Order Decree 2012 which is shocking and more repressive and draconian than the Emergency Regulations just lifted. It is clearly a negative development which is hardly likely to provide the open…
The Fiji Labour Party cautiously welcomes the decision to lift the PER later this week to allow for political consultations on the new constitution. As an obnoxious and repressive set of measures, the Public Emergency Regulations should never have happened….
The justice of a socio-economic system deserves in the final analysis to be evaluated by the way in which a person’s work is properly remunerated in the system. As Fiji moves more and more from a subsistence to a cash…
Fr Kevin J. Barr As usual there was a mixture of positives and negatives in the 2013 Budget. The business community, of course, were overjoyed with the continuation of incentives to investors and there was great hype in the media….
The 2012 Budget will destabilize State finances and will most likely lead to increases in indirect taxes to offset the huge reductions in personal and corporate tax rates. Corporate tax rates have been slashed from 28% to 20% while middle…
The Fiji Sugar Corporation’s 2011 operating loss shot up by $18m to $37m compared to $19m the previous year. This is revealed in the Corporation’s Annual Report released last week. Total accumulated losses stood at $123m as at 31st May….
Is the FNPF being simply reduced to functioning as a cash cow for the State and a bail-out fund for failed projects? Members are extremely worried that the FNPF continues to invest in questionable hotel projects despite having lost hundreds…
Once and for all the Fiji Labour Party wishes to inform academic Dr. Wadan Narsey that it had no inside foreknowledge of the 2006 coup, had nothing to do with its planning or execution and had never been silent on…
Once and for all the Fiji Labour Party wishes to inform academic Dr. Wadan Narsey that it had no inside foreknowledge of the 2006 coup, had nothing to do with its planning or execution and had never been silent on…
Farmers in the Muanicevo Rice Irrigation Scheme at Dreketi in Vanua Levu are complaining that Rewa Rice is no longer buying paddy from them on a regular basis because of financial problems. A number of farmers who supplied paddy to…
The Dreketi Pumping Station was shut down for eight days leaving 78 families in the Malawai settlement in Vanua Levu without any water. The pumping station ran out of money to buy fuel, the residents were told, and was shut…
Members of the FNPF must brace themselves against losses running into hundreds of millions in the long term over its loan to the Natadola Bay Resorts Ltd (NBRL). The development of the resort was completed by the interim regime. It…
In the Hindu tradition Diwali is symbolically associated with the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness. Diyas (oil lamps), candles and other lights adorn the house and its environs, dispelling the darkness of Kartika, the darkest month…
Fiji Labour Party’s three-monthly price survey of food and basic household items shows sharp increases in the price of meat, liquid milk and ghee but prices of other items have remained largely steady compared to the July survey (see table…
FEA should first furnish an account of all moneys collected since 1966 as security deposit before it can raise the deposit rate, says the Fiji Labour Party. Letters have been sent to the Authority as well as to the Minister…
FEA should first furnish an account of all moneys collected since 1966 as security deposit before it can raise the deposit rate, says the Fiji Labour Party. Letters have been sent to the Authority as well as to the Minister…
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…
The International Labour Organisation has expressed “deep regret” at the Fiji government’s decision to go ahead with restrictive labour laws (Decree 35). In a strongly worded statement issued on 13 September ILO Director-General Mr Juan Somavia said it was essential…
So, in typical fashion my good friend Dr. Wadan Narsey has availed himself of another opportunity to take a swipe at the Fiji Labour Party and me personally. It is regrettable that he chose to do so while paying tribute…
The Fiji Labour Party has written to HE the President Ratu Epeli Nailatikau to intervene in the FNPF pension dispute. The CEO of the Fund has threatened that the reduction in the rates of pensions announced recently will be made…
The National Farmers Union rejects claims by the Information Ministry and the Fiji Sun that its officers are paid hefty salaries and perks from union subscriptions. “The executives of the NFU have never been paid for their services to the…
We gather here this morning to pay homage to a teacher, politician, orator par excellence, fearless advocate for the rights of the needy and the underdog – Irene Jai Narayan who left deep and lasting impressions in the 35 years…
The move by PSC to place a travel ban on students and their guarantors who have not paid back student loans, is an inhumane, knee jerk reaction and a violation of their human rights. We refer to the front page…
There has been a noticeable lack of information in the local media on the high-profile FNPF court case which came up for hearing on 4 July. One wonders why the media has suddenly gone so silent on the issue considering…
Bank of Baroda chief executive Pabitra Kumar Das is worried that a lack of borrowers and the excessive liquidity in the system will impact adversely on his bank’s performance. At Baroda’s 50th anniversary celebrations, Mr Das said (Fiji Times 6/7/11)…
The Fiji Labour Party welcomes and fully supports the legal action taken by former Human Rights Commissioner Shaista Shameem and her client David Burness against the FNPF’s arbitrary decision to cut pension rates to 9%. The Party calls on all…
A quick survey of current prices for food and basic consumer goods on supermarket shelves show most items have gone up in price in the past six months, showing increases ranging from 5% to 55% (refer to table below). The…
No need to cut pensions, says Labour (Revised Paper) The Fiji Labour Party says the long term viability of the FNPF can be maintained without making cuts to the current rates of pension benefits. In a submission to the FNPF…
The ANZ’s regional chief Michael Rowland is advocating a grand “coalition of interested countries” to begin dialogue with the Fiji regime on returning to elections and democratic rule. In an interview with Radio Australia this week, Mr Rowland argues, in…
Consumers in Fiji would have been paying 22.5% less for fuel had the Fiji dollar not been devalued by 20% and VAT not increased to 15% from January this year. This would have meant a current fuel price of $1.94c…
The Fiji Labour Party was shocked to hear that Hindus are required to have a permit to celebrate the Hindu festival of Ram Naumi – Lord Rama’s birth. The Fiji Times reported on Thursday that Pt Mahend Sharma of the…
Trade unions and politicians cannot be blamed for the current critical state of the sugar industry, says NFU General Secretary Mahendra Chaudhry. He was responding to statements by Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama blaming the “politicisation” of the sugar industry for its…
The Asian Development Bank has cautioned Fiji on its escalating debt level which stood at 58% of the GDP at February end. In its February 2011 issue of the Pacific Economic Monitor, the Bank says: “Reducing debt levels (currently nearly…
A Fiji Labour Party survey of prices of food and basic consumer goods in the past three years show massive increases ranging from 20% to as much as 400% for some food items. These increases are registered even for food…
A delegation from the Fiji Labour Party, the National Farmers Union and the Fiji Trades Union Congress presented its i-reguregu at the chiefly village of Viseisei on Saturday. The delegation of 10 included Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry and FLP’s assistant secretary-general Lekh…
The Fiji Labour Party regrets the death of the former President and Tui Vuda Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, MSD, KStJ who passed away on Sunday. Ratu Josefa, 90, had a long and illustrious career first as a primary…
Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) this morning withdrew charges of unlawful assembly filed against Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry and five other FLP/NFU members last October. When the case was called in the Ra Magistrates Court this morning, the prosecutor told…
The Fiji Labour Party mourns the death of one of its longest serving stalwarts, Satyendra, a retired senior civil servant, and former Suva City Councillor. Satyendra, 65, passed away at the CWM Hospital in Suva at 4 am today after…
The Fiji Labour Party slams as mischievous lies a report in the Coup 4.5 blog that Mahendra Chaudhry and Felix Anthony are organising a protest march for next month. This is yet another example of baseless and malicious reporting by…
Yet another year has ended. It is a convention, 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…
Fiji’s roads have never been in such a shocking condition, says FLP’s Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi. And he has questioned why the millions collected in road user levy from motorists was not being used to fix the roads. “I have been…
Yet another summary dismissal of two senior lawyers from the DPP’s office raises serious concerns about the independence of that office. The sackings yesterday of deputy DPP David Toganivalu and another lawyer Ana Tuiketei signal continuing instability at the DPP’s…
Kevin J. Barr [Note: Father Kevin Barr says each year he does a paper for the newspapers based on his analysis of the impact of the Budget on the poor. This year both the newspapers chose not to publish it….
State borrowings in 2010 run into a staggering $740 million – the highest ever in Fiji’s history. Of the total, domestic loans (from FNPF) amount to $498 million, while overseas loans add up to $242 million. The provision for debt…
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…
Correction to a slight error in a quote attributed to Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry in FLP’s response to the 2011 Budget regarding the 15c per litre tax imposed on Fiji Water. Mr Chaudhry said,”I wonder what process of enlightenment has…
The imposition of a 15% VAT on all goods and services will have a massive impact on the already troubled Fiji economy. It is a devastating blow to the poor, and the low and medium income earners. The 20% increase,…
It seems Coup Four Point Five is trying to detract attention from its own failings and inaccuracies by reverting to Chaudhry bashing again. The blogsite is becoming quite notorious for its sensational and false reporting and we have had occasion…
A piece by Thakur Ranjit Singh on Pacific Scoop, following the Auckland launch of Brij Lal’s book on Jai Ram Reddy, attempts to compare Reddy to Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry In doing so, he quotes a military analogy used by…
A piece by Thakur Ranjit Singh on Pacific Scoop, following the Auckland launch of Brij Lal’s book on Jai Ram Reddy, attempts to compare Reddy to Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry In doing so, he quotes a military analogy used by…
Fiji Labour Party leaders met this morning with officials of the Information Ministry to discuss the administration’s warning regarding the FLP website. Labour President Jokapeci Koroi and Leader Mahendra Chaudhry met with the Permanent Secretary for Information Sharon Smith-Johns and…
The following letter was received from the Ministry for Information. We have referred it to our legal counsel for advice.
(This submission is restricted to a consideration of domestic tariff increases only) Introduction 1.01 It is interesting that the Commerce Commission (Commission hereafter) is now calling for public submissions after arbitrarily awarding increases in tariff to the Fiji Electricity Authority,…
(This submission is restricted to a consideration of domestic tariff increases only) Introduction 1.01 It is interesting that the Commerce Commission (Commission hereafter) is now calling for public submissions after arbitrarily awarding increases in tariff to the Fiji Electricity Authority,…
Fiji Labour Party calls on the interim government to comment on the authenticity of reports that salaries of Cabinet Ministers and a legal consultant hired by the government are paid through the accounting firm of BDO (Aliz). There have been…
The authorities must investigate the awarding of a Rewa Dairy contract for $500,000 to a Suva accounting firm with very close connections to the Minister for Commerce, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum. The contract for a restructure of the dairy company was…
Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry, appeared in the Suva Magistrates Court this afternoon charged with alleged offences under the Penal Code, Exchange Control Act, and Proceeds of Crime Act. The substance of the matters constituting the charges were earlier…
It has become glaringly obvious for sometime now that the monthly economic reviews of the Reserve Bank misrepresent economic data to paint a favourable picture of our ailing economy. In its June review, the RBF points to a pick up…
The Fiji Labour Party this month observes the 25th anniversary of its birth, marking 25 years of dynamism at the centre stage of Fiji politics. These 25 years have been momentous – we have tasted the sweet joys of success…
The revised 2010 Budget proved to be just a housekeeping exercise to contain the Budget deficit to within 3.5% of GDP. Expenditure cuts of $75 million are to be made to attain this objective, apparently on advice from the IMF,…
On 15 June we had warned that a mini budget was likely in July because of the precarious state of government finances. The administration has now announced that the Finance Minister will deliver a revised budget tomorrow (2 July). Why…
The Taveuni Branch of the Shree Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha (a Hindu religious organisation) has embarked on a project to raise funds to assist poor parents pay for the education of their children. The project was announced by the Branch…
The island of Taveuni will continue to lag behind in development and economic progress until such time as the island is ‘energised’, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. This was the sum total of views expressed to him by the business…