The sudden concern Mick Beddoes and Laisenia Qarase are now trying to show for the poor is sheer hypocrisy, says Mahendra Chaudhry, Minister of Finance, National Planning, Sugar Industry and Public Utilities. “A man who raised VAT twice in his…
Government is closely monitoring the situation regarding rising food prices and will take action as necessary to minimise hardship to the poor, says Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. Record oil and food prices are creating crises situations all over the world….
Government is closely monitoring the situation regarding rising food prices and will take action as necessary to minimise hardship to the poor, says Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry. Record oil and food prices are creating crises situations all over the world….
Native landowners will now receive rental based at 10% of the Undeveloped Capital Value of the land for current agricultural leases instead of the current 6%, says the Interim Administration. In far-reaching reforms to the current landlord/tenant agreement Government says…
Native landowners will now receive rental based at 10% of the Undeveloped Capital Value of the land for current agricultural leases instead of the current 6%, says the Interim Administration. In far-reaching reforms to the current landlord/tenant agreement Government says…
Urgent measures are needed to rescue the economy to minimise adverse effects of the coup on the nation and its people, says Labour. The Party issued a media statement after its National Council meeting in Ba on Saturday to discuss…
Fiji’s military regime is doggedly continuing with its ‘clean up campaign’ amid threats of a backlash from supporters of the ousted SDL government. Supporters of deposed prime minister Laisenia Qarase have threatened to kill army commander Frank Bainimarama and burn…
The military coup, Fiji’s fourth since 1987, has been widely condemned as a siege on democracy and our democratic institutions. But there is another point of view, as expressed by academic Dr Sukhdev Shah in an article published in the…
The Fiji Labour Party (FLP) has called for the restoration of democratic rule as soon as possible. FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry said the party’s Management Board met this morning and discussed the current constitutional crisis and its effect on the…
The army has staged a coup in Fiji taking over executive control and declaring a state of emergency. It is the 4th Fiji coup since the first one staged by Col Sitiveni Rabuka in May 1987. Army Commander Frank Bainimarama…
The Fiji Labour Party’s National Council met in Suva on Tuesday 28 November and voted to expel five dissident members who had challenged the Labour leadership and brought disrepute to the Party. Among those expelled are two Cabinet Ministers, Krishna…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has urged government to introduce a minimum national wage as the first step to alleviating poverty which now stands at 34.4% of the population. Speaking during parliamentary debate on the Employment Relations Bill, Chaudhry claiming that…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has urged government to introduce a minimum national wage as the first step to alleviating poverty which now stands at 34.4% of the population. Speaking during parliamentary debate on the Employment Relations Bill, Chaudhry claiming that…
The FLP is concerned that two highly contentious Bills the Qoliqoli Bill and the Land Claims Tribunal Bill were tabled in the House of Representatives today without any discussions on them with the Fiji Labour Party. Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry…
Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase cannot gag me, said Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. The Labour Leader was responding to a statement by the Prime Minister on TV One news last evening cautioning him against making remarks against the government as he…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry today made public the truth surrounding the controversy over whether Vijay Singh was promised a Senate seat. At a press conference in Suva, Mr Chaudhry responded to allegations by five dissident senior members of the FLP…
Growers Council chief executive Jaganath Sami should stop trying to play politics and do something to help resolve the crisis at Sorokoba, NFU general secretary Mahendra Chaudhry said. Landowners have blocked rail access to Sorokoba following the Fiji Sugar Corporation’s…
Government finances are in such a critical state that it has no funds to meet the $9 million civil service COLA payment due next month, Labour Parliamentary Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said. Government memos have gone to all Ministries and departments…
Five members of the FLP management board, who have breached disciplinary rules of the Party, have been sent letters specifying charges against them. Those facing disciplinary action are Poseci Bune, Krishna Datt, Felix Anthony, Atu Emberson-Bain and Agni Deo Singh….
Labour Parliamentary Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has welcomed the call by Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes for a commission of inquiry into the terrorist takeover of parliament in May 2000. The Fiji Labour Party has repeatedly called on government to institute a…
The Fiji Labour Party says government must reduce the size of Cabinet before attempting to downsize the civil service. “There is absolutely no justification for 36 ministers in a House of 71. It is nothing short of buying political loyalty…
Labour Minister Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi grabbed the media spotlight last week with his call for government to remove racially discriminatory policies and scrap all controversial Bills. He also called for the enactment of a Code of Conduct for all holders…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry described the entire episode of Vayeshnoi’s comments as a healthy sign of democracy at work. “I believe Mr. Vayeshnoi was just practising his democratic right of expression. I respect him for the position he has taken,”…
The multi Party government will have to observe certain guidelines on good governance, said Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. Speaking on Friday in reply to the President’s address to Parliament, Chaudhry welcomed the Prime Minister’s invitation to Labour to join his…
Leader of the United People’s Party Mick Beddoes has been appointed Leader of the Opposition. Mr Beddoes’ Party has only two parliamentary seats along with Bernadette Rounds, Member for the Suva General Communal. The Fiji Labour Party with 31 seats…
Even before he was sworn in as prime minister, Laisenia Qarase and the military were at each other’s throats again with an angry army chief threatening martial law if the SDL continued to pick a quarrel with him. The Commander’s…
Nine Fiji Labour Party MPs were sworn in today as Cabinet Ministers in a power sharing arrangement mandated by Section 99 of the Fiji Constitution. The move for the FLP to join the government has been hailed by people all…
The 2006 general elections was closely fought between the two mainstream parties with SDL getting a slight edge with 36 seats with Labour getting 33 with its coalition partner the UPP. Two seats went to Independents – the Rotuma communal…
The 2006 general elections was closely fought between the two mainstream parties with SDL getting a slight edge with 36 seats with Labour getting 33 with its coalition partner the UPP. Two seats went to Independents – the Rotuma communal…
The Labour Parliamentary caucus has accepted the Prime Minister’s invitation to join his cabinet under with the power sharing provisions of the Constitution. Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry met with PM Laisenia Qarase this afternoon to discuss his offer of 7…
The Fiji Labour Party is extremely concerned with the manner in which the 2006 general elections were conducted. There was clear evidence of electoral rigging of the polls, and before that, to disenfranchise voters through the registration process. A number…
The Fiji Labour Party is extremely concerned with the manner in which the 2006 general elections were conducted. There was clear evidence of electoral rigging of the polls, and before that, to disenfranchise voters through the registration process. A number…
Labour candidate for the Laucala Open, Vijay Krishna, is seeking to have polling at the Reba Circle in Nadera today declared null and void because it was illegally conducted. The polling at Rishikul Nadera Primary School at Reba Circle was…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has called on the Constitutional Offices Commission to dismiss the Supervisor of Elections Mr Semesa Karavaki for gross incompetence and inefficiency. Mr Chaudhry has also accused Mr. Karavaki of lying to, and misleading the nation, to…
A polling official at the Makoi Methodist Primary School on Wednesday 10 May checked a ballot paper after it had been voted with and before it was cast. He realised the voter had voted wrongly. The voter had ticked above…
Labour is alarmed that ballot boxes from polling stations in the various constituencies throughout Fiji are not transported to the respective Count Centres soon after polling closes and the boxes are sealed. In a letter to the Supervisor of Elections,…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed concern that hundreds of voters arrive at polling booths with registration slips but their names are not on voter rolls. In a letter to the Supervisor of Elections, Chaudhry said arrangements should be made…
A Labour candidate is crying foul over illegal voting that took place at her chiefly village of Veivatuloa in Namosi on Saturday May 6. Koleta Sivivatu says she was shocked to find voting going on her village on Saturday since…
The Fiji Labour Party is very disturbed at the way the 2006 general elections are being conducted. The whole process casts serious doubts on the credibility and integrity of the general election, as well as the competence of the Supervisor…
Labour queries explanations by the Supervisor of Elections regarding the printing of ballot papers much in excess of requirement for a number of constituencies, including the Ba Open Constituency. (Details attached) In a media statement, Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said…
Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed disgust at the complete shambles experienced at polling stations throughout the country at the start of polls because ballot papers were not available. “Hundreds of voters were either turned away or had to wait…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed shock at the decision of Emperor Mines Ltd to close its Vatukoula operations for six months. “I am even more shocked that the government should have withheld this kind of information from the people…
The Fiji Labour Party is fielding a slate of 60 candidates in the May general elections.The final list of names were released on the eve of nominations this week. The list is as follows: Fijian Communal Constituencies 1 -Kadavu Fijian…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed shock at the decision of Emperor Mines Ltd to close its Vatukoula operations for six months. “I am even more shocked that the government should have withheld this kind of information from the people…
Labour launched its 2006 election manifesto in Nadi today releasing a package of dynamic policies to rebuild the economy, create jobs and care for the poor. Launching the Party manifesto, Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said leadership would be one of the…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says the main voter registration roll is completely unreliable with hundreds of names still missing. “In many cases names that appeared on the provisional rolls are not on the main roll. In other cases names have…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said Vatukoula mine workers had long standing grievances regarding pay, safety working and housing conditions, environmental concerns that should to be addressed. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Fiji Mineworkers Union yesterday Chaudhry said safety…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry warned that Fiji may be forced to take strong monetary measures soon in view of the critical state of the economy. “The UNESCAP report released yesterday supported our concerns that the economy was in a critical…
A report by a UN agency shows Fiji’s economy is not doing well, sustained only by external factors – tourism and overseas remittances. Tourism and overseas remittances were bolstering the economy in the face of the sharp decline of key…
A report by a UN agency shows Fiji’s economy is not doing well, sustained only by external factors – tourism and overseas remittances. Tourism and overseas remittances were bolstering the economy in the face of the sharp decline of key…
The Fiji Labour Party has released its slate of first 25 candidates for the 2006 elections headed by Party Leader Mahendra Chaudhry. The FLP Management Board met last night and approved the nominations of 25 candidates to contest the 2006…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said Tourism was one of the fastest growing sectors under his government in 1999/2000, rubbishing allegations by the Prime Minister that he had stifled it by cutting off funds. “It was one of the most dynamic…
Fiji’s financial situation is so critical that the economy is on the verge of collapse, Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has warned. High consumer spending measured against sharply falling revenue from exports has led to a critical balance of payments situation,…
Government is handing out brush cutters to buy votes for the SDL Party, Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi, spokesman for the Fiji Labour Party has charged. Scores of brush cutters are sitting in the office of the Minister for Social Welfare Asenaca…
Fiji’s financial situation is so critical that the economy is on the verge of collapse, Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has warned. High consumer spending measured against sharply falling revenue from exports has led to a critical balance of payments situation,…
Labour Party’s case against the Supervisor of Election’s failure to comply with the Electoral Act with regard to the 2006 general elections, will be heard on Tuesday 28 March. The case comes up for mention before Justice Roger Coventry on…
The SDL government has failed the people and must be removed from office, Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said at a Saturday meeting of General Electors. Speaking as chief guest at the annual meeting of the United People’s Party, Chaudhry said…
The people will not be fooled by SDL’s election promises to contain poverty and help the poor when, in the past five years, the government has failed to show any compassion for the underprivileged. “Statistics show that absolute poverty has…
Veteran Labour politician Krishna Datt announced today that we was standing for elections on a Labour Party ticket. Datt had announced a year ago that he would be retiring from politics and would not contest the 2006 elections. In a…
The Elections Office has been instructed by the Electoral Commission to address concerns raised by the Labour Party regarding non compliance with the Electoral Act. Electoral Commissioner Graham Leung has written to Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry to say that he…
Fiji Labour Party has threatened to take court action to defer the 2006 general elections scheduled for early May. Labour says the Elections Office has not met the legal requirements for the voter registration rolls to be published, properly scrutinised…
Fiji Labour Party anxious about registration errors and discrepancies evident in the provisional rolls, is asking whether the Supervisor of Elections office will be ready for the May 6 elections. Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed concern that 3000 names…
The Fiji Labour Party reiterates its support for all agencies responsible for law and order in the country, said Party President Jokapeci Koroi. Mrs Koroi was responding to a “highly edited” TV news story that saw her appear to be…
The Fiji Labour Party reiterates its support for all agencies responsible for law and order in the country, said Party President Jokapeci Koroi. Mrs Koroi was responding to a “highly edited” TV news story that saw her appear to be…
Former coup convict Maciu Navakasuasua insists Konisi Yabaki was one of the coup plotters but was now trying to “save his skin”. Yabaki, Minister for Forests and Fisheries has denied allegations by Navakasuasua and his accomplice Josaia Waqabaca that he…
Nationalists have called on the Prime Minister to resign following his failure to push through Parliament passage of the Land Bills amending ALTA and NLTA. The Bills which intended to transfer all native agricultural leases to the ambit of the…
The feud between the army and the government is worsening with the RFMF now threatening to take over control if the government fails to meet its responsibilities to the nation. Army chief Frank Bainimarama in a Media statement Monday accused…
The feud between the army and the government is worsening with the RFMF now threatening to take over control if the government fails to meet its responsibilities to the nation. Army chief Frank Bainimarama in a Media statement Monday accused…
As 2005 draws to a close, it is only appropriate that we as a nation take stock of our achievements and failures. To be honest, one has to admit that for us the year ends on a negative note –…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has written a strong letter to the Police Commissioner regarding Police failure to follow up new clues in coup investigations. Chaudhry expressed concern that the latest disclosure by former coup convict Maciu Navakasuasua of a plot…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry labled as “laughable” the so-called evidence the Prime Minister tendered as proof that Chaudhry had tried to obtain a commission from the India loan for the sugar reform project. The Prime Minister who failed to meet…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has served a writ on Laisenia Qarase and Fiji TV regarding allegations that he had attempted to get a commission from the $86 million EXIM Bank of India loan for restructure of the sugar industry. In…
Of the $2 million allocated to upgrade rural Fijian schools under the government’s affirmative action programme, half was lost through scams and misuse, the Auditor General reports. The project known as the Centre of Excellence scheme was terminated because of…
The Opposition had very good reasons for not supporting the Bills to amend the ALTA and NLTA legislations in Parliament on Thursday 1 December 2005, aimed at transferring all native agricultural leases from the ambit of ALTA to NLTA. In…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has given the Prime Minister 72 hours to apologise to allegations that he benefited by way of commission from the $86 million Government of India loan to revamp the sugar industry. The allegation from Laisenia Qarase…
Finally, the bureau of investigation in India has cleared long-standing allegations that Mahendra Chaudhry had pocketed monies raised in his ancestral State of Haryana to help in the struggle of the Fiji-Indian community after the 2000 coup. The money was…
Finance Minister Ratu Jone Kubuabola was axed as chairman of Fiji Pine Ltd in 1998 by the SVT government for failure to perform his duty. This was revealed in a front page story in the Fiji Sun 30 November by…
Deputy Leader of the Opposition Poseci Bune revealed another government attempt to buy votes through a plan to distribute 180 fishing boats by August next year. The 2006 general elections is expected to be held by mid-August 2006. The scheme…
About 35,000 primary school children have dropped out of school in the past five years due to financial constraints, says Pratap Chand, Opposition spokesperson on Education. Speaking during debate on Budget 2006, Chand provided statistics to show that large numbers…
Opposition Whip Krishna Datt questioned government’s claim that poverty levels were at 28% considering that poverty was effectively put at 50% in a report based on 1991 figures. A number of factors since then had contributed to higher levels of…
The proposed Amnesty Bill was a deliberate strategy by the Prime Minister to derail the successful land consultations at the Talanoa level, says Krishna Datt. He was responding to criticisms levelled against the Opposition Leader by the government side blaming…
Opposition Whip Krishna Datt questioned government’s claim that poverty levels were at 28% considering that poverty was effectively put at 50% in a report based on 1991 figures. A number of factors since then had contributed to higher levels of…
I rise to deliver the Opposition’s response to Budget 2006. But before that, let me, in line with long standing parliamentary convention, congratulate the Minister of Finance for his Budget presentation. I wish to congratulate our National Rugby 15s team…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has called for government intervention to cushion the adverse socio-economic effects of rising fuel prices. The call comes in the wake of increases effective today that raise the price of motor spirits by 20c a litre…
Labour wants a comprehensive inquiry into the FNPF investment portfolio to see if they were in the best interests of members. Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry’s call comes in the wake of controversy over a decision to award design tender for…
The legislation aimed at getting royalty to landowners for the use of the foreshore by resorts etc was just a smokescreen to satisfy a small group, a banker says. Bob Lyons, managing director of ANZ Pacific said the legislation would…
Fiji Principals say free education in Fiji is a misnomer as it costs parents up to $3000 a year for lower secondary education resulting in a lot of dropouts. Speaking at the Principals conference yesterday, FPA president Susau Managreve said…
Extremist politicians like Senator Joe Dimuri who deliberately misled landowners into not renewing leases to Indian tenant farmers to further their own political agenda, should stop blaming others, Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said. Mr. Chaudhry was responding to comments made…
Extremist politicians like Senator Joe Dimuri who deliberately misled landowners into not renewing leases to Indian tenant farmers to further their own political agenda, should stop blaming others, Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said. Mr. Chaudhry was responding to comments made…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed serious concerns at flaws in voter registration that marred Saturday’s municipal elections, and its implications for the 2006 general elections. Chaudhry who has been very vocal in criticising flaws in the voter registration process…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has expressed serious concerns at flaws in voter registration that marred Saturday’s municipal elections, and its implications for the 2006 general elections. Chaudhry who has been very vocal in criticising flaws in the voter registration process…
Fiji has been given a bad listing in the corruption index making her the 55th most corrupt nation in the world The rating based on a perceptions collaboration of 159 countries by Transparency International in London, places Fiji as ninth…
Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry has questioned the practicality of plans by the Public Service Commission to drastically reduce the size of the civil service. Mr. Chaudhry said no amount of reforms will improve the productivity, competence and efficiency of the…
Fiji has been given a bad listing in the corruption index making her the 55th most corrupt nation in the world The rating based on a perceptions collaboration of 159 countries by Transparency International in London, places Fiji as ninth…
FLP has raised serious concerns about anomalies in the voter registration process currently underway for the 2006 elections – tantamount to vote rigging. The Party has lodged complaints with the Electoral Commission and is seeking a fresh start to the…
FLP has raised serious concerns about anomalies in the voter registration process currently underway for the 2006 elections – tantamount to vote rigging. The Party has lodged complaints with the Electoral Commission and is seeking a fresh start to the…
The Reserve Bank’s latest report on the state of the economy is yet another confirmation of the gross mismanagement of the national economy and unbridled abuse of public funds by the SDL government. Reserve Bank Governor Savenaca Narube, speaking to…
Labour is alarmed at revelations of another vote buying tactic by the SDL government in the lead up to the 2006 general elections, similar to the agricultural scam of 2001. Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said he was informed by an…
Labour is alarmed at revelations of another vote buying tactic by the SDL government in the lead up to the 2006 general elections, similar to the agricultural scam of 2001. Opposition Leader Mahendra Chaudhry said he was informed by an…
FLP backs the army and the Police in their fight to maintain the independence of the security forces. The conflict comes in the wake of a move by the Ministry for Home Affairs to control Budget allocated to the two…