MINISTRY OF INFORMATION MEDIA MONITOR SEPTEMBER 14TH 2014 7:30AM (No: 874) Find Ministry of Information on Facebook and be one of the 41, 136 people who like our page. Updated news, picture and events. Find our National Archives page on Facebook and be part of the growing numbers who are joining us on Facebook. FRONT PAGE HEADLINES FIJI SUN Analysis: The bigger the lie, the more they believe – Take a look at these before and after shots of Suva’s Government buildings – the site of the new parliament. The photo on the left is before the tower housing our famous clock was cleaned. The one on the right is after it was cleaned. There is no difference whatsoever apart from the removal of decades grime. Yet a story has spread like wildfire through the community, and the Itaukei in particular, that the dome of the old tower has been replaced with a new one designed to resemble the Muslim mosque. FS pg 1 FIJI TIMES Pictorial: Saru wins top eight competition – Moape Namasi of Saru dragons tries to burst his way through the Makoi bulldogs defence during the final of the Vodafone Cup top 8 played at Churchill park Lautoka yesterday. Voting blind – Like everyone-else wanting to have their say in who will form government, disabled voters will also be lining up on poll day to cast their votes. Unfortunately for the blind, there are no ballot papers in Braille, nor is the National candidates list. And for the deaf, it is unlikely there will be someone who knows sign language at the polling station they go to. The Fiji Deaf Association confirmed that so far, only one voter awareness training was held which was more than a week ago in Suva. Supervisor of elections Mohammed Saneem confirmed there is no election material in Braille but polling officials would help voters with disability. FT pg 1 PORTFOLIO 1. PRIME MINISTER’S OFFICE (RBF) Reserve Bank’s continue plight for sector growth – The Reserve Bank of Fiji will continuously ensure that positive changes are made in the agricultural sector as it contributes greatly to the economic growth of the country. The central bank was one of the major sponsors of the three day Central Agriculture show at Syria park in Nausori hosted by the Ministry of agriculture. FS pg 7 2. ATTORNEY GENERAL’S OFFICE (ELECTORAL REFORMS) Fijians flock to party rally – Number 279 was on the lips of more than 1800 people who turned up for the FijiFirst movement final family fun day held in Valelevu, Nasinu grounds. Those present represented a snap shot of how movement leader Voreqe Bainimarama envisions a Fiji under his leadership united and secure. People from all backgrounds were present – some walked assisted by walk sticks, others in wheelchairs pushed by family members some with their groceries still in hand while others fully prepared to have a fun filled day. FS pg 3 FT pg 3 It’s for your children, says FijiFirst leader – FijiFirst leader Voreqe Bainimarama yesterday urged Fijians to exercise their right to vote and to vote for the right people into power. While addressing more than 1000 people at the Valelevu grounds for the movement’s final family fun day, Mr Bainimarama said it was time for people to stop being used and swayed during elections. FS pg 3 NFP’s president’s father implicated in 2000 upheaval, says Bainimarama – Father of National Federation Party president Tupou Draunidalo, the late Savenaca Draunidalo has been named as one of those people who were the real faces behind the 2000 coup. FijiFirst movement leader Voreqe Bainimarama was the Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces when the 2000 coup happened. FS pg 3 Team work wins, says chief – Lautoka’s Shirley park was a buzz yesterday after Social Democratic Liberal Party western supporters entered the park adorned with blue colours. The rally saw more than 100 people gathering for the final rally towards the September 17 elections. Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu assured supporters that SODELPA is ready to lead and reclaim Fiji. FS pg 6 FT pg 3 Were all equals, says Tabuya – The People’s Democratic Party wants a government and parliament that promotes peace. President Lynda Tabuya while addressing about 40 people at the party’s campaign on Friday night at Khatriya hall said past governments and leaders failed in promoting peace and resolving conflicts. FS pg 6 Observers happy as poll day nears – The Multinational Observer group has had the chance to see obstacles faced by the Fijian elections office in the lead up to the September 17 general elections. MOG secretariat Andre Goledzinowski said they were happy they had been allowed to move freely anywhere within Fiji. FT pg 2 ID card centres open – Today is the last day people can replace their lost voter identification cards at voter registration centres. From tomorrow, people will have to travel to the Fijian Elections Office in Suva for replacement cards. The FEO said more than 30 voters registration centres would be open today to cater for the replacement of voter ID cards. FT pg 2 Voter turnout good – Only four pre-polling stations were in operation yesterday with 452 expected voters. The Fijian Elections Office said the Northern division recorded a high voter turnout of more than 75 per cent at pre-polling stations. The full divisions statistics were confirmed yesterday morning after pre-poll ended in the Northern division on Thursday. FEO said voters reported easy accessibility to the polling stations as well as having received assistance from the polling assistance. FT pg 2 Labour: Don’t waste your vote – Don’t waste your vote, the Fiji Labour party has urged people. Speaking to supporters and members of the public in Ba yesterday, FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry said it was important to vote despite ‘things being made difficult’ for ordinary people. FT pg 4 Vat drops in 100 days – The National Federation Party maintains its stand in reducing VAT from 15 per cent is elected into government. Just three days away from the general election and as the country prepares for the 48 hour media blackout period, party general secretary Kamal Iyer said all they had been aggressively campaigning leading up to election was mainly on reducing VAT. FT pg 4 Qoliqoli assurance – Social Democratic Liberal Party candidate Nirmal Singh says there has been a number of misconceptions and lies spread about the Qoliqoli bill. Mr Singh told party supporters in Narere, Nasinu the qoliqoli had been there since Independence and it was not something new. FT pg 4 FEO urges dialogue – The Fijian Elections Office has an open door policy for political parties to raise their concerns regarding the electoral process, says the Supervisor of elections Mohammed Saneem. Mr Saneem said despite repeating this message, parties tendered to seek media attention or resort to social websites to vent their frustrations. FT pg 5 Candidate say his proven a point – A candidate has already proven a point for creative youths and those with the will can turn this into an industry. This is why, Sandeep Singh, says he chose to contest the September 17 general election. “I proved that through the creativity of youths, people can become successful like when is staged Fiji’s dancing superstars. There isn’t much being done and I want to do this for Fiji.” FT pg 5 Focus on youth development – Youths are future leaders and there is a need to help them discover their potential at an early stage, says People’s Democratic Party candidate Josaiah Loloma. Mr Loloma told youths of Navesidrua in Seaqaqa, that a lot of good things were in store for them and it was about time they stood up for the purpose of developing theirs potentials. FT pg 5 FLP’s support stronger – Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry says his absence from the party’s lineup of candidates for the general election has made any difference to the party’s support. “The party’s support is intact and in fact, it is stronger after what happened as far as my case is concerned. It has also brought a lot of sympathies too.” FT pg 5 3. MINISTER J. COKANASIGA (DEFENCE) Fijian troops empty five posts – Fijian peacekeepers in the Golan Heights have emptied five posts in their area of operations. The Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces Brigadier General Mosese Tikoitoga confirmed this to the Fiji Sun yesterday at the Ratu Sukuna Memorial School. Tikoitoga said he had discussion with the land force commander Jone Kalouniwai yesterday and was informed that the situation was deteriorating further. FS pg 14 3FIR to protect all and constitution – Lieutenant colonel Manoa Gadai reminded his men at the Queen Elizabeth barracks on Friday that they were to protect the people and the Constitution. He is the commanding officer of the third battalion Fiji Infantry regiment (3FIR) of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces. He was reminding his men on their roles because of the rumors of threats of mayhem by certain politicians during and after elections. FS pg 14 4. MINISTER I. SERUIRATU (AGRICULTURE) Unite for modern agriculture – The people of Fiji must be united in building a modern and competitive agriculture sector. This was stressed by the Minister for agriculture Inia Seruiratu at the closing of the Central Agriculture show at Syria park in Nausori on Friday. The recent report released by the Fiji Bureau of statistics the past week showed a positive performance by the agriculture industry in 2013. The growth in the industry was 3.4 per cent which was largely driven by increases in sugarcane, yaqona, dalo and coconut production. FS pg 8 EDITORIAL FIJI SUN This election should be a celebration because we are having truly democratic elections – All election campaigns end today as stipulated by the Electoral decree. There is a blackout period from Monday to poling day on Wednesday. The politicians have done their bit and the onus is now on voters to decide the future of this country. Those who have registered must make sure that they cast their votes. In our democracy, the voters have the power to choose their government. Their tick give those elected the mandate to speak on their behalf in parliament and those in Government to serve them. The operative word here is serve. FS pg 26 FIJI TIMES A winning formula – Sixteen games and counting. That’s the number of games the champion rugby union team, Nadroga, have played this season – 11 regular season games in the Skipper Cup competition and then the semi final and final. They have now put down three teams in the HFC bank Farebrother challenges. Some will say it is because of the players. Come to think of it, when provincial rugby is discussed in Fiji, Nadroga will have to be mentioned. FT pg 6 INTERNATIONAL REGIONAL AFFAIRS Schools may be used for courts in Nauru – Naurus new Chief Justice says the country may consider a tier of the judiciary above the Supreme Court in the future, but right now additional court rooms are a priority. A former Fiji vice president, Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, was sworn in this week along with two other justices and a new resident magistrate. His appointment comes months after the previous top judge, Geoffrey Eames, was forced out of the country, by the government. The Supreme Court sat for the first time last Friday and Ratu Joni says its first priority is the disposing of the backlog of accumulated cases. radionz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/254515/schools-may-be-used-for-courts-in-nauru For more informati on on Government events and decisions log onto the official Government portal fiji.gov.fj
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 19:31:06 +0000
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