The Fiji Times newspaper played a crucial role in the development of Fiji post-independence, said prominent lawyer Richard Naidu.
He made the comments during a panel discussion organised by the Foundation for Rural Integrated Enterprises and Development that examined influential person’s post-independence in Fiji.
“If I had to pick one guy, he would be Fred Wesley, the editor of The Fiji Times who is rarely seen and is the person behind the paper. For the last 12 years, he has tried to keep that paper independent, objective and neutral to ensure that people get the information that they need,” said Mr Naidu.
He said it was important for people in power “who are accumulating more and more power” be held accountable.
“If you are a good editor, you must have a good publisher standing behind you and the Motibhai Group have stood behind the editorial independence of The Fiji Times. It is not easy when you are in business and you are being challenged and abused by the Government all the time for supporting and owning a newspaper that tries to be independent and objective and therefore, sometimes very critical of people in power.”
