FT: The repeal of restrictive media laws introduced under the former government has been seen as a major step forward. Would you consider this one of your government’s significant achievements? What message would you like to share with journalists on World Press Freedom Day?
PM: Publicans ask their Patrons to ‘enjoy responsibly’ – referring to the alcohol they drink and their responsibility to themselves and their families and the public. I urge all writers and readers who may interpret and relay the messages forward, to enjoy their freedoms but be responsible in what they write or forward, and that it is the truth and not to promote ill will and malice. Indeed I had campaigned for a free media and for the removal of MIDA (Media Industry Development Act) during the 2022 General Elections and I have always been a believer in a free media. My office had released a statement to mark World Press Freedom Day on May 3, where I had called on those of you who work in the media fraternity and those of us who do not work in the media to use the day to acknowledge and to recommit to the fundamental principles and ideals of press freedom. I also remembered the late Sitiveni Moce who succumbed in 2015 to injuries from the assaults he sustained when covering the political upheavals of 2000 and the military coup of December, 2006. Sitiveni paid the ultimate price in the pursuit of his work as a newspaper photographer. This year’s World Press Freedom Day is also an opportune time to recall the wise counsel of my paramount chief, His Excellency the President, Gone Turaga Bale na Tui Cakau, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu when, in opening this year’s parliamentary session, called for the responsible use of social media. That basically is the message I want to share with Fiji on World Press Freedom Day, while your Coalition Government will support and defend your freedom of expression and press freedom, let us be responsible with the way we use those freedoms.
FT: With over 236 new reported cases of gender-based violence in just three months, what more can the government do to deliver tangible outcomes and reduce gender-based violence across the country?
PM: As I stated in response to an earlier question on dengue spread and careless disposal of rubbish and the poor upkeep of drains – it is a whole-of-country problem and requires a national effort to solve; families, communities and villages, churches and religious leaders, parents, teachers, prefects and student groups leaders all. It calls on leaders to be examples of required standards expected from the people. Hon Sashi Kiran, the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection gave an impassioned plea when she addressed Parliament last Thursday. Yes, we have in place the National Plan on the Prevention of Domestic Violence Against Women and Girls. Yes, we have got everyone mobilised, from civil society organisations to churches, from women agencies to the Great Council of Chiefs. But this whole-of-society approach to addressing this unacceptable and un-God like practice of domestic violence is still not enough. Last Saturday when invited to open the Bose Vakayabaki (annual meeting) of the Wasewase ko Suva (Suva Division) of the Methodist Church at the Centenary Church, I urge the church leaders to help government instill in men the virtues of loving their wives and their children. I call on our Talatala, Tuirara and Qase ni Lotu to use their annual meeting to spread the gospel of loving their family, just as the Lord Jesus loves us. I related to them the story of the owners of the Sri Sathya Sai Sanjeevan Children’s Hospital in Muanikau, who quietly go about the business of demonstrating their love for children by offering free medical treatment. They are not Christians, but they sure know how to take care of our little ones. 236 new cases of domestic violence is way too many, and all of us will still need to do a lot more in getting men, fathers and partners to man up, and to love and protect their wives and children. As I said in Parliament last week, Real Men do not hit women!
FT: Kava bars are now required to close at 1am, aligning with nightclub regulations. What was the rationale behind this decision? Do you believe kava bars contribute to social issues in the same way nightclubs do?
PM: All late nights erode productivity the following work-day. Just yesterday I addressed senior pastors of the Methodist Church and touched on this issue. I encouraged them that it is important that we teach our people to do what is required of us at an event and move on to the next thing. I shared with them my schedule on Friday which required me to move from Parliament to an opening at SPC and back and I ended the day at a kava barrel fundraiser. I do what I need to do, and I move on to the next thing. Some people finish from the kava barrel and go look for the kava bar afterwards. All bars come under one rule now. Whether they serve alcohol or yaqona, closing time is 1am every night, and this is being enforced to keep everyone and our streets safe.
Hopefully early closure of alcohol or yaqona bars will get many of us to spend more time at home with our family and loved ones.
FT: Restoration of the Public Works Department (PWD): This was a key election promise. The line minister has said the restoration will take years. How do you explain this delay to voters who expected faster results?
PM: As the Minister said, setting up the PWD with the proper equipment scale to carry out the work expected of it in Road Building and Repairs, Bridge Laying and Repairs, Public Buildings Repairs and Maintenance, and so on, will take time and Budget Planning. Most of the Equipment and Plants that were part of the PWD Inventory need to be replaced and skills to operate them taught or rekindled in our successor workforce – they take time and money.
FT: The Fiji Times recently reported on the rapid growth of the liquor industry. Has attention shifted away from regulating this sector due to the national focus on tackling illicit drugs? Should residential corner shops be allowed to obtain liquor licenses?
PM: We must never allow society to believe the it can tackle ‘illicit drugs’ with a potentially harmful ‘solution’. The problem with illicit drugs is its ready availability, so the solution is not to introduce an alternative, but to apply a tourniquet to prevent its circulation – importation, trade and use. The current system of alcohol trade is quite adequate where people deliberately plan their purchases as part of their budgeted spending, rather than ‘just buying because it is readily available’ at the increasing number of outlets.
FT: Scholarship Distribution Fairness: Of the 8700 scholarships awarded in 2025, 71% went to i Taukei students, 26% to Fijians of Indian descent, and the remainder to other ethnic groups. Mr. Chaudhry has called this unfair. Do you believe the distribution reflects population proportions, and how would you explain or justify the current breakdown?
PM: One would say that the per capita distribution is ‘unfair’ as Chaudhry claims. It would be interesting to look at the value (individual course fees paid) for each course taken by each ethnic group of students, but it is unfortunate that we should be focusing on ethnic distribution when I doubt that those awarding the scholarships considered ethnicities; I believe they selected on merit.
FT: Villagers from Navunikabi in Namosi have written to your office opposing the proposed hydro dam. Have you read their concerns, and what is your position on the matter?
PM: The laws dictate that the use of iTaukei Lands and Resources must be dealt with in accordance with iTaukei Lands Act and the iTaukei Lands Trust Act, both touching on the responsibilities of Government, Land-Owning Units and the Trustee of Indigenous Lands – ITLTB. If the refusal of the landowners is an insurmountable obstacle, then the Government must find an alternative to meet its obligation to the UN Sustainable Development Goal 7 – ‘access to Clean Electricity’. In a few years, the world will find that Solar, Windmill and Hydrogen generated electricity infrastructure will be cheaper than Hydroelectric Power Generation, so our rivers and land may become redundant to our needs, and their wealth creating potential for Landowners will be negated.
FT: Prime Minister, Correctional Services recently undertook a major clean-up of the Enamanu Cemetery, which had fallen into a deplorable state. Many say this is the first time in living memory that such attention has been given to this sacred site at a national leadership level. Given the apparent neglect by families and the broader community, what role should local councils and government play in the ongoing maintenance of public burial grounds? How can civic pride and respect for final resting places be better instilled across our communities?
PM: The Command echelons of the Corrections Department very quickly responded to the Ministerial request for the Enamanu Cemetery to be cleaned up and in two weeks they cleaned up the cemetery of the overgrown grass and unkempt drains from many years of cleanup and maintenance neglect. We have not had ‘Town Council Leadership’ for many years, and the Administrators now may not have the networkings established and employed by the Councils to ensure all municipal services continued uninterrupted with the assistance of Contractors, Council Workers and Government departments like the Corrections Department.
FT: SPC facility groundbreaking: You recently officiated at the groundbreaking of the new SPC building in Suva. How does this project align with Fiji’s national development priorities?
PM: As Fiji continues to lead the Pacific Charge to stay abreast with national, Regional and Universal efforts at Mitigation and Adaptation of and to Climate Change, it is very important to support, even lead the vanguard in the charge. The Pacific is focused on meeting the objectives of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific and its cornerstones of setting out long term approaches to achieving a resilient Pacific of built on peace, harmony, security, social inclusion and prosperity, and Fiji is host to the Headquarters of the Pacific Community formerly known as the South Pacific Community, so must continue to support, even lead in all its efforts.
