The current administration has held a sway over local media agencies says Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry While addressing people during the party’s Nadi branch annual general meeting in Votualevu recently, Mr Chaudhry said of the countries six media agencies only a print media and a radio station provided a platform for Opposition parties on a timely basis.
He said the rest of the media in the country operated on the instructions of the Government.
“If we send them our statements, they never publish it nor broadcast it,” he said.
“The Government does not want the message of the Fiji Labour Party reaching to the common people through the media,” he said.
“We have to go directly person-to-person to take our message, because the media won’t do that for us.”
Mr Chaudhry said to run the operations of the party was costly but they would reach out to the public somehow, because FLP was a party for the poor and common people.
The Fiji Times editor Fred Wesley said “It is important that a level platform is provided for comments.
That’s something The Fiji Times makes an effort to do daily. The media should be able to assist people to make well-informed decisions daily.
It’s important for us as Fijians, and for the development of our nation. Obviously, opinions will differ.”
Fiji Sun publisher/CEO Peter Lomas said: “Mr Chaudhry is covered by the Fiji Sun when newsworthy.
He can expect more coverage as we move closer to the elections, and especially if his poll rankings improve”.
Meanwhile, questions sent to the Minister for Communications Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and media organisations, Fijian Broadcasting Corporation (FBC) and Fiji TV with regards to the claims made by Mr Chaudhry remained unanswered when this edition went to press.
