Victoria Cross Winner in Fiji Operations!

The most recent Victoria Criss winner is Australia's Ben Roberts-Smith. Mr Smith got the award for his bravery in Afghanistan.

But what has captured LF's attention is the following:

"He was deployed on operations to Fiji in 2004, and has also deployed on Recovery Operations..."

It is well documented that Australia deployed a Task Force in response to Qarase's request for military assistance but the Task Force withdrew from waters around Kadavu after a Blackhawk went into the water killing 2 soldiers.

But that was 2006.What sort of operation occurred in 2004?

Interesting isnt it?


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Constitution Review

The man who will guide discussions on a new constitution for Fiji has expressed concern about limits on political activity still in force in the country.

But world-renowned legal expert Professor Yash Ghai is fairly happy with the timetable for drawing up the new document.

Professor Ghai is a scholar of constitutional law. He has been the head of the Constitution Advisory Support Unit of the United Nations Development Program in Nepal and a special human rights representative of the UN Secretary-General in Cambodia.

He says a year should be long enough to complete the process in Fiji.

He told Radio Australia's Pacific Beat he has urged the Fiji government to review laws that restrict freedom of expression and freedom of association.

Groups to complain of restrictions on their activities include the Methodist Church, trade unions and the legal profession.

Professor Ghai said the government should be given the opportunity to demonstrate that its efforts at reform are genuine.

"If people don't take this opportunity to test the intentions of the prime minister and the government, it's very hard to see how the country moves forward," he said.

"My advice to them would be to engage in the process.

"And as for this harassment, if they're not allowed to speak, then it will be the case that the government is not very serious."

He added: "Let's see how sincere the prime minister is before we conclude this is a sham."

Free Poets Society: Rain and more Rain

So much rain , all around rain

At least the plants and veges get to gain

 

Lucky it hasn't been a full blow hurricane

Even though it was a lot of rain

 

Its been a while since we had a big one

And that was no fun

 

Remember Oscar and Nigel

That made life very dull

 

And before that Hurricane Bibi

That had all of us climbing onto our bilibili

 

So let's hope we don't get another one soon

Lets fold our hands and pray for God's boon

Martial Law lifted

So, martial law has been lifted.

Good!

Even the regime's opponents will have to welcome that. And for those who were starting to think we may never come out of this dark period, well this shows that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Of course, this is only a first step in the right direction. There is a lot more work to be done. But it is a significant big step.

Now comes the challenge of drafting a new Constitution. It wont be easy. But, we have overcome major obstacles in the past and it can be done.

So, we will take this as one step forward and look forward to democracy to be returned to our beloved land!


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Pssst, It;s me! From the Ministry of Floundering Affairs

Sorry Folks! It's me. Me the not-so-smart-guy from the Ministry of Floundering Affairs who sits in the corner taking the minutes and spinning the grog bowl.

 

Yes, that's me , the innocent lil thing.

 

"Taki! " said Brutus. And so, I did.

 

But first let me tell you of what has transpired in this fine Ministry since I last had the chance to write to you all.

 

Believe it or not, the whole crew is still here. And we got a new addition, I'll call him Zehru. Confused. Let me explain, He thinks he is Nehru but isn't. Get it? Nehru and zero? I know , I know, not one of my best, but hey, it's kinda funny right?

 

Anyway, I've had to lie low because as we all know the proverbial hit the fan and "The Place that must be Spoken of In Whispers Only" went nuts over the whole 'internet thing'.

 

It's called Blogging

It's called Blogging

It's called Blogging

 

Will somebody please tell them that, Phew!

 

Anyway, one must bite the tongue in this fine Ministry. After all, opening one's mouth can lead to the loss of the greatest prize of all: an overseas posting.

 

And so, all the internet connections are being watched very closely. So, I couldn't take the risk. Had to bide my time.

 

Somebody was publishing news that only people inside this fine Ministry could know.

 

Kissinger suspected Brutus, Brutus suspected Taliban, Mata Hari didn't have a clue, Taliban wanted to suspect somebody but couldn't decide who.

 

And Zehru, well the guy is still pissed off about losing his post at that much sought after foreign location, the place where we all want to go one day.

 

As for me , I spun the grog bilo right! heheheheh . Who suspects the grog boy? Not these fools that's for sure.

 

 

Phone Tapping

So somebody thinks his phone is being tapped?

 

And RNZI has jumped all over the reports to say that Tevita Mara's phone is being tapped by the military.

 

Well, lets just take a few steps back and put things in perspective:

 

• It'a a bloody military dictatorship for crying out loud....why would phone tapping, if it was true, be so newsworthy?;
• We have military in the newspapers news rooms, phone taps seem trivial compared to that;
• Somebody has a delusional sense of self importance, doesn't he? They are tapping my phone because I'm the saviour, lighten up bro...you just want media time that's all

And if you are really worried about phone taps, here's a few tips:

 

• Email using account names only you and your recipient knows about;
• Send postcards;
• Carrier pigeons; or
• Message in a bottle;

 

Tap, phap, whap!

 

Another dictator is gone

Another one bites the dust

An end to tyranny is a must

 

For 42 years he rules the land

With a heavy iron hand

 

His sons and daughters bathed in milk and honey

They had so much, billions in money

 

Then one day, the people finally stood up

They decided they had enough, time to make him jump

 

So they came out on the streets

They voted with their feet

 

Gaddafi did his absolute best

To keep the rebellion confined to the west

 

Then France, US and usual so-called allies jumped into the fray

They said, wait up we will show the way

 

Why suddenly Sarkozy and Obama found interest in Libya?

They said they support democracy…now, now don't let that fool ya

 

Where were they all these years?

When Libyans cried rivers of tears

 

What they really want is under the sand

The greatest prize of all, it really is grand

 

More valuable than gold

In your hands you cant hold

 

So started the bombings and the arms drop

And suddenly Gaddafi felt the heat and started to hop

 

He gave orders for his soldiers to fight

Where are they? He looked to the left and right

 

And so he ran from Tripoli to Sirte

His place of birth, where he found shelter

 

He held on for a while, as long as he could

You have to say, he didn't run away, but stayed in Libya as he said he would

 

And then, finally, they caught up to the man

Oh dear God, there lay the man on the sand

 

But not before, they ripped him to pieces

Something nobody on their worst enemy ever wishes

 

And so another dictator is gone

The message is clear, it may take time but right always defeats wrong

 

Isnt it amazing how I do this every time?

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme!

 

Conversations of Jone, Jaswant and Joe

The World Cup is on…the boys are all fired….Go Fiji Go ..O ..O….The grog bowl is full, the boys are in a good mood….Samoa is the opposition and the boys are confident

 

 Jaswant: You gang just see the superior tactical prowess of the Fiji team….their knowledge of defensive patterns, attacking methodology and precise moment by moment fluid processing techniques

 

Jone and Joe look at each other and shake their heads

 

Jone: Samoa is a good team

 

Jaswant: Se, traitor

 

Jone: I think Samoa are going to be very hard to beat

 

Jaswant: Seti, you go and live in Samoa then OK

 

Joe: It will be hard game, tough and uncompromising

 

Jaswant: Vinaka Robbie Deans (and smirks and says under his breath)  thinks he knows too much….us gang are stupid

 

Jone: Kick for territory man, play in opposition half

 

Jaswant: Seti, it's a possession game, hold the ball, probe the edges and make quick darting runs

 

Go Fiji Go

 

Go Fiji Go

 

Jone: Samoa look better

 

Jaswant: Seti, who you cheering for man? Fiji our team….Noqu Vanua

 

Jone: %**#@ o iko OK

 

Jaswant: Why don't you swim to Samoa like that faller who went to Tonga huh!!!

 

Joe: Easy guys

 

Jaswant: O iko qalu mada OK….@$%* this between us kaivata's

 

Joe: Ocei nomu Kai $#&*

Red Arm Band Month

**************** Better late than never....Thank you to sender********

 

************I will try and publish all emails or messages that are fair, balanced and promote justice and equity- in keeping with the Loyal Fijian Charter***********************************

 

 

This August (2011) I will join youth advocates and activists around the world in honoring the lives of young people and children while marking the close of International Year of Youth [August 12 2010 to August 11 2011].

Over the Year, millions of young people have decided to be the driving force of community and grassroots change; We honor them! Many more have been the backbone of humanitarian efforts and recovery work in the worst of our catastrophes and provide resilient solutions/work in solving our Climate Crisis; We honor them! Thousands have used social media and their skills to change mindsets and move hearts to stand in solidarity for the most pressing issues in communities world wide; We honor them! Many more have banded together and held whole gatekeepers, communities and governments accountable to the voice of our Youth; We honor them also!

BUT while we have gained so much during this year, we have also LOST multitudes of lives in the struggle and the onslaught of man made disasters, and natural catastrophes.

This August, for one whole month I will join youth activists world wide in wearing a RED ARM BAND - symbolizes the blood of many young people that have made this International Year of Youth successful and a important year for youths - YES young people have really made a difference this year.

I wear the arm band to remember the lives of Young People lost on the streets to Freedom and Equality, Young People lost in the lands of pandemic crises and suffrage, Young People lost in neighborhoods of War, Young People lost to Natures power and challenge to humanity, Young People lost in the schools of bullying and violence; and Young People lost to homes of exploitation, disrespect and hate.

These Young People have taught me to be reassured that they have not gone in vein - that their cries for a better life are seen/heard through the actions/words of many advocates and activists world wide. While there is still so much work to be done, I stand with these lives in believing that CHANGE HAS COME!!!!!

YOU can WEAR the RED ARM BAND also and allow others to have an opportunity to stand alongside you by passing this email around and having conversations about this Campaign - You can choose your own way to mark the year. Unlike many other events that have happened worldwide, this campaign will have no Celebrities or Leaders propped up to bring people to wear the RED ARM BAND -We are appealing to all youth advocates and activists to consider how much we have gained in the lives of the so many we have lost during Our Year! The Year of Youth!

This August, I am wearing it - are you!

Peter Waqavonovono
Youth Advocate
Fiji Islands

--

Free Poets Society: Tongan Escape

Boy oh Boy, what a few days we've had

A story to rival that of Sinbad

 

Col Mara has escaped to Tonga

The rumours of how he did it are getting longer and longer

 

Can you imagine this tiny island

Can be prepared to pull off something so grand

 

I am reminded of the times of Ma'afu

When he came, plundered and said F*** you

 

This is just so crazy

Even more so because details are so hazy

 

We are told he hitched a ride on a Tongan navy boat

Wonder if he'll sit in the palace and gloat

 

But how could it happen, where was the Fiji Navy?

They came in were gone before you could say "Hey Baby"

 

The Tongans have to be sent a clear message,

This is not the end of this passage.

 

Isn't it funny how I do this every time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

 

Free Poet Society

 

OH MAMA, GOOD BYE OBAMA

Boom Boom Bang Bang,

In the middle of the night, the noises rang

 

Came a thundering noise, doof doof whooooof

What is that, could it be helicopters on the roof?

 

The Navy SEALS came slithering down the rope

That's it, the end of the road, the end of hope

 

They looked everywhere, mountains, valleys, villages and caves

Everywhere they looked, he found a way to be safe

 

10 long years, the might of America looked, inside, outside and on the ground

No matter what they did, he was nowhere to be found

 

When he was found, he was not hiding

He was living in style, just his time he was biding

 

Living with his 8 children and many a wife

Can you believe that, this man was enjoying his life

 

How can that be, living in a 3 storey mansion with courtyard and barn

Because America was looking everywhere but inside Pakistan

 

10 years he evaded the greatest power

All the time he was sleeping in a double bed and having a warm shower

 

Now isn't that amazing

Makes your head spin and swing

 

Unless of course we look beyond the spin

Wouldnt be Loyal Fijian if we didn't try to find the source of the stink

 

Can you really be living in secret for 10 years

When the greatest power was kicking down doors and capturing your dears

 

Was he really just hiding in a house in Abbottabad, 400 yards from a military base

If you believe that, Im afraid you will have egg on your face

 

Somebody do the smart thing, find the missing piece to solve this case

Find the tunnel, from Obama's mansion to the Pakistani Military Base!!

 

Isnt it funny how I do this every time

Make it so funny and make it rhyme

 

Free Poet Society

The Original and The One – Loyal Fijian

 

 

Mubarak gone, Gaddafi going...

The boys are enjoying the national drink. The mood is a bit hard to describe...seems like an air of anxiety mixed with anticipation....confused, well I said it was a bit hard to predict.

Jone: Gunu Jas

Jaswant: Vinaka...(downs the bilo)...Boys, how about the Middle East gang aye? Boy, things sa crazy over there

Joe: Thats right Jas, unprecedented chapter in our history...who would've thought the Arabs want the same things everyone else does (he says this almost as a prompt to the others)

Jone: What you mean?

Joe: We all have same aspirations...

Jaswant: See again, this faller always want to talk va fancy....just say it man (voice raising a bit)

Jone: Yeah man, I know what we all want

Jaswant: Yeah we want no crime, feel safe in house, jobs for everyone, like that

Jone: See, what you mean, you never feel safe before?

Jaswant: But better now, see the paper huh...before everyday robbery, murder what not

Jone: Whats the use if you not.... (doesnt finish sentence...looks arlound as if somebody might be listening)

Jaswant: No what? Huh? Say it ga man?

Joe: (Doesnt say anything, but there is somethinhg playing on his mind)


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Conversations of Jone, Joe and Jaswant: Could it happen here?

Same place, same time, same brew. The boys are celebrating the end to another working week.

Jone: Bro, thank God its Friday aye

Jaswant: True

(Joe nods)

Jaswant: What about Tunisia and Egypt aye?

Joe: What about it?

Jaswant: Seti, big protests man

(Joe gazes off into the distance, is he listening?)

Jone: See, they got it ga

Jaswant: Yeah man, but that Egypt faller still there

Jone: True, faller survivor

Jaswant: Could it happen here?

Joe: Could it?

Silence

















INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Happy New Year Everyone

Well. well, well
I have a lot ot tell

Yes, I know
I last posted a while ago

But as you can see
Its still the ol me

Where do I start?
As always, Ill talk from the heart

Firstly a happy new year to all
Hope the year bring good luck to y'all

Those of you nursing a hangover
Try a triple leaf clover

Tke care and till later
Loyal Boy will always be there

From Jawant, Jone and Joe
Hope 2o11 brings you more

Isnt it amazing how I do this everytime
Make it funny and make it rhyme

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Free Poets Society: Its all a matter of perspective

Some say its all good

Plenty chow, plenty food

 

Some say, its going a bit sour

We are heading for the reckoning hour

 

Some say we are up shit creek

Where will the chow come from this week

 

You see , different people have different views

Different ways of interpreting the same news

 

It all depends where you stand

You can have one view, a different one comes from your friend

 

You are both looking at the same thing

And come up with different tunes to sing

 

Isnt it funny how I do this each time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

Conversations of Jone, Joe and Jaswant: Ocean's 14

An extraordinary session, its not Friday but the boys have all gathered at Jone's place for a session. Something big must have happened.

Jaswant: Wooo, this must be the biggest fiesta in Fiji history

Joe : Fiesta? What do you mean Jas?

Jone: He means fracas Joe, just give him some slack, you know (and winks)

Jaswant: See, you gang gonna side me again, then Im going

Joe : Set Set man, relax

Jaswant : This thing biiiig man, you know like the movies, Ocean 11,12 and 13

Jone : Yeah man, just imagine those gang, how they must be counting the money. But how is it possible

Jaswant : Arree man, somebody plan this thing really good, you know, they go to Village 6 and that

Jone : You mean like professional job

Jaswant: What else

Jone: Yeah man, maybe overseas people too aye.....hey...(and then quiet)

Jone signals for the others to come closer. Why? Theres no one else there. Its just second nature, a product of lives lived keeping secrets from neighbours

Jone: Plenty ex-British Army gang around

Silence

Jaswant: Think you have hit your head on your nail

Joe : What? Never mind

Joe : Think you guys are right and not so right

Jone and Jaswant : What? Kuni va fancy Ok!

Joe :Relax. I reckon its an inside job

Jaswant: You mean......

Joe :Yes, inside, inside....but all new notes are numbered sequentially and the Reserve Bank knows the sequence, so they can just cancel that particular sequence and if somebody tries to use it, they can be identified!

Jone and Jaswant: 1 million, arre baap re!


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Conversations of Joe, Joe and Jaswant : Nationalisation boy

Been a while since the boy got together. "Very busy man, says Jaswant, "No time saraga".

 

Jone: No time, what you mean?? You just stay home and sleep. I asked your tavale and he said you at home every Friday.

 

Jaswant: Yeah, OK, but the fuel man, thing very expensive to come….you know.

 

Jone : (Laughs) Oiko sa &*@#%#@#

 

Joe : (Laughs) So Rupert Murdoch has been kicked out aye. Natoinalisation of the media, what next? Nationalisation of industry?

 

Jone: What you mean? You talking about FijI Times closing down?

 

Jaswant: Seti Jone, not closing down, selling off

 

Jone: Yeah Yeah, I know man, but what is all mean?

 

Jaswant: Se, don't worry Jone, same thing ga man. Same people gonna woprk there and same thing, no difference, you see. This faller only use big words to make us feel like locals

 

Jone: We are locals! Well, I am

 

Jaswant: See here Jone, you always side me aye

 

Jone (Laughs) Just joking man, you local of your area, that's what I meant………..New Delhi

 

Jone and Jope laugh

 

Jaswant: Murdoch or not, thing OK with me

 

Jone : But, it means we don't get fair news

 

Jaswant : Why not? Only change in ownership

 

Joe: Yeah, that is true, But it means that Government has decided what people read, or to be more precise they have decided they don't like what Fiji Times had to say and therefore hobbled them. That's censorship.

 

Jaswant : That Murdoch faller meddling his nose in our business because Wendy Dang wants Fiji to become colony of China

 

Jone: What?

 

Jaswant : What you say now smart alec? Huh Huh?  

 

Joe : Taki

 

Jaswant: You Taki, M@@$#$% T*&&*

WRONG WRONG WRONG AGAIN AND AGAIN

The same mistakes being made again and again

Somebody just doesn't see that all it does is lead to more pain

 

Another expulsion

Tell you straight up, that is not fun

 

We need them more than they need us

Lets talk , not just make a huge fuss

 

Our people will gain from having them as friends

For this our relations need to mend

 

They can do lots to help our people

Lets not make big waves from small ripples

 

The British Army is ready to make its last stand

The British involvement in Afghanistan is coming to an end

 

That means an end to recruitment of our boys

We have to look for new ways

 

Our neighbours may well be the option

If we can just stop being fools , we will gain as a nation

 

Isnt it amazing how I do this every time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

Good Story : Now how about the truth?

A "good" story (The Day Sly saw Saddam Hussein) about a former Fijian serving in the British Army and his very brief encounter with Saddam Hussein was published in the Fiji Times.

Sly recounts his late night mission into farmlands around Tikrit when Saddam was captured. It is a "good" story.

History is replete with unsuspecting and well intentioned men and women being used by the more scheming minds in their organisations to perpetuate a certain image or "story".

Did Sly fall victim to an elaborate hoax designed to create the mirage that Saddam was captured hiding in a shallow hole and on being discovered said in good English "Im the President of Iraq and I want to negotiate with President Bush".

Yeah right.....

It was critical that the Americans capture Saddam in a fashion that could be used to emphasise and glorify American military strength, in particular American intelligence.

Why?

Because no WMD's had been found and the credibility and potency of American intelligence services was under siege. The Americans had to prove to their people and the world that the much vaunted and hyped up intelligence machinery still had the power to pull off a major coup.

It was vital that Saddam be captured through an elaborate intelligence operation and be shown powerless and broken. Much depended on it.

But did the Americans get him hiding in a whole? Not if you believe the President of Iraq, Jalal Talabani, who had issue a statement a full day before Saddam's capture while on a visit to Iran that Saddam had been captured by the Peshmerga.

And what of Saddam's two bodyguards? Initial reports indicated that two of his loyal men were with him. Where did they disappear?

Here's a few calculated guesses:

Somebody, possibly somebody very close to Saddam and responsible for his safety, is living a very comfortable life in the United States, a life paid for by a million US dollars and promise of entry into US for him and his family.

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Free Poets Society: Fiji Team Fiji Team, What do we do now?

Fiji Team Fiji Team, where have you been?

We've been to London to try and get a win

 

Fiji Team Fiji Team, what did you do there

We got knocked out early, got nowhere

 

Fiji Team Fiji Team, what will we do now?

Same as before, big booze and big chow

 

Fiji Team Fiji Team, somebody saw you guys under a table

Year right, you've been reading to many fables

 

Fiji Team Fiji Team, Will we ever win again?

Go away, before we give you a lot of pain

 

Fiji Team Fiji Team, where did we go wrong?

No Waisale, No gong

 

Fiji Team Fiji Team, so do we bring back the Master?

Nah too late, too much grog, a 5 yr old boy can run faster

 

Isnt is funny how we do this every time

Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

 

Free Poets Society

Conversations of Jone, Joe and Jaswant : But what does he want?

Cometh Friday, cometh the grog session-a Fijian tradition like no other. The boys are back together after a long time.

Jone: Sa boys, long time. Where you all been?

Jaswant : Yeah man, hard times.

Joe : I was away actually Jone, I sent you guys an email to let you know. Didn't you guys read it?

Jone: No, must have missed it. Man , things are tight at work. Have to be careful when going on the internet.

Jaswant : True man, all tracking going on. My tavale tole me one faller in New Zealand writing about us gang. The faller an expert or what?

Jone (Laughs): Living in NZ and writing about Fiji . Cava go? Why cant he write about the Maori or other social problems in NZ?

Loud laughter

Joe: It wont be the first time will it? I guess it makes them fell important about themselves. Another possibility is the faller is looking for an appointment to some Board or Council.

Jaswant: True. Why they never come and live in Fiji if they so concerned?

Jone: Se, don't say that man. We trying to get rid of as many as we can.

Jaswant : What you saying man?

Joe and Jone Laugh

Joe : Taki Jas

Jaswant : See you foreigner, you Taki OK. M#$%%$ T&&**^&

Joe: Somethings never change. Great to be back.

Taki!

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Free Poets Society: Where have they all gone?

It started off with Intelligentsiya
They peddled rumours and spread fear

Then came along WFC and RFC
They also lacked balance and how disappinted were we

Have to acknowledge RRFC
They launched the first counter punch, good to see

Cyberspace was flooded with blogs, unfortunately most lacked balance
They published slander, lies and were run by felons

Loyal Fijian was concerned, situation was getting tight
Somebody had to take up the fight

All through this we have upheld our value
Independent, balanced and impartial, our promise to you

There is a new kid on the block, very eager for attention

Claim to be the voice of the nation

We dont carry any advertising, We are not in this for money

We are equally at ease, be it vinegar or honey

Isnt is funny how we do this every time
Make it all so funny and make it rhyme



INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Loyal Fijian is Right Here!

To all the loyal readers of Loyal Fijian : We are still here.

Yes, we have been a bit quiet of late, but not to worry, we are still here and plan on being around for a long time yet.

Loyal Fijian was started to combat the rumours being peddled by the HATE blogs, and the Loyal Fijian was the ONLY blog to present a balanced and impartial account.

Our objectives remain to argue for a fair, balanced and free media and arena for public discourse.

Our posts are not as frequent, but we will be here and publish as often as we can.

LF










INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Conversations of Jone, Joe and Jaswant : Where is everyone Seinimili?

Another Friday, but something is amiss…..has been for a few weeks. The Friday night ritual that is the grog session at Jone's house has not happened for a few weeks.

 

Jone's text to Jaswant has gone unanswered and Joe is nowhere to be found. Here could they be?

 

 

Jone: (to his wife) I wonder if it was something I said

 

Seinimili: Yeah, when you grog dope, you don't know what you say

 

Jone: Seti woman, I expect reassurance not criticism from you OK. It's a rhetorical question anyway, not that you would know what that means.

 

Seinimil: (Quiet, doesn't respond)

 

Jone : Jaswant the faller always comes, even for a short while on Fridays. Last few weeks , I felt so lonely. Nothing to talk about.

 

Senimili : You can talk your wife and kids.

 

Joe : (Ignoring her) Isa, wonder what they are doing? Joe always has some good stories to tell. You know, the faller goes to all these lunches with all the big shot gang. He hears a lot of things.

 

Senimili : But you also "know a lot of people". There's nothing they know that you don't.

 

Joe: I know that, but I still make them feel important. Just to keep the news flowing. Especially Jaswant. He's tavale is connected.  A few bilo and he starts talking. Hehehehe

 

Seinimili : hehehhe And Joe?

 

Jone : Rerevaki sa raga o koya. I've heard stories that he was in the SAS.

 

Seinimili: You mean like in the movie

 

Jone: Yeah, just like the movies, only real. He thinks he can control us two. Jaswant thinks he is smarter than me. What do you think Seini my darling?

 

Seinimili: I married you didn't I.

 

 

 

 

Our Border Protection Gets a Boost

Fiji's ports and airports will be protected like never before. The Comptroller of Customs and Excise Jitoko Tikolevu has announed that 90 police officers have been appointed as Customs officers.

This follows a decision taken by Cabinet last year to strengthen the security at our entry points in light of increased attempts by organised crime gangs to use Fiji as a transit point.

Over the last few years, huge drug consignments have been seized in Fiji as well as factories to manufacture drugs have been set up by Asian crime gangs. In Laucala Beach, an Asian crime gang had hired three huge factories to manufacture amphetamines , which were to be shipped to Australia.

 

Fiji is preferred as a transit point as the thinking goes that consignments passing through Fiji will not receive the same attention as say a package coming from Colombia.

 

Crooks are always trying to outwit law enforcement and this measure is a step in the right direction to protect our borders.

The Police officers will be able to bring their crime fighting skills and knowledge and enhance the capability that we currently have at our borders.

Free Poets Society: No No No...So Kon Po

The grog was flowing
We were all pumped to give the Kiws a flogging

The boys were in good form, ready to make a stand
After all they had taught a lesson to Thailand

The time had come, all of Fiji had come to a stop
Time to do the job, catch the Kiwis on the hop

But alas it was not to be
How down are we?

There goes the So Kon Po trophy, when will another come our way?
There goes our Public Holiday

So Kon Po
No No No

Isnt it amazing how we do this everytime
Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Ten yr old boy bashed by father

A Ten yr old boy is bashed, kicked and assaulted with a stick with injuries to his head.

He spends three weeks in bed and is only taken to hospital because he is close to death.

No, he has not fallen victim to a violent robbery, he was not mugged .

He was assaulted by his father.

SHAME.

The boy missed schooll for three weeks. Not three days, three whole weeks.

What were the teachers doing? They have a responsibility to follow up on the welfare of the kids.

Especially vulnerable kids like the poor boy in question here. Family members now claims that the helpless mother has been the victim of violence for the last 10 years. The teachers should have tried to do more.

And what of the family? Now that the boy is near death, they are offering anonymous quips to the media about the mother being beaten over the last 10 years.

Why didn't they doing anything about that before?

And the Police intend to speak to the boys father sometime soon! What a joke. Lock him up and throw away the key.

The poor mother was too frightened to intervene and is now too frightened to say anything.

Please do her and her other two kids a favor and lock this thug up.

 

Conversations of Jone, Jaswant and Joe : Daylight Savings

Another Friday sees another grog session. The boys are all here. Ready for another "sitting". Taki

Jaswant: Hey guys, set sa ga the decision top start school at 9 aye

Jone: Yeah man, Rupeni (Jones son) is happy

Jaswant : And my tavale, faller teacher in one school. Hes even happier

(Laughter)

Joe : The kids will lose an hour of schooling though, wont they?

Jaswant : No, the teachers will have to work harder.

Joe : Yeah, but how can that be?

Jone : True man, how can that be?

Jaswant :Se, dont worry man, its gonna be alright.

Jone : Im sure your tavale and al his friends must be happy aye

Jaswant : No doubt man, even thogh they have to stary at 8 like before, but now one more hour to grog!

Joe : Thats what Im afraid of. How about half day on Saturday to make up time

Jone " Hmmmm, not a bad idea. But what about SDA's?

Jaswant : Lets just go back to normal time man. True.

Joe: For the first time, I actually agree with you.


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Free Poets Society : Its Vegas Baby

Welcome to Las Vegas, city of bright lights and fast cars
Did it prove too much of a distraction for our 7's stars

We won at Wellington
Boy wasnt that a lot of fun

We had high hopes for that desert city in Nevada
But wasnt good enough, we should have played harder

USA has a large Fijian population
Our boys receive a lot of attention

Remember what happened in Ireland
Sometimes we can go ove the bend

So Vegas came and went
Our championship hopes suffered a major dent

Now now this is only speculation
Just a few thoughts in our address to the nation

The boys did well overall
Its is funny game with the oval ball

You cant win them all
Sometimes you have to go with the punches and roll

Isnt is funny how we do this every time
Make it all so funny and make it rhyme

Free Poets Society and Sports Desk


INDEPENDENT,BALANCED,IMPARTIAL.

Gold Mining in Wainibuka a real Possibility

Not all that glitters is gold.

 

Only fools rush in.

 

The above two cliches came to mind as the Loyal Fijain read about the "announcement" that gold had been "discovered" in one of the most beautiful places in Fiji, Wainibuka.

 

And so Loyal Fijian treated the news that the elders of Nailega district in Wainibuka are meeting to oversee exploration work on their land with some apprehension and trepidation.

 

While on one hand, the people of Wainibuka are entitled to use their resources for the betterment of their people, past experience with mining companies in Fiji shows that there is much to be wary of.

 

 Gold mining is a high risk industry. The impact on the unspoilt Wainibuka environment , will be tremendous.

 

5000 acres is a lot of land. And its not only the land whether the excavation and drilling tales place that will be affected.

 

The crystal clear river will run brown and inevitably traces of poisonous chemicals used in the mining process will make its way into the river.

 

Loyal Fijian supports the people in their desire to use what they have to life their quality of life.Here at Loyal Fijian HQ, we are not tree hugging environmentalists who enjoy all the comfort and luxury of air conditioning, three cars in the garage, overseas travel etc and expect others not to exploit their natural resources to get some of what we take for granted.

 

But still, Wainibuka will never be the same.