The ballot papers filled with numbers and without names or logos will not cause any confusion to voters during election, says the registered officer of the proposed One Fiji Party Sitiveni Kalou: “The Ballot paper will not contain party names, symbols, or even candidate names, so there is no chance of confusion under those factors. As we are sure the FijiFirst Campaign will be clear and concise in its delivery as well. No political party has a monopoly and should not be allowed to have a monopoly of an idea, as ideas are innovations in nation building which should be encouraged and promoted. Any number of political parties may not have ‘party’ in their names (if they all perceive themselves more as a movements, for example), just as a number of parties do have them most probably because they consider themselves as a party first and foremost. Any number of political parties may have two words in their names; just as a few have three words in theirs. In fact, if a number of associations find one word that reflects their reason for being; then they should be permitted to do so...One Fiji perfectly reflects our ideology of the uniqueness and oneness as a society and nation, and has nothing to do or to be confused with those of the objectors. Kalou said the names were different and had different meanings where FijiFirst connotes or signifies that the party puts Fiji first. “First in the Oxford dictionary means-Coming before all others in time or order; earliest”. “Whereas One Fiji connotes or signifies the promotion of a single, unique, focused, and united Fiji. He said “One” in the Oxford dictionary means “A single person or thing; just one as opposed to any more or to none at all; single.” He adds “One and First do not mean the same and cannot possibly cause any confusion; ‘First’ is who came ahead of others, while ‘One’ is by itself and always will stand alone. “FijiFirst may be meant to connote putting Fiji as a nation, or Fijians as a people, first as they claim. But it ends there. “One Fiji is about the uniqueness of Fiji and Fijians as well as their oneness; how they came to be, how they are, and how they should be as a people, as a society, as a nation,” Kalou said. He said One Fiji connotes how the members see Fiji now and in the future; the choice of words and construction are deliberate and essential to the name and The rainbow represents their break from the past or the end of the old ways of seeing and doing things, and the promise and the seedling represents the birth of the One Fiji movement and realization of the promise. “The Party is only the vehicle for the movement, hence the absence of the word “Party” from the logo. “The acronyms and/or abbreviations are different: The acronyms for One Fiji are “OFP”. The acronyms for FijiFirst is definitely not “OFP” He has also highlighted that the symbol is the word FijiFirst and a variant of the national flag. Kalou also stated that their logo is OneFiji which is a variation from the rainbow and the budding flora. “In conclusion, the objection registered with your office by FijiFirst should be dismissed based on the argument and response above; and the following: (a) Similar objections made to the FijiFirst registration petition were dismissed by the Fijian Elections Office, so precedence has already been created by the Fijian Elections Office. (b) The Proposed One Fiji Party constitution states the official name of the Proposed Party is “One Fiji Party”; so on that fact alone the objection is in error, and is addressing a non-issue; as the official party name contains three words and not two.

If I am nominated by a political party then I will contest the general election on the 17th of September. Those were the words of the outgoing Permanent Secretary at the Office of the Prime Minister, Pio Tikoduadua after he resigned from his position today. The former military colonel who started at the Prime Minister’s Office in August 2009 said he is looking forward to other opportunities. Tikoduadua is expected to contest the general election under the FijiFirst party banner: Source: Fijivillage News, 30/7/2014

30/07/2014
STATEMENT: PDP Queries Balloting Process

The People’s Democratic Party has questioned the Supervisor of Elections on the balloting process for the upcoming elections. Of concern is the fact that the Supervisor of Elections has confirmed that balloting for the Military, Police, doctors and nurses will be held on 15th or 16th of September prior to the general public casting their votes. The PDP questions the whole intent of this exercise as it would expose these groups on their support for political parties of their choice. When questioned as to why this was so, the Supervisor of Elections advised that it was his discretion under the Decrees. He also advised that the counting of the ballots would be done on the 17th of September.

Questions arise as to the wisdom in such an exercise as none of these groups would be involved in the electoral process on the 17th September except for the police who will remain outside polling stations. We do not see the need for these groups to vote prior to the 17th September unless they would be required to be absent from their normal place of residence. While the Decree may give certain discretionary powers to the Supervisor of Elections, these powers need to be used in a responsible manner and not to expose the political leaning of any particular group or occupation. Furthermore, this is no ordinary group. It is the disciplined forces who are responsible for protecting the citizens of this country, which include each member of this group. They too have the right to be protected and free of victimization. This is supposed to be a secret ballot. We ask the Supervisor of Elections to reconsider his decision.

The Supervisor has also confirmed that voters abroad will have to make an application to vote and should they meet the requirements of the application, they will be sent a postal ballot. Voters abroad have to date not been advised of the balloting procedures. The process is cumbersome to say the least. Why is there a need to put another hurdle after these citizens have in good faith registered to vote? It is time that the Supervisor of Elections clarifies to the public the entire electoral process including all issues in which he has used his discretionary powers.
Felix Anthony
Leader

Shazzer for Freedom in Fiji:

We all want to reduce road deaths. But let’s be realistic!

There are not even a million people in Fiji.

In 2013 there were 41 road deaths in Fiji. That is 41 too many.

To support Bainimarama’s claim of saving millions of lives he would have to stop all road deaths in Fiji for over 48,780 years.

Or perhaps he believes he can stop all 1.24m road deaths worldwide.

One of the dangers of being a totalitarian dictator is you begin to believe your own propaganda. As a result you make many OUTRAGEOUS claims, especially before an election.

Compare this with some of his other claims which have turned out to be lies.
• The economy is well managed. 1.1% annual growth is the lowest of any prime minister of Fiji.
• The National debt is declining. When he couped Fiji the National Debt was just over $2bn. Now it has more than doubled to nearly $5bn. And that’s only the debt we know about.
• Land is safer under the 2013 constitution. No one believes that and that’s why no one can challenge a Land Bank decision in the Courts of Law.
• Increased Cost of Living was not caused by his policies. Devaluation, increasing VAT and incompetence all prove that a lie.
• A 300 room casino will open in Fiji in 2013. Remember he even got dressed as a Native American Chief for that delusion.
• The sugar Industry is booming. Well Frankie only in your simple brain does halving the size of an industry count as a boom.

The Great Council of Chiefs will only protect the itaukei, not other races. Those are the words of Prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama after the Turaga Na Ratu Mai Bureta Ratu Jone Davila asked the Prime Minister if the absence of GCC has affected the installation of chiefs around the country. Ratu Jone raised the issue during the Prime Minister’s talanoa session with delegates at the Lomaiviti Provincial Council meeting in Levuka yesterday. Bainimarama told Ratu Jone that in the last eight years, the Vanua has not been affected in any way after the GCC was disestablished. He questioned the delegates if the GCC looks after the itaukei, who will look after the Indo Fijians, the Chinese and other races. Bainimarama said that some people are saying that they are Christian but they not acting like one. He said to live a Christian life is to respect and love others, not to bring in differences and hatred. Source: Fijivillage News

FijiFirst leader Voreqe Bainimarama has told the people of Levuka that Fiji will not be sold to China. He made this comment after a Levuka resident questioned Bainimarama on why the government has recently been engaging a lot of development works with China. Bainimarama said the developments through the Chinese government had already started before his government came into power. The FijiFirst Leader said these are just fear-mongering tactics used by other parties. He also says that Fiji’s economy is growing compared to the government that was led by Laisenia Qarase from 2001 to 2006. He said that Qarase’s government borrowed money to pay civil servants while the Bainimarama government only borrows money for road construction, building bridges, hospitals, wharves, rural electrification and schools. Source: Fijivillage News; Meanwile Chaudhry warns a woman voter on development debt: A Caubati resident has told Fiji Labour Party Leader, Mahendra Chaudhry in a campaign meeting in Nasinu that many people are not attending the Labour Party meetings because people are satisfied with the developments undertaken by the current government. Chaudhry then told about 30 people attending the campaign meeting that he cannot see any real development done by the current government for the benefit of the people. He also said that people should realise that developments done is through borrowed money which has to be paid back.