"The Fiji Times has itself run a series of articles in recent months pointing to people’s dissatisfaction with the very high cost of living, rising unemployment and poverty levels, shortage of drugs and doctors in our hospitals, problems faced by cane farmers, lack of security of employment for civil servants … the list goes on. I have been to several gatherings in recent weeks – social functions, weddings, funerals – where the talk has all been about the need to change the government come next elections. If despite such evidence of socio-economic frustration among the people, the government can continue to get a high approval rating, then there is something really wrong somewhere with the manner of the poll itself." FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry
Fijileaks: One reason the FFP government gets high approval rating in The Fiji Times commissioned Tebbutt/Times poll is because the paper is too scared to do any investigative journalism or even reproduce any investigative story relating to the present Government; it is however now busy milking the internet to rake in the dollars:
FLP: Governance issues make it difficult to accept poll. For more on this story, please pick up a copy of today's edition of The Fiji Times newspaper or subscribe to our E-Edition.
Tebbutt/Times poll results
In the most recent Tebbutt/Times poll published Saturday, the Fiji First government received a 76% approval rating for its performance.
This is difficult to accept given the number of serious governance issues facing our nation.
The Fiji Times has itself run a series of articles in recent months pointing to people’s dissatisfaction with the very high cost of living, rising unemployment and poverty levels, shortage of drugs and doctors in our hospitals, problems faced by cane farmers, lack of security of employment for civil servants … the list goes on.
“I have been to several gatherings in recent weeks – social functions, weddings, funerals – where the talk has all been about the need to change the government come next elections,” said Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
If despite such evidence of socio-economic frustration among the people, the government can continue to get a high approval rating, then there is something really wrong somewhere with the manner of the poll itself.
Apart from problems affecting people’s daily lives, Fiji faces serious issues centering on lack of respect for human rights, huge gaps in accountability and transparency in the affairs of the State, restrictions on media freedom, over regulation of the business environment as well as corruption in high public office, not to mention cultural nepotism and crony capitalism.
Since taking office, the FF government has abused parliamentary powers and privileges to further its own interests and undermine the role of the Opposition. It has failed to comply with key provisions of its own hand-crafted Constitution (Freedom of Information and Code of Conduct legislation, appointment of an Accountability and Transparency Commission etc (Sections 121,149,150). The Constitution itself is fundamentally flawed and carries several provisions which demonstrate disrespect for the rule of law (Sections 155 -158 and 174).
Unless these fundamental problems are addressed, the long term well-being of our people and the nation stands jeopardized. These bad governance issues may not be ‘bread and butter’ problems for our people, but they are equally important in terms of democratic values and the long term prosperity and progress of our nation and people.
With a record such as this, it is highly unlikely that our people should want them back in government.
Just because the Prime Minister goes around being generous with tax payers’ money on freebies, does not make him a good prime minister.
They are clearly vote buying gimmicks that do nothing to contribute to the overall development and sustainability of the nation. They merely foster a handout mentality amongst our people which must be denounced.
The Electoral Commission should take action to investigate these vote-buying campaign tactics employed by the Fiji First government using public funds.
In the most recent Tebbutt/Times poll published Saturday, the Fiji First government received a 76% approval rating for its performance.
This is difficult to accept given the number of serious governance issues facing our nation.
The Fiji Times has itself run a series of articles in recent months pointing to people’s dissatisfaction with the very high cost of living, rising unemployment and poverty levels, shortage of drugs and doctors in our hospitals, problems faced by cane farmers, lack of security of employment for civil servants … the list goes on.
“I have been to several gatherings in recent weeks – social functions, weddings, funerals – where the talk has all been about the need to change the government come next elections,” said Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.
If despite such evidence of socio-economic frustration among the people, the government can continue to get a high approval rating, then there is something really wrong somewhere with the manner of the poll itself.
Apart from problems affecting people’s daily lives, Fiji faces serious issues centering on lack of respect for human rights, huge gaps in accountability and transparency in the affairs of the State, restrictions on media freedom, over regulation of the business environment as well as corruption in high public office, not to mention cultural nepotism and crony capitalism.
Since taking office, the FF government has abused parliamentary powers and privileges to further its own interests and undermine the role of the Opposition. It has failed to comply with key provisions of its own hand-crafted Constitution (Freedom of Information and Code of Conduct legislation, appointment of an Accountability and Transparency Commission etc (Sections 121,149,150). The Constitution itself is fundamentally flawed and carries several provisions which demonstrate disrespect for the rule of law (Sections 155 -158 and 174).
Unless these fundamental problems are addressed, the long term well-being of our people and the nation stands jeopardized. These bad governance issues may not be ‘bread and butter’ problems for our people, but they are equally important in terms of democratic values and the long term prosperity and progress of our nation and people.
With a record such as this, it is highly unlikely that our people should want them back in government.
Just because the Prime Minister goes around being generous with tax payers’ money on freebies, does not make him a good prime minister.
They are clearly vote buying gimmicks that do nothing to contribute to the overall development and sustainability of the nation. They merely foster a handout mentality amongst our people which must be denounced.
The Electoral Commission should take action to investigate these vote-buying campaign tactics employed by the Fiji First government using public funds.
