This is my Flag, it is tattered and torn, it has recently been verbally abused by people who should know better, good men have, since 1970, given their lives for this very flag, they and the flag demand the respect of us all.
My flag embodies symbols from Fiji’s original flags going back over 140 years, it is my flag because I have spent the majority of my life under this flag and I respect the people who have made sacrifices for our nation under our flag, which include the men and women who gave their lives, the colonialists who shaped our nation and brought the rule of law, people like Gwynn Watkins who was responsible for one of the largest plantations of mahogany in the world, which our nation is now reaping the benefit of.
Commander Stan Brown, who the PM may remember if he thinks carefully, a man who loved Fiji and always had her best interests at heart, could and has been referred to as a colonialist.
Change is the only constant in this world we live in, and change to the Fiji flag​ may be inevitable​, ​but my flag, your flag, the flag of our nations departed, does not need to be subjected to criticism and ridicule, our Flag deserves a guard of honour at it’s burial and a 21 gun salute, which is more than one can say of it’s critics.

Rick Rickman
Active Pensioner

28 February, 2015
The Editor
Fiji Sun
SUVA
Dear Sir/Madam,

Allow me to respond to your front page article “Aussies Snubbed? ” of 28 February 2015 and specifically to references to me on Page 3.

It is my firm belief that newspapers not only serve to inform the public but also act as a “Reference” for historical research.

It, therefore, is incumbent on me to set the facts straight rather than let lie what, to me, is becoming slewed and agenda-driven reporting.

Fact One: During my tenure with the Australian High Commission, I held the position of Public Affairs Officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT). That, for those like the article’s author who may not be able to fathom the difference, is quite separate to the position of “Communications Specialist” which was how the author of the article described me.

Fact Two: Ms Merewalesi Nailatikau was not my successor. She was Senior Communications Manager for the then AusAID and continued in that capacity when the two Australian departments merged into a single entity. Let me assure the author concerned that Ms Nailatikau is an intelligent and professionally trained individual with the relevant accompanying tertiary qualifications. To insinuate that her personal life might influence her professional status is, if I may offer an opinion, both demeaning of a very intelligent young woman and degrading to professional women and women in general.

Fact Three: I did not “retire” as your author suggests. I opted to take a redundancy package for personal reasons one of which was to re-enter mainstream media reporting in an attempt to bring back some respect and credibility to the profession. In that regard that is the only “agenda” some might wish to accuse me of.

Fact Four: Opinions I expressed (and continue to express) on social media have been both “negative’, and where relevant “positive”, of the Bainimarama Government. Those postings, while employed by the High Commission, were duly prefaced with constant reminders that I was commenting in my capacity as a citizen of Fiji and not as an employee of the Australian Government. Might I say that I am grateful to my former employer for being able to distinguish between my job description and duty statement and my right, as a Fiji citizen, to free speech. It is abundantly clear that some media personnel are obsessed with the childish notion that anyone who offers an opinion that may be critical of the Bainimarama Government is “anti-Bainimarama Government” and even “anti-Fiji”. I make no apologies for pointing out government shortcomings and I am of the opinion that professional journalists, by the very “nature” of their work, are expected to do likewise.

By way of further explanation, my postings on social media questioned the implications and functionality of the Media Industry Development Decree and the Television (Cross Carriage of Designated Events) Decree. Should your author be brave enough to distance himself from what I perceive to be an agenda-driven comfort zone he might admit that both Decrees are now being questioned with suggestions they may be amended or “fine-tuned” to better meet the “realities” of the media profession. And should he have a memory lapse, it’s worth mentioning that the whole of Fiji was, a couple of months back, made painfully aware of the shortcoming in the Media (Cross Carriage) Decree.  

Yours sincerely,
Dennis Rounds 

DID YOU KNOW that the next parliament sitting will be an interesting & eventful one for our beloved nation in the year 2015.
Questions that citizens of Fiji like me would like answered at the next Parliament sitting :

(1) Why did the Minister of Communications (Hon Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum) issue only a 6 months broadcast license to Fiji TV (despite a newcomer, FBC TV which is headed by his brother issued with a 12 year term license), notwithstanding the FACT the I – Taukei Trust Fund and Ministry of Fijian Affairs Board (both come under the Hon Ratu Voreqe Bainimarama) are THE majority shareholder of FHL(Class B shareholders) & indirectly majority shareholder of Fiji TV? The Govt MP’s themselves in our democratic country should be asking the same in their next meeting to their own LYING colleague. What are the “REASONS” for the 6 months license moreso when FHL gives dividends back to its Class B shareholders who then use the funds to build & develop our nation. What does FBC give to the Govt of Fiji & how much do they give? Look & compare the monetary contribution from FHL & FBC.

(2) When will the FBC audited accounts be made available? I am told that it should be at the end of this month? All Govt owned broadcasters around the world (eg: ABC, BBC, etc) are termed as ‘public broadcasters’ & therefore do not operate at a commercial level like “Fiji TV & Mai TV’. Why is our democratically elected Govt
still allowing FBC to operate commercially to the FACT that only FBC can have both radio & TV entities & other broadcasters cannot (eg: Fiji TV can only run a TV station & not radio or print)??. If the audited accounts show that FBC is making losses – it is only right that FBC reverts back to its public broadcaster status & our democratically elected Govt diverts the annual grant to FBC to other much needed Govt funded operational areas. Bring out the FBC audited accounts to the people of Fiji.

(3) When will the Hon ASK relinquish all Dept of Communications & Information portfolios given that these two (2) positions work with all Broadcasters including FBC – “conflict of interest”. Surely, there are competent current Govt backbenchers who can take up these 2 positions. Qualifications for this position (my personal view) : –
a) “passion to serve the nation & to do what is beneficial for ALL & not one;
b) ethical & person of integrity (certainly one that does not LIE, LIE & LIE like Hon Aiyaza Sayed – Khaiyum) in Parliament. Please note that a Law Degree or Masters Degree in Law is not a requisite to the position – just an ethical & honest person is the MQR (minimum qualification requirement).

(4) Why did the Hon ASK see or feel the need to LIE to in Parliament & to the people of Fiji on the WR debacle in the last Parliament Sitting to save face for him and FBC?. Did he also LIE to his own Govt Member of Parliament?
In any democratic country like our beloved Fiji, a LYING Member of Parliament (either from Govt or in Opposition MUST stand down & resign from all portfolios that they hold) & leave the House.

(5) Did the Hon ASK LIE to his own party MPs who then voted against the motion brought by the Opposition to remove the WR events from the Television (Cross Carriage of Designated Events) Decree 2014 (Decree No 14 of 2014) in the last parliament sitting. His own MPs should be asking him this question in their next meeting.
Remember, remember & remember Hon ASK, the agreement with WR which Fiji TV was part of – all WR events must be removed from the Television Cross Carriage Decree by 5th Feb, 2015. No removal, no Wellingtons 7s feed, Hong Kong & possibly Rugby World Cup 2015 not coming in to Fiji. And please do not LIE about this…you saw first hand the anger of our nation when the Dubai 7s leg did not come in all thanks to your LIES. You released the curses of the nation to our Govt MPs and their families including those that supported FFP & stood for FFP – very selfish of you. Thank goodness we have intercessors in our families.
All funds paid by broadcasters to televise exclusive rights on WR products in turn helps our financially ailing Fiji Rugby Union. So, if Fiji does not get the feed – WR in my view reduces funding to FRU. Just refer to the 2 WR letters from Susan Ahearn – both on Fiji Leaks website & FB pages. Susan makes reference to funding to FRU from broadcast revenue. The last thing we want is for our boys to go ill equipped to the up coming RWC 2015.

(6) Why did the Hon ASK LIE that FBC has more coverage than Fiji TV? Refer to my postings on Dec 17 or 18 Dec on my FB page.
(7) Who does FBC’s media survey? Give us the name so that we know which reputable & outstanding company FBC uses, the people of Fiji as taxpayers are paying for this research & demand & have the right to know this public information.

Fiji TV uses AC Nielsen – they are the only media company in the South Pacific (excluding Aust & NZ) that uses AC Nielsen. The World uses AC Nielsen (CNN, Fox, Sony Picture, All major TV broadcasters in NZ, Aust & all over, Colgate, Sheraton Group, Proctor & Gamble – all multinational & global companies). AC Nielsen is a public listed company (like Fiji TV and FHL) & or is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Refer to my AC Nielsen posting on my FB page on Dec 17/18th.

(8) Contracts are declared null & void where elements of “fraud, duress & unconscionable conduct” are present – numerous case laws & precedents. The sub – license agreement between Fiji TV & FBC falls within the ambit of a ‘nullified & void’ contract given that manner in which the Hon ASK dealt with this issue – certainly did not help with all these docs appearing on social media pages. More so, when Fareed & Naiveli signed ‘knowingly & intentionally’ without Fiji TV board resolution & against its shareholders interest(which indirectly includes Class A & Class B FHL shareholders).

Written by : Tanya M Waqanika

The truth is that they are both self serving uncaring individuals who should not be holding any government office.

GB