Page 37 - IB MAR 2017

We Say
Fiji TV board a disgrace to media

THE continued interference by Fiji Tele- newsman with an investigative streak.
vision’s board and management in the Sivan’s pointed yet valid questions
running of its newsroom is disgraceful. STOP about needless deaths – of a young man
Once a proudly independent news com- in police custody and an old woman whose
pany, Fiji TV has been gradually stripped family could not raise the ambulance ser-
of its best people until it is a mere sem- vice – have irked the authorities.
blance of what was a fierce advocate for He also dared hold a minister account-
investigative journalism and free speech. the able for promises made to a widow whose
Since December 2006 the company has family lost all during Tropical Cyclone
been under sustained attack, its market Winston last year.
share diminished by unprecedented leg- With about 12 months to elections, Si-
islation designed, it could be argued, to van has dared to show that shortcomings
cripple a successful company and boost a exist within two of the most highly funded
State-owned entity. rot organs of state.
Its independent news division which This cannot be a coincidence.
dared to ask questions of all those in posi- For doing his job this man was removed
tions of responsibility has been crippled. from the main news team and relegated
Key staff have been dismissed – among Media Industry Development Decree to to an area in which he will not be able to
them senior journalists Merana Kitione the limit. confront the authorities.
and Anish Chand. The former was forced Obviously the refusal to simply roll And not a whimper from management
out for the mere fact that she was married over and die has not been received well or the board. Three journalists have been
to a National Federation Party official. by those in power. removed, two managers sacked and CEOs
The latter was a long-time colleague of But instead of standing up to the bully- sacrificed at this once successful company.
the same official. ing tactics of the State, the Fiji TV board The rot must stop.
Harangued by government officials, under the chairmanship of Nousab Fareed If Fiji TV’s management and board
abused at press conferences by senior has folded and sacrificed the career of yet are not up to the task of defending the
Cabinet ministers, the Fiji TV team has another promising young journalist - Shan independence of their newsroom, they
pushed on, testing the draconian Fiji Sivan, an inspirational and passionate must quit.
Prepare for the worst

IN October 1972, Hurricane Bebe ripped through Fiji leaving
13 people dead in her wake.
This was – at the time – the greatest natural disaster to have
been visited upon the country.
Just two years after independence Bebe was the first hur-
ricane to challenge the scant resources of a fledgling nation
which could no longer rely upon the resources of the United
Kingdom.
It was a tremendous test on the people, the emergency
services and the leadership of what was the Pacific’s newest
democracy.
Fortunately, larger countries like the United States, Australia
and New Zealand rushed to Fiji’s aid providing emergency sup-
plies, helicopters and trucks as part of the massive relief effort.
Today Fiji continues to owe an immense debt of gratitude
to her friends who answered the call at a particularly critical
time in the history of Fiji.
For without the help afforded by these larger nations and
many of our smaller neighbours, the path to recovery would
have been much more difficult.
After Bebe came larger hurricanes and cyclones such as
Lottie, Meli, Eric, Nigel, Joni and Kina.
And then last year there was Winston – Category Five, the
strongest in history to hit Fiji.
Cruel reminder ... Winston left behind its scars and a big lesson. Photo: Invictus n Continued next page
l We Say is compiled with the oversight of the editor.

Islands Business, March 2017 37