ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama fight against corruption claimed another big scalp last week when the last democratically elected Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, was jailed for a year on nine charges.
Security was beefed up around the capital Suva last Friday for the sentencing by Justice Priyantha Fernando. The court buildings in the capital were roped off and local media report a high police presence.
Security was increased after a big turnout of people at the court on Tuesday because police said they wanted the public to refrain from unwarranted actions.
The sentence knocks Qarase out of Fiji's 2014 elections. In Auckland, Prime Minister John Key said it was still possible for Fiji to hold democracy-restoring elections in 2014, even though one of the principle politicians was locked up in jail.
Qarase's jailing follows the move by New Zealand and Australia last week to ease sanctions against the regime which overthrew Qarase in a military coup in 2006.
Key said they eased the sanctions to encourage Fiji toward elections. "We have been trying to take some baby steps forward toward normalising the relationship on the basis that we want Fiji to have democratic elections."
He said they believed the military leadership under Voreqe Bainimarama was going to hold elections and New Zealand was keen to encourage them to hold them and restore a constitution.
The nine convictions against Qarase relate to a time when he was a senator and banker and a director of Fijian Holdings Ltd, a stock market traded company whose shares are limited to indigenous Fijians.
Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama fight against corruption claimed another big scalp last week when the last democratically elected Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, was jailed for a year on nine charges.
Security was beefed up around the capital Suva last Friday for the sentencing by...
Fijian Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama fight against corruption claimed another big scalp last week when the last democratically elected Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase, was jailed for a year on nine charges.
Security was beefed up around the capital Suva last Friday for the sentencing by Justice Priyantha Fernando. The court buildings in the capital were roped off and local media report a high police presence.
Security was increased after a big turnout of people at the court on Tuesday because police said they wanted the public to refrain from unwarranted actions.
The sentence knocks Qarase out of Fiji's 2014 elections. In Auckland, Prime Minister John Key said it was still possible for Fiji to hold democracy-restoring elections in 2014, even though one of the principle politicians was locked up in jail.
Qarase's jailing follows the move by New Zealand and Australia last week to ease sanctions against the regime which overthrew Qarase in a military coup in 2006.
Key said they eased the sanctions to encourage Fiji toward elections. "We have been trying to take some baby steps forward toward normalising the relationship on the basis that we want Fiji to have democratic elections."
He said they believed the military leadership under Voreqe Bainimarama was going to hold elections and New Zealand was keen to encourage them to hold them and restore a constitution.
The nine convictions against Qarase relate to a time when he was a senator and banker and a director of Fijian Holdings Ltd, a stock market traded company whose shares are limited to indigenous Fijians.
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