Today's Fiji Times reports that so far this year, between $2m and $2.25m have been given out to ethnic Fijian villagers in the Naitasiri, Rewa and Tailevu areas. The regime admitted that "preference" was given to these areas because they had largely made up the crowd of agitators in Parliament Complex last year. Qarase agriculture minister and terrorists, Apisai Tora stated: "We thought we should give initial concentration there".

Qarase himself has taken over $100,000 worth of gifts to Rotuma to dish out. He has denied that his action is one which can be called vote-buying.

Qarase's actions have attracted widespread condemnation from the people of Fiji. Today the Fiji Times has also condemned Qarase for vote-buying. It states:

"If Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase thinks trips all over the country and donations to various causes will win votes, he is politically naïve."

"So far his campaign has, despite protests to the contrary, taken on the form of vote buying of the highest order."

"There is really no other way to describe the money Mr Qarase has handed out at church functions, school bazaars and other such events."

"His visit to Lau some weeks ago and the latest sojourn to Rotuma are nothing but ways to seek political mileage at the voters' expense."

"The people are neither blind nor stupid."

"It is to their advantage to take the money and development projects."

"For it is unlikely that the chance will be available once an elected government assumes control of the nation."

"How the people will vote cannot be determined by the amount of money spent or the number of development projects implemented across the country."

"Voters are no longer as naïve as they were in the immediate post-independence era."

"Politicians' promises are not accepted at face value."

"The people want to know what political parties have in store for them.".

"Issues which take prominence are security, employment, education and health services."

"At the same time the voters want dependable, responsible and transparent leadership."

"The days of buying votes have long gone."

"Every voter knows that this is the time, just before the elections, that the politicians will be out in the constituency every day."

"That matters little to them."

"What they want is service after the election - hopefully from their elected representatives."

"All too often the same complaint is heard after the nation elects its representatives."

"The common people are forgotten while the members of Parliament attend meetings and rake in fat pay cheques."

"When will this end?"

"The Alliance and Soqosoqo Ni Vakavulewa Ni Taukei governments made the mistake of alienating themselves from the people."

"Ultimately it was neglect and the failure to be accessible to the people in the street that drove them from power."

People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands
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Last update: August 27, 2001