At the Pacific Media Partnership Conference in Suva, Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Prof Biman Prasad celebrated the newfound freedoms in Fiji’s media landscape, attributing this change to the Coalition Government’s commitment to democracy and civil liberties. According to Prof Prasad, one of their initial acts after assuming office was the repeal of the restrictive Media Industry Development Act, which previously hampered journalistic freedom, alongside ending exclusive government contracts that favored specific media outlets.
In 2023, these efforts have been recognized on a global scale, with Freedom House naming Fiji the most improved country in the world for civil liberties, highlighting the significant strides made since the change in leadership. Prof Prasad, while acknowledging that the government faces criticism from both mainstream and social media, urged the public to continue holding them accountable, reflecting the importance of a free press in the democratic process.
He contrasted the current media environment with the previous administration’s stringent controls, noting that media outlets no longer have to adhere to government directives for their reporting. He recounted instances of past compliance, such as the Fiji Sun’s editors awaiting government instructions for their headlines, illustrating a stark difference from today’s media landscape where even the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation, once a state-controlled entity, now airs critical news about the government.
Furthermore, Prof Prasad spoke about the government’s recent decision to withdraw its appeal against The Fiji Times’ 2018 sedition acquittal, which he described as a step towards further liberating the press and ending political persecution. The shift emphasizes the importance of freedom of expression within a broader context of liberty.
This evolution is a positive development for Fiji, suggesting that a commitment to democracy can reinvigorate civil society, paving the way for more open dialogue and diverse perspectives in the media. The government’s acknowledgment of the need for accountability and transparency highlights a hopeful trajectory for the nation’s democratic processes and media independence.
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