Fijians are reportedly spending an alarming amount of time watching pornography. In a recent parliamentary session, it was revealed that in just three months, residents accessed pornographic sites, consuming an equivalent of 626.13 terabytes (TB) of data, which could be likened to reading 100 million books during the same timeframe.
In other news, the national schoolboy rugby team achieved a historic victory against the Australian schoolboys at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka, showcasing a remarkable achievement for Fijian rugby.
In the Kaila! section of The Fiji Times, which is a special edition released every Wednesday, a significant highlight involved a statement from former secretary-general to Parliament, Mary Chapman. She criticized the current state of parliamentary conduct, referring to it as a “Banana Parliament.” This comment was in response to recent verbal exchanges involving the Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs and the Opposition member Parveen Kumar.
Chapman expressed her disappointment, noting that such aggressive exchanges were unheard of during her tenure. She lamented how parliamentary decorum has deteriorated, with members resorting to name-calling and accusations such as “murderers” and “liars.”
She recalled a time when parliamentary language was taken seriously, warning that the current behavior could lead to a complete breakdown of order. The past thirteen years leading up to the 2022 General Elections had already seen a normalization of heckling and disrespect in parliamentary sessions, with members frequently interrupted and booed during speeches.
Chapman raised critical questions about the current state of political discourse in Fiji, emphasizing the need for respectful dialogue and civility within the Parliament. She called for a restoration of respect and decorum, arguing that Parliament should be a serious forum for governance rather than a platform for personal attacks.
As Chapman stated, it’s vital to address the current trends in political conduct and work towards maintaining the integrity of Parliament to ensure it serves its purpose effectively.