WORLD PRESS FREEDOM DAY - STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER HON. SITIVENI RABUKA

World Press Freedom Day 2025
 
Fellow citizens, Ni sa bula vina’a.
As we join the rest of the world today, 3rd May, in celebrating World Press Freedom Day, I wish to extend a special bula vina’a to all of those who work in the media sector in Fiji.

Whatever work you do in the media business, whether as a reporter, radio announcer, television presenter or camera operator, media office cleaner or news manager, thank you for doing the work that you do. Vina’a va’alevu for holding the fort as it were, for operationalising press freedom and championing freedom of expression in this country.
 
World Press Freedom Day is observed on 3rd May annually. The day is an important occasion to acknowledge and recommit us to the fundamental principles of press freedom and highlights the essential role of independent and free journalism in our lives.

As we now live in an era where the media landscape is continuously changing and the challenges faced by journalists becoming more difficult than ever, it is very important to recognise the value of a free and independent press.
 
It was a little more than just two years ago that freedom of the media and the freedom of expression was suppressed and trampled upon. Under its so-called Media Industry Development Authority Act (MIDA), the previous government forced news media practitioners to work with the real fear of criminal prosecution, facing draconian penalties of fine, jail, or both. In 2017, news executives of The Fiji Times newspaper were prosecuted on charges of sedition based on what a correspondent wrote on its letters column.
 
Thanks to democracy, and to the power of your votes, those dark days of oppression and suppressions are over. You will recall that one of the early decisions of your Coalition Government was to remove the MIDA Act.

Today as we join the rest of the international community in celebrating World Press Freedom Day, let us re-commit ourselves to the values and ideals of our fundamental human rights in freedom of expression and the freedom of the press. With our recent history, let us not take this freedom for granted.
 
Today is also an opportune time to remember those in the media fraternity that made the ultimate sacrifice. In particular, I pay tribute to my “Yaca” (namesake), the late Sitiveni Moce who died in 2015. This brave newspaper photographer was set upon by a mob in Parliament House in Veiuto in 2000, and again by some members of the disciplined forces in 2007 for simply carrying out his job, which was to capture history in still photographs. His death is a sombre reminder of the fickleness of life, and how we must never, ever take our freedoms for granted.
 
Your Coalition Government also wants to use today to highlight the achievements and resilience of journalists and their commitment to provide accurate information and foster greater openness. In this way, our citizens are empowered and our democracy enriched.

We understand that accountability, safety, and support for journalists working tirelessly to present the truth has never been more important. Around the world, journalists face threats and censorship in their pursuit to illuminate issues that matter, and give voice to the voiceless, nameless and faceless. Today, we stand in solidarity with those who strive for truth, transparency and justice.
 
It was in the pursuit of these fundamental values - truth and transparency - that your Coalition Government took the decision to open up the Public Service Broadcast (PSB) Grant to other radio and television broadcasters in the country. Communications Fiji Limited and MaiTV are now signatories of the PSB Grant agreement.

The two media operators have now joined the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation in promoting national unity in the dissemination of important public information relating to public health, law and order, protection of women and children, sports, other essential and life-saving information.
 
In conclusion, as we commemorate the power of the press to inform and educate on this World Press Freedom Day, I want to appeal to all of our media practitioners in the mainstream media, as well as media users in the many social media channels that the worldwide web offers. While you cherish your rights and freedoms today, please exercise those rights and freedoms responsibly.
 
May I echo the words of His Excellency the President, na Gone Turaga Bale Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu when he opened this year’s Parliament session in February:
“Although the benefits of development particularly technological advancements are reaching most of us, we cannot deny the fact that many of our people are still left behind. But exploiting their plight particularly on social media is demeaning and a low blow.
“We must be cautious and ensure that information shared on social media is accurate, reflects reality and is intended for the common good, rather than creating further division among our communities.”
 
May we therefore use this World Press Freedom Day to recommit ourselves to supporting the principals of freedom of expression and the freedom of the press, and that we resolve to exercise that freedom with the utmost sense of responsibility.
 
Happy World Press Freedom Day Fiji.