November 7, 2021
Big talk about climate change overseas, but not for young people at home
The hypocrisy of the Fiji First Government is unbelievable.
Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum give speeches in Glasgow against climate change. But young people in Fiji are not allowed to march and show their support for the same thing.
Saturday was a day of action for young people all over the world to rally and demand climate justice. In hundreds of places, young people turned out in support.
But not in Fiji. Why? Because the Police said they needed a permit from the Fiji Roads Authority to march on the footpath!
Young people are already frustrated with this Government for failing to address their concerns. And now, even when they try to speak up on the same side as the government, they are stopped.
The Fiji authorities’ automatic reaction to anyone wanting to rally or march – unions, political or other activists – is to say no. Now they will not even allow young people to support the government!
As always, our leaders talk big on the international stage about talanoa and climate justice – and do the opposite at home.
They are completely removed from the citizens they are supposed to serve. They fear any expression by the people that they cannot control. For young people, this government is on another planet.
This is why we have to kick them out at the next election. We want a government that listens to the people, not a government that is afraid of them.