Fiji Rejects FOI Workshop But Show Continues

Fiji has rejected an invitation to attend a FOI workshop that began today in Honiara.

The Fiji Times wrote: 

The invitation from the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat and the United National Development Program Pacific Centre was extended to Ministry of Information deputy secretary Major Neumi Leweni.

Over the past two days, Major Leweni refused to discuss his reasons for not attending the workshop which will be held next week in the Solomon Islands.

According to the Solomon Times, the aim of the workshop is to draw stakeholders from forum island countries to get to understand issues surrounding freedom of information.

Interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji was big on freedom of information.

The implementation of the legislation was recommended by the National Council for Building a Better Fiji, he said. He said he knew Major Leweni would not be at the workshop despite the invitation.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had requested a FOI model legislation from United Nations resident representative Richard Dictus…[full]

Nevertheless, the show went on in spite of Fiji’s absence. In opening the workshop, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua said:

There are many reasons why most, if not all, countries in our region including Solomon Islands are free countries. The main and enduring reason is that we are democracies, and a central tenet of democracy is the guarantee of human rights, one of which is freedom of information. My Government is fully cognizant of the direct link between freedom of information and good governance (transparency and accountability). Thus we support media freedom in the country, provided they (the media) report responsibly.

I understand that during the course of this workshop you will discuss what freedom of information entails or means; the value of freedom of information; how we could legislate for this fundamental human right; and the challenges to freedom of information…[full]

Also see an article in the Pacific Magazine that discusses the workshop.