THE MEDIA is now free to reveal whatever news they uncover, says Acting Prime Minister and Finance Minister Prof Biman Prasad.

Addressing the Pacific Media Partnership Conference in Suva yesterday, Prof Prasad said that ever since the Coalition Government took office, it has been committed to democracy and freedom, particularly in undoing draconian laws that previously restricted the media.

One of their first acts in government, he noted, was to repeal the oppressive Media Industry Development Act and end exclusive government contracts that favoured certain media organisations.

As a result, Prof Prasad said in 2023, the civil liberties watchdog Freedom House ranked Fiji as the most improved country in the world for civil liberties following the transition of power.

“As a government we are criticised for a lot of things, both in mainstream and social media,” Prof Prasad said.

“Some of that criticism is justified – we are far from a perfect government.

“Some of it we feel is a bit unfair, but I suppose all governments feel that way sometimes.

However, he affirmed the Government’s stance on free speech.

“To those who criticise us, I say, keep holding us to account.

“But remember how you became free enough, and informed enough, to do that.”

Prof Prasad said the newspapers and TV news, “they are all free to tell you whatever news they uncover”, but that freedom came only after the Coalition Government came into office.

He pointed to the previous administration’s tight grip on the media, recalling how some outlets had to follow government directives in their reporting.

“Who can forget the days when the former Fiji Sun editors waited every afternoon to be told by the Government what the following day’s headlines would be?”

He described how the previous government rewarded media compliance with lucrative exclusive advertising contracts, ensuring control over public narratives.

“Even the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation— the Government-owned broadcaster — now regularly runs news that is critical of the Government.

He then compared this to three years ago, when government, he said, controlled FBC and everything that went through its newsroom.

“Those days are over.”

Prof Prasad also highlighted the Government’s decision to drop its appeal against The Fiji Times’ 2018 sedition acquittal, describing it as a final step in freeing the press from political persecution.

“As their editor described it last week, that prosecution in 2017 was an act of vengeance by the Bainimarama government against one of the last independent media voices to survive under their rule.

“And this freedom of expression operates in a wider environment of freedom.”