Fact checking the ‘Opposition Times’

So the gang over at the paper the Attorney-General has branded the “Opposition Times” is not happy about us reporting what the A-G said about them in Parliament. Supporters have used crude language to back up their gang. So maybe it’s time for some Fact Checking.

The paper the A-G calls the “Opposition Times” claimed that their reporter, Felix Chaudhry, was at Tavua after the A-G’s Budget Consultations was to have started and no one was there.

FACT: He did stop at the venue, Tavua College, at 9am, when it was to have started. But he left almost immediately to cover the National Federation Party-linked Fiji Cane Growers Association meeting in Rakiraki. He immediately put a story online that there was no attendance at Tavua.

Our reporter Shahani Mala who was at the Fiji Cane Growers Association meeting in Rakiraki heard Felix Chaudhry telling everyone how there was no attendance at Tavua.

FACT: Fiji Sun’s Lautoka Editor Charles Chambers, who had covered the Tavua Budget Consultations, met Felix Chaudhry at the Rakiraki Budget Consultations later that day and told of about 40 people had turned up in Tavua. He showed him pictures of those who had attended. The Fiji Times immediately removed that story online.

Their reporter vanished from the Rakiraki Budget Consultation. Perhaps he did not want to face the Attorney-General over his inaccurate story.

NOW WHO SHOULD WE BELIEVE?

Felix Chaudhry – who said there was no one at the A-G’s event at Tavua – also said in his coverage of the NFP-linked Fiji Cane Growers Council meeting that over 200 attended. Our reporter Shahani Mala, who was also there, physically counted just over 100 in attendance.

Talk about blowing things out of proportion. Why would they do that?

Coconut Wireless was edited by Nemani Delaibatiki from contributions from our West newsroom staff.

Feedback:  jyotip@fijisun.com.fj