Acting PS for Communications writes to Fiji Times on Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s misquote

Acting Permanent Secretary for Communications Sharvada Sharma has written to the Editor for Fiji Times Fred Wesley, expressing his concerns on the mis-statement of the Attorney General and Minister for Civil Service Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during a talanoa session held in Naivicula Village in Tailevu.

The article read “ Most civil servants working in rural offices around the country fail to do the right thing says Attorney General and Minister for Economy Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.”

The letter states that this statement in The Fiji Times is inaccurate.

Sharma says the correct quote from the Attorney General is even included in the body of the article.

Acting Permanent Secretary for Communications says Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s exact words are “Some of these civil servants that work in these offices do not necessarily do the right thing.”

The letter also states that The Fiji Times coverage of the Attorney General’s comments represents another unfortunate example of sensationalised reporting that dispenses with the facts in favour of a misleading headline and incorrect content within the article.

Sharma says this is not the first time the Attorney General has been misquoted and this again represents a serious disservice to the people.

He says a correction should be issued clarifying the error.

The Fiji Times has printed a correction and an apology.