Fijileaks: There is something really rotten in the state of Fiji. Sadly, no matter how valid is Chaudhry's chiding of Prasad, most political leaders have their own skeletons that the Fijian public are fully familiar with in Fiji, and abroad. In Chaudhry's case, and in the eyes of the law, he stands convicted of foreign exchange currency violations, and as the convicting judge reminded him:
"If the funds had been brought into the Fijian Inland Revenue at the time when they were paid by India into the accused's accounts, a time when they should have been; then the economy of this nation would have benefitted from having these funds in the current account and that benefit would have accrued to all Fijians. The only way to compensate the nation for the failure of the accused to comply with the law is to impose a large fine on him to bring money back into the revenue. Should he not pay that fine then he must serve a term of imprisonment in default."
Fijileaks: We have made our position very clear. It is appalling that Suva lawyer RICHARD NAIDU who has been found guilty of scandalizing the judiciary, and is waiting to be sentenced, is going around Fiji recording submissions from the public for his Fiscal Review Committee.
*Before the convicting Judge was forced to flee to Sri Lanka, he was waiting for Naidu's team to make submissions in mitigation.
*Sorry, not every conviction under the FFP government was politically motivated. The NFP and the Coalition government have convinced the gullible public that their 'Poster Boy' is a victim of the machinations of 'Bainimarama's Boy' - Aiyaz Khaiyum.
*On the FRC we have one EDWIN CHAND, the son of NFP stalwart PRAMOD CHAND. Lately, Pramod Chand's brother Dalip's bus company was calling on the FRC in Labasa to review student's bus fares.
Edwin Chand is nephew of Dalip Chand. Edwin is also Fiji Football Association Vice-preisdent from the North of Fiji
A bus operator, Dalip Chand and Son Limited, is pleading with the government to take into account the review of school students’ bus fares. Managing Director, Rohnil Chand made the plea at a public consultation with the Fiscal Review Committee at the Labasa Civic Center yesterday. Chand says they are almost running at a loss, as school students pay only half fare and the seat capacity has decreased from 86 to 60 per trip.
“We take students with 50% the half fare, bus fare. It is very hard, in a 60-seater bus … we take students with half fare. Before, the bus seating capacity was adult 60 and school students was 86. Nowadays, school students cannot sit 86.”
Chand says most of the time, expenses are greater than income, and they would have to fork over money from their other businesses to cater for their bus operation. He says the price of fuel due to global supply chain issues and maintenance due to road conditions make it even more difficult to operate. Chand says it is for these reasons that they have not been able to expand their business, as they cannot earn enough income to purchase more buses. He acknowledges the e-ticketing system but calls for tighter enforcement. Dalip Chand and Son Limited has a total of 93 buses in operation in Vanua Levu. Source: FBC News
“We take students with 50% the half fare, bus fare. It is very hard, in a 60-seater bus … we take students with half fare. Before, the bus seating capacity was adult 60 and school students was 86. Nowadays, school students cannot sit 86.”
Chand says most of the time, expenses are greater than income, and they would have to fork over money from their other businesses to cater for their bus operation. He says the price of fuel due to global supply chain issues and maintenance due to road conditions make it even more difficult to operate. Chand says it is for these reasons that they have not been able to expand their business, as they cannot earn enough income to purchase more buses. He acknowledges the e-ticketing system but calls for tighter enforcement. Dalip Chand and Son Limited has a total of 93 buses in operation in Vanua Levu. Source: FBC News
“What we want to know is how you are planning to address the critical issues facing us. Don’t ask us “Where is the money” (Fiji Times 31 March). Your job is to find it and get on with fixing the problems. You were elected to do so.”
FLP leader MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY to BIMAN PRASAD
Actually, Ministerial statements under Standing Order 40 should be on a public matter of national importance. These statements need not be unduly lengthy, and must be made to inform Parliament and the people what the government proposes to do to resolve the issue – exactly what the Minister has failed to do.
Labour is inclined to agree with Fiji First Member Jone Usamate’s reaction that the Minister should cut out the ‘litany of woes’. “You have decided to be in the hot seat… you have to learn to prioritise and do the things that need to be done,” he admonished.
“That is good advice. After all, the Minister knew exactly what he was getting into when he made big promises during the election campaign.
“ He knew about the $10b debt, he knew of the huge sums to be found to fix up the nation’s vital infrastructure such as roads, water supplies and the deteriorating state of our health services. He knew that there was a lot of wastage and over-spending by the Fiji First Government.”
“In fact, Minister Prasad is now sounding exactly like the Bainimarama government– blaming the previous government for the current woes of the nation.
“Minister, you were elected by the people to find solutions not to keep restating the problems. We all know the current state of the nation. There is no need to sing the same old tune over and over again.
“What we want to know is how you are planning to address the critical issues facing us. Don’t ask us “Where is the money” (Fiji Times 31 March). Your job is to find it and get on with fixing the problems. You were elected to do so,” said Mr Chaudhry.
Labour is inclined to agree with Fiji First Member Jone Usamate’s reaction that the Minister should cut out the ‘litany of woes’. “You have decided to be in the hot seat… you have to learn to prioritise and do the things that need to be done,” he admonished.
“That is good advice. After all, the Minister knew exactly what he was getting into when he made big promises during the election campaign.
“ He knew about the $10b debt, he knew of the huge sums to be found to fix up the nation’s vital infrastructure such as roads, water supplies and the deteriorating state of our health services. He knew that there was a lot of wastage and over-spending by the Fiji First Government.”
“In fact, Minister Prasad is now sounding exactly like the Bainimarama government– blaming the previous government for the current woes of the nation.
“Minister, you were elected by the people to find solutions not to keep restating the problems. We all know the current state of the nation. There is no need to sing the same old tune over and over again.
“What we want to know is how you are planning to address the critical issues facing us. Don’t ask us “Where is the money” (Fiji Times 31 March). Your job is to find it and get on with fixing the problems. You were elected to do so,” said Mr Chaudhry.