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PRYDEGATE. Pryde hits at Temo by releasing letter 'to accept $200,000 and go away'. Surely, he could have released it to the Tribunal via AVL. When is CONTEMPT of TRIBUNAL not a CONTEMPT? When its PRYDE?

6/12/2024

CONTEMPT OF COURT:
Christopher Pryde to the late Fiji Sun publisher RUSSELL HUNTER,
11 February 2008

CONTEMPT OF COURT? Pryde releases letter claiming that Acting Chief Justice Temo tried to pay him off with $200,000 to prevent Tribunal

PRYDEGATE. Temo, Pryde paid himself over $288,000 in superannuation without approval. He was 'stealing', taxpayers were losing out on money. He's top prosecutor, could have represented himself, or sought Legal Aid

5/12/2024

BREAKING THE BANK BALANCE
We wonder how much lawyer ADISH NARAYAN was billing his client Pryde that when his (Pryde's) salary was stopped, Pryde could not afford to continue paying Narayan to appear before the Justice Anare Tuilevuka led Tribunal sitting in Suva?

Letter published by Grubsheet

PIG-HEADED PRIDE. We wonder if suspended DPP Christopher PRYDE had contemplated tendering his evidence by way of AVL - Audio-Visual Link. His role in the 'CJ Fatiaki Tribunal' points he didn't need a LAWYER

3/12/2024

We had remained aloof until the Tribunal, led by Justice Anare Tuilevuka, began hearing evidence, including that of the former A-G Aiyaz Khaiyum.
No one is better placed than our Founding Editor-in-Chief to reflect and recall the appalling treatment of the deposed Chief Justice Daniel Fatiaki at the hands of Aiyaz Khaiyum and Christopher Pryde (acting on the instruction of his judicial boss Khaiyum) during the 'Fatiaki Tribunal' in 2008. As we pointed out recently, Pryde (on the instructions of his bully boy boss) forced the late Fiji Sun publisher Russell Hunter to publish a 'Right to Reply' following an Opinion Piece by our Founding Editor-in-Chief where he had questioned why Fiji's Interim Finance Minister Mahendra Pal Chaudhry, accused of tax evasion by our Editor-in-Chief, was not subjected to a Tribunal hearing but the deposed CJ Fatiaki was being dragged before a three-member Tribunal over his TAX matters with FIRCA.
Our Editor-in-Chief had (and still has scores of documents) that reveal the hounding of Fatiaki out of office so that the then Interim regime could appoint Justice Anthony Gates as the new Chief Justice of Fiji.
Ironically, Pryde's appointed lawyer Adish Narayan (whom he couldn't retain because his (Pryde's) salary has been stopped), was the lawyer who had acted on behalf of Attorney-General Aiyaz Khaiyum in negotiating a financial package that saw Fatiaki resign, take $275,000 and leave for Vanuatu to become CJ there.
The present A-G Graham Leung represented Daniel Fatiaki during the financial negotiations.
Again, we have nothing personal against Pryde and wish him all the best but it beggars belief that Aiyaz Khaiyum, in his typically cavalier attitude, had the audacity to stop and chat with Pryde (even if was to do with their children) at the Japanese Ambassador's residence in February 2023.
As for Audio-Visual Link, we wonder if Christopher Pryde had thought of appearing before the Tribunal via AVL, if legal cost and the stopping of his salary was the motivating factor to withdraw from Tribunal hearing.
As we pointed out at the beginning, he had acquired a wealth of experience and knowledge from the 'Fatiaki Tribunal' to mount his OWN case before the Justice Tuilevuka led Tribunal, and via AVL from NZ.
Basically, if you are unable to appear in Court or a Tribunal, either as a party or witness, you may file an application to appear by way of AVL.
Karma is like a bus, it might arrive late, but it does arrive at the bus stop.

2024, YEAR OF TAGITAGI. Bainimarama-Khaiyum Enabler and LACKEY PARMESH CHAND makes groveling apology for reducing the pensions in 2012. His name should be on Roll of SHAME. Better still, put him on Trial

27/11/2024

BETTER STILL, if Chand was put on trial for his role in the heart-wrenching and evil pension scandal when he was FNPF Board Chairman

On 19th June 2009 a disquieting report appeared on the FNPF website quoting the Chairman of the FNPF Board, Mr Parmesh Chand, as stating that a review of the Pension Scheme was due to take place. Mr Chand was quoted as stating that ‘a majority of pensioners have outlived their pension with some earning more than three times their balance on retirement’. He was quoted as saying. ‘this is unfair and inequitable. We cannot allow this trend to continue, as the Fund is not only for those pensioners already enjoying benefits but for future generations as well’.
Late FNPF pensioner David Burness, June 2011

Chand is new FNPF Board Chairman
1 October 2008: The Permanent Secretary for the Office of the Prime Minister, Mr Parmesh Chand, is the new Chairman of the Fiji National Provident Fund Board.
The appointment was formalized earlier this week by the Acting Minister of Finance and Prime Minister, Commodore Josaia Voreqe Bainimarama. He replaces the Permanent Secretary for Labour, Industrial Relations & Employment, Mr. Taito Waqa, who continues to serve on the Board. Mr Chand said he was mindful of the important role the Board played in the management of members’ savings. He said he would uphold the Board’s trusteeship duties which required exercising the highest degree of fiduciary care in the management and investment of the members’ savings. Before joining the PM’s Office, Mr Chand was the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Public Enterprises and Public Sector Reforms. He also served as Trade Commissioner for the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission based in Auckland, New Zealand for six years. Prior to this appointment Mr Chand was the Deputy CEO of the Fiji Trade Investment Board. He has also worked at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, National Bank of Fiji and Colonia Mutual Life Assurance Society. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of the South Pacific and a Masters Degree in Economics from the University of Queensland in Australia.

'I owe an apology to the pensioners for the original stance I took', said Fiji National Provident Fund’s chairman from 2009 to May 2010, Parmesh Chand for reducing certain pensions for FNPF members back then.

In a public letter to Editor published in The Fiji Times, Mr Chand states FNPF was thinking about reducing certain pensions, and taking other measures, it felt to be in the interests of protecting its solvency.

“There was opposition from the pensioners who argued that if the FNPF followed through, it would be in breach of agreed procedures and committing a betrayal of trust,” he said.

“The FNPF’s ideas turned into plans, supported by the government of the day. These were implemented in 2012. Pensions were cut, some very substantially, while some of those affected took offers of lump sums, leaving them without any regular pension payments.”

Mr Chand said Decree 51 was introduced to stop pensioners using their right to appeal to the court system. The Coalition Government has announced it will restore reduced pensions to their original rates.

“I affirm that I now support the pensioners. I am confident the case presented by the pensioners in the current stage of their campaign will be successful in this new era of democracy. I owe an apology to the pensioners for the original stance I took, and for the lateness of this statement.”

From Fijileaks Archive, 2016

David Burness has gone, but the class action has not, and will not!

David Burness has passed away after a short illness. The one man who had the guts to stand up for his rights as an elderly pensioner against Khaiyum-Bainimarama dictatorship. Those who knew Burness say he was the nicest, most gentlemanly, of men. Burness was David Wilkinson's great grandson- the man who translated the Deed of Cession.

Burness had hoped that the interim post-coup government and FNPF would respect his pension rights during his lifetime but it was not to be. His leadership encouraged others to take the bold step to make his application a class action. It was forestalled by Khaiyum's decree. How else could they have stopped Burness?

Fiji Pensioners* website reports as follows: "Today Sunday 7th February 2016 Pensioner David Burness passed away after a short illness. David Burness, his and other senior citizens treatment under Decree 51 orchestrated by the office of the Attorney General on the basis on non factual information provide by the FNPF management was the reason this blog site was launched in 2011. Some will say the government actions accelerated Davids death, be that as it may, the battle will continue as David would wish. RIP David Burness, you will be missed by all who knew you."

IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI
CIVIL JURISDICTION

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION DECREE 2009
AT SUVA

CIVIL ACTION NO OF 2011

BETWEEN                          :                                DAVID FOWLER BURNESS


APPLICANT

AND                                       :                               FIJI NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND


FIRST RESPONDENT

AND                                       :                               THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI


SECOND RESPONDENT

AND  THE ATTORNEY GENERAL OF FIJI

THIRD RESPONDENT

AFFIDAVIT IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS PROTECTION

I, DAVID FOWLER BURNESS of 44 Beach Road, Suva Point, Suva, make oath and say as follows:

I am the Applicant and I depose this affidavit in support of my application to seek human rights protection in the High Court of Fiji in relation to the proposed review of the Fiji National Provident intended to reduce my pension.

The contents of this affidavit are true in so far as they are within my knowledge, information and belief. Where the contents are not within my personal knowledge, the source of that knowledge is stated and the contents are true to the best of my information, knowledge and belief.

My counsel, solicitor and barrister Dr Shaista Shameem, has been instructed by me to institute these proceedings in the High Court, pursuant to section 38 (5) of the Human Rights Commission Decree No 11 of 2009, relevant common law, and international human rights law to protect my human rights as a pensioner in Fiji.

I was born in Fiji on 24th August 1936

I worked in Fiji from 1970 to 2000 in the occupation of Manager

I was a member of the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) since 1970

I was not a member of any other pension fund

On 24 August I retired and opted to take my pension fund from FNPF in the form of a monthly benefit.

At the time I retired I had a pension fund provided to me of 25% of Gross Contribution.

Until 2009 I was under the impression that this pension benefit would provide for me until my death.

My pension fund and that of my wife constitute the sole income from which we pay for all our necessities of life, including utility bills, medical expenses, food and incidentals.

My wife and I are physically independent and our contributions to the FNPF Fund were supposed to provide for all our needs without any support required from family or the state.

We own our home in Suva Point and fully expected to pass our twilight years there until our deaths.

On 19th June 2009 a disquieting report appeared on the FNPF website quoting the Chairman of the FNPF Board, Mr Parmesh Chand, as stating that a review of the Pension Scheme was due to take place. Mr Chand was quoted as stating that ‘a majority of pensioners have outlived their pension with some earning more than three times their balance on retirement’. He was quoted as saying. ‘this is unfair and inequitable. We cannot allow this trend to continue, as the Fund is not only for those pensioners already enjoying benefits but for future generations as well’. Attached as Annexure 1 is a copy of that statement.

It was reported that the review of the Pension Fund was to be conducted by Mercer (Australia) Pty Limited as Actuarial Consultant.

From 2009 to the present day I have not been able to receive any such reports and recommendations of various reviews from the FNPF, which is a Trust that should be working for the benefit of the members. The information that I have received has been only from newspaper reports, information from friends and technical reports which are not always clear.

A few months ago the public was informed that a review of the FNPF pension scheme was inevitable and that the Board would hold a series of consultations throughout Fiji to inform members of the proposed review and receive submissions.

I went to a number of these meetings and, along with other members of the public, sought specific information from the Board on why our pension funds were depleting and why we had not been informed of the various investments that FNPF had entered into and the way in which the Fund was mismanaged in the past, as was reported in these public meetings.

Recently, I became aware of the report written by the accountant firm Ernst and Young which pointed to the suspect practices of the past Boards in allocating loans to certain big businesses in Fiji without due diligence and transparency, at great risk to the Funds. This report was not disclosed to the members although it was done some years ago. Attached as Annexure 2 is a copy of part of this Report.

When we brought this concern up at the public meetings we were informed by the Chief Executive of the FNPF and members of the Board that the Board did not want to look to the past but wanted to ‘move forward’ with proposals for reform.

This attitude did not impress me as being consultative in nature; in fact, while the members’ views were politely listened to, there was an impression gained that the FNPF and the government had made up its mind that the pension funds of members already in retirement would be reduced to the tune of 64%. In my case my pension would be reduced from the 25% return, with which I had retired, to 9%.

This reduction will impoverish me and my family since both my wife and I are over the age of 60 and unlikely to ever return to full time employment to support ourselves.

I had expected that after the public submissions the FNPF Board would review its position to reduce our pensions which we are already receiving as old age beneficiaries.

However, on Saturday 25th June 2011, that is yesterday, the Fiji Times at page 22 carried an advertisement headed ‘FNPF Acknowledges Submissions’; what is worrying is the last paragraph: ‘The Fund assures you that all submissions will be given consideration and that any changes will be communicated to you’. Attached as Annexure 3 is a copy of the advertisement.

I interpret this paragraph to mean that the changes will take place and since the Board has stated from 2009 that those who ‘outlived their pension’ have caused unfairness and inequity to the Fund itself, which is not correct since the Ernst and Young report shows that the managers of the Fund have been negligent, the advertisement in the Fiji Times gives me much cause for concern that my rights as a pensioner and as an elderly person are likely to be breached by the FNPF Board, the State and those who make laws by Decree in Fiji. Both FNPF Board statements indicate that my right to live as long as I am able to, my right to live in dignity with my own old-age pension that I have earned a right to, and my right to health, welfare and dignity, as well as social security, which the state of Fiji as a member of the United Nations family of states is obliged to protect and promote, are all threatened.

It is obvious to me that once a Decree is promulgated changing FNPF Act, I will not have recourse in the courts due to the exclusionary clauses contained in Decrees of this nature.

For this reason I am also respectfully requesting the Court to make an interim human rights order to prevent any amendments to the FNPF Act until my Notice of Motion has been heard and determined by the Honourable Court.

I respectfully seek leave to file a further affidavit in due course as there are other examples of FNPF’s failure to act in my interest as a beneficiary that I would like to bring to the Court’s attention but because I had wished to make this application as an urgent measure I was unable to annex additional evidence at this time.

I pray that my Notice of Motion is heard by the Court at its early convenience as an urgent measure given the circumstances.

SWORN at Suva by DAVID FOWLER BURNESS
this 27th day of June 2011 before me:

From the Fiji Sun archive, reproduced in Fijileaks

State to target Denarau Island company for investigation
E-mails focus on Martin Darveniza of Tabua Investments Ltd

By VICTOR LAL

Martin Darveniza, the chief executive of Tabua Investments Ltd, responsible for the overall development of Denarau Island, could be a subject of future investigation, according to an e-mail leaked to me from the Prime Minister’s office.

The e-mail, dated 2 June 2008, is to the interim Prime Minister from his principal private secretary Parmesh Chand, in which he writes to his boss: “Prime Minister, Sir, these contacts would be very important if ever there is an investigation on Martin Darveniza – PC”. Mr Chand was forwarding an e-mail, dated 10 May 2008 and headed “Contacts”, from the president of Australia/Fiji Business Council, R.G. (Bob) Lyon, who had written as follows: “Hi Parmesh, Here are the contacts in relation to that matter we discussed.”

Although the e-mail is silent on the “matter discussed”, Mr Lyon, the former chairman of the ANZ Bank Pacific region, gave the names and e-mail addresses of the following persons as useful contacts: Radisson- Graeme Woodley; Paul Adams; Golf Terrace Apartments - Ross Porter; Sheraton Denarau Villas - Ian Rodwell and lawyer (Nadi) – Peter Lowing.

Mr Adams is a property developer of Carrus Corporation in Tauranga, New Zealand. Mr Porter was president of the Australia-Fiji Business Council. Ian Rodwell is the founder of the Adcorp Marketing Communications Group, and is also chairman of Denarau Villas Limited (Fiji) in conjunction with Sheraton Hotels in Fiji. Tabua Investments Ltd is carrying out the development of all residential areas on Denarau Island. The company is owned by BIL Ltd out of Singapore and has been involved with Denarau Island since 1996. Since its involvement, the company has successfully developed the Sheraton Denarau Villas project and several residential precincts.

Mr Lyon is presently the non-executive chairman of ANZ’s Pacific business, and is based on Denarau, and President of Australia/Fiji Business Council.

In April of this year, the interim Prime Minister addressed the business council at a dinner at the Tanoa Plaza, in the presence of Mr Lyon, explaining why the interim government took some actions which “some commentators as well as media have described as anti-business or even draconian in their terminology”.

Commodore Bainimarama told his listeners: “You will be aware that the Interim Government was and is faced with the mammoth challenge of undoing years of bureaucracy, systems, inefficiencies, blatantly wrong decisions, and mindsets which are all impediments to making our economy more robust, efficient and investor-friendly. We have had unscrupulous leaders and politicians who have never thought of the nation of Fiji but only of themselves and their political ambitions. There also have been widespread instances of abuse, mismanagement and corruption”

He continued; “You will appreciate tackling all these issues confronting our country at this time is by no means an easy feat. Obviously when we take decisions, largely thinking outside the box and taking into account the bigger picture, people with entrenched and vested interests are likely to be affected. They, with the help of some media and NGOs have been most vocal, focusing particularly on bringing about negative vibes and tarnishing the image of the Interim Government”.

Commodore Bainimarama told the audience: “Some of you might also have the view that Government interventions of late have been too harsh and as such, counterproductive to our image and credibility or for that matter our efforts in creating a more enabling business environment. In this regards, I would like to reassure you that the Interim Government is not in the business of unnecessarily intervening in the work of the private sector. It is only when we have credible evidence that justifies our intervention, we have not hesitated in taking the actions necessary to protect the interest of Fiji and her people”

In June 2005, the deposed Vice President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi, while opening the Golf Terrace Apartments at Denarau had said that he was pleased to officiate because he was for four years, “one of two lawyers, along with my former colleague Wylie Clarke, who looked after Tabua Investment Limited’s legal affairs at Howards lawyers including the Golf Terrace Apartments”.

For Ratu Joni, “As an indigenous Fijian, it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that I see the Yavusa e Tolu of Narewa and Nakavu enjoying the benefits of this and other developments. It is due in large part to Tabua’s enlightened self-interest that it’s Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Mr Martin Darveniza, has pursued. He has also managed to convince Tabua’s masters in Singapore of the efficacy of doing so and I pay tribute to them. This approach is a template for other developments for it involves Fijian as partners and not just as menial workers in the tourist industry”.

He added: “The relationship with the Yavusa e Tolu has been by turns a testing one. At times it has been fraught. At other times, it has been friendly and even warm. Yet even when it has been at its most tense, there has been mutual respect underscored by the recognition of a mutuality of interests. In all this, I acknowledge Martin Darveniza’s indomitable spirit and his openness to the wise and gentle counsel of the Tuidrakis (father and son) and other elders the Yavusa e Tolu. Martin will tell you that two qualities needed in dealing with indigenous landowners are patience and persistence.”

According to Ratu Joni, Mr Wylie and him often privately joked that “Martin was the Governor-General of Denarau. With the advent of the Golf Terrace Apartments, I think we can now elevate him to Viceroy”. We do not know why Mr Darvineza, a former solicitor, might be subject to future investigation.

But during the debate on the controversial Qoliqoli Bill, Mr Darvineza was quoted as saying the following:

“Some people believe that efforts should be made to dissuade government from proceeding, but they have made it very clear they will proceed with this, and this needs to be recognised.

“Too often in the past operators and developers stood in one corner and resource owners stood in the other. I believe the way forward is to bring them together. It’s very imperative that such a broad-based programme is undertaken. We have to bring the two minds together.”

In 2003, Mr Darveniza was on deposed Prime Minister Mr Qarase’s “Think Tank Advisory Group”, which also included Radike Qereqeretabua, Y. P. Reddy, Mahendra Patel and Jesoni Vitusagavulu.

None of those cited in the e-mails could be reached for comments.

PENSION SCANDAL: Another Bainimarama-Khaiyum regime 'b***greaser' PIO TIKOIDUADUA was 'punishing' the late PM Laisenia Qarase

DASHED for the Door (albeit briefly) at COP29 over Climate Finance Fund Let's hope FICAC will take him through the front door when he returns to Fiji with his side-kick KETAN LAL whom he is wooing to re-join the NFP

24/11/2024

"It was not long ago that Ketan Lal was campaigning for NFP in 2018. I don't know what has happened to him suddenly" - Prasad, February 2024

STORMING OUT WITH DISGRUNTLED DELEGATES AT COP29 IN BAKU

“I know he suddenly becomes a small parrot for the general secretary of the FijiFirst party. I am told that he has got something on him and that Mr Speaker came from someone sitting there who kept his mouth shut when the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, of which he was a member, was labeled as a terrorist organization by none other than his party’s general secretary and the then Attorney-General.”
NFP leader Biman Prasad, February 2023

FREE-RIDER: Ketan Lal revealed in Parliament that his trip to Baku was to be funded by Fiji's Coalition government, meaning by Biman Prasad

MIA, CHARAN? FFP's Small Parrott (Biman Prasad described Ketan Lal) attacks Sugar Minister for having gall to brand Prasad's 55 delegates to BAKU as 'JUNKET Trip'. Cry-baby Prasad gets Singh to pull down POST

23/11/2024

BIMAN PRASAD's new motor-mouth PARROTT in BAKU against Singh

PROFESSOR OF MATHS, FIJI. Aiyaz Khaiyum's 36 member delegation was 'JUNKET TRIP' to Cop26. Biman Prasad's 55 members - do the maths

National Federation Party Leader Professor Biman Prasad says Fiji’s failure to achieve anything tangible from its agenda at COP26 proves that the donor-funded trip was a junket.

Professor Prasad says political activist Shamima Ali is right to ask the Government to tell the people who funded the 36-member Fiji delegation to Glasgow.

He says bigger countries than Fiji, such as New Zealand sent fewer than 10 people and the Marshall Islands made a bigger impact than Fiji at COP26 which had a delegation of just five.

Professor Prasad says instead of sending a small, effective delegation that Fiji could afford and lowering Fiji’s own carbon footprint, Fiji put out the begging bowl for three dozen people to travel.

The NFP Leader has questioned which donors gave Fiji the money, whether these donors aligned with Fiji’s interests at COP26 or were they big polluters such as China or Australia.

He also questions whether the Fijian Government was compromised.

Professor Prasad says regardless of who was paying, Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama and Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum should tell the people of Fiji what per diem allowances they collected for the duration of the trip.

He says tens of thousands of people have had their jobs and lives ruined by COVID-19 and can barely keep their families fed and perhaps the elected leaders are too ashamed to tell what money they have been able to receive in their two weeks away from the country.

Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum had earlier said that the travel, accommodation and allowances of the 30-plus Fijian Government delegation attending the United Nations Conference on Climate Change in Glasgow, Scotland are fully funded by various donors.

From Fijileaks Archive...What Bainimarama told London sugar talks, 2012

"Six years ago, my Government inherited a broken industry characterized by neglect, mismanagement, political interference, self-promoting trade unionists and corruption. It was used by some careless politicians as a way to win easy votes. But these votes were never translated into meaningful change. So we have set about trying to right these wrongs with a comprehensive series of reforms, but there are still many challenges to overcome."

COP THAT BIMAN PRASAD. Minister Charan Jeath Singh concludes that most attendees representing their countries (FIJI) at BAKU are wasting their time and are financial burdens. 'We need lean team at next COP 30'

21/11/2024

*A standard room at the Baku Holiday Inn is costing £700 a night for the duration of the conference- compared to £90 when the conference is over.

IT'S JUST A PHOTO: Graham Leung should have made every effort to detain Biman Prasad in Fiji so FICAC could charge the NFP Leader

Not a single sugarcane farmer in Fiji has directly accessed or received any assistance from climate finance and the injustice must end.

Minister for Sugar Industry Charan Jeath Singh highlighted this during a side event at COP29 and is calling for a transformation in global climate finance to ensure vulnerable communities, especially sugarcane farmers in Fiji, receive urgent support.

Singh outlined the reality faced by Fijian sugarcane farmers and rural communities, who continue to bear the brunt of climate change impacts without access to climate finance.

He further says not a single farmer in Fiji who has lost his or her sugarcane to a flood or a cyclone has been able to walk into a financial institution, present a proposal to fund farm-level recovery and adaptation have secure funding for it. Not one,” he said.

The Minister is also calling on the international communities to take bold action to ensure that decentralised climate finance flows directly to those in need. Source: Fijivillage News.

NFP's 'DAAKU IN BAKU'. Party president PARMOD CHAND should focus on his leader BIMAN Prasad who is hiding in Baku from FICAC. The FLP leader was caught hiding $2m in Sydney, found GUILTY, and Fined $1m

19/11/2024

*MAHENDRA CHAUDHRY was also barred from contesting 2014 election

PARMOD CHAND: The 2022 general election
LOSER to NFP Party President
In fact, Chaudhry got more votes (5,760) than Chand (1,857 votes) in the last election. Parmod Chand got most of his votes in the Northern Division (1,689)
*Moreover, FLP leader Mahendra Pal Chaudhry got more votes (5,760) than Agni Deo Singh (2,308 votes), Pio Tikoduadua (2,222 votes), Sashi Kiran (2024 votes) and Lenora Qereqeretabua (3741 votes)

Fijileaks: Both Biman Prasad and Parmod Chand, without mentioning our Founding Editor-in-Chief, have been harping on Chaudhry's $2m from India and his subsequent conviction in 2014

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL, FIJI
ON APPEAL FROM THE HIGH COURT
CRIMINAL APPEAL NO. AAU0010 of 2014
High Court Action No. HAC 137 of 2010
BETWEEN:
MAHENDRA PAL CHAUDHRY
Appellant
AND:
THE STATE
Respondent

Orders of Court:
(1) The conviction of the Appellant is affirmed.
(2) The fine imposed on the Appellant is $1,000,000 Fijian Dollars.
(3) The other orders in the sentence order are affirmed.
(4) The Appeal is dismissed subject to the variation in the fine.
Hon. Justice S. Chandra
JUSTICE OF APPEAL
Hon. Justice S. Temo
JUSTICE OF APPEAL
Hon. Justice C. Kotigalage
JUSTICE OF APPEAL

"VICTOR LAL displayed extraordinary persistence and skill in developing and uncovering the [tax] story in a series of articles over several months. His was a fine example of research and analysis based on documentation made available to him by sources who were also prepared to take a risk. The topic was complex requiring meticulous attention to detail in accompanying and presenting the facts."

*The 2008
Robert Keith-Reid Award for Outstanding Journalism, Victor Lal and Russell Hunter

We still believe that Mahendra Chaudhry should step down as FLP leader. In 2006, we made a similar call in the Fiji Sun* Opinion Column

In another country, the Leader of the Opposition after loosing a parliamentary election for the second time in his political career might have gracefully stepped down. Even if the leader lost with a razor-thin minority, it is never prudent for him to cling on to the leadership.

Such a practice is disdainfully frowned upon in most democratic systems, except in Africa, where dictatorial leaders hold on to party leadership in the hope of capturing power at the next election.

On the other hand, if the twice-defeated party leader in a western-style democracy refuses to relinquish control, he is humiliatingly forced out of the Opposition office through a ‘palace coup’ by one or some of his colleagues, supporters, or by a potential challenger.

Why should the Fiji Labor Party change its leader? Firstly, Mahendra Pal Chaudhry had his chance in 2001, and now again in the 2006 general election, to wrest political control of the nation from the Laisenia Qarase-led SDL party, but has failed.

This should be sufficient ground for him to take a parliamentary back seat, and let another Fiji Labor Party parliamentarian take the helm.

As his deputy Poseci Bune indicated during the campaign, there are parliamentarians in the party who have the clout and the experience to become Prime Minister.

Secondly, I still believe that it was a strategic blunder on the part of Mr. Chaudhry to have boycotted Parliament for a long spell over the issue of the allocation of Cabinet portfolios following the 2001 elections.

I pleaded with him to be visibly and vocally present in Parliament while continuing to pursue his legal case but it was to no avail. After all, his new found coalition partner Mick Beddoes, had stepped in and did a sterling job as Opposition leader.

Mr. Chaudhry’s entire political posture on the land issue, despite his genuine concern for the Indo-Fijian tenant farmers, was a potential vote loser among the Fijian voters.

It would be no exaggeration to suggest that its Coalition partner [Party of National Unity] PANU felt the full brunt of the Fiji Labor Party’s posturing on the land question at the ballot box.

The SDL was able to privately persuade the Fijian voters that PANU would not hesitate to ‘sell’ the landowners in a post Chaudhry-led government.

What other explanation can be put forward to explain why PANU was trounced in its own backyard in Ba and other western constituencies?

Cynics will attribute it to the politics of preference sharing and the electoral system.

Thirdly, despite being frequently described as a wily and cunning old political fox and one of the shrewdest of political operators in the country, I think Mr. Chaudhry miserably failed to take the Fijian pulse and gauge the political tempo of the 2006 election.

I was surprised that, having secured the Indo-Fijian communal seats through last-minute deals with the National Federation Party, he again popped up in the midst of electioneering to explain the alleged frauds and malpractices in terms of race i.e. that there was a sinister plot to disenfranchise the Indo-Fijian voters.

In the minds of many Fijian voters, he stamped an image of being a closet ‘Indo-Fijian nationalist and racist’, a charge that was frequently hurled at his political opponent and rival, Mr. Qarase.

In view of the dramatic shift in population where Fijians are now a majority race in the country, it is very important for any non-Fijian political leader to pitch at the Fijian voters, even if it means ‘betraying’ a part of the Indo-Fijian constituents. Elections, after all, are about winning, and Mr. Qarase played his cards very cleverly and strategically.

For example, once he forcefully made the point that Fiji was still not ready for an Indo-Fijian Prime Minister, his view, even if it was construed as racist, was relegated to the political backburner.

Mr. Chaudhry did not have the same fall back opportunity. He still needed the Fijian voters to make up the winning numbers.

Worse, by speaking the counterfeit sudh (standard) Hindi, the Fiji Labor Party failed to reach the 30 per cent of Fijians who speak Fiji Hindi.

These are just some of the reasons why I personally think it is time for Mr. Chaudhry to honorably relinquish the party leadership.

And if he refuses to go, well, it is up to those parliamentarians with clout and experience to become the next Prime Minister to come out of his political shadow.

Leaders and supporters come and go but the party has a life of its own.

There is nothing stopping Mr Chaudhry from becoming the elder statesman of the party that he helped found in 1985 with many visionary and multi-racialist Fijians.

The Fiji Labour Party blunderingly placed all its political eggs in one basket: it calculated that if it won at least 30 seats, and PANU and UPP their share of seats, it would go on to form the next government.

It was also hoping that the leader of the National Alliance Party, Ratu Epeli Ganilau, was going to win his seat until the NFP disclosed its preference against the paramount chief.

It also seems likely that the Fiji Labor Party had expected that Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s frightening and threatening statements might just persuade a sufficient number of Fijian voters to swing the results in the Fiji Labor Party-UPP-PANU’s favour.

I had thought otherwise, that the Commodore’s intervention in politics would backfire on the Fiji Labor Party.

Why does the Fiji Labor Party need a new leader? There are other indisputable reasons.

This was the last general election where race really mattered. In 2011 the Fijians will be the majority of the voters, and fully groomed in democratic politics. For this reason, the Fiji Labour Party will have to broaden its outlook, and cannot rely on Indo-Fijian voters in the Open seats to win future elections.

It will need a leader who has a ‘clean slate’ and preferably speaks the Fijian language (there are many Indo-Fijian parliamentarians who are fluent in Fijian).

It must also stop clinging to the politics of land to win votes.

I also think the NAP should spend the next five years building up a multi-racial platform, and if need be, replace the Fiji Labour Party as a truly genuine multi-racial party.

Over the years, Fijians from outer islands and other areas of Fiji have migrated to these areas, and the SDL ‘secret agents’ had done preparatory election homework by routinely attending funerals, church meetings, weddings, solis etc, and were able to exploit demography and democracy to their electoral advantage.

Most commentators, including the Fiji Labour Party, were too busy concentrating on the displaced farmers from Labasa, while some parties were exploiting their misery for political purposes.

When his own political obituary is written one day, Mr Chaudhry’s Fijian political rivals will sorely miss him: his towering and controversial presence on the political stage has so far welded the taukei Fijians into one political unit.

His presence has suppressed the politics of tribalism and regionalism so rampant on the continent of Africa, where their own ‘Chief Lutunasobasobas’, after expelling or marginalising the Asians (Indians) in their midst, are tearing their countries apart as they vie for political, economic, and military supremacy.

The Fiji Labor Party needs a complete political makeover if it is to win the next general election.

It needs to attract significant taukei Fijian political ‘kai vatas’ of its own to achieve that goal.

And the Indo-Fijian farmers will have to realise that in the rapidly changing demography they, and not their political representatives, will ultimately pay a price if they leave the decision on the land question in the hands of their new chosen Fiji Labour Party Members of Parliament.

The taukei Fijian landowners magnanimity and patience will finally run out on the politics of land leasing.

And any new Fiji Labor Party leader must begin his leadership on that cautionary note.

From Fijileaks Archives, 2017

Republic of Fiji Military Forces chief of staff Colonel Jone Kalouniwai has questioned the motives of National Federation Party parliamentarian Parmod Chand behind his incessant comments made in the political arena about the security force.

And, he has reminded Mr Chand that RFMF has done a lot for the country and has sacrificed a lot for the Fijian people.

During a rally in Labasa on Saturday, Mr Chand said he feared no one, not the Government and not the Republic of Fiji Military Forces.

Colonel Kalouniwai said this may be a matter of political survival for Mr Chand but for the RFMF, the institution was here to stay.

“I just want to raise concerns about the continuous comments the Honourable Member of Parliament Parmod Chand keeps making.

“He is always brin[g]ing in the RFMF in his political remarks and we are questioning his motive and the question I ask myself is what is he trying to prove.

“Mr Parmod Chand’s comments about the RFMF is for political leverage, to gain popularity and votes for elections.

“The race card is out of the window so his focus has become the Prime Minister and the RFMF. This shows his political immaturity,” Mr Kalouniwai said.

In reminding Mr Chand and the Fijian people what RFMF has done for the country, Mr Kalouniwai said Mr Chand cannot come close to contributing to this nation what RFMF has. He said there was no comparison between RFMF’s contribution to nation building and Mr Chand’s contribution, if any.

“No matter how much he barks at the RFMF, the institution has done a lot and sacrificed a lot for the country but for him this is a matter of political survival.”

Mr Kalouniwai has also advised Mr Chand to stick to ‘bread and butter’ issues of the Fijian people and not drag this country through the muck.

Mr Chand has also previously been very vocal about the RFMF in Parliament following which RFMF had released a statement clarifying some of Mr Chand’s remarks.

SPEAKING UP for Lautoka Lawyer. The NFP's failed poll candidate KIRTI PATEL, 'Who has paid attention to Aman-Ravindra Singh so far? What are we waiting for? Time is passing by with great lawyer's absence. Take action'

18/11/2024

From Fijileaks Archive, 3 March 2016

Shirley Park protestors

NEW CHICKEN CURRY IN OLD COOKING POT: For SIXTEEEN long years they hid from Bainimarama and the RFMF after they were sent packing for exploiting their commoner subjects to fatten themselves. Now, BACK

17/11/2024

Looking through his old folders, our Founding Editor-in-Chief saw this old drawing from the 90s when SVT was formed.
Looks like nothing much has changed with the current GCC 'kana lotos'

From Fijileaks Archives, 23 May 2023

The Ra Provincial Council and the Great Council of Chiefs in 1982, through two racist resolutions in Bau, tried to reassure the i-Taukei Fijians of their determination that they should, and always would, rule Fiji.
But they were happy to carry the WHITE MAN (WOMAN) on their shoulders.
Until Bainimarama disbanded them, and told them to 'Go Drink Homebrew Under the Tree', they were behaving like the Supreme Religious Rulers of Iran, terrorising dissident commoner i-Taukei Fijians, Indo-Fijians, and Others who dared to hold them to account.
Most who looted and bankrupted the National Bank of Fiji were chiefs, who had borrowed millions to run their so-called i-Taukei businesses, claiming Indo-Fijians dominated the Fijian economy.
They have NEVER suggested that an Indo-Fijian be nominated as President of Fiji. Instead, they are fighting to designate one of their own provincial tribal chief to replace the current President Katonivere.
The GCC Review Team (mostly from Tailevu, where my maternal family have deep roots) consists of i-Taukei Fijians and a Chinese, GRAHAM LEUNG, even though a re-constituted GGC will also impact Indo-Fijians.

The i-Taukei Chiefs, Thieves, and Others never thought that one of their very own - Frank Bainimarama - will disband the Great Council of Chiefs, and tell them to 'Go, Drink Homebrew Under the Tree'.*
*We hope the Chiefs meeting on Bau Island have sobered up in the last 16 years and will NEVER again embark on their self-destructive journey, dragging their commoner subjects and Fiji down the abyss.

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CONTEMPT OF COURT: Christopher Pryde to the late Fiji Sun publisher RUSSELL HUNTER, ​11 February 2008