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$31,593.41 payout to Mahendra Chaudhry: Two FRCA employees case dismissed; Police and Nalin Patel should be forced to explain roles!

31/5/2015

CHARGES of abuse of office against two former Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority officers were dismissed by the Suva Magistrates Court yesterday (29 May 2015).

This was after the Office of the DPP had filed a nolle prosequi signed by the DPP, Christopher Pryde when the matter was called in court. It was alleged that former general manager taxation, Vimal Krishna, on July 29, 2009, without documentary support, had directed Agesh Prakash to allow a loss of $808,436.09 which resulted in the payout of $31,593.41 to the former Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry.

Prakash, who was head of amendments and correspondence unit, on July 29, 2009, allegedly made unauthorised amendments to the tax return of Mahendra Chaudhry allowing loss which resulted in payout of $31,593.41. Such direction was an alleged abuse of authority thus prejudicing the rights of the Government of Fiji.

The duo’s lawyer Devanesh Sharma had earlier submitted to the ODPProsecution (Office of Director of Public Prosecutions) addressing them on some key elements. Mr Sharma, in his submission, said that it could not be disputed Krishna as general manager taxation had the power delegated to him to amend any tax assessment; that all supporting documents already existed in the tax file of Mahendra Chaudhry; that Krishna properly acted in accordance with FRCA’s Standard Operating Procedure.

Mr Sharma submitted that Krishna as general manager taxation was authorised to deal with high profile taxpayers; that FRCA until now did not challenge the tax assessment amended by Krishna. He also submitted that if FRCA wanted, it had the power to amend any tax assessment at any time but did not do this therefore it meant that the tax assessment amended by Krishna was correct.

Magistrate Shageeth Somaratne dismissed the case setting the two free of the allegations. Source: Fiji Sun

Fijileaks: If Vimal Krishna had the delegation, as part of his authority, why did this case (at taxpayers expense) go to trial in the first place - to have a statutory process clarified, i.e. did he have delegated powers or not. Krishna is working as in-house tax consultant with RPatel Lawyers. He joined the company before the case. Sharma is a partner in RPatel Lawyers.

Meanwhile, how the hell could Mahendra Chaudhry make a loss of $800,000 on overseas investments? To do that Chauhdry would have to have more stashed away than Lal and Hunter discovered - much more. It doesn't seem possible.

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USPGATE: VC Rajesh Chandra under fire from Pacific Islanders from USP; they accuse him of corruption, abuse of office and mismanagement

29/5/2015

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"An independent inquiry is the only way to resolve and find out the extent of the rot in the University. Fiji government which is a largest contributor to the budget should ask Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to investigate the abuse of office by the Vice Chancellor. The Council must take charge after its meeting in June so that a proper evaluation is taken before the funding commitment for the next 3 years."

A. Introduction

We as concerned Pacific Islanders who are proud of USP have serious concerns about the future of the University under the leadership of Rajesh Chandra. We know there have been several complaints in the past but these have been conveniently ignored and Rajesh Chandra has been cleared and he got his contract renewed. We also know that the investigations were in- house by the former Chair of Council, Mr. Ikbal Janif who was elected under dubious circumstances and engineered by the VC himself. He only won on a casting vote by the Chair of the Council. Ikbal Janif was also supported by Filipe Bole, Former Minister who is VC Chandra’s good friend and VC Chandra was cleared without any independent investigation. Since then there have been more issues and we cannot ignore this anymore.

Some of us who complained last time by putting our names were sued in the court in Fiji and hence we are not putting our names on this issue. Most of us who complained against harassment continue to face harassment by the hands of the thugs that VC keeps in each section on the university. These thugs have become so brave that they even verbally harass us in corridors and nothing is done about it.

But the issues we want to highlight are more serious and a lot of what was happening has accumulated to a point where it is now a crisis. We humbly request the USP Council and other stakeholders to have an independent investigation at USP.

1. There was much hype about the strategic plan for 2013-2018 which was used as a transformation document to renew VC Chandra’s contract. A closer look would suggest a big failure. An honest assessment for the last two years- 2013-2014 would suggest that more than 60% of what was to be achieved has not been achieved, for example the STAR review, campus development and appointment of professors etc. An independent audit would spell all this out.

2. STAR project has also been a failure and again the review done by USP through a consultant hired by the VC does not provide a true picture.

3. The ‘good to excellent’ is a dream which will never be realized under the leadership of VC Chandra as espoused in the strategic plan. Leadership of the University at all levels has been wanting and that is why the objectives of the strategic plan will not be realized.

4. There has been lack of leadership at the SMT level and one would have to ask the following questions: Why have so many SMT members left under VC Chandra:

i. Greg Arrowsmith- HR Director – soon after joining USP

ii. Munish Malik- Director Finance- left prematurely

iii. Susan Kelly- Deputy VC- left after dispute. She was paid a large sum by USP as compensation for the left over contract. Susan Kelly’s only fault was that she raised the issue of the murder-suicide of a student (Joytika) and the role of some senior staff who were close buddies of the VC (Professor Sudesh Mishra). This matter has only been superficially investigated and swept under the carpet.

iv. Michael Gregory- Pro VC Planning and Quality- left in frustration. In this case VC Chandra committed abuse of office- where he authorized payment including tax paid on his behalf. This issue has also been swept under the carpet as well.

v. Biman Prasad- Dean FBE- Resigned early in his second term. The acting Dean appointed is just a senior lecturer has been there for the last 3 years. VC has not been able to recruit a dean for FBE in the last 3 years.

vi. Heather Stadel- new HR Director left early. No director and hardly any senior staff left.

vii. Professor John Bythell- just left his DVC position. Privately John Bythell was very upset with the dictatorial style of the VC.

To cover up, he hurriedly got an old man appointed as Acting DVC for a year and we think the University beached Fiji government immigration policy.

viii. Mr. Adish Naidu- one of the best Director of Physical Planning and Facilities. He was wrongfully suspended. The first preliminary committee did not find anything against him but VC instituted another round of investigation (abuse of power and office) but still could not find anything. Adish Naidu was reinstated but after a while decided to leave the University and we believe a civil court action is underway and University will end up paying him compensation. We here [hear] now that VC has forced a appointment of a foreigner who is not even qualified over regional candidates.

ix. We are told that there are serious cracks in the SMT and it is likely that two senior SMT members could leave in frustration sooner than later. One of them is highly qualified regional Vice President from Tonga.

x. The Vice Chancellor has adopted and increasingly dictatorial style of management and in the process has made several blunders and has hidden them from the council. The case of the promotion of Dr. Anjeela Jokhan to Associate Professor is a scandal and has been swept under the carpet. The Vice Chancellor reportedly manipulated the procedure, changed rules and forced his way to promote her despite objection by SMT members like Deputy Vice Chancellor Susan Kelly- who provided a written objection. THIS IS A MAJOR SCANDAL- IN ANY UNIVERSITY THE VICE CHANCELLOR WOULD HAVE BEEN SACKED. (all the papers should be in the HR office)

xi. Apart from SMT members many senior professors have left the University in frustration. Tourism professor, psychology professor, geography professor, mathematics professor, economics head and professor and several others. Officially they will appear like they have normally left but many of them left in frustration. In the strategic plan, the target was to get 60 professors- we hardly have 20 full-time professors in the university and it is almost impossible for the University to recruit more professors in the next few years.

xii. It would be interesting to account for all the reviews that have been undertaken by consultants under VC Chandra. Every time he makes a blunder in a section such as HR, Finance etc. he orders a review and the recommendations of the review are never implemented. Just take the case of the HR section. Since his appointment as VC in 2008 VC Chandra has not been able to sort out that section. Recently he has decided again to review the HR section when many reviews and consultants have already done the review, made money and have left. Donors have happily funded these reviews in good faith but the results have been disappointing.

B. UGC Submission 2016-2018- LIES AND EXAGGERATION

1. The University Council and stakeholders must scrutinize this document carefully because our analysis shows that it is actually a fraud on the University. Most of the responses are massaged to portray a good picture without any tangible outcomes. In some cases there are outputs but the outcome is still nowhere to be seen. Some key points to note and which needs further clarification and interrogation. They are as follows:

i. The projected surplus of $22.5 million over the next three years is an exaggeration and unachievable.

ii. For example recommendation 2.6 in the last UGC report on campus expansion. The response of the University is somewhat of a lie. The business plans for Kiribati, Solomon Islands, Lautoka and Labasa have all been exaggerated. While Kiribati campus is progressing- it had to go through new requests for funding. Solomon Islands campus site was not properly done and University pushed for an unrealistic location and is shifting the blame on the Solomon Islands Government when it should have known that the location was unrealistic. Lautoka campus land was traded for bigger land but the price for the new one was not negotiated well and USP now finds that the FSC wants a higher price. This project would be dead. So the response of the University to the last UGC recommendation has not been an honest one. This pattern of response is found in all the responses to the last UGC report.

iii. UGC and council members would remember that VC Chandra pushed for government contribution reduction over the last six years, playing politics with the regional governments. Having asked for the reduction in government funding for the last several years- he now comes up with the request that government contribution be increased by 10% for the next three years. This is an absolute blunder. Governments will now be burdened to increase their contribution in a big way. This shows poor planning and management of finances by VC Chandra.

iv. More worrying is his insistence that University could save $15 million dollars over the next three years. This is again exaggerated and design to hoodwink the council members. Our analysis shows that even a $5 million dollar saving in the next three years would be near impossible. In 2014 the surplus was only $300,000- how he can save $15 million or even $5 million over three years is mind-boggling.

v. Careful analysis of the budgets and surpluses for the last several years shows that the University actually misled the council on surpluses, income and expenditure.

vi. There seems to be confusion with the deferred revenue, projects funds and surpluses. These have not been clearly presented.

vii. On the expenditure side, under VC Chandra, expenditure has been poorly managed. Large amounts have been paid as legal fees to lawyers (______ of, Munro Leys operates from USP), and compensation paid to staff who have taken the University to court- a thorough investigation on this aspect will reveal poor management and leadership.

viii. Several expenditures relating to buildings, repair and maintenance is done without careful planning and there are always over expenditures. Expatriates get the favour from the VC. Recently he has authorized a new flat for an expatriate Vice President as a special favour to him.

Project fund management.

The biggest blunder USP made is with respect to the PICPA project and others. PICPA project had a budget of about $45-50 million but lack of leadership by USP and Vice Chancellor saw the Australian government withdrawing most of it (roughly F$40million). It is run by a small complement of staff who does consultancies at high rates and also receive pay. Arvind Patel – who is VC’s favourite (‘it needs to be noted that this academic had sexual, professional harassment cases, he even was investigated by FICAC for taking undeclared cash at the airport. He has never allowed anyone to be appointed/promoted.) His HoS appointment itself is against the staff policy

ix. is now acting Director and we are told – he receives close to $400,000 per year in addition to in-house consultancies he is getting.

x. Payment of inflated salaries to certain favourite staff- Husmuk Lal- Director TVET; Jai Karan, receiving commission we here [hear] - Arvind Patel and others who are close to VC.

xi. Engagement of foreign consultants- some of them are known personally to the Vice Chancellor. Some of them are retired people with not much to offer have been hired as consultants in a consistent manner and without any tender process. A fellow from Melbourne, called Frank Larkins travels business class on a regular basis to offer advice and on an astounding daily consultancy package.

xii. Value for money for these consultants is a key question and how much the University has spent on them and what value it has added or how it has led to any tangible benefits.

C. Concluding Comments

The University is at the crossroads. IN MANY WAYS IT HAS REACHED A CRISIS POINT. It could end up being a big failure if the Council and the UGC and governments do not scrutinize the financial, academic and governance aspects of the University. We could be heading towards a sustainable decline of the University. Only and independent inquiry into the operations of the University would bring out the real mismanagement and decline of the university in the last several years.

The council should investigate why the VC has a rule that no staff can take any complaint to the Council level. What if a senior SMT is being discriminated and the VC has an issue. Where does this SMT member go to?
For several years the Vice Chancellor has managed to feed exaggerated outputs and achievements of the University to the council and donors especially Australia and New Zealand. They need to raise some critical questions in an independent manner.

The Council may have been reduced to a rubber stamp by the VC because of the communication and his reporting to the Council based on what he wants from different sections to report.

An independent inquiry is the only way to resolve and find out the extent of the rot in the University. Fiji government which is a largest contributor to the budget should ask Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to investigate the abuse of office by the Vice Chancellor. The Council must take charge after its meeting in June so that a proper evaluation is taken before the funding commitment for the next 3 years.

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/uspgate-while-usp-claims-it-doesnt-have-2m-to-fix-crumbling-staff-accommodations-it-is-forking-out-120000-to-renovate-the-vc-rajesh-chandras-house-and-more-to-be-spent-one-perk-for-vc-another-for-staff

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/usp-staff-skullduggery-crying-out-for-answers-from-vc-chandra

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/dictatorship-at-usp-regime-lackey-vc-rajesh-chandra-takes-a-leaf-out-of-his-guardian-khaiyums-book-to-demand-grievances-and-internal-differences-are-hidden-within-confines-of-university-and-not-made-public

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/usp-betrayal-craddock-refuses-to-sign-the-apology-letter-accuses-esther-williams-and-heather-stadel-of-betrayal-listen-to-the-audio-tape-there-was-no-mention-of-further-actioni-have-broken-no-rules

ANY TIPS: FNU's vice-chancellor Dr Ganesh Chand, left, with USP's vice-chancellor Professor Rajesh Chandra, and deputy vice-chancellor Dr Esther Williams during a meeting at the head office in Suva in 2013

2015: Ganesh Chand on his way to High Court

Fijileaks:
More e-mails from inside USP on various corrupt matters will be revealed; FNUGATE - We are not finished with FNU, more coming soon!

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STICKY APPOINTMENT: Another conflict of interest as Joe Rodan is appointed a director on the Fiji Sugar Corporation board; he is an employee of the South Pacific distillery who buys molasses from FSC

28/5/2015

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The Fiji Sugar Corporation has recorded profits for the past three years.

The financial reports that were revealed at the annual general meeting in Lautoka yesterday showed a $1.8m profit for 2012, $6.2m for 2013 and $6.9m for last year.

Executive chair Abdul Khan says the AGM was successful and they had received positive comments from shareholders.

“If you look at the positives for the company – the actual operating cost is coming down – that is positive – the efficiency gain is there in the form of TCTS, the profitability has been declared at $6.9m for the year 2014.”

Khan says one of the few concerns raised was the challenge of tackling world sugar price in future.

He says the company is in a better position now and the actual operating cost of FSC is coming down.

Abdul Khan says the financial statements for the past 3 years were not released as the report has commercially sensitive information.

He says the industry wasn’t in a good shape for the past 3 to 4 years and they withheld the financial reports to protect the shareholders from compromising their position.

Meanwhile three new directors were appointed to the FSC Board yesterday.

They are Joseph Rodan, Arvind Singh and Tevita Kuruvakadua.

Alipate Qetaki and Dijendra Singh have retired.- See more at: http://www.fbc.com.fj/fiji/29857/fsc-records-profits-for-past-3-years#sthash.o9dr6b8K.dpuf

$225m reality

THE Fiji Sugar Corporation's liabilities exceed its current assets by $225.4million, its 2014 annual report released at the company annual general meeting in Lautoka yesterday revealed.

Independent auditors BDO Chartered Accountants also reported that the corporation incurred losses during recent years.

"During the year ended May 31, 2014, the corporation incurred a loss (before reversal impairment loss) of $28m," the external auditor said.

The corporation, it said, was also not generating adequate cash flows to meet all its commitments and obligations as and when they fell due.

Last week, Parliament agreed to extend the Government guarantee on the company's $120m loan with ANZ Bank.

"As at May 31, 2014, total liabilities of the corporation exceed total assets resulting in net liabilities of $86.9m.

"The current liabilities exceed the current assets by $225.4m," the report stated.

It added that the corporation had significant debt repayment commitments amounting to $213.2m during the financial year ending May 31, 2014.

"Furthermore, the corporation may require funding to meet its working capital and capital expenditure requirements."

It stated that the above conditions and other matters of the financial statements indicated the existence of a material uncertainty that cast significant doubt about the corporations and the group's ability to continue as a going concern.

"The appropriateness of the going concern assumption on which the financial statements are prepared is critically dependent on the government's support to the corporation and the sugarcane industry, the restructuring of the corporation's debt and additional equity to enable the corporation to continue in operation for at least 12 months.

"The appropriateness of the going concern assumption is also dependent on improved quantity and quality of cane supply together with improvements in mill performance and other factors."

In his statement FSC executive chairman Abdul Khan said 2014 was a challenging one for the corporation with even lower world sugar prices and the convergence of the European Union prices towards the lower world prices. He said the company stayed steadfast in its strategy of continuous incremental improvements in its sugar manufacturing operations as it approached world best practice in terms of sugar extraction.

He said a major achievement for the company and the farmers was the record payment of sugarcane, which at $88.49 per tonne of sugarcane was the highest in the history of the industry.

The report said the company recorded a modest profit of $6.9million for the year - a slight increase from the previous year of $6.3million.

"This means that the company has been able to maintain its profitability over the last three years.

"The contributing factors to the retention of profitability over the last three years have been an increase in operating revenue from $199million to $224million. There was an increase in the cost of sales by $19.4million due mainly to the additional payout to the farmers. Source: Fiji Times

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WRONG HERO HAILED. Police sources claim their boss is not the real hero who confronted Flagstaff robbers but 71 year-old USP lecturer!

27/5/2015

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When 5 men entered the Distill outlet in Flagstaff and threatened the staff on Thursday night, of course the Police Commissioner was having dinner there but when the event transpired, there were two lecturers from USP also having dinner there and one of the senior expariate lecturers who is 71 years old first stood up to confront the thieves by picking up the chair. The Police Commissioner just stood behind the lecturer and ducked when the thieves backed away threatening to haul bottles.

As they backed a bit after the 71 year old lecturer stood his ground only then the commissioner of police stepped forward to state he was commissioner of police and he was merely graced when bottles were hauled.

The real hero is the 71 year old lecturer from USP, and the newspapers have been used to spread propaganda for the commissioner as his contract is coming to an end and he has already stated to Minister of Dfence requesting an extension which is also in breach of the Constitution as its clearly states that the compol must retire at age of 65 years. Fijileaks police source

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SPEAKER brought disrepute to Fiji Parliament by not recusing herself, allowing Khaiyum to be complainant, judge, and executioner, and her Deputy Speaker to sign off the two year suspension against Lalabalavu!

22/5/2015

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"And also all things considered, Lalabalavu didn’t help himself, his colleges [Fijileaks: colleagues] or his country by behaving such dishonorably. The opposition needs to pull its act together or else it will remain in opposition for a very long time." - A Fijileaks Commentator

There she was, sitting in the Speaker's chair on her own case, making rulings on conflict of interest; it was rather like putting a partisan referee on duty for a vital rugby match; worst, she ruled that the unbroadcast Communications Fiji Ltd audio recording which the broadcaster passed to Khaiyum, and was played to the Privileges Committee, would not be replayed in her Parliament before MPs voted on Ratu Naiqama’s fate. Luveni offended the dignity of Parliament when she continued to involve herself and her Deputy Ruveni Nadalo in the entire debate. The Honorable thing for her to have done was to RECUSE herself and also to remove her Deputy Nadalo from the Privileges Committee - not to mention Khaiyum, who should never have sat on the Committee when he was the principal complainant who brought the motion before Parliament. But as Fijileaks had pointed out before, during and after the election, HE has broken every rule in the book to ensure that he is MR FIJI DICTATOR!

'I never denied saying it': Ratu Naiqama

Suspended Member of Parliament Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu says he never denied using the slur which saw him referred to the Privileges Committee.

Speaking in Parliament last night, Ratu Naiqama said he had a lot more to say at the constituency meeting.

He says the House should have been allowed to hear the audio recording where he claims he asked people to be patient, give time to the parliament and to the government.

“When we listen you don’t only make judgments from the first part of the speech. You need to take the full context of what transpired in that meeting – and only then madam Speaker would one be able to get the full picture of where I was coming from and what was said at that meeting.”

Speaker of the House Dr. Jiko Luveni last night ruled the audio file which was played to the Privileges Committee would not be replayed in parliament before MPs voted on Ratu Naiqama’s fate.

Ratu Naiqama isn’t allowed to enter the parliament precincts for 2 years. Source: FBC News

Khaiyum: Fiji Women's Crisis Centre wanted severe action taken against Lalabalavu; Fijileaks: when the same Centre had called for severe action to be taken against Speaker when she was Womens Minister, Khaiyum did nothing - Luveni had blamed women and their dress choices for rape! Below, excerpt from Privileges Committee re Lalabalavu:

WHERE WERE JITOKO LUVENI AND AIYAZ KHAIYUM WHEN RFMF THUGS WERE BEATING UP LUVENI'S FELLOW SISTERS WHO WERE DEMANDING DEMOCRACY AND NOT DICTATORSHIP IN FIJI?

Shamima Ali

Aiyaz Khaiyum's Privileges Committee cited Fiji Women's Crisis Centre's call for stiff penalty against Lalabalavu and yet when the FWCC had condemned Women's Minister Luveni's RAPE remarks, Khaiyum had turned a deaf ear.

Press Release, May 2014

The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre is appalled and outraged by the statements made by the Minister for Women, Social Welfare and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Jiko Luveni, on how women's dress and behaviour "invites trouble"(Fiji Sun Friday May 16)

"The statements made by the Minister amount to victim blaming at its worst, are contrary to all accepted knowledge on the causes of rape and sexual assault and are frankly outrageous and unacceptable" said Shamima Ali, the Coordinator of FWCC.

"It is time that we stopped blaming innocent victims and put the onus squarely where it belongs - on the perpetrators. Public attitudes are fostered by statements made by those in authority and it is therefore their responsibility to ensure that the correct messages are going out to the public. For the Minister for Women to make such statements is downright irresponsible and is an immense insult to all victims of rape and sexual assault. We can only hope that the public now has the knowledge to disregard this statement and treat it with the contempt it deserves." added Ali.

"Victims of rape and sexual assault range from little babies to elderly women in their seventies and eighties, and women with disabilities. Children and women are raped in their homes - it is not clothes or behaviour such as "drinking with guys in isolated places" which causes rape, but the sense of power and entitlement that men feel over women. Rape is an exercise and abuse of power and is not the "responsibility" of victims".

"We are often asked why rape continues to be such a big problem in Fiji" added Ali. "These kinds of comments, which provide encouragement to rapists and potential rapists, go a long way in explaining why."

"The Minister's statements show her absolute ignorance of the dynamics of sexual assault." Ali said further. "Such ignorance is totally unacceptable in someone who holds a ministerial position and is in a position to influence/set Government policy which impacts the lives and well being of the women of Fiji. "

"Furthermore, the statements by this Minister negate the impact of the progressive statements made by the Prime Minister on the gravity of physical and sexual violence against women in Fiji (Fiji Sun 13 February 2014)" Ali added. "We demand that the Minister retract her statements immediately, and apologise to all victims of sexual assaults, as well as to all the women and girls of this country, for the offence that she has caused."

THE UNDIGNIFIED JOURNEY TO PARLIAMENT: KHAIYUM'S CRIMES:

MADAM SPEAKER HITCHED A FREE RIDE INTO PARLIAMENT ON THE STOLEN 'BLUE BUS' DRIVEN BY BAINIMARAMA AND COMMANDEERED BY AIYAZ SAYED KHAIYUM - SO STOP PREACHING ABOUT PROTECTION OF SPEAKER'S CHARACTER AND CONDUCT AND THE DIGNITY OF THE INSTITUTION OF PARLIAMENT; IT IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THIS IS A DRESS REHEARSAL TO ENSURE SMOOTH TRANSITION OF MADAM NAZHAT SHAMEEM (IF SHE IS NOMINATED) AS THE
FIRST WOMAN PRESIDENT OF FIJI?

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The Vodafone Fiji rugby team that they don't want to you see- Under 20

22/5/2015

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Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum with the world champion Vodafone Fiji 7s team at Holiday Inn

"A year later, 2012, and Bainimarama's son-in-law Sale Sorovaki was made U20 coach and the team’s ranking collapsed from 6th to 11th"

While the military backed regime basks in the reflected glory of the Vodafone Fiji 7s teams, there is one Vodafone-sponsored national rugby team that FRU President Frank Bainimarama and his brother-in-law chairman Francis ‘Killer’ Kean want to hide away. And Fiji’s gormless media will no doubt help in the cover-up.

The Vodafone Fiji U20 team, which represents the pipeline of the next generation of Fijian rugby superstars, have had a catastrophic World Cup and a simple analysis shows that Bainimarama and his gun-toting goons have to shoulder much of the blame.

The U20 side are currently in the second tier World Rugby U20 competition, an 8-team tournament being played in Portugal at the moment. Based on results at this tournament, they were hoping to be promoted back into the top tier of the 12 best nations, (where they were until Frank Bainimarama took over the FRU in 2011 with a government-backed coup against the elected board).

But the very same day that Vodafone boss Pradeep Lal was bragging to local media how Bainimarama favourite phone company had transformed Fiji rugby through their sponsorship, his Vodafone-backed U20 lost to Uruguay at the World Rugby U20 by 26 points to 28. That followed a dismal thrashing by Georgia 30-13 when the Fiji team looked absolutely bewildered, as if playing the sport for the first time. Only an opening round win over Portugal saved Fiji from the humiliating possibility of being relegated into the third tier.

So Fiji’s final match will be an embarrassing playoff with Namibia for 5th place honours in a competition only made up of eight teams.

According to World Rugby statistics, Georgia and Uruguay have less than 12,000 registered players between them, whereas Fiji has more than 37,000. In other words you could add together the number of players in both the countries that beat Fiji and treble the number and you still wouldn’t have the same naturally abundant rugby resource that Bainimarama’s administration has managed to squander.

But don’t expect Fiji’s clueless sports media to follow that up in any shape or form.

And don’t expect this very elementary comparison of the fortunes of the Fiji U20 team before and after Frank’s rugby coup:

·         In 2009, the FRU board was genuinely independent of Bainimarama’s military government, with the PM’s nominee being the permanent secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sports. In that year, Fiji was ranked #16 but after improving was promoted into the top-tier, 12-team tournament.

·         In 2010, the late national U20 coach Eroni Vereivalu piloted the U20s from a 12th ranking to 8th position

·         A year later Inoke Male nudged them even higher, up from 8th to 6th position.

But 2011 was when Bainimarama staged his coup – demanding that the board, led by current Sodelpa MP Bill Gavoka, resign if the FRU wanted government funding for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

From that point on, the FRU has been Bainimarama’s play-thing. And the results have been catastrophic. The new FRU chairman was the Land Force Commander Colonel Mosese Tikoitoga. One of the key decisions made by the Tikoitoga board was to abandon the academy system that was largely paid for by the International Rugby Board and which provided a national overview for grassroots development of elite players through the age groups.

·         A year later, 2012, and Bainimarama's son-in-law Sale Sorovaki was made U20 coach and the team’s ranking collapsed from 6th to 11th. Tikoitoga was again the chairman. Bill Gadolo in 2013 was coach (this year’s coach) and the team again finished 11th. The FRU chairman was the permanent secretary of Finance Filimone Waqabaca, handpicked by Bainimarama, and parachuted onto the board without election, as the PM’s nominee.

·         And then last year the team was relegated to 12th position, fell through the trap door and was demoted into the Tier 2 structure. Again under Waqabaca’s leadership and Bainimarama’s rule.

The best position that the Vodafone Fiji U20 side can hope for in 2015 will be 17th, if they beat Namibia – or 18th if they don’t.

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TO KHAIYUM: When will you act against BALA? Now, new MP Leawere served with papers from Khaiyum, challenging Electoral Commission's decision to award him seat; Leawere told to appear before High Court

22/5/2015

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Communications Fiji Ltd did not broadcast the audio recording and the first time Fiji heard of what was said was from the mouth of Khaiyum in Parliament; Opposition's view in the Parliamentary Privilege Committee!

21/5/2015

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Who will replace Lalabalavu for the next two years; another farce arising out of Aiyaz Khaiyum's 2013 Constitution of Fiji - already unsuccessful candidates 'planting cassava' are told to come and take up seats - in DEMOCRACY the vacant parliamentary seat would have gone to bye-election! However, Lalabalavu will remain MP but will not be able to enter Parliament precincts, not get paid during the two years and Sodelpa will be one MP down when it comes to voting on key issues!

Remember Bainimarama smashing up NZ TV reporter's microphone - YES, Fiji did not hear about it because Fijians journalists including Fijivillage journalists pretended they never saw or heard of the incident!
CENSORSHIP: Read carefully - how Fijivillage left itself out of the script - when it was its journalists who ran with their non-broadcasting audio-recording to Khaiyum and Luveni against Lalabalavu!

Ratu Naiqama suspended from Parliament for two years

By Vijay Narayan and Ronal Deo Friday 22/05/2015

SODELPA parliamentarian, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu (right) outside parliament SODELPA parliamentarian Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu has been suspended from Parliament for two years of the term of Parliament, with immediate effect.

27 Members of parliament voted in favor of the Parliamentary Privileges Committee’s recommendation while 18 members voted against it and four members did not vote.

The members of parliament debated until 9pm last night.

The Opposition also filed a motion that if any breach is found, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu should be asked to withdraw the comments he made and that be the end of the matter, however this motion was defeated in parliament.

As strongly recommended by the Parliamentary Privileges Committee Ratu Naiqama must also issue a public apology in writing to the Speaker.

Ratu Naiqama will not be allowed to enter the parliamentary precincts including the Opposition Office and if he fails to comply, necessary enforcement measures must be imposed to ensure compliance.

Following the decision, Opposition members walked out of parliament and refused to make any comments when approached by Fijivillage.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says this was a serious matter and a decision had to be made.

Sayed-Khaiyum says government members did not take it lightly as the Speaker was directly attacked.

This case is in relation to the foul language and derogatory comments made by Ratu Naiqama in a SODELPA public meeting in Makoi last Thursday when he was asked about the Speaker’s decisions.

The Parliamentary Privileges Committee says in Fiji, there is a pressing need to strengthen institutions and in particular Parliament or the Legislature which was directly and physically attacked in the coups of 1987 and 2000.

It says it is also critical that our children and younger population are not exposed to this type of denigration as the norm or see that Parliament is condoning such behaviour by a senior Member of Parliament and someone who holds a particular social status.

The committee also highlighted that the late former MP, Anand Babla was suspended from parliament for making comments about the Speaker outside parliament.

It says as highlighted in the Babla case, Babla did not use any foul words and yet was suspended from parliament for two sittings.

The committee says the matter currently before the Privileges Committee is unprecedented and far more severe and gruesome than the matter in the Babla case.

The Opposition MPs in the committee, Semesa Karavaki and Tupou Draunidalo also gave their view in the report.

They submitted that if parliamentary privileges do not extend outside of the House then any alleged act of breach outside of the House is not a breach of privilege.

The Opposition Members also believe that in the interests of fairness and justice, the recording of the meeting ought to be subjected to expert, forensic scrutiny.

The Opposition says Ratu Naiqama was not referring to the Speaker or any one person in that part of his speech.

They also say that the words spoken by Ratu Naiqama was the wise counsel of restraint and forbearance and understanding from a paramount chief to the political supporters of the SODELPA political party that included his subjects and elders.

The Opposition says there has been no breach of privilege by Ratu Naiqama on either standard of proof.

They also say that due to the lack of consensus in the committee, parliament needs to hear the recording in question and read the minutes and verbatim of the proceedings to fairly pass judgment in their deliberations on the motion.

The Chairman of the Privileges Committee is Ruveni Nadalo.

The government members are Aiyaz Sayed‑Khaiyum, Faiyaz Koya and Inia Seruiratu while the opposition members are Semesa Karavaki and Tupou Draunidalo.

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TWO YEAR BAN?: Khaiyum recommends Lalabalavu be banned from Parliament for two years; Communications Fiji Ltd audio recording used to inflict severest penalty for slur against the Speaker Jitoko Luveni

21/5/2015

18 Comments

AIYAZ KHAIYUM'S GOVERNMENT HAS RECOMMENDED THE SUSPENSION OF RATU NAIQAMA FOR A PERIOD OF TWO YEARS. TWO MEMBERS OF OPPOSITION ON THE COMMITTEE DISAGREED - THEIR REPORT IS SEPARATE - BUT PART OF THIS REPORT. IT WAS TABLED THIS MORNING - WILL BE DEBATED LATER POSSIBLE TODAY - LIKELY TO BE PASSED BECAUSE OF GOVERNMENT NUMBERS;
Khaiyum chooses to ignore the Zambia Supreme Court judgment of 2003, focusing instead on one Fijian case of Anand Babla (1998), who was suspended for merely two sittings from Parliament:

Fijileaks: We hold no brief for Lalabalavu nor condone his attack on the Speaker. What we condemn in the strongest term is the DOUBLE STANDARD of Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum - within two days he got a judgment against Lalabalavu and yet it took months for Khaiyum to find a magistrate to try Parveen Bala for allegedly causing death by dangerous driving; worst, Bala gets one promotion after another in Government - so a slur on a Speaker is so grave that Lalabalavu must be banned from Parliament for two years and a family which lost its only bread winner are still waiting for justice and closure! COME ON!

18 Comments

USPGATE: While USP claims it doesn't have $2m to fix crumbling staff accommodations, it is forking out $120,000 to renovate the VC Rajesh Chandra's house and more to be spent; one perk for VC, another for staff

20/5/2015

6 Comments

VC Chandra is again renovating his house. According to highly placed Fijileaks sources inside USP, 10 air conditioners are being changed - all new household items including vacuum cleaner have been ordered from Australia to turn house befitting 'An Indian Maharaja' in Fiji!

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/broke-usp-doesnt-have-22million-to-fix-existing-accommodations

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Fijileaks: More e-mails from inside USP on various corrupt matters will be revealed; FNUGATE - We are not finished with FNU, more coming soon!

"And also all things considered, Lalabalavu didn’t help himself, his colleges [Fijileaks: colleagues] or his country by behaving such dishonorably. The opposition needs to pull its act together or else it will remain in opposition for a very long time." - A Fijileaks Commentator

WHERE WERE JITOKO LUVENI AND AIYAZ KHAIYUM WHEN RFMF THUGS WERE BEATING UP LUVENI'S FELLOW SISTERS WHO WERE DEMANDING DEMOCRACY AND NOT DICTATORSHIP IN FIJI?

THE UNDIGNIFIED JOURNEY TO PARLIAMENT: KHAIYUM'S CRIMES:

"A year later, 2012, and Bainimarama's son-in-law Sale Sorovaki was made U20 coach and the team’s ranking collapsed from 6th to 11th"

VC Chandra is again renovating his house. According to highly placed Fijileaks sources inside USP, 10 air conditioners are being changed - all new household items including vacuum cleaner have been ordered from Australia to turn house befitting 'An Indian Maharaja' in Fiji!

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More e-mails from inside USP on various corrupt matters will be revealed; FNUGATE - We are not finished with FNU, more coming soon!