Blog Archives

CHARLATAN CONSULTANT or HONEST PAY BROKER? Canadian KEVIN DEVEAUX and UNDP Fiji must be reported to UN Ombudsman for shoddy inappropriate advice to Coalition government regarding Pay/Allowances

31/5/2024

Fijileaks: The way Kevin Deveaux decided on salary change is completely different from way the UN does it. They do a market survey, look at comparators and cost of living and set post adjustment allowance rather than full salary scale change.
*The so-called Independent Consultant Kevin Deveaux did not abide by the UN rules for salary advice, raising questions whether he was an Honest Broker or a Charlatan who has inflicted further financial pain and suffering on the people of Fiji?

"In addition, with support from the Parliament’s staff, interviews were arranged with other actors as part of the in-country interviews. However, some interlocutors were not available for an interview or did not reply to repeated requests for an interview. For example, there was no submission or interview with the Speaker or Deputy Speaker of Parliament, the Office of the Prime Minister or the State President or his office"
Independent Consultant Kevin Deveaux

Kevin Deveaux

Chair, Lynda Tabuya

"The committee decided to engage an Independent consultancy firm or individual as it strongly felt it should not be reviewing its own salaries and allowances. The Committee published an advertisement calling for independent consulting firms or individuals to undertake the review and make recommendations to the committee. With no success locally, we reached out to UNDP to assist us to find an independent consulting firm, noting that UNDP would be funding the independent consulting firm, they identified Mr Kevin Deveaux. After conducting the review, the independent consultant reported back to the Emoluments Committee, which endorsed the recommendations. There were some increases, some reductions and some retained.
Lynda Tabua, Chair, Parliamentary Emoluments Committee

Fijileaks: We have decided to abridge his REPORT but you can read the full Report, starting at p.78 at the link we have provided at the bottom.

Fijileaks: NFP leader BIMAN PRASAD and his party, since he became leader in 2014, keep claiming that Prasad sacrificed $100,000 a year pay and perks at USP to serve the country.
As we promised recently, we will soon put to rest his and the party's LIES, for he and his wife Rajni (USP lecturer) own plots of lands worth over $1million dollars, houses, cars, and cash in Fiji and NZ banks running into thousands of dollars.
He could afford to vote against the pay rise, the 'Indian Paisawallah'.

Meanwhile, we let Kevin Deveaux speak to us in his 'Independent Report'

Click here to read Full Report

'We misread law and I was not properly advised' admits RABUKA as he defends Gazetting of Pay Rise and Allowances Report prepared by Lynda Tabuya and TEAM. When was last time Rabuka was advised of right law?

31/5/2024

So far, Sitiiveni Rabuka has demonstrated no leadership in the footsteps of the late Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna, and his so-called educated i-Taukei lawyers seem to lack basic grasp of parliamentary laws.
As former Speaker of Parliament and Lawyer, Ratu Sukuna must be turning in his grave. Rabuka's lawyers are Truly an A**e (Ass) in Fiji.
*Most shocking is the i-Taukeinization of the Fiji Judiciary, stuffed by his 1987 sympathizers and the late Laisenia Qarase's legal cronies.

Fijileaks: The 2013 Constitution of Fiji stipulates that the remuneration of Ministers, MPs, the President, Speaker etc is to be prescribed by a written law. Written law is defined as an Act or Subordinate Legislation.
In 2014 Parliament passed the Parliamentary Remunerations Act 2014. It says that the remuneration of those individuals is to be determined by resolution of Parliament that will form part of the schedule to the Act.
It further states that the determination must express an expiry date but does not expire on the date unless it has been replaced by a new determination. Remuneration was last set by resolution 2016.
The wording of that resolution made clear that Parliament was adopting the Committee's recommendations as a determination.
Lynda Tabuya's motion referred to the section of the Act and two superfluous sections. It concluded with the word determination but did not make clear what was happening.
That was why Sitiveni Rabuka and others in Parliament had made incorrect statements that the resolution was NOT effective until the Act was amended.
It seems that they went through the motions with no one explaining what the legal requirements were and what was happening.
We must be reminded that the resolution is effective once passed.
The Speaker's Gazette notice is only to give the public notice.
Now, Sitiveni Rabuka is blaming BAD LEGAL ADVICE to him
Will he SACK the lawyers - the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, especially lawyer Lynda Tabuya, Chair of pay hike and allowance Report?

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka revealed that he was wrongly advised regarding the approval of the Parliament’s Emolument Committee report, which proposes adjustments to members of Parliament’s salary and benefits.

It comes after the report proposals has been gazetted, and is now binding on the Executive arm of Government to implement.

He says they mis-read the law, and were not properly advised.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Rabuka told Fiji One News that the increase in pay and allowance for members of Parliament and Cabinet has not yet come into effect.

However, overnight, the Secretary General to Parliament gazetted the ‘determination’ by Parliament, as required by the 2014 Act.

This means, that the decision to approve the report proposals in Parliament makes the proposal lawful and will come into effect from the 1st August to the 31st December 2024.

“And that is the effect; the acceptance of the report by Parliament makes that law. So that is going to be published, and we will have to act in accordance with that. That is an executive decision of the Parliament,” Rabuka said.

The decision has prompted mixed reactions from the public.

When questioned if government is lying to the people, Rabuka says otherwise.

“Its not a lie. We mis-read the law. We were not properly advised”, he said.

The Gazette also includes a determination to amend the allowances and benefits payable under the Parliament remunerations act 2014.

“What has happened has happened. If they want to blame us, they should blame us. We cannot go back”, Rabuka said.

Rabuka says, to accommodate these changes, there will be an adjustment in the coming national budget.

“There will be adjustment in the budget to accommodate that, and there has to be some adjustment to other areas which we feel are of priority as far as the country is moving forward”, he said.

Meanwhile, Rabuka confirmed that he and two other Cabinet members, which he refused to reveal, will not be having a pay increase.

1987 ALL OVER AGAIN. Sitiveni Rabuka and his inner circle including Lynda Tabuya and Biman Prasad have been LYING to us, claiming the pay increases are not in place. Lies, Damn Lies. It has been GAZETTED

30/5/2024

"The Hon Prime Minister is correct in stating that the increases have not been implemented yet. There is still the process of changing the laws to give it legal effect, which in the normal process of any proposed law, public consultations and views will be received by the Solicitor General’s office before it is brought to Parliament for debate and passing. That is why the motion gives up to 6 months from 1st August for this process to take place.
The public have the right to know the full story of the Emoluments Committee’s duty to follow parliament processes as well as the accusations being leveled at those that voted for the motion by NFP. I would implore members of the public to obtain a copy of the Emoluments Report which is public record, and note the the reductions as well as things that did not change. You will have the opportunity to be heard when the normal process of proposed laws are undertaken, which includes public consultation."
Hon Lynda Tabuya
Chair Emoluments Committee
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection

FIDDLING THE BOOKS. Lynda Tabuya claims BIMAN PRASAD paid his own party an extra $240000 without consultation or Cabinet approval. He unilaterally gave $325,000 to each Political PARTY - $15,000 per MP

29/5/2024

We must not conflate Lynda Tabuya's bonking and drug-taking in Room 233 with her scathing attack on BIMAN PRASAD and the NFP MPs.
Her attack on Prasad must be seen in the Special Emoluments Committee Report context.
*In fact, we should be grateful that she chose to expose the NAG (Snake) for what he is - he was trying to claim the moral high ground when, in fact, the NFP was sleeping in bed with the pay rise and allowance Special Emoluments Committee.

*In the national budget last year, it came as a shock when Hon Prasad unilaterally gave $325,000 to each political party without consultation or cabinet approval even though it is supposed to be $15,000 per Member of Parliament. This is calculated as follows: Fiji First 26 MPs x $15000 = $390000, PAP 21 MPs x $15000 = $315,000, NFP 5 MPs x $15000 = $75000, Sodelpa 3 MPs x $15000 = $45000. Hon Prasad paid his own party an extra $240000 without consultation or Cabinet approval. This is a figure that is more than the total increase in salaries for ministers recommended by the independent consultant $175000, just to put things in perspective."

*In my own ministry (Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation) Hon Prasad unilaterally changed the payment of bus fare subsidies to our elderly and disabled in the current budget from $25 a month to utilisation basis without consultation with me as the line minister or Cabinet approval.
Other ministers may have their own experiences which is theirs to tell."

"The draft report of the independent consultant was ready in March and it was circulated to the three political party leaders in government. Members of the Fiji First party in the committee also shared it with their party.
The leader of NFP Hon Biman Prasad lied in parliament and to the public in stating that he and his party only got notice of the report 48 hours before I moved the motion in parliament. NFP chose not to be members of the Emoluments Committee.
I raised the membership in caucus and spoke with the NFP Whip Hon Tikoduadua who stated for us to go ahead and that they did not need to be in it. At no time did they protest or raise the concern to be a member of the committee. They endorsed the motion for the review to be undertaken when the motion was moved in Parliament last year. They have been part of the process every step of the way. To change their stance last minute and vote against the motion because of a party directive is simply an excuse to stall the parliamentary process when he had the time from March to take the report back to his party. There was nothing rushed about the tabling of the motion for debate last week.

LYNDA TABUYA brands Biman Prasad a LIAR, courting FFP for coalition deal, threatening Rabuka about the Coalition Agreement, blocked 20 per cent payment earlier this year owed to prison officers...the list is endless

29/5/2024

"This parliamentary process of emoluments is out of his [Biman Prasad's] control and in my opinion I have seen the frustration and anger in his demeanor and that is the reason why he and his MPs have opposed this motion, aside from the fact that he is opposing the reduction of his own salary from $235,000 to $200,000."

In the national budget last year, it came as a shock when Hon Prasad unilaterally gave $325,000 to each political party without consultation or cabinet approval even though it is supposed to be $15,000 per Member of Parliament. This is calculated as follows: Fiji First 26 MPs x $15000 = $390000, PAP 21 MPs x $15000 = $315,000, NFP 5 MPs x $15000 = $75000, Sodelpa 3 MPs x $15000 = $45000. Hon Prasad paid his own party an extra $240000 without consultation or Cabinet approval. This is a figure that is more than the total increase in salaries for ministers recommended by the independent consultant $175000, just to put things in perspective.
In my own ministry, Hon Prasad unilaterally changed the payment of bus fare subsidies to our elderly and disabled in the current budget from $25 a month to utilisation basis without consultation with me as the line minister or Cabinet approval. Other ministers may have their own experiences which is theirs to tell.
LYNDA TABUYA

TERA Kya Hoga Kalia, Biman Prasad? Aab Lynda Ke Goli Khao?
Tabuya strips NFP leader and Finance Minister down to his 'underwear'.
Ironically, NFP and Prasad had chosen to remain silent when Lynda Tabuya and Aseri Radrodro, in August 2023, had pulled down their own 'underwear' in Room 233, brutally bonking on Fiji Taxpayers money, that the next day she could not walk properly on the streets of Melbourne.
It was one month after she had been appointed Chair of the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee in July 2023.

Tabuya BRUTALLY savages Prasad over Pay Rise and Allowance Report

*When NFP did not get their way at the Wednesday caucus meeting last week, I was reliably informed that NFP allegedly approached Fiji First to open discussions on an NFP/FFP coalition, and Hon Prasad issued a warning to the Hon Prime Minister about the coalition agreement. I will categorically state here that at no time during this entire process from July 2023 did NFP oppose the recommendations or raise any objections from March when they had over two months to consider it."

LYNDA TABUYA: NFP glorifies itself in being principled but this is not about principles, this is about control, the need for Hon Prasad to control what is paid out, when it is not his place to do so. This parliamentary process of emoluments is out of his control and in my opinion I have seen the frustration and anger in his demeanor and that is the reason why he and his MPs have opposed this motion, aside from the fact that he is opposing the reduction of his own salary from $235000 to $200000. They were never going to oppose the recommendations, but wanted more time and used the party directive as an excuse to try to control the process. NFP was given ample time to consider the report from 9th of March, and Hon Prasad has lied to the public about only getting notice of it 48 hours before the motion was moved.

He [Biman Prasad] blocked the 20 per cent payment earlier this year owed to prison officers after the Job Evaluation Exercise in 2018 which the then Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama stopped the payment which the prison officers felt was because he found out that they voted for the opposition in the 2018 general elections.

Several coalition members lobbied for the minimum wage increase to be implemented with immediate effect last year when the coalition government came into power, but this in my opinion has been stalled by NFP who hold the employment portfolio and continue to appease their party backers who are business owners as well as using it as their own political platform.

*In the national budget last year, it came as a shock when Hon Prasad unilaterally gave $325,000 to each political party without consultation or cabinet approval even though it is supposed to be $15,000 per Member of Parliament.

"Hon Prasad has lied to the public that no independent consultant was engaged. There have been a lot of attacks on the committee members and the praising of NFP for their vote against the motion. However, this is the process of parliament and it was my duty to table the report and move the motion for debate. I was to do this on Wednesday of parliament week last week but NFP tried to stall it with no good reason to disrupt the processes of parliament. I reconsidered my duty and proceeded to give notice for the motion to be tabled and debated as that is the proper parliament procedure and I could be referred to Privileges Committee by any MP for a possible breach of the standing orders. When NFP did not get their way at the Wednesday caucus meeting last week, I was reliably informed that NFP allegedly approached Fiji First to open discussions on an NFP/FFP coalition, and Hon Prasad issued a warning to the Hon Prime Minister about the coalition agreement. I will categorically state here that at no time during this entire process from July 2023 did NFP oppose the recommendations or raise any objections from March when they had over two months to consider it."

"He [Biman Prasad] blocked the 20 per cent payment earlier this year owed to prison officers after the Job Evaluation Exercise in 2018 which the then Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama stopped the payment which the prison officers felt was because he found out that they voted for the opposition in the 2018 general elections."

Dear NFP, the prison officers and high ranking officials in the Corrections Service already knew about it and expressed their deep hurt and disappointment to me that PAP who stood for them allowed for NFP to stop it.

So NFP that didn’t come from me. So don’t hide behind cabinet confidentiality now to answer for what they already know Hon Prasad and which Fiji has a right to know. Respond to the allegations and do not hide now behind cabinet confidentiality as it does not apply here, because nowhere in my media release did I ever refer to a cabinet deliberation or decision on this issue.

Dear Fiji, here is the full media release I gave out yesterday to media outlets that contains the explanation of the parliamentary processes as well as the allegations I have made against Hon Prasad and NFP.

MEDIA RELEASE BY HON TABUYA ON TUESDAY 27th May 2024

I am responding to explain the parliamentary process as well as I feel the need for the public to know the truth about the involvement of all MPs, including NFP.

The Emoluments Committee was a committee established by Parliament under the Standing Order 129 to be tasked to review the Parliamentary Remunerations Act and the Parliamentary Retirement Allowances Act. This committee was established under the Standing Orders of Parliament which all 55 members of parliament unanimously endorsed in July 2023. It is a parliamentary process that reports to parliament, not to cabinet, not to a political party, not to Government or opposition. The committee decided to engage an Independent consultancy firm or individual as it strongly felt it should not be reviewing its own salaries and allowances. The Committee published an advertisement calling for independent consulting firms or individuals to undertake the review and make recommendations to the committee. With no success locally, we reached out to UNDP to assist us to find an independent consulting firm, noting that UNDP would be funding the independent consulting firm, they identified Mr Kevin Deveaux. After conducting the review, the independent consultant reported back to the Emoluments Committee, which endorsed the recommendations. There were some increases, some reductions and some retained.

The legal process of the Emoluments Committee is that it is part of the parliamentary process and reports to Parliament. It does not report to the government or to cabinet. It is for parliament to reject or approve the recommendations. Should it be approved, then the committee will work with Parliament and the Solicitor General’s office on the proposed amendments to the Acts to give effect to the recommendations, but the proposed laws will go through the normal consultation process of any proposed bills.

The draft report of the independent consultant was ready in March and it was circulated to the three political party leaders in government. Members of the Fiji First party in the committee also shared it with their party. The leader of NFP Hon Biman Prasad lied in parliament and to the public in stating that he and his party only got notice of the report 48 hours before I moved the motion in parliament. NFP chose not to be members of the Emoluments Committee. I raised the membership in caucus and spoke with the NFP Whip Hon Tikoduadua who stated for us to go ahead and that they did not need to be in it. At no time did they protest or raise the concern to be a member of the committee. They endorsed the motion for the review to be undertaken when the motion was moved in Parliament last year. They have been part of the process every step of the way. To change their stance last minute and vote against the motion because of a party directive is simply an excuse to stall the parliamentary process when he had the time from March to take the report back to his party. There was nothing rushed about the tabling of the motion for debate last week. It is simply me doing my job as the chair to follow the parliamentary process under the Standing Orders to table the report and to be debated. That is the legal process. The motion approved on Friday stipulates the effective date from 1st August to 31st December 2024. The next step in the process is for Parliament to work with the Solicitor General’s office and it will go through the process normally laid out for proposed bills. Then it will be brought back to parliament for debate and decision. This will be undertaken in that six month period stipulated in the motion. Members of the public are free to submit their views during this period.

Now I wish to respond to all the criticisms leveled at members of Parliament who voted for the motion by NFP. Hon Prasad has lied to the public that no independent consultant was engaged. There have been a lot of attacks on the committee members and the praising of NFP for their vote against the motion. However, this is the process of parliament and it was my duty to table the report and move the motion for debate. I was to do this on Wednesday of parliament week last week but NFP tried to stall it with no good reason to disrupt the processes of parliament. I reconsidered my duty and proceeded to give notice for the motion to be tabled and debated as that is the proper parliament procedure and I could be referred to Privileges Committee by any MP for a possible breach of the standing orders. When NFP did not get their way at the Wednesday caucus meeting last week, I was reliably informed that NFP allegedly approached Fiji First to open discussions on an NFP/FFP coalition, and Hon Prasad issued a warning to the Hon Prime Minister about the coalition agreement. I will categorically state here that at no time during this entire process from July 2023 did NFP oppose the recommendations or raise any objections from March when they had over two months to consider it.

But in my opinion this is not a new pattern of behavior for Hon Prasad. He blocked the 20 per cent payment earlier this year owed to prison officers after the Job Evaluation Exercise in 2018 which the then Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama stopped the payment which the prison officers felt was because he found out that they voted for the opposition in the 2018 general elections. Several coalition members lobbied for the minimum wage increase to be implemented with immediate effect last year when the coalition government came into power, but this in my opinion has been stalled by NFP who hold the employment portfolio and continue to appease their party backers who are business owners as well as using it as their own political platform. In the national budget last year, it came as a shock when Hon Prasad unilaterally gave $325,000 to each political party without consultation or cabinet approval even though it is supposed to be $15,000 per Member of Parliament. This is calculated as follows: Fiji First 26 MPs x $15000 = $390000, PAP 21 MPs x $15000 = $315,000, NFP 5 MPs x $15000 = $75000, Sodelpa 3 MPs x $15000 = $45000. NFP paid itself an extra $240000 without consultation or Cabinet approval. This is a figure that is more than the total increase in salaries for ministers recommended by the independent consultant $175000, just to put things in perspective. In my own ministry, Hon Prasad unilaterally changed the payment of bus fare subsidies from $25 a month to utilisation without consultation with me as the line minister or Cabinet approval.

NFP glorifies itself in being principled but this is not about principles, this is about control, the need for Hon Prasad to control what is paid out, when it is not his place to do so. This parliamentary process of emoluments is out of his control and in my opinion I have seen the frustration and anger in his demeanor and that is the reason why he and his MPs have opposed this motion, aside from the fact that he is opposing the reduction of his own salary from $235000 to $200000. They were never going to oppose the recommendations, but wanted more time and used the party directive as an excuse to try to control the process. NFP was given ample time to consider the report from 9th of March, and Hon Prasad has lied to the public about only getting notice of it 48 hours before the motion was moved.

The Hon Prime Minister is correct in stating that the increases have not been implemented yet. There is still the process of changing the laws to give it legal effect, which in the normal process of any proposed law, public consultations and views will be received by the Solicitor General’s office before it is brought to Parliament for debate and passing. That is why the motion gives up to 6 months from 1st August for this process to take place.
The public have the right to know the full story of the Emoluments Committee’s duty to follow parliament processes as well as the accusations being leveled at those that voted for the motion by NFP. I would implore members of the public to obtain a copy of the Emoluments Report which is public record, and note the the reductions as well as things that did not change. You will have the opportunity to be heard when the normal process of proposed laws are undertaken, which includes public consultation.

Hon Lynda Tabuya
Chair Emoluments Committee
Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection

From: Lynda Tabuya <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, May 28, 2024 7:19 PM
To: Rosi Doviverata <[email protected]>
Cc: Sosiveta Korobiau <[email protected]>

Subject: Response to Emoluments issue and NFP accusations

Bula Rosi

Though Fiji Sun has not reached out to obtain a response from me as emoluments chair and minister, I am forwarding this response to Fiji Sun which I have provided to Fiji Times and ABC Pacific Beat.

I am responding to explain the parliamentary process as well as the need for the public to know the truth about the involvement of all MPs, including NFP. If NFP had just let the public make its own judgment based on their vote, then there would have been no need for me to respond. But NFP and Hon Prasad have chosen to go on the offence and criticise the parliamentary process and the emoluments committee, as well as giving their opinions as well, so I feel the need to speak up so the public has all the facts to make a proper judgment.

The Emoluments Committee was a committee established by Parliament under Standing Order 129 to be tasked to review the Parliamentary Remunerations Act and the Parliamentary Retirement Allowances Act. This committee was established under the Standing Orders of Parliament which all 55 members of parliament unanimously endorsed in July 2023. It is a parliamentary process that reports to parliament, not to cabinet, not to a political party, not to Government or opposition. The committee decided to engage an Independent consultancy firm or individual as it strongly felt it should not be reviewing its own salaries and allowances. The Committee published an advertisement in the dailies calling for independent consulting firms or individuals to undertake the review and make recommendations to the committee. With no success locally, we reached out to UNDP to assist us to find an independent consulting firm, noting that UNDP would be funding the independent consulting firm, they identified Mr Kevin Deveaux who is based in Canada. After conducting the review over the course of eight months the independent consultant reported back to Emoluments Committee. There were some increases, some reductions and some retained.

The legal process of the Emoluments Committee is that it is part of the parliamentary process and reports to Parliament. It does not report to the government or to cabinet. It is for parliament to reject or approve the recommendations. Should it be approved, then the committee will work with Parliament and the Solicitor General’s office on the proposed amendments to the Acts to give effect to the recommendations, but the proposed laws will go through the normal consultation process of any proposed bills.

The draft report of the independent consultant was ready in March and it was circulated to the three political party leaders in government, because political parties represented in parliament made submissions to the committee which were forwarded to the independent consultant. Members of the Fiji First party in the committee also shared it with their party. The leader of NFP Hon Biman Prasad lied in parliament and to the public in stating that he and his party only got notice of the report 48 hours before I moved the motion in parliament. NFP chose not to be members of the Emoluments Committee. They endorsed the motion for the review to be undertaken when the motion was moved in Parliament last year. They have been part of the process every step of the way. To change their stance last minute and vote against the motion because of a party directive is simply an excuse to stall the parliamentary process when he had the time from March to take the report back to his party. There was nothing rushed about the tabling of the motion for debate last week. It is simply me doing my job as the chair to follow the mandated parliamentary process under the Standing Orders to table the report and to be debated. That is the legal process. The motion approved on Friday stipulates the effective date from 1st August to 31st December 2024. The next step in the process is for Parliament to work with the Solicitor General’s office with the proposed amendments to the Acts. It will go through the process normally laid out for proposed bills. Then it will be brought back to parliament for debate and decision. This will be undertaken in that six month period stipulated in the motion. Members of the public will be consulted on these proposed bills and are free to submit their views during this period.

Now I wish to respond to all the criticisms leveled at members of Parliament who voted for the motion by NFP. Hon Prasad has lied to the public that no independent consultant was engaged. There have been a lot of attacks on the committee members and the praising of NFP for their vote against the motion. However, there is a general lack of understanding of parliamentary processes. This is the process of parliament and it was my duty to table the report and move the motion for debate. I was to do this on Wednesday of parliament week last week but NFP tried to stall it with no good reason to disrupt the processes of parliament. I reconsidered my duty and proceeded to give notice for the motion to be tabled and debated as that is the proper parliament procedure and I could be referred to Privileges Committee by a member under the Standing Orders for a possible breach of the standing orders. When NFP did not get their way after protesting, I was reliably informed that NFP allegedly approached Fiji First members to open discussions on an NFP/FFP coalition, and Hon Prasad issued a warning to the Hon Prime Minister about the coalition agreement. I will categorically state here that at no time during this entire process did NFP oppose the recommendations or raise any objections from March when they had over two months to consider it.

But in my opinion this is not a new pattern of behavior for Hon Prasad. Earlier this year Hon Prasad was instrumental in blocking the 20 per cent outstanding pay owed to prison officers after the Job Evaluation Exercise in 2018 which the then Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama stopped the payment. The prison officers felt it was because Frank found out that they voted for the opposition in the 2018 general elections. Several coalition members lobbied for the minimum wage increase to be implemented with immediate effect last year when the coalition government came into power as promised in our manifestos, but the general feeling amongst the majority of government members is that it has been stalled by NFP who hold the employment portfolio and continue to appease their party backers who are business owners as well as using it as their own political platform. In the national budget last year, it came as a shock when Hon Prasad unilaterally gave $325,000 to each political party without consultation or cabinet approval even though it is supposed to be $15,000 per Member of Parliament. This is calculated as follows: Fiji First 26 MPs x $15000 = $390000, PAP 21 MPs x $15000 = $315,000, NFP 5 MPs x $15000 = $75000, Sodelpa 3 MPs x $15000 = $45000. Hon Prasad paid his own party an extra $240000 without consultation or Cabinet approval. This is a figure that is more than the total increase in salaries for ministers recommended by the independent consultant $175000, just to put things in perspective. In my own ministry, Hon Prasad unilaterally changed the payment of bus fare subsidies to our elderly and disabled in the current budget from $25 a month to utilisation basis without consultation with me as the line minister or Cabinet approval. Other ministers may have their own experiences which is theirs to tell.

NFP glorifies itself in being principled in their vote but this is not about principles, this is about control. This parliamentary process of emoluments is out of his control and I shockingly witnessed the frustration and anger in his demeanor aside from the fact that he is opposing the reduction of his own salary from $235000 to $200000. At no point did they oppose the recommendations, but used the party directive as an excuse to try to control the process. NFP was given ample time to consider the report from 9th of March, and Hon Prasad has lied to the public about only getting notice of it 48 hours before the motion was moved.

The Hon Prime Minister is correct in stating that the increases have not been implemented yet. There is still the process of changing the laws to give it legal effect, which in the normal process of any proposed law, public consultations and views will be received by the Solicitor General’s office before it is brought to Parliament for debate and passing. That is why the motion gives up to 6 months from 1st August for this process to take place.
The public have the right to know the full story of the Emoluments Committee’s duty to follow parliament processes as well as the accusations by NFP being levelled at members of the Emoluments Committee and those that voted for the motion. I would implore members of the public to obtain a copy of the Emoluments Report which is public record, and note the the reductions as well as things that did not change. You will have the opportunity to be heard when the normal process of proposed laws are undertaken, which includes public consultation.

Vinaka
Hon Lynda Tabuya
Chair

SITTING IN JUDGMENT on GANG of 16 FFP REBELS. Fijileaks re-ignites debate whether SHAILESH KUMAR is really a Founding Member of the FFP. He is listed as a member of the party's Central Executive Committee

28/5/2024

*The Central Executive Committee is made up of the party President Ratu Joji Satakala, Vice President Selai Adimaitoga, Acting General Secretary Faiyaz Koya, Treasurer Hem Chand, party leader and founder Voreqe Bainimarama, former General Secretary and founder Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and founder Sailesh Kumar.
Source: Fijivillage News

From Fijileaks Archive, 19 October 2020

Sailesh Kumar

This week we wrote to MESAKE DAWAI, Registrar of Political Parties (Dawai is Review & Compliance Officer) asking him if a so-called Foundation Member of a political party is permitted to donate over $50,000, and his reply to us: "We kindly request that you seek independent legal advise on this issue."*
If so, why he ran and answered Khaiyum but is telling Fijileaks* to go and get independent advice on Khaiyum's Donation Decree Cap? We wrote back to Dawai, pointing out that we were exercising our right under provisions of section 25 of the Access to Information Act. Of course, no response from Dawai. This $70,000 donation was in 2014, which means FFP should have been de-registered and its general secretary Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum hauled before the Fijian courts for breaching his own Donation Decree

Subsection (2) of the Donation Decree 'shall not apply to any political donation made by an founding member of the political party as political donation to the initial assets of the party within the first year of its existence'. We, however, argue that Shailesh Kumar is not a Founding Member of the FFP. Where did he get the $70,000 in 2014? Did he donate by Cheque or Cash in a Brown Paper Bag? Who at FijiFIRST PARTY Head Office received such a large amount of donation, in clear breach of the donation decree? Did he have $70,000 in his bank account on the day he made his BIG DONATION, on 20 September 2014? We will only know when he is taken into custody? Even if he had the funds to cover his donation (presuming he gave a cheque), he still broke the law.
He was allegedly seen by countless Fijians going around on behalf of FFP soliciting for donations, especially from BIG Gujarati businessmen and their families. As we have disclosed previously, in 2016, he single-handedly collected a staggering $515,000 on behalf of FijiFIRST PARTY, mostly from the Tappoos, Punjas, and Patels. Was he authorized to act as financial party agent? We will never know how much he collected and how much he declared to FFP. Was the $70,000 'Black Money' from donors who did not want to be identified (or by donors who also gave extra cash) but handed by him to FFP as his own contribution to the party, and in breach of Khaiyum's Donation Decree? He and FFP clearly broke the LAW in 2014 on $10,000 legal limit, throwing the entire electoral process and the donation decree into question.
*The Supervisor of Elections Mohammed Saneem must be taken into custody to establish if he was complicit in the donation scam. We also call for a general Commission of Inquiry into the Donation Scandal involving all the political parties, with FFP leading the PACK. ONE PERSON, ONE VOTE, was a hollow SLOGAN when Big Money was King in Fiji Polls! Shailesh Kumar, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, and Mohammed Saneem must be subjected to the full force of the law

Fiji's 'General Noriega' and FijiFirst Party: Should we allow political party leaders to be running the affairs of their parties from inside Fiji's prison?

PANAMANIAN dictator and coupist General Noriega carted off to prison

FIRE. Agni (Fire) Deo Singh claims he wrongly pressed the red button and now wants the Speaker to change his Vote from Abstain to Against. His request must be rejected, for the FFP 16 could make similar claims

27/5/2024

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: How much did UNDP consultant KEVIN DEVEAUX got paid as an 'Independent Consultant' to review and endorse the massive and disgusting pay rises for MPs, Speaker and President?
The NFP leader BIMAN PRASAD must tell the Fiji Public how much Deveaux was paid to write up his own 'Independent Report' for the Special Emoluments Committee, chaired by the bonking and weed-taking Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection Lynda Tabuya?
As we pointed out in our previous posting, Tabuya and Radrodro were brutally bonking each other in Room 233 a month after they were appointed to review the salaries and allowances of MPs.

TWO FINGERS TO PAP AND RABUKA: The NFP nag (snake) Biman Prasad outsmarted PAP's snake Rabuka by voting (along with three other of NFP MPs, Tikoduadua, Qereqeretabua and Kiran) against the REPORT.
*Did Prasad violate Cabinet collective responsibility and Coalition deals with Sitiveni Rabuka?

*As for Agni Deo Singh, lets hope he will not press a wrong electrical switch in Parliament, and get electrocuted in the process.

Minister for Employment Relations, Agni Deo Singh who abstained from voting in the motion to increase the salaries and benefits of the President, Speaker, Ministers, Leader of the Opposition and Members of Parliament on Saturday, says he made a mistake and has written to the Speaker to change his vote to voting against the motion. When questioned by fijivillage News on him abstaining, Agni Deo Singh says he has written to the Speaker on Friday night as he mistakenly thought the red cross button was meant for voting against the motion however it was for abstaining from voting. Singh says the entire parliamentary system went through an upgrade and he was not familiar with the new system. He says he agrees 200 percent that there should be no salary increases, and he is waiting for his vote to be changed. Source: Fijivillage News

Political Sociologist Professor Steven Ratuva has described the increase in salaries and allowances of Members of Parliament as unethical. He criticized the process, noting that in countries like Australia and New Zealand, the determination of parliamentary salaries is done by an independent body established by the State.

He highlights that in Fiji, the Emoluments Committee endorses recommendations made by a particular consultant, which he finds problematic.
Prof Ratuva emphasizes that while the UNDP can conduct training and governance projects with Parliament, determining the salaries and allowances of MPs is a sovereign issue.

He questioned whether the consultant performed this work as part of their duties with the UNDP, which would be an ethical conflict of interest or as an independent consultant which would also be a conflict of interest due to their long-standing relationship with the Parliamentarians.

“The perception of independence, the perception of professionalism is very important here, what we have seen here is a lot of conflict of interest and the parliamentarians themselves are given the chance to endorse their own salary, that’s very unethical, there’s fraudulent.”

Prof Ratuva proposed that Parliament should pass an Act to establish a Remuneration Authority to determine the salaries of Parliamentarians, asserting that this is the appropriate method.

He argues that no political system claiming to be democratic and transparent should be involved in determining its own salaries.

The Fijian academic also points out the ethical implications, noting that Fiji is currently facing various issues such as drug trafficking and consumption, unemployment and poverty, which are affecting the economy and people’s well-being.

Prof Ratuva adds that while there is talk about the growth of tourism, there is a disproportionate focus on the corporate sector economy with insufficient attention to what is happening at the grassroots level.

DEMENTED EXPLANATION: Is this man - Rabuka- in right frame of mind?

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka states that no salary changes have come into effect yet, following the recent parliamentary motion regarding increases for members of Parliament.

Rabuka says the motion they passed last week was merely the acceptance of the report from the emoluments committee.

He explains that any actual increase in salaries will require the introduction of a bill and the enactment of legislation by Parliament, as mandated by Section 80 of the Constitution.

“The emoluments committee did their job. They brought it back to the Cabinet. Cabinet decided, no, it must be decided on by Parliament. So, it went back to Parliament. And that’s what we saw. Before it is executed, or before it becomes an act, it must be brought down as a bill. A bill to amend the 2014 Parliamentary Emoluments Act.”

This clarification comes amidst public concern and confusion over the potential salary hikes for various parliamentary roles.

Rabuka assures that the increase is not immediate and would be subjected to further legislative processes.

The Prime Minister also notes that most votes in favor of the salary adjustments came from the People’s Alliance Party.

In response to concerns about the timing and necessity of the salary changes, Rabuka says that while the issue could be revisited later, it is currently not in effect.

“It can be done later. This thing has not been effective. It’s not been effective. We have the budget coming up. The wage minimum wage is still current. And the Minister, one of the Ministers who voted against or abstained, is the Minister responsible for it, for the minimum wages. Maybe because he hasn’t been able to finalise the issues from the workers.”

Tabuya chaired Special Emoluments Committee recommended MPs can retain ownership of their Government provided mobile phones, laptops, iPads. Now, Tabuya and Radrodro can keep their phones from Room 233

26/5/2024

PHONE SOUVENIRS FOR KEEPING. The brutal bonking, after secret exchanges via Coalition government issued Ministerial phones, took place a month after Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Lynda Tabuya had been endorsed by Parliament, on 12 July 2023, to Chair the Special Committee on Emoluments, and Aseri Radrodro was nominated by SODELPA to be its representative on the Committee.

Members of Fiji's Parliament will now retain the gadgets provided to them at the beginning of their term including mobile phones, laptops and iPads.
This move, part of a motion passed in Parliament, giving MPs hefty pay rises, aims to ensure MPs have the necessary tools to effectively carry out their duties.

In Lynda Tabuya and Aseri Radrodro's case, their Government provided MOBILE PHONES were necessary tools for the two to secretly Hook Up and BONK BRUTALLY in Room 233 at the Windsor Hotel in Melbourne while on an official trip to Australia, in August 2023.
The brutal bonking took place a month after Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Lynda Tabuya had been endorsed by Parliament, on 12 July 2023, to Chair the Special Committee on Emoluments.
On Monday 11 September 2023, a new motion was passed by Parliament to include the revision of pay and other perks and privileges of the President and the Speaker of Parliament.
A week earlier, on 4 September 2023, Sitiiveni Rabuka had cleared the two Cabinet Ministers, claiming that the two didn't bonk in Room 233.

Rabuka said the Cabinet is bound by a Code of Conduct and Ministers undertake under oath administered under the Constitution of Fiji to carry out their duties diligently and without fear or favour.
Rabuka also stresses that he is satisfied with their response and urges the nation to focus on the task at hand, rather than scurrilous and unproductive speculation on social media.

From Fijileaks Archives

We have revealed how, on the night of Tuesday 22 August 2023, she left the door to her Room 233 unlock for Radrodro to sneak into her bed at The Hotel Windsor, took to a bottle of Jack Daniels (see her own photo), and ended up bonking Radrodro until the early hours of the morning on the second floor while Mrs Radrodro slept five rooms away down the corridor.
The next night, on Wednesday 23 August, Radrodro could not meet her, for he stayed up with his wife, and the delegation was returning to Fiji on Thursday 24 August.
*That night, lonely and upset, she tells Radrodro in a text message that she is 'lost' without him but is going to find comfort in the 'plenty of weed' she has on her in Room 233.

The Fiji Council of Social Services is disappointed that Parliament approved the salary increases for the President, Speaker, Ministers, Assistant Ministers and MPs in the Parliament session yesterday afternoon.

FCOSS Executive Director Vani Catanasiga says it is clear that other pressing priorities are quite urgent that should be tabled first rather than addressing the salaries. She says it’s quite revealing to them that as members of the public and FCOSS, the focus of our elected representatives is not on the people.
Catanasiga says they are not in support of the recommendations made by the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee. She adds this is really a Parliament that is quite detached from the people. Source: Fijivillage News

PUT THEMSELVES FIRST. 16 FijiFirst Party MPs defied party directive to VOTE 'Against or Abstain' and VOTED for massive PAY RISES, led by the Opposition leader Seruiratu. FFP president: 'We will take them to TASK'

26/5/2024

INSIDE RABUKA'S 'WALLET': There is widespread concern and suspicion that FFP Opposition leader Inia Seruiratu, fearing being replaced as parliamentary leader, is increasingly inching towards Coupist and fellow former military strongman Sitiveni Rabuka.
The day before Frank Bainimarama was sent to rest in Korovou Prison infirmary, he thumped his fist on the table and shouted:
'Faiyaz Koya should be FFP parliamentary leader'.*
Inia Seruiratu shouted back: 'The FFP caucus is behind me.'*
*But who can blame Seruiratu when he saw what was offered to him in the Parliamentary Emoluments Committee Report (including a house)

Statement from the President of FijiFirst,
Ratu Joji Satakala

All FijiFirst supporters and Fijian citizens are hereby informed that all FijiFirst members of Parliament were directed specifically by the Acting General Secretary in a caucus meeting on the morning of Friday 24 May 2024 and in writing after lunch on the same day to vote against or abstain from voting on the salary and benefit increase for the President, Prime Minister, Ministers, Assistant Ministers, Deputy Speaker, Whips, Speaker, Leader of Opposition and Members of Parliament.

Sixteen of the FijiFirst members of Parliament went against this FijiFirst position and directive by voting for the salary and benefit increase. These members were:

1. Mosese Bulitavu

2. Sanjay Kirpal

3. Semi Koroilavesau

4. Shalen Kumar

5. Virendra Lal

6. loane Naivalurua

7. Sachida Nand

8. Vijay Nath

9. Viliame Naupoto

10. Ratu Josaia Niudamu

11. Penioni Ravunawa

12. Taito Rokomatu

13. Inia Seruiratu

14. Alipate Tuicolo

15. Naisa Tuinaceva

16. Jone Usamate

The Central Executive Committee of FijiFirst will now take steps as provided for in the FijiFirst Constitution to address this issue.
Ratu Joji Satakala
President
FijiFirst

APPROVE AND SEALED: Two of the FFP representatives had signed off the Parliamentary Emoluments Report. We wonder if FFP is now crying wolf, for the party's written submission was in favour of pay rises.

FIJIFIRST PARTY SUBMISSION TO SPECIAL EMOLUMENTS COMMITTEE

LEST WE FORGET NFP leader Biman Prasad's diversion of $200,000 of taxpayers money to his wife and their buddy Ganesh Chand's dubious Global Girmit Institute to organize that international conference at USP

25/5/2024

The NFP's choreographed voting against the pay rises in Parliament, directed by the NFP Management Board, is a calculated diversion from the $200,000 that Prasad gave to his wife and Chand, trustees of the ramshackle Global Girmit Institute, to organize conference at USP.
We understand from reliable sources that Biman Prasad is most likely to be charged by FICAC over the GGI and a slew of other allegations that was filed against him with FEO that referred the case to FICAC.
*Meanwhile, war of words is raging over the fate of the acting FICAC deputy commissioner Francis Puleiwai with FLP claiming she has been sidelined and Attorney-General Siromi Turaga insisting that Puleiwai is on a work trip overseas.

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