Blog Archives

The Leawere Judgment: Excerpts and full judgment of Fiji High Court!

12/6/2015

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Financial Blues: VC Chandra alarmed at drop in total income by May this year compared with same time in 2014 of $2.4million, his e-mail reveals!

12/6/2015

19 Comments

VC Rajesh Chandra's response to Executive Director Finance Boila:

Dear Boila
Please see my comments below and respond to me:
Professor Rajesh Chandra
Vice-Chancellor and President
The University of the South Pacific
Headquarters and Laucala Campus
Suva, FIJI
Ph 679 3232313
Fax 679 3231550
Email [email protected]

1.      FIC Chair has been saying we need to be more analytical when reporting. The most glaring thing in the able is the drop in total income by May this year compared with the same time in 2014 of $2.4 million. This needs more explanation than the better than budget surplus of $0.1 million. In addition, given this thin margin of 0.1 million, we should be worried that had we spent staffing funds “not slower” and done the required deferred maintenance as we should have done, then our financial posit[i]on would have been below budget. No mention of this?

2.      There is also a worrying drop in unencumbered cash down to 1.3 months as opposed to 2 months. Had we spent as needed for capex and strategic plan, the situation would have been worse.

3.      As EDF you are expected to pick up these and take corrective action; it should not be left to the VC to pick them up and worry about how our financial performance will turn out this year.

From: Kolinio Boila <[email protected]>
Date: June 9, 2015 at 7:06:10 PM GMT-7

Subject: YTD financial results for May 2015

Brief Report:

1. Financial Performance

The University recorded an operating surplus of $2.6m for the 5 months of 2015 against a budgeted surplus of $2.5m.

The table below provides a summary of the financial performance

The better than budget surplus performance of $0.1m was largely driven by slower spending of staff costs and deferred maintenance costs, offset by drop in development assistance income due to drop in exchange rate.

2. Cash Flows

The cash-flow of the University showed a net decrease in cash, cash equivalents and other financial assets by $2.4m, taking our balances from $45.6m at the beginning of the year to $43.3m as at 31st May 2015, compared to a projected balance of $51.8m. The decrease in the cash target was due to non-receipt of full Government grant contribution for the second quarter except from Cooks, Niue, Tokelau and Tuvalu, offset by receipt of 50% of the grant income from both Australia and New Zealand and slower spending of capex and strategic plan funding.

The available cash was $14.7m and is below the cash reserve benchmark of $22m and is adequate to operate the University for 1.3 months. This is funded $9.7m (66%) by unencumbered cash and $5m (34%) by the overdraft facility.

We will soon circulate the detailed provisional expenditure reports by Section for each Head of Section and Unit Manager to review and provide comments for adjustments if needed.

Kind Regards

Kolinio Boila

Executive Director Finance

From Fijileaks Archives:

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/uspgate-vc-rajesh-chandra-under-fire-from-pacific-islanders-from-usp-they-accuse-him-of-corruption-abuse-of-office-and-mismanagement

19 Comments

CROSSING THE LINE OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST: Bankrupts, Minister, Aunty Bano links and millions of dollars road works contract - MAH Enterprises Ltd (Fiji) owned by Faiyaz Koya and Herberts - the bankrupts

9/6/2015

16 Comments

ROADGATE SCAM:
Aiyaz Khaiyum and his side-kick Faiyaz Koya block
Parliamentary and FICAC Investigations!
Full story coming soon!

Fijileaks: Guess who is Director of MAH Enterprises (Fiji) - Yes, Faiyaz Koya, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Tourism; Koya & Company have also been company solicitors for Herbert Construction Ltd (Fiji)

Fijileaks will be LIFTING THE SULU OF CORRUPTION AND CONFLICT OF INTEREST IN KHAIYUM'S FIJI

Fijileaks to its thousands of readers: Sorry, for we can't just keep up with these bunch of new thieves - mostly Indo-Fijians in Bainimarama's Fiji!

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/the-nbf-loan-scandal-the-new-fijifirst-attorney-general-faiyaz-koya-should-tell-parliament-and-fiji-the-truth-behind-koya-estate-owing-the-national-bank-87

16 Comments

BAD LOSER: Khaiyum drafted the Electoral Decree and now when High Court punches a hole through his decree, he is crying foul; get ready for amendment to ensure public officers shut out of 'Khaiyum's Parliament'

9/6/2015

9 Comments

BEFORE THE ELECTION KHAIYUM RULED THAT PUBLIC OFFICE DID NOT INCLUDE PMs OFFICE, A-Gs OFFICE AND HIS REGIME MINISTERS

JUDGE ALFRED SHOULD ORDER CONTEMPT OF COURT CHARGE:

“While we are yet to receive a copy of the written ruling, however, from the brief provided by counsel, it appears that the court ruling today allows losing candidates to return to or be appointed to positions of public office even though they might be called upon later to join Parliament if a seat becomes vacant.

“This would effectively create a revolving door which allows politicians to contest elections as members of a political party, and then to return to or be appointed as public officers (whether as Permanent Secretaries, judicial officers and other top constitutional and public officeholders) if they are not successful, and then be appointed overnight as Members of Parliament in future.

“This case sets an unfortunate precedent. For example, the political party with majority seats in Parliament and forming Government could simply now put all their unsuccessful candidates in public offices, and then also have the benefit of having the same candidates declared as Members of Parliament if there is a vacancy in Parliament.

"The ruling does indeed have the potential of compromising the political neutrality of public offices, and given that the ruling of the High Court was final, it may be appropriate for the relevant laws to be clarified through appropriate legislative amendment." Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, Ministry of Information statement

9 Comments

LEAWERE MUST BE SODELPA MP: Fiji High Court rules in his favour dismissing Khaiyum's challenge to the appointment - full details later!

8/6/2015

11 Comments

STATEMENT

[60/6/15]

Ro Teimumu Kepa today welcomed the outcome on Hon Leawere’s case, but was perplexed about the need for it to have occurred in the first place. She asked what was the point of it?

Ro Teimumu Kepa today welcomed the outcome on Hon Leawere’s case, but was perplexed about the
need for it to have occurred in the first place. She asked what was the point of it? But I thank God for his guiding hand and our Defense team, Vinaka Vakalevu.

I am also happy for Hon Leawere and his family and glad that the stressful time they have had to endure during this case has come to an end and I look forward to his contribution in the many debates that lay ahead.

Ro Teimumu said that now that the case has been dispensed with, and comment on it possible, I would like to know what was the point of it? After all the outcome had it gone against us, would not have resulted in a ‘bi-election’ that Fiji First might have felt would increase their seat numbers in the house, the seat would have remained with SODELPA and gone to the next in line in our team.

A lot of time, money and resources were spent on this matter, and it is my view that while any challenge to any of our members is a matter of concern to us, this case raises more questions than it provides answers.

Ro Teimumu said she would make a full statement once she has had the opportunity to read the full judgment and for now she and her party members were looking forward to meeting the people of Nadroga Navosa on Tuesday and Wednesday as part of their 2nd schedule of Constituency meetings and welcomed all who could attend.

Authorized By
Ro Teimumu Kepa

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/hurry-up-hurry-up-khaiyum-prodded-election-commission-chief-young-to-expedite-the-appointment-of-mikaele-leawere-and-when-the-commission-did-the-tyrant-is-now-challenging-the-decision-in-court

Judge agrees with Fijileaks above contention:
"While delivering his judgment this evening, Judge Justice David Alfred stated that the Commission did not err in law while awarding the seat to Leawere and that Leawere was not wrong when he had advised the Commission that he was available to take up the vacant seat as he had already resigned from his post as Acting General Secretary of the Fijian Teachers Association."
Read more at: http://fijilive.com/news/2015/06/leawere-retains-seat-in-parliament/61212.Fijilive

The Great Schemer: Khaiyum already planning to outdo Judgment:

The Attorney General says while they are yet to receive a copy of the written ruling however from the brief provided by counsel, it appears that the court ruling allows losing candidates to return to or be appointed to positions of public office even though they might be called upon later to join Parliament if a seat becomes vacant.

He adds this case sets an unfortunate precedent.

The Attorney General also says that the ruling does indeed have the potential of compromising the political neutrality of public offices, and given that the ruling of the High Court is final, it may be appropriate for the relevant laws to be clarified through appropriate legislative amendment.

Defence Counsel and chairman of Electoral Commission, Chen Bunn Young says this case is not about who is going to win, as the judge spent a lot of time thinking it through.

Young says this gives constitutional lawyers substance and some reference point. Source: Fijivillage News

DOES THIS MAN UNDERSTAND MEANING OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST?

AG responds to petition dismissal

The Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says the ruling of the Court of Disputed Returns yesterday which dismissed his petition against the Electoral Commission opens the door for mixing politics and public offices – two realms which must always remain separate.

He adds that by law, a candidate for Parliament must step down from any public office he or she holds in order to avoid conflict of interest.

The need to avoid this conflict of interest and the demarcation between politics and public office is especially important in our electoral system given that we no longer have by-elections in the event of a vacancy.

The AG says “This case sets an unfortunate precedent.

For example, the political party with majority seats in Parliament and forming Government could simply now put all their unsuccessful candidates in public offices, and then also have the benefit of having the same candidates declared as Members of Parliament if there is a vacancy in Parliament."

The AG stated that the ruling does indeed have the potential of compromising the political neutrality of public offices, and given that the ruling of the High Court is final, it may be appropriate for the relevant laws to be clarified through appropriate legislative amendment. Source: FBC News

11 Comments

Professor Brij V Lal: Honoured by Australia for preserving and teaching Pacific History and yet slapped, spat at and banned from his native Fiji!

8/6/2015

4 Comments

Fijian academic Professor Brij Lal has been awarded the Order of Australia. Professor Lal who currently teaches at Australian National University (ANU) was given the award in the Queens's Birthday Honour List. He was recognised for his significant service to education, through the preservation and teaching of Pacific history, as a scholar, author and commentator. Professor Lal who has been banned from returning to Fiji indefinitely applied for re-entry in late March after his case was highlighted by the Opposition in a Parliament sitting. And while Fijian authorities are yet to comment on the status of his application, Professor Lal is confident he will get a chance to return to his country of birth someday. Read more at: http://fijilive.com/news/2015/06/professor-lal-awarded-order-of-australia/61209.Fijilive

Professor Brij Lal has been awarded the Order of Australia.

BAINIMARAMA'S ROME AWARD: There was an award for "COMMITTMENT" but not for "REDUCING MALNOURISHMENT" as claimed by Fiji Sun. POOR REPORTING?

On Thursday June 4th the Fiji Sun ran a front page story "PM off to Rome for Top Award". Maika Bolatiki wrote about how the Food and Agriculture Organisation was to give an award to Fiji for "reducing the prevalence of undernourishment from 6.6% in 1990-1992 to 4.5% in 2014-2016." If you log onto the FAO website Awards | FAO | Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations you will see no such award was given to Fiji. Fiji isn't mentioned on the list of recipient countries. Solomon Islands is the only Pacific country that received the award.

Fiji is not even mentioned

4 Comments

Khaiyum skins another scalp: He plans to sack Prison Commissioner Vasu and replace him with Bainimarama's terror chief Sitiveni Qiliho!

7/6/2015

2 Comments

And is still keeping the alleged killer Praveen Bala out of Vasu's Prison

Bala's name is still not on the court list for June

Dancing on the dead driver family's suffering

2 Comments

FLAGGING POINTS: Beddoes tells Committee: Who wants Flag Change?

5/6/2015

23 Comments

"It is ironic that the very party that desecrated and stole the design and parts of the coat of arms of our existing flag, and politicized its use, demonstrating no respect, no honour or regard for our present national symbol, should want all of the protection they have not given our current flag to be given to the Bainimarama-Khaiyum flag. In any democracy, if you suppress the voice of the people long enough and you curtail their rights to express themselves, their frustrations will ultimately be manifested." - Mick Beddoes

Submission By Mick Beddoes to the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights

June 5th 2015

Introduction

At 10am, October 10th 1970, I witnessed from the roof top of the Grand Pacific Hotel, the pomp and ceremony that marked our Independence Day Celebration and Parade at Albert Park.

I was 19 years old and the Hotel’s Public Relations Officer, depending on whether you were born or a teenager like I was in 1970, it will be difficult for you to ‘grasp’ the significance of the moment.

I watched the Prince of Wales hand our nation’s founding father and first Prime Minister, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, the Instruments of our Independence, 96 years to the, day, that our Chiefs willingly ceded Fiji to Queen Victoria.

As the Public Relations officer of the GPH, my task that day was to raise the Hotel’s new ‘banner blue’ to the top of our flag pole at exactly the same time as the main flag raising ceremony at Albert Park.

Many of those who witnessed that Parade and Ceremony had family members taking part. This helped to deeply etch the occasion in our memories even though it occurred 45 years ago.

It was a moment of mixed emotions. Many felt regret and even sorrow about the British departure. They felt a special loyalty to Queen Elizabeth who had become the ultimate paramount chief of Fiji.

But the dominant sentiment was one of joy, buoyed by dreams of a glorious future as a united independent nation.

These dreams were captured in our new flag, fluttering proudly over the park and at many other locations throughout the country. This was our emblem, the mark and the image of our nationhood.

Such was the IMPACT ON THE NATION as a whole of that great occasion and Ratu Sir Kamasese delivered on that promise with 17 years or peace, progress and prosperity and I was fortunate to be one of the many young political activists that learnt from the founding father of modern Fiji.

Fiji had escaped the cruel struggles and bloodshed that so often marred the journey to independence of other colonies.

We had our differences politically, but there was a willingness on both sides to proceed to nationhood on the basis of consensus and compromise in the greater interests of Fiji.

The unique bonds forged by the chiefs and people with Queen Victoria continued through the reigns of her successors right up to Queen Elizabeth.

Now those cherished links, the links that helped define our history are to be rejected by an act of dictatorship, supported by the leadership of the Fiji First Party and government.

I am here today to protest this latest imposition on our islands because our people have not given their permission for changing Fiji’s flag. Their voice was ignored when Prime Minister Bainimarama and Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum decided we should have a new symbol.

The Explanatory notes in the Bills on the Coat of Arms and the New Flag speak of symbols of our colonial past. This is misleading, self-serving and selective.

Other than the Union Jack and the Lion, the depictions of sugar cane, coconut tree, bananas and the dove are all true symbols of our country and not our Colonial past. I surely do not need to tell you that the coconut tree, aside from its agricultural significance at that time, now symbolizes our ‘World Dominance’ in Rugby Seven’s

They stood as the symbols of our new beginning as an Independent and sovereign nation from that 10th day of October 1970 and they remain relevant today. This is a fact.

Contrary to the claim in the Background notes of the National Flag Bill that our colonial past was marred by injustice and oppression, the reality is that British rule was benign.

There is no doubt that some injustices occurred, especially towards our iTaukei and Indo-Fijian communities.

But the real oppression of our people started with the military coup of 1987. It was reinforced by the insurrection of 2000, the Bainimarama coup of 2006, and the abrogation of our 1997 constitution in April 2009 and the eight long fear-filled years of the Bainimarama-Khaiyum dictatorship.

These are the undisputed facts.

The Explanatory Notes to Bill 4 state and I quote:

‘A new national flag that will reflect our present state as a nation and will include truly Fijian symbols of identity that we can all honour and defend’ unquote

·         What symbols would we use to reflect our truly Fijian Identify when the government of the day refuses to ratify UNDRIP, the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People, and retains 17 Decrees that suppress only one community - our Indigenous people.

·         Where is the honour when we remove the pinnacle of our Indigenous people’s society, The Great Council of Chiefs, while allowing all other communities in Fiji the right to retain their respective cultural structures?

Let us put pretence aside and consider honestly our present state as a nation:

The sad and alarming fact is that we are presently in an almost failed six months transition from dictatorship to democracy.

I ask the promoters of these Bills what symbols would best reflect this?

·         A picture of a person with their mouth taped shut, to symbolize the fear to speak out?

·         Perhaps a photo of a Minister with a full complement of bodyguards to protect him or her from the people they are supposed to represent?

·         Or perhaps a copy of the Government propaganda sheet, the Fiji Sun? To symbolize how far we have fallen in terms of ‘fair and balanced reporting’
If we dare to go back further, to the eight long hard years of dictatorship, what symbols would best represent the state of the nation for this period?

·         Will they be symbols of abuse?

·         Or perhaps symbols of nepotism, oppression and threats all wrapped up in copies of unjust decrees?

Bill No 5 has 20 sections. Fifty five percent 55% of its provisions relate to offences citizens will face.

These range from fines of $20,000 to $500,000 or 10 years imprisonment or both. These are extreme provisions and there are others that I shall be mentioning in a moment. I ask the Government committee members to consider this:

Our existing noble banner blue, in the words of the Prime Minister, is widely loved and admired. There is no extreme legislation governing its use and providing severe sentences for transgressions.

There’s been no need for this because citizens respect and admire this symbol of our nationhood.

Why then has the Attorney-General introduced such draconian legislation for the Bainimarama flag? Is this because the two of them expected opposition to it and this must be dealt with severely and in a manner to which we have become accustomed?

Does this approach reflect the principles of the modern nation state that the Prime Minister and Mr Sayed-Khaiyum speak of so much?

This Bill No 5 even seeks to legislate patriotism, and seeks to force people to “respect the flag”. It is intrusive to the extent that its provisions cover the private homes of every citizen by legislating the new flag should be in a place of prominence.

You can’t legislate “respect”. You have to earn it! Neither can you legislate patriotism. But patriotism about what? An imposed flag and Coat of Arms?

Section 7 of the Bill goes further and says if you speak, write or by any other means ‘demean’, disrespect or insult the ‘State’, the Government, or any member of the Government or the general public, you commit an offence?

This is extraordinary stuff Mr Chairman for those in Government who are boasting about our new democracy for a modern nation state. What has criticism of the Government, Minister or another individual got to do with committing an offence against the flag?

Similarly in the Coat of Arms Bill No 5, the majority of the provisions relate to ‘punishment’ and fines ranging from $20,000 to $500,000 plus 10 years or both.

Bill No 5 continues on this course of legal extremism that flies in the face of our long held principle that a person is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

In Section 11 it is stated that ‘In the prosecution of an offence under this act, the onus of proof shall be on the defendant to prove his or her innocence’

This is inconsistent with the rights of the Accused person as stated in Sec 14 (2) of the constitution which says and I quote ‘Each person charged with an offence has the right –

(a)     To be presumed innocent until proven guilty according to law;

So because I have objected strongly against the proposed new flag and its legislation, anyone can claim I contravened Sec 11, and if it’s all made up and I can’t prove I did not, I get fined $20,000 plus get sent to jail for 10 years.

Nothing in these two Bills projects confidence from the authors that they feel the processes involved are democratic or just.

The heavy handed and threatening provisions in both Bills reveal a fearful and insecure administration that is obviously petrified of the people’s rejection of what they intend to do. So their answer, it appears, is to put in place ‘over the top’ measures that will hopefully suppress any thoughts of protest or rejection.

The threatening tone, intrusive nature and oppressive language of Bills 4 & 5 are, I am sad to say, a true reflection of our state as a nation today. Threatening comments by a senior Police officer on television last night, only adds to the sense of oppression I have referred to.

The fact that the notices issued by Parliament for these meeting attempts to limit the contributions of citizens to just three key aspects of the Bill is of deep concern.

This is inconsistent with our rights under Sec 17 of The Bill of Rights to Freedom of speech, expression and publication; so there is clearly a constitutional issue here.

The fact that the hearings are being held here in Parliament, ignoring totally the rights of the majority of our people who live outside Suva and are therefore deprived of access to this hearing, is anti-democratic.

The fact is this Committee is obliged under the Standing Orders to ensure full access and time for citizens to make representations but this does not appear to have been done yet, which is also another grave concern.

Section 15 of Bill No 4 outlines the conditions under which the ‘new flag’ can be changed. Interestingly it calls for a 75% vote of all members of Parliament as well as 75% of all registered voters in a referendum before it can be changed.

I challenge the Government to demonstrate their confidence of the people’s support for their actions and make these provisions retrospective and apply it to our current flag as well.

It is ironic that the very party that desecrated and stole the design and parts of the coat of arms of our existing flag, and politicized its use, demonstrating no respect, no honour or regard for our present national symbol, should want all of the protection they have not given our current flag to be given to the Bainimarama-Khaiyum flag.

In any democracy, if you suppress the voice of the people long enough and you curtail their rights to express themselves, their frustrations will ultimately be manifested.

In a news item the other day Hon Chair, you were quoted as saying the petition on a referendum for our flag assigned to this committee by Parliament in February, has been referred back to Parliament because the committee does not have the jurisdiction to deliberate on it.

Mr Chairman, there is a mystery here. The people need to know who made that decision. Where did the advice come from? Which part of the Standing Orders allows such a decision to be made?

Approximately two thousand citizens 2,000 signed that petition. That’s 43% more people than the supposed total number of design entries. This is excluding the 7,000 other citizens who submitted their preference for a continuation of the present banner blue?

Their representations were excluded without any proper explanation. Have any of you taken a look at some of the names of the signatories who are all patriotic citizens of Fiji?

Given that there has not been a referendum on whether or not the people want to change their flag and in light of this committee’s decision to refer the petition signed by 2,000 citizens back to Parliament, the Government cannot make any claim that the motivation to change our flag comes from the people of Fiji. It does NOT

What we can conclude absolutely is that 9,000 citizens through the Petition and the flag competition have officially registered their opposition to changing our current flag.

We can also look at it another way: 10,400 citizens in total have expressed their opinions about changing our flag through the only official means available to them, the petition to Parliament, and the Flag Competition.

Of this number 87% or 9,000, want the current flag retained. In any opinion poll, the maximum respondents are usually between 1,000 to 2,000 people.

In this case 10,400 responded and of this 9000 did not want our flag changed.

So who really wants the flag changed? As the numbers show 87% say NO! As politicians, who no doubt want to be re-elected are you listening to the people or don’t they count now that you are in power?

Mr Chairman, you try to justify your government’s rejection of a referendum by stating that such a poll was not held in 1970 when we adopted our much-loved and admired noble banner blue.

With respect Hon Chair, you’ve got it wrong. A referendum was not necessary in 1970. We simply had to change our flag to reflect our status as an independent nation.

The choice of that flag 45 years ago was obviously a popular one as there has not been any desire by the people or successive democratic governments to change it up till now.

Allow me to make these final points:

A flag is supposed to be an emblem of togetherness. But this entire business of the forced flag change has accomplished exactly the opposite. It is dividing the nation. To that extent it is already a disaster.

It is very clear that the Prime Minister and Mr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum have miscalculated.

They were still thinking like dictators when THEY decided that we should have a new flag. They had forgotten that we are now supposed to be a democracy where the will of the people MUST prevail.

They have forgotten, or simply thrown aside, the basic principle that the decision to change a flag is one for the people to take.

Thank you

He was proud or was simply a fraudster - just before the election he was seen wearing the Fiji flag everywhere - in Fiji and abroad - now he is saying the flag and the symbols represent Fiji's oppressive colonial past

"Bill No 5 has 20 sections. Fifty five percent 55% of its provisions relate to offences citizens will face. These range from fines of $20,000 to $500,000 or 10 years imprisonment or both. These are extreme provisions and there are others that I shall be mentioning in a moment. I ask the Government committee members to consider this: Our existing noble banner blue, in the words of the Prime Minister, is widely loved and admired. There is no extreme legislation governing its use and providing severe sentences for transgressions. There’s been no need for this because citizens respect and admire this symbol of our nationhood. Why then has the Attorney-General introduced such draconian legislation for the Bainimarama flag? Is this because the two of them expected opposition to it and this must be dealt with severely and in a manner to which we have become accustomed?"- Beddoes

Fijileaks: What Khaiyum (and SODEPA should be demanding) is changing the chairman, the blood-thirsty 'Mr Mortein' - Ashneel Sudhakar - who is chairing the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights, and Debate on Fiji flag!

FOR YOUR DIARY

STATEMENT

[59/5/2015]

SODELPA OPPOSITION ALL SET FOR THEIR NEXT

10 CONSTITUENCY MEETINGS IN NADROGA - NAVOSA

The SODELPA opposition MP’s are gearing up for their next lot of Constituency visits, scheduled for Tuesday June 9th and Wednesday June 10th in Nadroga-Navosa.

Opposition Principal Administrative Officer Mick Beddoes said arrangements were in place, and members have been split into 5 groups and the meetings will be held at the following venues:

TUES JUNE 9TH:           6pm till 9pm

Namatakula                  Hon Ratu Sela Nanovo/Hon Nawaikula/Hon Salote Radrodro

Votua                           Hon Jiosefa Dulakiverata/Hon Mika Leawere/Hon Aseri Radrodro

Sigatoka Village           Hon Ratu Isoa Tikoca/Hon Anare Vadei/

Nasama                        Hon Ratu Suliano Matanitobua/Hon Mosese Bulitavu

Cuvu Village                Hon Viliame Gavoka/Hon Semesa Karavaki/Hon Ro Kiniviliame Kiliraki

WED JUNE 10th                        5pm to 9pm

Voua                           Hon Ratu Sela Nanovo/Hon Nawaikula/Hon Salote Radrodro

Tagaqe                         Hon Jiosefa Dulakiverata/Hon Mika Leawere/Hon Aseri Radrodro

Sila                              Hon Ratu Isoa Tikoca/Hon Anare Vadei

Malevu                         Hon Ratu Suliano Matanitobua/Hon Mosese Bulitavu

Nayawa                        Hon Viliame Gavoka/Hon Semesa Karavaki/Hon Ro Kiniviliame Kiliraki

Beddoes said that Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa and Hon Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu have not been assign any specific meeting venue as both will be making appearances at all of the 10 meetings during the two nights of meetings.

Beddoes said planning for the July Constituency meetings covering Ra, Tavua, Vatukola, Ba, Lautoka and Nadi were already underway. Beddoes said the team would move to cover Vanua Levu in August.

Authorized By
Mick Beddoes

23 Comments

Sakoca housewives in Tamavua claim youth are terrorizing them; police sources say Education Minister's hot 'tea lady' flame among victims!

4/6/2015

6 Comments

Two arrested in relation to thefts and burglaries in Sakoca settlement, Tamavua

Police have arrested two people in relation to recent thefts and burglaries in Sakoca settlement in Tamavua and nearby areas.

Police Chief of Intelligence and Investigations, ACP Henry Brown says they are following up leads as investigations continue. Residents of Sakoca claim that youth from other areas are terrorizing resident mostly housewives in the day time.

These are group of six youth who move around selling cassava. Residents say when the matter is reported to the police, some are taken in for questioning however this continues when they are released. ACP Brown says police have also been told to increase visibility in the area. Source: Fijivillage News

6 Comments

IN HOT SOUP: India bans popular Maggi noodles claiming high doses of LEAD found in tests; has C J Patel (Fiji) warned Fijians not to EAT Maggi Maggi until controversy between Nestle and India is resolved over tests?

4/6/2015

11 Comments

Fijileaks: Why hasn't the gormless Fiji media picked up the story?

India bans Maggi noodles in Delhi for 15 day

Authorities in the Indian capital have banned the sale of Maggi noodles for 15 days after high levels of lead were found in batches tested in Delhi and the state of Uttar Pradesh.The government has ordered countrywide tests of Maggi noodle samples amid a growing food-safety scare.

Several major grocery chains have already taken India's favourite noodles off the shelves.

Nestle India has denied that their noodles are unsafe or unhealthy.

Maggi is a big seller for Nestle in India, with annual sales of about 15bn rupees ($235m; £149m).

It is hugely popular with school and college students, and Nestle's "two-minute" advertising campaign stressing the ease of cooking the instant noodles have made it a household name in India.

Some of India's biggest Bollywood stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Madhuri Dixit and Preity Zinta, have appeared in Maggi advertisements.

But Maggi noodles have been at the centre of a controversy since laboratory tests on two dozen packets in Uttar Pradesh last month found lead nearly seven times the permissible limits and excess levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG), a food additive.

On Wednesday, the company's shares dropped more than 10% in early trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange after the Delhi government said its food inspectors had found higher levels of lead than permitted in most of the samples tested.

"Tests in Delhi showed that 10 out of 13 samples contained lead beyond the permissible limits. Once we have all the results, Nestle India will be given an opportunity to explain," news agency AFP quoted Food and Consumer Affairs Ministry official G Gurucharan as saying.

"Samples have been tested from all across the country, we are getting the results one by one."

Several major grocery chains have said they are taking the noodles off shelves The authorities said five samples were also found to contain MSG, commonly used as a flavour enhancer for Chinese food, canned vegetables, soups and meat.

MSG is not listed among the ingredients in Maggi noodles.

Meanwhile, authorities in the southern state of Kerala have stopped selling Maggi noodles at more than 1,000 government-run shops following the developments in Uttar Pradesh.

Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob's office said the sale of the brand had been stopped temporarily until "the dispute is resolved", the Press Trust of India reported.

A number of other states - Goa, Haryana, Gujarat, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu - have also ordered tests on Maggi noodles, reports say.

Nestle India, a subsidiary of Swiss-based Nestle SA, maintains it has strict safety and quality controls in place.

In a recent statement, it said it had had samples of its noodles tested in an internal and an external laboratory which had found the product "safe to eat".

The company also said that it did not "add MSG to Maggi Noodles, and glutamate, if present, may come from naturally occurring sources".

"We are surprised with the content supposedly found in the sample as we monitor the lead content regularly as a part of the regulatory requirements," it added.

A court in Uttar Pradesh state in India sent a notice to Nestlé and a trial is due from 1 July after tests found high lead levels in some noodle samples.

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/beating-around-the-cassava-patch-health-minister-cant-pull-himself-up-and-endorse-narseys-analysis-about-local-healthy-food-usamate-eat-land-based-food-and-drinks-and-not-machine-based-food

THE REAL FACE OF HUNGER AND POVERTY IN FIJI

Fijileaks: We encourage Fijians to try Yoga - to overcome the stress & strain in Khaiyum/Bainimarama's post-election Fiji;
also it has health benefits:

Full details: http://register.vhp-fiji.org/

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Archives

ROADGATE SCAM:
Aiyaz Khaiyum and his side-kick Faiyaz Koya block
Parliamentary and FICAC Investigations!
Full story coming soon!

BEFORE THE ELECTION KHAIYUM RULED THAT PUBLIC OFFICE DID NOT INCLUDE PMs OFFICE, A-Gs OFFICE AND HIS REGIME MINISTERS

JUDGE ALFRED SHOULD ORDER CONTEMPT OF COURT CHARGE:

Fijileaks: We encourage Fijians to try Yoga - to overcome the stress & strain in Khaiyum/Bainimarama's post-election Fiji;
also it has health benefits: