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NFP wades into Sudhakar's PAC of Piffle: NFP Government will change Standing Orders to ensure that practice of an Opposition Member always chairing Public Accounts Committee is restored for sake of transparency

30/7/2017

FFP Minister Praveen Bala to be taken into custody for questioning!!!;
Also, the WHIPPY MURDER: Did Kean take blame to protect real killer?
HAVE YOU GOT LEAKS FOR US: editor@fijileaks.com

OAG Report Reaction a Pitiful Indictment of Government Reaction

Public Accounts Committee Chairman Ashneel Sudhakar’s attack on The Fiji Times and other media organisations is a pitiful indictment of Government’s reaction to any independent scrutiny that exposes their lack of transparency and accountability.

Reports of the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG), that continue to be thoroughly scrutinised by the Fiji Times, are independent audit reports, which one tabled in Parliament, are public documents.

The OAG is the most important independent institution when it comes to oversight on the use of the tax payers’ funds. Therefore, reports produced by it must be made accessible to the public in a timely manner. It is the people who ultimately judge the performance of the government in the use of their funds. The Fiji Times and other media organisations are doing justice to the people by highlighting the issues raised by the OAG,

So, Mr Sudhakar’s comments against the Fiji Times is not only baseless but unnecessary. It is a futile attempt to silence the media.

Professor Prasad was Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from November 2014 to May 2016, when he was removed as Chair and resigned from PAC, after Government changed the Standing Orders in February 2016.

The change removed the mandatory requirement since Independence of an Opposition Member Chairing PAC, as prevalent in about 67% of Commonwealth jurisdictions.

An NFP Government will change the Standing Orders to ensure that the practice of an Opposition Member always chairing the Public Accounts Committee is restored for the sake of transparency and accountability.

The media has always scrutinised reports of the Auditor-General in the past immediately after it has been tabled in Parliament.

The current scrutiny therefore is nothing new. It was also done when reports for 7 years from 2007 to 2013 were tabled in Parliament after resumption of parliamentary democracy in October 2014.

The scrutiny seems intense because the Auditor-General has expressed serious concerns about lack of and maintenance of proper records, procurement procedures like medicine sitting at port of Suva for 243 days, to name a few. This leads to wastage and pilferage of public funds.

In fact, apart from the media, every person in this country including Members of Parliament are free to scrutinise and comment on Reports of the Auditor-General. This is what transparency and accountability is all about.

This in no way compromises the work of the Public Accounts Committee, which has special powers under the Parliamentary Standing Orders to summon personnel and even Ministers to appear before the Committee.

This is what Mr Sudhakar should be concentrating on instead of attacking the media because in this case, the Fiji Times and other media are doing a great service to the people of Fiji by highlighting how their tax dollar is being spent.

It is no use shooting the messenger, instead he should do what he is empowered to do and lead the thorough scrutiny of the Reports.

Professor Biman Prasad
NFP Leader

So far, OPPOSITION: 1, ASHNEEL SUDHAKAR: 0

FINANCIAL SCAM: We have noticed Fiji Times latest money making tactic, while milking public sympathy:
"For more on Prof Biman's comments, please pick up a copy of The Fiji Times newspaper or subscribe to our E-Edition." Why should we subscribe to read NFP's press release?

People will 'judge'

PUBLIC Accounts Committee chairman Ashneel Sudhakar's attack on The Fiji Times and other media organisations is a pitiful indictment of Government's reaction to any independent scrutiny that exposes its lack of transparency and accountability, claims National Federation Party (NFP) leader Professor Biman Prasad.

The former PAC chairman said reports of the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG), that continue to be thoroughly scrutinised by The Fiji Times, were independent audit reports, which once tabled in Parliament, were public documents.

Prof Prasad said the OAG was the most important independent institution when it came to oversight on the use of the taxpayers' funds. "For more on Prof Biman's comments, please pick up a copy of The Fiji Times newspaper or subscribe to our E-Edition."

Fijileaks: We are sure many will jump to defend the Fiji Times:

Yes, but press releases from political parties are not Fiji Times property!

As we await Bala's appearance before the court, we ask FFP Minister for Education Mahendra Reddy what the hell was he thinking when he dragged two FFP Cabinet Ministers (Inoke Kubuabola and Vijay Nath), along with his smiling Corporate Services Director (in white), to the Suva Magistrates Court. Hello, the FFP government is not on trial, Reddy, but you are charged with one count of corruption by FICAC. Even if you are acquitted, you have brought Government into DISREPUTE and arrogantly displayed a gross error of political judgment

FINGER POINTING KUBUABOLA: "Yes, he is my "BOY" against Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/the-cursed-ffp-indo-fijian-mps-who-will-wreak-election-havoc-on-bainimaramas-chances-of-repeating-the-2014-general-election-win-voters-especially-indo-fijians-gave-them-a-chance-but-not-in-2018

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Chaudhry on Sudhakar's PAC of Piffle: The media has a right to report directly from Auditor General’s annual reports without having to wait for Public Accounts Committee to complete its own scrutiny of these reports

28/7/2017

4 Comments

"Mr Sudhakar’s call for the Fiji Times to “respect the thorough and impartial assessment” by PAC, is open to question. The people of Fiji no longer have any confidence in PAC’s ability to “thoroughly and impartially” scrutinise the OAG reports ever since the chair of the committee was taken away from the Opposition where it traditionally, and rightly, belongs. We are, for instance, still waiting for PAC’s report on the secret salaries that were paid to the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the rest of Cabinet by a private accounting firm between 2010 and 2013."

Criticism of Fiji Times by PAC unfair, says Labour

The Fiji Times came under sharp criticism today from Ashneel Sudhakar, Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee, for its coverage of the Auditor General's 2016 report.

He accused FT of sensationalising the report and of being irresponsible. He said the media should not pre-empt PAC's scrutiny of the reports.

BUT Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry says the attack on Fiji Times was "#unjustified and #unwarranted". He says:

"The media has a right to report directly from the Auditor General’s annual reports without having to wait for the Public Accounts Committee to complete its own scrutiny of these reports, says Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry.

“Once the AOG reports are tabled in Parliament, or any other report for that matter, the media has a right to report on them and this has been the convention under all elected governments.

“It is upholding the right of the people to know how the government is managing State finances and whether its institutions are following financial rules and regulations as a requirement of accountability and transparency ” said Mr Chaudhry.

“In fact, it is not the Fiji Times that is sensationalizing these reports. The issues raised in the AOG reports are in themselves quite alarming and worrying because it is clear that government ministries and departments have consistently failed to observe proper financial procedures in the handling of public funds. The problem has become endemic,” he said.

The Auditor General’s Office allows adequate time to all government management to respond to their queries. If they fail to do so in the time given, or choose not to do so, that is not the fault of the OAG. The Auditor General has to table his report on time. Once it is tabled in Parliament it becomes a public document.

Mr Sudhakar’s call for the Fiji Times to “respect the thorough and impartial assessment” by PAC, is open to question. The people of Fiji no longer have any confidence in PAC’s ability to “thoroughly and impartially” scrutinise the OAG reports ever since the chair of the committee was taken away from the Opposition where it traditionally, and rightly, belongs.

We are, for instance, still waiting for PAC’s report on the secret salaries that were paid to the Prime Minister, the Attorney General and the rest of Cabinet by a private accounting firm between 2010 and 2013.

PAC has so far failed to prove that it can deal with such matters in an impartial and satisfactory manner.

FLP commends the Fiji Times for keeping the public informed of such important issues,” Mr Chaudhry said.

4 Comments

The FIJI TIMES replies to FFP MP Ashneel Sudhakar's PAC OF PIFFLE

27/7/2017

9 Comments

"IT is unfortunate that the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee Government MP Ashneel Sudhakar has accused The Fiji Times and other media of sensationalising the Auditor-General's reports. The Fiji Times has been reporting on the Auditor-General's annual reports for decades. The Auditor-General's Report is a parliamentary paper. It is presented to the representatives of the people in Parliament. They pay for it."

"ISA! It must be very constipating for Fiji Sun's veteran journalist Nemani Delaibatiki to "admire" the Auditor-General's 2016 Reports when in the old golden days of Fijian journalism, these Reports were like presents from Father Xmas. As a former senior sub-editor on the old Fiji Sun of the same name, we [alongside Delaibatiki] slaved into the wee hours of the morning to REVEAL without fear or favour to Fijians of all races the controversial contents of these eagerly awaited Auditor-General's Reports. But, then, we did not have Mr Mortein - Ashneel Sudhakar - to threaten us; later Sitiveni Rabuka and his crooks came with their coups to dump these Reports into the dustbin"

Fijileaks: We had reproduced excerpts from Auditor-General's Reports which were audited when the Rabuka, Chaudhry, and Qarase governments were in power - to illustrate that not much has changed, and is still continuing under the Bainimarama government, and posing the question - is millions of dollars wasted on conducting these audits when no one is held responsible for the financial crimes?
http://www.fijileaks.com/home/the-auditor-generals-reports-reveal-that-not-much-has-changed-since-the-reports-began-whether-under-chaudhry-qarase-or-bainimarama-governments-one-wonders-if-millions-spent-compiling-them-is-wasteful#comments

The 2016 Reports are available for viewing and/or download from here: http://www.parliament.gov.fj/auditor-generals-report/

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PAC OF PIFFLE: Its utter nonsense for PAC chairman and FFP MP Sudhakar to accuse FIJI TIMES of sensationalizing Auditor-General's Reports; media have been reporting on Reports long before he was born!

26/7/2017

2 Comments

AND unlike the 2014 general election, this time around the Indo-Fijian VOTERS are waiting for YOU, MR MORTEIN, to tell them of your true salary and to answer for the abuse you heaped on opponents; unfortunately, in 2014 the local media were too scared of the MEDIA DECREE to take you on, for threatening to gas your opponents, and reproducing Hitler's Nazi salutes, and pointing to KUTIA RD!

The Public Accounts Committee is deeply concerned by the recent media reports in the Fiji Times, that have sensationalized the review and recommendations contained in the Auditor General’s reports and preempted the objective assessment carried out by the Committee.

In a press conference last night, Public Accounts Committee Chairman Ashneel Sudhakar says that selective reporting on the Auditor General’s Report undermines the role of the Public Accounts Committee in determining the quality of government’s financial control by failing to consider the vital context that will emerge in the committee’s assessments.

Sudhakar says that Fiji Times reporting prior to this process is irresponsible and extremely detrimental to the effectiveness of the constitutional control that ensures transparency and accountability in government.

He says that the Auditor General’s report is an initial assessment of the government accounts and had outlined the work of the committee.

Sudhakar says he will be talking to the committee members on what steps the committee will take.

Fijivillage is trying to get comments from the Fiji Times Editor.

Fijileaks: The Fiji Times should not respond to this man; he should look at the previous posting on Fijileaks and the history of comments and responses on past Auditor-General Reports. He is yet to explain which of his two salary claims is correct

2 Comments

The Auditor-General's Reports reveal that not much has changed since the REPORTS began - whether under Chaudhry, Qarase or Bainimarama governments. One wonders if millions spent compiling them is wasteful?

26/7/2017

4 Comments

From The Fiji Times, 28 September 2000 on the Audtior-General's 1999 REPORTS

No approval for home renovations, says Auditor's Report

DEPOSED prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry failed to get Cabinet approval to renovate his private residence nor was there proper documentation to assist auditors during the investigation.

In his report released yesterday, Auditor-General Eroni Vatuloka said $28,381.55 was spent on the home at Suva Point.

Of this, $14,225.51 was spent on wages, $13,289.67 on materials and $866.37 for the hiring of equipment.

During the investigation, the Government auditors noted four discrepancies:

(1) There was no specific Cabinet decision relating to the renovations at Mr Chaudhry's home. The report quoted a speech made in Parliament last June by former deputy prime minister Doctor Tupeni Baba who pointed out that Cabinet approval must be sought on the issue. As a result, the report said costs incurred by Finance, Public Works and the Prime Minister's Office were unauthorised;

(2) The director of buildings and Government architect had no authority to decide on the renovations;

(3) There were no regulations allowing the prime minister to stay at his private home although the parliamentary emoluments and benefits report did allow for the incumbent to live in a rent-free furnished residence with all the proper facilities; and

(4) Decisions and approvals relating to the renovations were not fully documented.

When The Fiji Times first published the story last September, the amount spent on Mr Chaudhry¹s home at that time was $24,503. There was also a request from the Public Works Department for an extra $87,320 to complete all renovations to the home.

Mr Chaudhry accused this newspaper of distorting facts and twisting the story, saying only that a maximum of $15,000 was spent on his home. This was supported by the then works minister, Shiu Sharan Sharma.

However, the deposed prime minister¹s son and former private secretary Rajendra Chaudhry contradicted him, saying that $24,503 was spent on renovations. The building director and Government architect then, Cama Tuiloma, said Mr Chaudhry had directed that repairs to his home be carried out. Neither Mr Chaudhry, who is in Canada, nor his son, residing in Australia, could be reached for comment last night.

The Auditor-General's report revealed Mr Chaudhry opted to stay at home because it would have been more expensive living in rented quarters which would have cost $5000 a month plus the cost of security measures.

Mr Chaudhry had offered the official prime minister's residence on Ratu Sukuna Road to the then vice-president, Ratu Josefa lloilo. Mr Vatuloka recommended that:

(1) The director of buildings and Government architect reveal who ordered him to direct the Public Works Department to carry out the renovations;
(2) The prime minister's office explain why the issue was not discussed and approved by Cabinet; and
(3) The Government review the housing eligibility of the prime minister and any decision made must be added to the emoluments report.

Son's appointment breaks service rules

FORMER prime minister Mahendra Chaudhry breached public service rules by appointing his son, Rajendra, as private secretary without advertising the position.

Also, the Auditor-General, Eroni Vatuloka, revealed that Rajendra Chaudhry did not undergo a medical examination nor did he produce a satisfactory police record before he took on the job. , Following his appointment on May 19, Rajendra's salary increased from $17 ,034 as administrative officer to $37,478 as private secretary.

"Before a letter of appointment is issued, a candidate selected for appointment must undergo a medical examination and should be passed physically and mentally fit by an authorised medical officer," Mr Vatuloka said.

"The candidate must also have a satisfactory police record. The private secretary did not undergo a medical examination nor did the police department clear him.

"The police vetting which was not received until August 8, 1999 indicated four counts of adverse criminal record but Mr Rajendra Chaudhry was appointed on May 19, 1999."

At the time of his appointment, Rajendra told the press he was the best person for the job, having worked alongside his father as administrative officer for the Fiji Labour Party.

Mr Vatuloka recommended that all public service appointments be made in accordance with PSC regulations.

Spending disturbs auditor
$49 million in unpresented cheques at end of 1999

AUDITOR-GENERAL Eroni Vatuloka has highlighted what he calls a disturbing trend amongst ministries or huge spending at year's end, indicating an attempt to spend all budgetary allocations.

In his 1999 report, Mr Vatuloka said as a result of this spending, the Government had $49 million worth of unpresented cheques at the end of last year.

"These high balances indicate that ministries and departments use the balance or funds available in their expenditure allocations towards the end of the year," the report said.

"Such procurements could only result in uneconomic expenditures and in most instances not within the requirements of the budget estimates approved by Parliament."

Mr Vatuloka recommended that the Ministry of Finance ensure strict measures are put in place to discourage ministries from huge commitments of public funds towards the end of the financial year.

At December 31, the departments with the biggest unpresented cheques were:

- Works and Energy (PWD), $15.9 million;
- Education, $10 million;
- Agriculture $5 million;
- Health $2 million;
- Fiji Military Forces $1.9 million;
- Police $1.7 million;
- Tourism $1.5 million;
- Regional Development $1.3 million;
- Government Supplies $1.2 million;
- Public Service Commission $605,068;
- ITC Services $563,768;
- Marine. $557,286;
- Lands $512,861;
- Fijian Affairs $510,326
- Foreign Affairs $463,765
- Labour $449,214
- Energy $448,840;
- Housing and Local Government $447,277;
- and Crown Law $423,334.

Ministries bust spending by $18.4m

GOVERNMENT ministries and departments exceeded authorised limits placed on the Revolving Fund Account by $18.4 million last year, according to auditor-general, Eroni Vatuloka. In his 1999 report, Mr Vatuloka said stringent control measures had to be put in place so nobody could operate over the authorised ceilings.

"It is obvious proper procedures were not followed," he said. A sum of $17,222 had been set aside for the operation of 22 revolving accounts to make, buy or produce goods and services and other Government activities.

"The Revolving Fund balance at 31 December 1999 was $34.8 million indicating that ministries and departments failed to operate within the approved financial ceiling and in defiance of the limits set by the Minister of Finance," Mr Vatuloka said.

The Finance Minister is empowered to set aside not more than $18 million for the operation of the Revolving Fund Account and sets limit on these account for individual commercial undertakings in various ministries and departments.

Revenue drop cause for concern

SOME government departments had alarming increases in arrears of revenue, which helped increase the total government figure to $148.5 million uncollected last year.

Auditor-general Eroni Vatuloka highlighted the problem in his 1999 annual report.

Of the total arrears or revenue last year. the Inland Revenue Department had $65.9 million; the VAT Unit $22 million; UNIFIL $17 million; and Public Works and Infrastructure $11 million.

Lands Crown Rent had not collected $8 million; Judicial $5 million while Meteorological Services, Agriculture, Loans, and Government Supplies all had arrears or revenue or around $3 million.

"While some ministries and departments have taken positive recovery actions to collect dues to the Government, the arrears of revenue position for other entities have deteriorated to an alarming level warranting urgent remedial action," he said.

Mr Vatuloka highlighted revenue arrears for the Customs and Excise Department, which increased by an alarming 753.3 per cent last year. He said the Treasury Department's figure increased by 345.76 per cent, with the Meteorological Department's up by 171.6 per cent.

Additionally, Mr Vatuloka said ministries that overspent their budgets every year were Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests, Communication, Works and Transport, Health, FMF and the Police. He said this reflected poor budgetary preparation by these ministries and departments.

Trust funds overdrawn

TWELVE trust fund accounts within the Government were overdrawn by $10.5 million at the end of last year, says auditor-general Eroni Vatuloka.

Mr Vatuloka said in the annual report for 1999 that this was despite a circular warning that trust fund accounts should not, at any time, be overdrawn.

He said the chief accounting officers responsible for the overdrawn trust accounts should be asked to explain the reasons for allowing such action to take place.

Mr Vatuloka said the ministry should ensure that accounting officers comply with regulations.

Of the total amount overdrawn, $10.1 million or 96 percent, was for customs, and $214,465 was for finance management reform. The next largest amount was for the Fiji Military Forces' overseas remittances, which were overdrawn by $85,587.

The AG's report said that on numerous occasions, official government vehicles housed at various officials' residences without the proper approval of the Permanent Secretary for Finance and that there were many instances of unofficial vehicle runs.

AUDITOR-GENERAL queries Adi Kuini's medical travel ticket bills

The AG said that the purchase of air travel tickets for two of former Minister for Fijian Affairs, Adi Kuini Speed's children who accompanied her abroad for medical treatment was "inappropriate, illegal and should not have been allowed" and that the cost of airfares should have been reimbursed to the Ministry of Fijian Affairs.

The Ministry said that Adi Kuini's two children accompanied her because she was incapable of travelling on her own due to her medical condition. Adi Kuini said from her home last night that the expenditure of purchasing two airline tickets for her two children to accompany her on medical trip to Australia was justified by the "Fijian Affairs Secretariat.

"I was told that I was entitled to have two people travel with her when I went abroad for medical treatment. All my children came with me but only two was paid for by the Ministry," she said.

She added that it was unfortunate that such allegations were leveled at her Government.

"It¹s very petty. One only has to compare the trip that I took which was for medical treatment of an elected member of Government and Deputy Prime Minister, to the $28,000 trip taken by the interim Prime Minister and his cronies who are unelected and using Government funds to travel to New York and justify treason to the rest of the world. It does nothing for the taukei," she said.

Fijileaks: The late Adi Kuini was reminding us of Laisenia Qarase's trip to the UN as Interim Prime Minister after the Speight coup where he justified the violence and vandalism against the Indo-Fijians, citing i-taukei rights. When it came to his own government, Qarase attacked the A-G's Reports

"The Qarase regime has hit out at the Auditor General for investigating the abuse of state housing provisions by Laisenia Qarase. Under regulations, the country's Prime Minister is allowed a rent-free accommodation in government quarters, or an annual allowance of $10,800 if he chooses to stay out of government quarters. Qarase has been staying in a house owned by his previous employer, the Merchant Bank of Fiji for a rent of $3,000 per month. The government is made to pay the rent. The previous rent was $2,500 per month. The Auditor-General has raised queries on this abuse of the provision. Most observers believe that the abuse is fraudulent...His actions over the past few months clearly demonstrate that he treats the public funds as his own and spends these monies to advance his personal and political interests."
Issue No: 810; 30 May 2001 - People's Coalition Government

The Qarase regime has hit out at the Auditor General for investigating the abuse of state housing provisions by Laisenia Qarase.

Under regulations, the country's Prime Minister is allowed a rent-free accommodation in government quarters, or an annual allowance of $10,800 if he chooses to stay out of government quarters.

Qarase has been staying in a house owned by his previous employer, the Merchant Bank of Fiji for a rent of $3,000 per month. The government is made to pay the rent. The previous rent was $2,500 per month.

The Auditor-General has raised queries on this abuse of the provision. Most observers believe that the abuse is fraudulent.

Yesterday the PM's office hit out at the Auditor General claiming that the Auditor-General has allowed himself to be used by the Fiji Times to make comments that are inappropriate.

It is also understood that Laisenia Qarase has summoned the Auditor-General to his office for a meeting today. The Auditor-General comes under the Finance Minister's portfolio. The fact that Qarase has demanded a meeting with the Auditor-General is seen by the people of Fiji as a direct interference by the regime's Prime Minister in the working of the Auditor-General's office.

It is widely known in Fiji that Qarase has no regard for rules and regulations, and for good governance and transparency. Qarase quit the Fiji Development Bank as soon as the public began focusing its attention to the Bank's activities in light of the collapse of the National Bank of Fiji.

It was known by many in the mid 1990's that the Bank was in a bad financial position but propped up by government grants.

The People's Coalition Government had initiated a thorough review of the Bank. It is understood that Qarase was very worried about this review. Qarase has brought the same trait to the government.

His actions over the past few months clearly demonstrate that he treats the public funds as his own and spends these monies to advance his personal and political interests.

People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands
August 27, 2001

The recent report by the Auditor General on the Accounts and Finances of the Government once again confirm that the Qarase government is incapable of managing public funds.

The report highlights what the FLP has been saying since the first day Mr. Qarase took over government: that Mr Qarase and his team have no respect for established rules, regulations and procedures for spending public money and accounting for it.

The report highlights abuses and scams in almost every department of the government. Starting from the very top – in the PM’s office – abuses and scams are found in the police department, government’s trust fund accounts, Social Welfare Ministry, Multi-ethnic Affairs, Regional Development, Finance Ministry, Health Ministry, Immigration Department, Education Ministry… and the list goes on.

Of great concern is the fact that serious questions of abuse of funds have been labelled at the Prime Minister Mr. Qarase himself. That over $54,000 of small grants funds disbursed by Mr. Qarase do not have proper records shows the degree of negligence prevalent in the highest elected office in the country. But the public can expect no better if public funds are willy-nilly used to buy political support through donations made from taxpayers’ funds.

The Prime Minister’s office, as well as the offices of the Ministers of Social Welfare, Multi-ethnic Affairs, and Regional Development are well-known for distributing public funds to purchase political support.

This is outrageous. It has set a very dangerous precedent in Fiji. Buying political support is anti-democratic and a typical example of bad governance which has plagued numerous third world nations. It also exposes the lack of courage of the senior civil servants in advising the Ministers’ against this practice. It also shows that civil servants in certain sections of the government have been totally politicized. The peak of this was seen in the Agriculture Department scam.

Then, there are cases involving a private company Vinod Patel & Co Ltd. It is a well-known fact that Mr. Qarase is very close to the principals of this company. That this company was given a tender for a sum much higher than the cheapest bid, raises questions on whether the influence of Mr. Qarase was used by this company to secure the tender. In addition, this company has been cited for breach of immigration laws in employing an accountant from India. It is well known that some local companies have been hiring accountants from India while our own accountants are going without jobs. Why would a government allow this state of affairs to continue is open to speculation. Some years ago, the same company was involved in a customs scam.

The abuse of public funds creates fundamental problems in Fiji.

First, it takes away much needed money from more useful and pressing areas of need. The revelation of the millions of dollars squandered in such abuses come only hours after the Prime Minister made a passionate speech about poverty eradication. Over the years, well over $100m of funds have been squandered by the Qarase regime. Interestingly, the Welfare minister estimates that only with $96m would Fiji be able to get rid of the problem of poverty once and for all. If that were so, the funds abused by the Qarase government would have been sufficient to eliminate poverty in the country!

Second, the cancer of abuse has seeped right through the government machinery. When junior offices see Ministers and senior civil servants abusing public funds, and when they see them continuing to prosper, junior offices also start abusing public funds. Corruption and nepotism thrive in such an environment.

It is no exaggeration that under the SDL and Qarase leadership, the fundamentals of government and governance have been destroyed. Institutions which the previous governments built over decades, and institutions which proved to be most useful in ensuring good governance, have been seriously undermined and threatened by the callous and mercenary attitude of the Prime Minister.

The abuses undermine the confidence which the people have in the institution of government. This confidence is vital for a nation to prosper. These institutions will take a long time to be reconstructed.

Third, the abuses undermine investor and consumer confidence in the country. When massive cases of abuse and corruption are noticed by potential investors, they lose confidence in the government’s ability to provide a level playing field in the country. Financial abuse and corruption is a cost to business. This further diminishes investor confidence in the country.

Fourth, the economy suffers from the abuse. When financial abuse abounds, much needed growth areas are neglected by the government. This, coupled with the excessive costs on the taxpayers to maintain a non-accountable government, and the declining in investor confidence, places a huge hurdle for economic growth.

Fifth, the continuing abuse under the Qarase regime shows that its own ministers, the Finance Minister in particular, have miserably failed to live up to the expectations of the public.

It is the responsibility of the Finance Ministry to ensure that financial abuse is nipped in the bud. Yet, during the past 3 years, Fiji has seen rising incidence of financial abuse. One can conclude that either the Minister is a party to the abuses and the scams, or that he is plainly incapable of doing his job satisfactorily.

It is indeed sad that the good work done by the Office of the Auditor-General tends to go to waste because the Minister for Finance has failed to ensure that established rules, regulations and procedures are followed strictly by officials and Ministers.

Fiji needs to rid itself of financial abuse, corruption, nepotism and bad governance if it wants to prosper. Unfortunately, the continuing cases of abuse show that this government is least concerned with the abuse of public funds. The people no longer have any confidence in the Qarase regime to manage public money. They no longer have any trust in this government’s ability to handle public money. This message comes out loud and clear from the report of the Auditor General.

Ganesh Chand
Finance Spokesperson – FLP
22 October 2003

3 April 2015: GANESH CHAND

From Sitiveni Rabuka Collections: Behind Rabuka is the younger Frank Bainimarama

Fijileaks: Coupist Sitiveni Rabuka was no better. Among other matters, the 1997 Auditor-General's Report referred to the Regimental Funds of the Fiji Military Forces, which the Auditor General had unsuccessfully been trying to examine for some time. The then Prime Minister Rabuka said the fund was not public money, and the Auditor General had no business investigating it.
During Rabuka government’s eight year regime, the Auditor-General’s reports indicated gross financial mismanagement in the public sector.
The trend, anger, and despair has continued under the Bainimarama government, as exposed by the recent Auditor-General's reports.

They are available for viewing and/or download from here: http://www.parliament.gov.fj/auditor-generals-report/

4 Comments

SHUFFLING THE DECK FOR 2018 ELECTION: Former Chief Executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council Jagannath Sami is the new General Secretary of the National Federation Party. He replaces BALA DASS

26/7/2017

2 Comments

July 21, 2017
Media Release: NFP Names New General Secretary; $5M for Dialysis Under NFP Government
Former Chief Executive of the Sugar Cane Growers Council Mr Jagannath Sami is the new General Secretary of the National Federation Party.

Mr Sami replaces Mr Bala Dass who has resigned to concentrate fully on his role as General Secretary of Fiji Cane Growers Association, having served as the Party’s chief administrator and organiser for the last two years.

Mr Sami has been appointed by the NFP Management Board, in conformity to a resolution unanimously adopted by delegates at the Party’s Annual General Meeting on 3rd June 2017.

The AGM had authorised the Management Board to appoint a full-time General Secretary to play an integral role in the preparations, implementation of strategies and ensuring compliance with the electoral laws in the lead up to the next general elections scheduled for 2018. Under the NFP Constitution the President and General Secretary are extremely important positions. We are confident that our President Mr Pio Tikoduadua and Mr Sami will form a formidable combination and complement the work of the Party Leader in ensuring success in 2018.

Mr Sami brings to his new role a wealth of political and administrative experience. He has always lived ad served ordinary citizens of Fiji, particularly the cane growers through his role in the Fiji Sugar Corporation, Fiji Cane Growers Association and Sugar Cane Growers Council.

Mr Sami served the FSC for 21 years as Field Officer, Traffic Officer and Estate Officer. He resigned in 1992 to join the Sugar Cane Growers Council as District Manager and later in 2000 was appointed as Chief Executive Officer. It was his dream to champion the course of the farmers. During his 6 year tenure, many services were provided to the cane farmers of Fiji namely legal services, medical insurance, good will grants, farm inputs etc.
Mr Sami was unlawfully and brutally removed by the military regime in January 2007 after warning that the impasse that eventually led to the 4th military coup, would result in the loss of the $350m European Union grant earmarked to reform the Fiji Sugar Industry. Mr Sami was then terminated by the President of the Republic of Fiji through Decree No. 1 of 2007. This action was followed his second termination by the newly appointed Sugar Cane Growers Council Board, on the directive of the then Interim Minister for Sugar. That grant was lost because of the coup. So was the chance to advance our sugar industry. The rest is history.

Mr Sami has been an active and integral member of the NFP and FCGA for the last 23 years. He was the founder President of the NFP Youth Movement in 1994 as well as the General Secretary of the FCGA two years after its formation in 1992. Therefore, he is a person with a wealth of experience, energy and vigour together with Mr Tikoduadua to direct the operations and activities of the Party during these significantly important times.
The Party wishes to sincerely thank Mr Bala Dass for his voluntary service for the last two years. It will indeed be a massive boost for growers now that Mr Dass can concentrate fulltime on looking after the welfare and interest of growers who are the largest and most important stakeholders of our sugar industry.

In the absence of a legitimate voice for growers due to the abolition of the elected Sugar Cane Growers Council, Mr Dass has and will continue to be their legitimate voice as he understands grower issues perfectly well having served as FCGA General Secretary for over 16 years.

POLICY ANNOUNCEMENTS

We feel the winds of change blowing across Fiji. We have announced several initiatives many of which will be a priority if NFP forms government after the elections. All policies are oriented towards providing lasting solutions, alleviating the plight of all our people and enhancing their livelihood.

It is worth repeating some of them: -

Implementing a minimum guaranteed price of $100 per tonne of cane and building a new mill in Penang, Rairaki. The minimum guaranteed price will be far greater than the value of subsidies for fertilizer and weedicide announced by the current Fiji First Government. Honourable Prem Singh very eloquently dissected the issue in Parliament on 11th July and I quote, “For a grower producing 20 tonnes in an acre, the savings from fertilizer subsidies equate to $3.45 per tonne of cane. For a grower producing 30 tonnes in an acre, the subsidy equates to $2.30 per tonne. And if you add the weedicide subsidy of $1 per tonne, the total savings per tonne is $4.45 per tonne for a 20 tonne per acre producer and $3.30 per tonne for a 30 tonne producer.
Even if we are producing 2 million tonnes of cane annually, the total value of the fertilizer and weedicide subsidy will be $6.6 million to $8.9 million.

What growers need is a meaningful increase to the price of cane. And this can only happen if a minimum guaranteed price of $100 per tonne is implemented with an annual subsidy of $50 million that will cover both the subsidy and the guaranteed cane price.

At the current average cost of production of $45 per tonne, growers will earn a net income of $55 per tonne minus cultivation, production, harvesting and delivery expenses. This plan to be implemented as a priority by NFP will mean growers receive between $50.55 and $51.70 more per tonne of cane as net income, rather than the monetary value of subsidies provided by the current government”. – unquote

We will implement a living wage of $5 an hour instead of the new meagre minimum rate of $2.68 an hour

We will zero-rate or make VAT free 15 basic food items. This list used to be of 7 items until the Fiji First Government betrayed its pre-election promise and re-imposed VAT on them from 1st January 2016

An NFP Government will reduce the salaries of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers by 25% from the current levels and for the salaries to be determined by an independent Emoluments Committee

The i-Taukei Village by-laws and the Rotuma Land Bill will be abolished if enacted into Law

A National Health Service will be established to reform and rejuvenate our public health and medical services that has deteriorated rapidly under the current Government

Today we announce that further to the establishment of a National Health
Service, an NFP Government after the elections will: -

1. Allocate $5 million annually towards dialysis costs of our kidney patients. The Motion to increase the allocation from $300,000 by NFP was defeated by Fiji First on July 12 in Parliament during the Budget debate.

2. Yet the Fiji First Government sees it fit to give away $18 million in marketing grant to Fiji Airways, $9 million for golf, $11 million to Fiji Broadcasting Commission, millions of dollars for consultancies, to name a few. Not forgetting the fact that the per diem or allowances for Prime Minister, Cabinet Ministers and Members of Parliament have increased substantially. In the case of PM, it has increased by 300% with the PM entitled to $3000 a day even to our nearest destination of New Zealand. So why cannot $5 million be allocated for dialysis which is a matter of life and death? Aren’t the lives of our kidney patients precious?

3. An NFP Government will build a Hospice to ensure the best of care and comfort for our cancer patients. Currently our cancer patients, even in the last days of their lives are left to die in hospitals or family members are being forced to take them home and provide care at their own expense. This is unacceptable and inhumane. An example of the pain and suffering of or cancer patients was witnessed first hand by one of our Vice Presidents at CWM Hospital two weeks ago. Women acutely suffering from various forms of cancer were yelling and crying for assistance. There was no morphine – the common painkiller drug - to provide them relief. This suffering has to end and it will under an NFP Government. A well resourced and fully equipped Hospice with nurses trained in the care of patients suffering from terminal diseases will be constructed in Suva.

4. And during the term of an NFP Government similar facilities will be built in the Western and Northern Divisions.

The NFP is in all likelihood not only Fiji’s but South Pacific’s oldest political party. We are 54 years old. The fact that we have survived all pitfalls including four military coups and three politically annihilating defeats in general elections between 1999 and 2006, re-enter parliament after more than seven and a half years of dictatorship, speaks volumes about our resolve and our principles.

We have survived because of our achievements that have become permanent milestones in Fiji’s history. And we achieved them by being in parliamentary opposition, never shirking our principles, never indulging in political expediency.

After almost 3 years as a minority but highly effective parliamentary opposition party, we are now offering ourselves for judgment by all our people. Above all, we are offering ourselves as a truly credible alternative to the current Government.

Change is coming. Change is inevitable. And together as a mighty collective force, ably marshalled by our President and General Secretary, we shall prevail.

Authorised by:
Professor Biman Prasad
NFP Leader

2 Comments

IN FIJI TREASON IS OK. Mahendra Chaudhry slams Bainimarama and Khaiyum as his attempt to contest election ends in failure in High court

26/7/2017

4 Comments

“It is an anathema that those who have committed the most heinous crime of treason – not once but several times – and have granted themselves immunity under a tailor-made constitution are free to contest the elections while barring others who they perceive a threat to their hold on power. ” - FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry

Fijileaks: When did Frank Bainimarama's coup become TREASON? Was it after Chaudhry left as Bainimarama's Interim Minister of Finance, Sugar Industry and National Infrastructure?
And what about his new found coalition partner and SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka? Rabuka carried out not one but two coups and gave himself and other conspirators IMMUNITY in his tailor-made 1990 Constitution and which was carried forward into 1997 and 2013 Constitutions

In Fiji #treason is ok...Fiji Labour Party

Labour Leader Mahendra Chaudhry and trade unionist Karam Bidesi today withdrew their application to the High Court challenging the constitutional provisions which bar them from contesting the 2018 general elections.

The defendants in the action (the State and the Attorney General) had filed an application to have the action struck down.

The decision to withdraw the matter was taken when the Judge declined to grant an adjournment to the plaintiffs to enable them to file amended summons.

Commenting on the proceedings, Mr Chaudhry said he was disappointed that their request for an adjournment was denied.

Under Section 56 of the imposed 2013 Constitution, anyone convicted of an offence punishable by a term of imprisonment of 12 months or more, is barred from contesting the elections for 8 years ( two parliamentary terms).

Section 57 defines Trade unionists as holders of public office and bars them forever. Under no stretch of the imagination can trade unionists be described as holders of public office.

Section 56 is peculiar in that no previous constitution carried any such provision. Even the Electoral Commission in its 2014 annual report recommended that this provision be amended as it was too severe. However, the government has taken no action in the matter.

It is clear to all that Section 56 was deliberately inserted to bar former Prime Ministers Mahendra Chaudhry and Laisenia Qarase from contesting future elections. It was a pre-meditated “dirty tricks” plan hatched by Bainimarama and Khaiyum.

Readers may recall Bainimarama's oft-repeated public pronouncements that neither Chaudhry nor Qarase will be in parliament in 2014.

In 2012 Mr Qarase was convicted on a matter that went back 20 years and sentenced to one year imprisonment.

In Mr Chaudhry’s case, he was charged for a matter that he had been completely cleared off by an independent inquiry in 2008. He was not jailed, but the offence under the Exchange Control Act carried a sentence of more than a one year jail term.

Speaking on the injustice of the situation, Mr Chaudhry said, “It is an anathema that those who have committed the most heinous crime of treason – not once but several times – and have granted themselves immunity under a tailor-made constitution are free to contest the elections while barring others who they perceive a threat to their hold on power. ”

“As far as I am concerned, the matter is still very much in the public domain. The constitutional provisions in question constitute a violation of our fundamental rights and were decreed by a group of people simply to protect their political interests,” he said.

Rajendra Chaudhry: "Alfred J[udge] was said to be overly rude, argumentative and discourtsous at time to Anand Singh during the proceedings."

Says alot of the Judiciary in Fiji doesn't it folks?

And Chaudhry's challenge to the draconian provisions of the unmandated 2013 CONstitution has only just begun folks.

VICTOR LAL:
Chaudhry and Qarase: Strange Political Bedfellows
"In 2008, after a lengthy three-year investigation, I was ready to expose Mahendra Chaudhry's $2million that he was hiding from the taxpayers of Fiji. I gave the then deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase the option to go public with my findings. After some exchanges, it was agreed that I should go ahead with the revelation in the Fiji Sun. I did which, as we know, resulted in the abduction, detention, and deportation of Fiji Sun publisher Russell Hunter out of Fiji. The morning the revelation appeared in the Fiji Sun, Sitiveni Rabuka was among the many who congratulated the paper for exposing Chaudhry. Today the trio - Chaudhry, Qarase and Rabuka - have bandied together to challenge Bainimarama. Politics, hypocrisy, and opportunism make strange bedfellows. The biggest shock was when Anand Singh, FLP's former Attorney-General, who had filled me with some very vital missing details, turned up as Chaudhry's lawyer after the FLP leader was charged with foreign currency offences. Today Singh is back in court on behalf of Mahendra Chaudhry!
Cry the Beloved Country!

4 Comments

ASK SITI: Rabuka, tell us, why were you hiding since the 2006 coup, only to emerge now, surrounded by a ratbag of ethno-nationalists from the 1987 coups, declaring they will be contesting election under SODELPA?

24/7/2017

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WE ASK YOU, SITI, TO TELL US:
* Who were the real masterminds behind the 1987 coups?
* Were you involved in the 2000 failed Speight coup that overthrew the Chaudhry government, as claimed by the late President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara? Deposed Prime Minister Chaudhry, after being released, said he had been told of your complicity by the leader of the CRW unit in parliament, Ilisoni Ligairi. In talks with Chaudhry, Ligairi had claimed he was very angry with you because you had ditched them at the last minute.
* Will you and your debtors pay back millions for bankrupting the National Bank of Fiji under the bogus affirmative action policy for native Fijians?
* Why are you and your co-conspirators hiding behind the 1990 Immunity (continued in 1997 and 2013 Constitutions)?
* Will Indo-Fijians again be subjected to rapes, beatings, reduced to second class citizenship, and even expelled from Fiji if you and your ultra ethno-nationalists come to power in 2018?
* And if the Indo-Fijians stay, will you force Hindus and Muslims to convert to Christianity because they are PAGANS in Fiji?
* The last time you contested the election was in 1999, which you lost to the Peoples Coalition government, led by Mahendra Chaudhry. On the eve of the polling, the Fiji Labour Party laid bare your [the Rabuka government's] track record of scandals:
(1) NBF - which will cost the taxpayers around $500million;
(2) CDF - $69million;
(3) Cupit Farm - $7million;
(4) PAFCO - $5million;
(5) Public Trustees - $3million;
(6) Rabi Trust Fund - $8.25million
The FLP told the VOTERS: "SVT will not fulfil promise"
The country has been brought to the bring of destruction by the Rabuka Government, says Fiji Labour Party president Jokapeci Koroi. "While the Prime Minister and his merry men and women have been enjoying themselves the poor people became poorer and they did not bother," Ms Koroi said while addressing supporters at the last Fiji Labour Party rally in Suva yesterday.
"The Rabuka government has not bothered to look after you, the ordinary people. You may again ask why - like many of my Fijian brothers and sisters who probably voted for the SVT in the 1992 and the 1994 elections - has the Rabuka government not delivered the goods that it promised you in 1992 and 1994."

Koroi told the voters that since 1992 when Rabuka first took over our public debt has gone from $700million to $1.5billion as it stands today - that is an increase of around $700million in the last seven years. Our public debt in the last seven years, Ms Koroi said has increased an average of $100million each year.

"Can you believe that? Well I certainly can as these are from official government statistics," she said. Last year, the debt service fee paid by the taxpayers was $118million. This works out at $323,000 a day or $13,500 an hour, 224 a minute or $3.74 a second.

"For every breath we take we are paying $3.74 - thanks to the Rabuka government's abysmal management of our public finances."

"Our social indicators show that almost:
* 40 percent of our people live below the poverty line;
* 25 per cent of our youths are unemployed and;
* crime has increased by 130 per cent in the last five years."

Ms Koroi said that with the SVT Government's track record, they would not fulfil what they had promised. She said that People's Coalition was ready to form a Government for the people. Ms Koroi said the People's Coalition now had the support from all races and they were confident they would have the number to form a new Government after the general election. Fijileaks: As history records, People's Coalition did oust Rabuka from power in 1999 but a year later was overthrown by the George Speight putsch. The Chaudhry government was held hostage for 56 days, prompting Ratu Mara to accuse Rabuka of having a hand in the putsch.

On Thursday 27 July 2017, the SODELPA Youth are presenting this Coup Daddy and political loser, who was banished into political wilderness in 1999, in the Wesley City Hall Mission Hall in Suva, and the theme is
ASK SITI:

"Hindus and Muslims are pagans who need to be converted to Christianity, if not we will all become pagans like them"

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/the-lying-coupist-the-former-chief-of-staff-lt-colonel-jim-sanday-says-sitiveni-rabuka-is-a-liar-for-claiming-that-he-sanday-asked-him-rabuka-to-carry-out-1987-coups-because-he-sanday-was-kai-loma

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/shifting-blame-rabuka-either-you-or-the-commander-have-got-to-do-this-i-cant-do-it-im-kai-loma-im-a-white-european-jim-sandy-rabuka-also-claims-it-was-ratu-mara-who-told-him-to-destroy-constitution

"Deposed Prime Minister Chaudhry, after being released, said he had been told of Rabuka's complicity by the leader of the CRW unit in parliament, Ilisoni Ligairi. In talks with Chaudhry, Ligairi had claimed he was very angry with Rabuka because he had ditched them at the last minute."

Speight not real coup mastermind - minister

21 August 2000
Suva

As an uneasy calm settles in Fiji after the storm of the past couple of months, the search is underway for the real mastermind behind George Speight's failed May 19 coup.

Poseci Bune, minister for agriculture in the deposed government of Prime Minister Mahendra Chaudhry, set the rumour mill turning with his disclosure that Speight had revealed, minutes after taking the government hostage, that he was not the real leader of the coup.

Speight told the hostages as he tied them up that they would be surprised to learn the identity of the coup leader, claimed Bune.

"So we had to wait about 40 minutes as he was making calls ... and telling us that we will be surprised that he is not the real leader, as the real leader will arrive for us to see him".

Finally, Speight realised the man would not surface and he would have to brave it out. "I think he is going to be late. Well, I have to take it on from here," he told his captives.

Rumours are rife in the Pacific nation that the coup mastermind remains at large while the 17 people closely identified with Speight during the coup now face treason and conspiracy to treason charges on the island prison of Nukulau, just east of the capital.

Two-time coup leader and former prime minister Sitiveni Rabuka has not been above suspicion.

Seven of the special forces men who stormed into parliament that day and held members of the government hostage for 56 days were from the counter revolutionary warfare unit (CRW).

Just a few weeks earlier, they were training on Rabuka's estate on Vanua Levu. The former prime minister has denied giving them permission to do so.

On May 14, the anniversary of his 1987 coup and four days before Speight's coup, Rabuka officiated at a church service with the CRW men where he reportedly told them they would be called on to protect indigenous rights.

Bune said they were told by CRW officers that Rabuka had indicated they would be called on to do something from which some of them might not return.

As in 1987, the elite team was not told beforehand of the exact nature of their May 19 assignment.

"A few of them jumped off the van when they realised where they were going," said army spokesperson Major Howard Politini later.

Rabuka, himself, has always vehemently denied any involvement with Speight's coup.

However, deposed Prime Minister Chaudhry, after being released, said he had been told of Rabuka's complicity by the leader of the CRW unit in parliament, Ilisoni Ligairi.

In talks with Chaudhry, Ligairi had claimed he was very angry with Rabuka because he had ditched them at the last minute.

Within an hour or so of the coup, Rabuka had turned up at parliament, ostensibly as the mediator in negotiations between the hostage-takers and President Sir Kamisese Mara.

According to diplomatic sources, Mara at the time expressed his distrust of Rabuka, although he later appointed him as official negotiator. But two days later, the hostage-takers rejected Rabuka in the role saying they no longer trusted him.

Bune believes the failure of the "real leader" to turn up was "a big hiccup" in the coup attempt: "When the army was not in a position to support the coup, the 'man' backed out immediately and left these guys in limbo."

He also revealed the names of the people who turned up to see Speight in parliament on that fateful Friday "to give their moral support because they sympathised with the cause".

Three of those who turned up to attend Speight's first meeting are now ministers in the interim administration: Tuakitau Cokanauto, minister for local government and urban development, Inoke Kubuabola, information minister and formerly opposition leader during the Chaudhry administration, and Apisai Tora, minister for agriculture.

The army intends to hold its own court martial to deal with the conspirators and interim President Josefa Iloilo has promised the appointment of a commission of inquiry into the coup.

But whether these inquiries will reveal the real face of the man behind the May 19 coup, is a moot point.

Nevertheless, some are wondering whether Speight, facing trial for treason, might even reveal in court the identity of the man who failed to turn up at one of the defining moments in the country's history. - Sapa-AFP

Fijileaks to 'Ask Siti': Was CRW Unit leader Ligairi telling the truth to Chaudhry?

4 Comments

Se Plaindre: The French Embassy had lodged over a dozen démarches with Ministry of Foreign Affairs during Robin Nair's reign and received a response to only two - both from the military. The rest went unanswered

22/7/2017

9 Comments

“La barbe ne fait pas le philosophe”

He was overheard foul-mouthing Bainimarama to Fijian Civil Servants and Diplomats after Bainimarama's Heads of Mission speech, so his position became untenable as Permanent Secretary, Foreign Affairs. We will reveal, later, how his alleged aggressive bullying tone towards the French government scuppered French funding for COP presidency. He is accused of running the Fiji Foreign Ministry as his "Arab Fiefdom". The MOFA is one institution where, every day, they have Christian prayer meetings in defiance of the secular state provision in the Constitution. They also have a formal morning tea for the staff, with mountains of cake and sandwiches paid for by the taxpayer. Nowhere else does this happen in the Fiji Civil Service, and Nair failed to rein into this 'feast and prayer'

We congratulate the Dubai based SARAH CONRAD who recently tied the knot in the tropical island of Seychelles:

9 Comments

ROBIN Nair flapping his wings against Frank Bainimarama has sent the media into a frenzy but CORRESPONDENCE on us reveal a controversial and dark side to his character and crusade against his adoptive Australia

21/7/2017

11 Comments

Robin Nair claims that he left the Fijian government because of interference in the conduct of his duties. Yet his correspondence with Bainimarama shows that when he was Ambassador to the UAE, he had no compunction whatsoever about going over the heads of both his permanent secretary at the time, Esala Nayasi, and his minister at the time, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to contact Bainimarama directly and urge him to embrace a particularly contentious course of action against Australia and New Zealand - he had no authority to meddle from UAE

"Sir, we had a brief discussion but I think a timely and important discussion, touching on our presence at the PIF Summit next week. I had briefly discussed with you my concern with the speed with which we are normalizing our relations with ANZ [Australia and New Zealand], as if nothing happened in the last 8 years and that they can pick up their relationship with us where they left us in 2006. We are doing this at the expense of your deeply felt grievance against ANZ at how they treated us with contempt, at how they tried to strangle Fiji and annihilate you from 2006 until most recently when Julie Bishop initiated her cleverly orchestrated charm offensive to woo Fiji back into their fold. She did this because ANZ were frightened by what Fiji had been able to achieve, under your leadership, without them. They believe that the South Pacific Ocean is their lake and no-one else should usurp their leadership and control of the region. They resented that your revolution had succeeded both domestically and regionally and internationally."
Robin Nair to Frank Bainimarama, 4 September 2015

NAIR was brought in by Bainimarama to reform the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) but has left a terrible mess behind as he was ordered to "fly out of the messy nest". Incidentally, the ingratiating, obsequious tone of his correspondence published below was a feature of Nair's correspondence with Bainimarama right up to the time he was terminated. He repeatedly adopted a grovelling posture and kept telling Bainimarama that he (Bainimarama) presided over the best government in Fiji's history. What a difference a day makes! Moreover, in his correspondence, Nair is urging a foreign leader (Bainimarama) to adopt a much tougher line against Australia and especially in relation to Fiji's re-engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum. It is, many Australians would claim, a startling betrayal of his duty to Australia as a citizen and a retired diplomat on an Australian Government pension

Fijileaks:

1. Robin Nair claims that he left the Fijian government because of interference in the conduct of his duties. Yet this correspondence below shows that when he was Ambassador to the UAE, he had no compunction whatsoever about going over the heads of both his permanent secretary at the time, Esala Nayasi, and his minister at the time, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, to contact Prime Minister Bainimarama directly and urge him to embrace a particularly contentious course of action against Australia and New Zealand that they would not have supported.

2. In this correspondence, Nair is advocating a much tougher line against Australia and New Zealand than even Bainimarama had contemplated and certainly Kubuabola, who had established a good working relationship with the then Australian Foreign Minister, Julie Bishop, and was trying to mend fences and improve the relationship between Fiji and Australia. As this correspondence demonstrates, this effort was being undermined from within by Nair.

3. Robin Nair is an Australian citizen and a long-standing former member of the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The following is his DFAT career according to his own LinkedIn entry:

Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT)
Dates Employed Aug 1985 – Mar 2008 Employment Duration 22 yrs 7 mos
Location Canberra, Australia
Diplomatic and International Relations at Headquarters in Canberra, including Director of Tasmanian State Office of DFAT (2000-2004); Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Buenos Aires, Argentina (1996 to 2000); Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy in Ankara, Turkey (1988-1991).

Yet in this correspondence, Nair is urging a foreign leader (Bainimarama) to adopt a much tougher line against Australia and especially in relation to Fiji's re-engagement with the Pacific Islands Forum. It is a startling betrayal of his duty to Australia as a citizen and a retired diplomat on an Australian Government pension.

4. This constitutes clear evidence of disloyalty, even treasonous behaviour, against Australia - where Nair still lives - on top of the disloyalty he has shown to his former patron, Bainimarama, but turning against him after Bainimarama decided in April that Nair could no longer be trusted because he was undermining him as PM and Foreign Minister and asked the Chair of the Public Service Commission, Vishnu Mohan, to remove him. Nair continues to falsely claim that he resigned voluntarily yet has since asked the PSC to pay out the full term of his contract.

5. Nair has begun to play a role in domestic Fijian politics, to the extent of issuing his own media releases. He has indicated his interest in contesting a seat in the Fijian Parliament on behalf of the NFP. But Fijian voters have every right to ask him where his true allegiances lie. This correspondence constitutes conclusive proof not only of an obsequious relationship with Bainimarama when he saw that there was an advantage in currying favour with him but of undermining the interests of his country of adoption - Australia - and actively working to cruel any rapprochement between Fiji and Australia after the difficulties in the relationship in the wake of 2006.

From: "Robin Nair" <_____________.com>
Date: 4 Sep 2015 5:13 pm
Subject: PIF
To: "frank josaia" <______________.com>

Sir, we had a brief discussion but i think a timely and important discussion, touching on our presence at the PIF Summit next week.

I had briefly discussed with you my concern with the speed with which we are normalizing our relations with ANZ, as if nothing happened in the last 8 years and that they can pick up their relationship with us where they left us in 2006. We are doing this at the expense of your deeply felt grievance against ANZ at how they treated us with contempt, at how they tried to strangle Fiji and annihilate you from 2006 until most recently when Julie Bishop initiated her cleverly orchestrated charm offensive to woo Fiji back into their fold. She did this because ANZ were frightened by what Fiji had been able to achieve, under your leadership, without them. They believe that the South Pacific Ocean is their lake and no-one else should usurp their leadership and control of the region. They resented that your revolution had succeeded both domestically and regionally and internationally.

I attach a short document that I prepared arguing why we should not be at the PIF at the level that we will be represented for now. ANZ believe they have already achieved 95 in wooing Fiji back to their noose or trap of their colonialist institution of the PIF. They believe that it is matter of short time only when you will be personally back into the fold, with your attendance at the next Leaders Meeting or soon afterwards, without ANZ conceding anything nor showing any regrets for how offensively they had treated us.

My thesis, sir, is that we have moved too fast rather than through a considered and progressive path, achieving our own objectives and national interests, and with the dignity earned over the past 8 years. It is still not too late to send a token delegation to PIF Summit next week because we are members. But we will be betraying your revolution if we were to be present at the level of the Foreign Minister, to almost fully be part and parcel of PIF in such a short period.

I hope you will find time to read the brief document attached with issues raised for your consideration.

I will prepare another fuller paper on how we should be re-engaging with ANZ.

with much respect

Robin Nair
Ambassador
Embassy of the Republic of Fiji
Abu Dhabi
Tel: +971 2 681 3002
Mob:+971 50 224 6888

Sir,
I briefly discussed with you this morning my concern with the speed with which we are normalising the relations with ANZ and the PIF, as if nothing happened in the last 8 years and that they can pick up with us where they left us in 2006. We are doing this at the expense of your deeply felt grievance against ANZ at how they tried to strangle Fiji and annihilate you from 2006 until most recently when Julie Bishop initiated a cleverly orchestrated charm offensive to woo Fiji back, by saying the right words and throwing money at us, as they do with other PSIDS. She did this because they were frightened by what Fiji had been able to achieve without them, so much so that their position as the vice-Sherriff of the South Pacific region was being eroded by Fiji’s smart diplomacy. They have always believed that the South Pacific is their lake.

During the course of our experience post 2006, we had grown and matured because of the attempts by ANZ to isolate us and make us a Pariah State. You resisted and persisted on your planned path to full sovereignty. During that time we realised that PIF had been an instrument of colonisation. We agreed internally that when the time came for ANZ to realise that you had succeeded in your revolution, any normalisation of relations will not be automatic as if the last 8 years did not happen. We agreed that any normalisation of relations with ANZ will be done in progressive steps and one within a context of agreed/negotiated set of principles, recognising Fiji as an equal partner and not a subservient and submissive partner. We had agreed and said it publicly many times that we did not need PIF as it was presently constituted and we will not join it unless PIF became a true voice of the Pacific Islands again. We showed ANZ and PSIDS that we were serious and we showed them the way through the launching of your PIDF initiative.

But what do we see now, post 12 September 2014. Our relationship with ANZ has been rushed by your advisers (the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and no different from what it was pre2006, because we fell for their charm offensive, not realising that is exactly where the ANZ want us to be. They considered our tough talk of the past as mere rhetoric, when you in fact were determined and serious and showed how rhetoric can be made into real action and gain for our national interest.

Now, I see our membership with PIF is almost normal. Overnight we have been sucked into all the organs and bodies of the PIF and we participate fully in these Fora. We are even going to be present at the first PIF Summit Meeting after the elections of September 2014, less than a year ago, and with a high level delegation led by our Foreign Minister. ANZ see your principled stand of not attending the PIF Summit as a token protest at best. They see this as a face saving measure after your 8 years of showing deep resentment and antagonism towards ANZ for treating us like naughty children and not a sovereign nation. ANZ believe they have already achieved 95 in wooing Fiji back to their noose or trap of their colonialist institution of the PIF. They believe that it is matter of short time only when you will be personally back into the fold, with your attendance at the next Leaders Meeting or soon thereafter, without ANZ conceding anything nor showing any regrets for how offensively they had treated us, by trying to starve us out of all the regional and international organisations.

My thesis, sir, is that we have moved too fast rather than through a considered and progressive path, achieving our own objectives and national interests, rather than to do this progressively and with the dignity earned over the past 8 years. It is still not too late to send a token delegation to PIF Summit next week because we are members. But we will be betraying your revolution to almost fully be part and parcel of PIF in such a short period.

As for the argument that our lack of presence would upset Island Leaders, I think it is a very cruel and ill-considered argument, one to justify capitulation. These Island leaders never gave us a second thought when they so unashamedly kicked us out of the PIF, with offensive and demeaning rhetoric of some of these leaders towards you and Fiji. Some of these leaders only reluctantly and in a lukewarm showed support for your “Engaging of the Pacific Islands” initiative, with lower levels of representations, to the amusement of the ANZ. Even now, they speak with forked tongues about PIDF. Not many Leaders want to be seen at the opening ceremonies of PIDF, so graciously hosted by us every year.

Your PIDF initiative is now being seen and accepted by many in the broader international community, especially amongst our “new” friends as an emerging premier organisation of the Pacific Islands voice, by sending observers and indicating public support. Some have sent very high level representations, including last year with the presence of the President of Indonesia. The PSIDS are beginning to realise and quietly embrace the PIDF, slowly but surely. Our less than full participation in the PIF will not upset leaders but show the leaders a way to achieve meaningful sovereignty. We want to keep on this path rather than get seduced into the PIF. ANZ is already considering adopting our model of the tripartite body for PIF or, at least to start with, in some organs of PIF. This is to dilute our argument of PIDF being tripartite and grass roots. We are on a winner, sir, with the PIDF and let us concentrate on that.

Our relations with ANZ should not be through any regional mechanism such as PIF. where their habit of dominance will not mellow. We should retain our pride and our sovereignty by dealing with Australia and New Zealand on a bilateral basis, as equals, a mature relationship between two sovereign countries: Fiji and Australia and separately Fiji and NZ. But even this should be built progressively on the basis of a set of principles.

As promised to you this morning, I will do a Paper for you on re-engaging with ANZ.

Sir, you sent us out to make new friends in the world. You have been successful. We have many more friends than we had pre 2006. We have found a new sense of freedom and sovereignty.

Robin Nair

How TRUTHFORFIJI cartoonist saw Robin Nair's departure from MOFA!

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FFP Minister Praveen Bala to be taken into custody for questioning!!!;Also, the WHIPPY MURDER: Did Kean take blame to protect real killer?HAVE YOU GOT LEAKS FOR US: editor@fijileaks.com

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FINANCIAL SCAM: We have noticed Fiji Times latest money making tactic, while milking public sympathy: "For more on Prof Biman's comments, please pick up a copy of The Fiji Times newspaper or subscribe to our E-Edition." Why should we subscribe to read NFP's press release?

Fijileaks: We are sure many will jump to defend the Fiji Times:

Yes, but press releases from political parties are not Fiji Times property!

The 2016 Reports are available for viewing and/or download from here: http://www.parliament.gov.fj/auditor-generals-report/

Fijileaks: The late Adi Kuini was reminding us of Laisenia Qarase's trip to the UN as Interim Prime Minister after the Speight coup where he justified the violence and vandalism against the Indo-Fijians, citing i-taukei rights. When it came to his own government, Qarase attacked the A-G's Reports

3 April 2015: GANESH CHAND

They are available for viewing and/or download from here: http://www.parliament.gov.fj/auditor-generals-report/

Rajendra Chaudhry: "Alfred J[udge] was said to be overly rude, argumentative and discourtsous at time to Anand Singh during the proceedings."

On Thursday 27 July 2017, the SODELPA Youth are presenting this Coup Daddy and political loser, who was banished into political wilderness in 1999, in the Wesley City Hall Mission Hall in Suva, and the theme isASK SITI:

"Hindus and Muslims are pagans who need to be converted to Christianity, if not we will all become pagans like them"

"Deposed Prime Minister Chaudhry, after being released, said he had been told of Rabuka's complicity by the leader of the CRW unit in parliament, Ilisoni Ligairi. In talks with Chaudhry, Ligairi had claimed he was very angry with Rabuka because he had ditched them at the last minute."

Fijileaks to 'Ask Siti': Was CRW Unit leader Ligairi telling the truth to Chaudhry?

“La barbe ne fait pas le philosophe”

We congratulate the Dubai based SARAH CONRAD who recently tied the knot in the tropical island of Seychelles:

How TRUTHFORFIJI cartoonist saw Robin Nair's departure from MOFA!

editor@fijileaks.com

FFP Minister Praveen Bala to be taken into custody for questioning!!!;
Also, the WHIPPY MURDER: Did Kean take blame to protect real killer?
HAVE YOU GOT LEAKS FOR US: editor@fijileaks.com

FINANCIAL SCAM: We have noticed Fiji Times latest money making tactic, while milking public sympathy:
"For more on Prof Biman's comments, please pick up a copy of The Fiji Times newspaper or subscribe to our E-Edition." Why should we subscribe to read NFP's press release?

On Thursday 27 July 2017, the SODELPA Youth are presenting this Coup Daddy and political loser, who was banished into political wilderness in 1999, in the Wesley City Hall Mission Hall in Suva, and the theme is
ASK SITI: