"Since the BLV was abolished, the iTaukei people had carried on as normal."
FFP candidate APAKUKI KURUSIQA, 2014; after failing to win the election, Bainimarama had re-appointed Kurusiqa the Deputy Permanent Secretary for i-Taukei Affairs. Now, he has popped up as Member on Rabuka's Coalition government Mercy Commission.
*In June 2014, without mentioning SITIVENI RABUKA who was Prime Minister in 1997, Kurusiga claimed that the audit of the accounts of the i-Taukei Board had revealed abuse of office.
*He said when he came into office he found out that no financial audits had been carried out from 1997.
'The last audit was in 1996.'
He said this was clear breach of the regulation by those who were in power back then, meaning SVT, led by Coupist Sitiveni Rabuka
Fijileaks Archives: Unlike Johnny-Come Lately wannabes in PAP, SODELPA, NFP, FLP and other parties, including the recent Facebook scribes hailed as bringing down FFP government, we kept files on various persons and institutions for over 16 years, including on Kurusiga
A-G Siromi Turaga on Kurusiga, 8 January 2023: |  |
From Fijileaks Archives, 30 October 2014
"The appointment was a continuation of the militarization of the government machinery. Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party director Peceli Kinivuwai said the military was putting its people in strategic posts within the civil service".
"Why are they bringing in a retired colonel?"
IN 2008 Bainimarama's brother Ratu Meli (now in Malaysia) told the Fiji Times (3 July) that Kurusiga was on a three-year contract until 2011, so what happened NEXT? From 2011 to 2014, and now after September election?
Kurusiga on a 3-year posting Sunday, July 13, 2008
COLONEL Apakuki Kurusiga's appointment as deputy secretary at the Fijian Affairs Board (FAB) is for three years, says Ministry of Indigenous Affairs permanent secretary Ratu Meli Bainimarama.
"Col Kurusiga was assigned to this post from 17 June 2008," said Ratu Meli.
"He replaced three officers who were acting in two positions of deputy secretary but reverted to their substantive positions in July 2007. "He was assigned to this post to, among other things, see to the implementation of recommendations his team has made during its visit to the Provincial Councils and the FAB. "He has been offered a contract appointment of three years with the board."
Col Kurusiga preferred not to comment instead referring all queries to Ratu Meli.
Public Service Commission deputy secretary Maria Matavewa said the commission was unaware of the appointment.
However, she confirmed that the FAB was an autonomous body which made its own appointments.
Meanwhile, two political parties said the appointment was a continuation of the militarization of the government machinery.
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party director Peceli Kinivuwai said the military was putting its people in strategic posts within the civil service.
"Why are they bringing in a retired colonel?"
"By doing that they are depriving a career civil servant from a promotion or getting ahead within the civil service and that's demoralising," he said.
National Federation Party general secretary Pramod Rae said the appointment of Col Kurusiga was suspicious and the militarisation of the government machinery was continuing.
He said it raised eyebrows because Col Kurusiga had been tasked with investigating Fijian institutions and was now appointed to one of the very institutions he reviewed. "This goes against good governance and shows this is just another job for the boys," said Mr Rae.
"This is nepotism and cronyism."
Kurusiga on a 3-year posting Sunday, July 13, 2008
COLONEL Apakuki Kurusiga's appointment as deputy secretary at the Fijian Affairs Board (FAB) is for three years, says Ministry of Indigenous Affairs permanent secretary Ratu Meli Bainimarama.
"Col Kurusiga was assigned to this post from 17 June 2008," said Ratu Meli.
"He replaced three officers who were acting in two positions of deputy secretary but reverted to their substantive positions in July 2007. "He was assigned to this post to, among other things, see to the implementation of recommendations his team has made during its visit to the Provincial Councils and the FAB. "He has been offered a contract appointment of three years with the board."
Col Kurusiga preferred not to comment instead referring all queries to Ratu Meli.
Public Service Commission deputy secretary Maria Matavewa said the commission was unaware of the appointment.
However, she confirmed that the FAB was an autonomous body which made its own appointments.
Meanwhile, two political parties said the appointment was a continuation of the militarization of the government machinery.
Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua party director Peceli Kinivuwai said the military was putting its people in strategic posts within the civil service.
"Why are they bringing in a retired colonel?"
"By doing that they are depriving a career civil servant from a promotion or getting ahead within the civil service and that's demoralising," he said.
National Federation Party general secretary Pramod Rae said the appointment of Col Kurusiga was suspicious and the militarisation of the government machinery was continuing.
He said it raised eyebrows because Col Kurusiga had been tasked with investigating Fijian institutions and was now appointed to one of the very institutions he reviewed. "This goes against good governance and shows this is just another job for the boys," said Mr Rae.
"This is nepotism and cronyism."
"The only top institution for all Fijians was the Parliament, where parliamentarians discussed developments for all Fijians.
“Gone are the days when the BLV was the top institution for the iTaukei people and chiefs were prioritised."
The supreme law of the Government was the Constitution which “treats all Fijians equal and there is no mention that chiefs should be prioritised.”
When the late Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna opened the BLV meeting in 1944, he warned that chiefs should go down to the people and work with them. Ratu Sir Lala asked the chiefs not to remain in isolation because of their chiefly status.
“Chiefs should remember that they gain respect from the people on what they deliver to them.”
No one respects a chief who wants to be served.
“Chiefs must serve the people.”
Since the BLV was abolished, the iTaukei people had carried on as normal."
APAKUKI KURUSIQA, 2014
