FRANK Bainimarama's former Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry & FLP want caretaker government before promised elections, the 1997 Constitution and regime to abide by 2009 Fiji Court of Appeal ruling

10/8/2013

Fiji Labour Party wants a caretaker government to take charge of the process of restoring Fiji to democratic and constitutional rule. The call was made at the Annual Delegates Conference of the party in Lautoka.

Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry said the conference emphasised that free, fair and credible elections could not be held under the current government and reiterated its earlier call that to ensure the credibility and integrity of the process, the only lawful and legitimate way forward for Fiji was to abide by the ruling of the Fiji Court of Appeal in April 2009.

“The conference noted that the President had the powers to implement the roadmap recommended by the Appeals Court and delegates spoke in favour of retaining the 1997 Constitution which had wide support among the people of Fiji,” said Chaudhry.

He said however some amendments and additions were considered necessary, particularly those relating to the electoral system and good governance These, Chaudhry said could be discussed and agreed to in an appropriately constituted forum similar to the aborted President’s Political Dialogue Forum of 2009. The conference also called for the involvement of the Commonwealth Secretariat, the European Union and Pacific Islands Forum to assist in the transition to democratic rule.
Source:http://fijilive.com/news/2013/08/flp-wants-caretaker-govt-for-elections/54640.

Minister for Elections & A-G Khaiyum responds:

“The Prime Minister has already set out a roadmap to the lead-up of the elections of September, 2014, and that has been the position that government has always adhered to. Also in any comments regarding political parties manifesto, that is up to the political party to talk on their manifesto to deal with it and the public. Its not governments’s position to comment on any political parties manifesto.”

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15 Comments

RM72_Fiji

13/8/2013 09:50:57 pm

For someone who collected millions from the people of Haryana under the pretext of aidning the needy, then keeping it only for himself/family, I seriously think Mahendra Chaudhry should quit politics, once and for all.

Amber

13/8/2013 11:05:19 pm

Where does it say the money was for the needy? Just asking...

accountability minister

14/8/2013 06:04:32 pm

MPC himself told tax dept then gave amnesty to default payment to pay the tax on interest for that.

Jhoot Bole

14/8/2013 11:59:47 pm

Where does it say money was for him? He represented as deposed PM and Leader of the Coalition, hence custodian to fight for democracy.

RM72_Fiji

15/8/2013 04:20:27 pm

Amber...you are certainly out of step when it comes to MPC, aren't you! His cunning stance is detailed here: http://www.rediff.com/news/2000/may/22tara.htm ,

"Fundraising allegations[edit source | editbeta]
On 8 December 2005, Chaudhry announced his decision to sue Prime Minister Qarase and Fiji Television for defamation.
Addressing the House of Representatives on 23 November 2005, Prime Minister Qarase alleged that Chaudhry had had money raised for him in the Indian state of Haryana, and called on Chaudhry to reveal what had happened to the money since. On 2 December, he told Parliament that he was aware that money had been raised in his name in Haryana, but denied having authorized the appeal or receiving any of its proceeds. He had raised the issue with Om Prakash Chautala, he said, after being hounded by the media in both Fiji and India. He claimed to have discovered only during his 2005 visit to India that Chautala's record with money is not transparent. "My anger about the whole episode is that Shri Chautala should exploit the feelings of the ordinary and poor folks of Haryana who are emotionally tied to me and to the people of Indian origin in Fiji and play on them a game of deceit for self enrichment," Chaudhry said.
On 30 November, the Haryana state government ordered an investigation into the allegations. This followed reports in the Indian media that an Indian political party, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), had raised over a million crore (F$376,557) for Chaudhry in 2001, who was then visiting India to raise support following his overthrow in the 2000 coup. According to Webindia, however, the money had not been delivered to him, because of currency regulations, and was instead deposited in the Oriental Bank of Commerce account of the Indo-Fiji Friendship Society. INLD Secretary General Ajay Singh Chautala, whose father Om Prakash Chautala was Chief Minister of Haryana at the time, welcomed the probe. The Haryana authorities were not mollified by his comments, and on 20 December Ranbir Singh Surjewala, the Haryana State Transport and Parliamentary Affairs Minister, called for the passports of Chautala and his two sons to be seized to prevent them from leaving the country.
It was announced on 7 December 2005 that India's Bureau of Investigation had cleared Chaudhry of the allegations." is taken from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahendra_Chaudhry . That last sentence about IBI clearing Chaudhry is relative to that country and its severing of allegations against MPC, not necessarily clearing him from allegations back home. Tell me, where do you think he acquired the 1.3M he declared recently as being in his personal account?

misty

15/8/2013 07:58:12 pm

@ RM72

Do you know when that A$1.3 was deposited into his account in Australia?

misty

15/8/2013 08:29:58 pm

No worries @ RM72, as it was well before LQ brought it up in Parliament and the cornered MPC reacted by trying to sue for defamation.

Shocking esp. when he knew it was a valid question and he already had the money... which was why he didn't file tax returns from 2000 to 2003 (4 years).

Don't understand why these so-called leaders can't simply admit the truth instead of compounding the problem and contributing to destroy the country when they can't have their way.

Btw, LQ wasn't a saint either with his hoarding of shares.

Karma's a beetch

14/8/2013 03:44:42 am

A gentlemen's agreement no doubt.

Methinks MPC was saving the money for his lawsuits, we know how he loved running to Court for every little thing that irritated him. So sad that he and the other thief LQ lacked vision and wisdom to find a political solution to Fiji's problems. That's the problem with having hidden vested interests tied up to their egos.

I say let them come in and do all they can to put things right given our present difficult situation, it's the least they could do given their past conducts ... and then retire gratefully.

MONEY OR THE BAG?

16/8/2013 04:12:03 am

Chaudhary is a self made millionaire from long before this Haryana incident, as a matter of Fact, he owned 17 executive homes before anyone had ever heard of the existance of one George Spade...oops Speight

How did he get these houses?? Did he steal them from the refugee camp? had he stolen from the unions? had he inherited the wealth? Did he have a huge Mortgage???
He was never investigated before the $2 million dollar relocation funds. mmmm that makes me wonder if there are fools like sheep in this country ..hear something,add a few more juicy gossip and tell the next sheep...baaa baaa baaaa meh meh meh.
Why don't the people who want a slice of the funds from him declare their interests or their employment status currently......apart from Victor Lal, the other 2 major complainants are unemployed, one is on accident compensation fraudulently...aren't you Santa Monica?

uh oh...

16/8/2013 04:57:53 am

This is unbelievable that MPC's excess moneybaggage might assume that MPC's critics might want a slice of the $3million.

Clearly their Labour party modus operandi of buying people's loyalty or to keep their mouths shut, is now on full display. Disgusting.

It's no wonder the Labour Party has lost all credibility with this kind of leadership that has kept people esp. poor farmers on money strings, too scared to leave to join another party.

Hello! People probably wouldn't give two hoots if you spent it all on toilet paper, except for the glaring fact that the 3 million dollars from Harshaya or whereever in India, was never meant for MPC or his family alone.

Which was why MPC kept it hidden.

Even lied about it in Parliament.

Even wanted to go to Court to sue his partner in crime, LQ.

Complete madness just to save a fragile ego.

Can someone explain to me just why on earth would the poor people of India raise funds in the millions just for MPC and family to move to the first world (Australia) and not back to motherland where they'll be safer (since Aussies don't like Indians and for a while there was open hostility).

In addition, Fiji is still considered a paradise comparatively to their motherland India. I'll bet most of them Haryanas wouldn't think twice of relocating to the green lush island paradise called Fiji in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Clean air, blue skies, it's a dream come true. After all, the girmitiyas themselves balked at the thought of returning to the harsh realities in India when the indentured system came to an end.

Excess moneybaggage is so out of touch. How embarrassing.

MONEY OR THE BAG

16/8/2013 12:25:20 pm

Here are some fools like sheep who now follow all lies that I wrote above. Actually money was not shared with FLP hiarachy hence a fallout in that camp.

I'll tell on you if you don't share the hidden money...but I'll love you again if you do!!!

canebelt puppet master

16/8/2013 04:34:38 pm

Nice try @ the way too twisted, old moneybag. Yes, keep twisting those strings. hah.

santa monica

17/8/2013 05:55:16 am

mahen has balls, santa and atma and chela singh don't

Auditor General

22/8/2013 03:29:30 am

PM Tells All
By fijivillage
Dec 9, 2005, 15:59

PM Laisenia Qarase
The Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase today revealed documents to the media to prove that Fiji Labour Party was directly linked to attempts to derive commission from the $86 million sugar restructure deal.

In his national address, Qarase revealed a confidential letter from Mahendra Chaudhry on a National Farmers Union letterhead to the Chairman of the Fiji Sugar Cooperation Charles Walker in September 2003, proposing to purchase Government shares in FSC.

In the letter, Chaudhry outlines plans to improve operations at the mills and indicates that they are in talks with an India based milling company to carry out the restructure within FSC.

Chaudhry also highlights that he had instructed United Consultancy of Auckland and FLP Senator Anand Singh to continue negotiations on his behalf.

Audio Comment

FLP Leader Mahendra Chaudhry
“He made an offer for government to transfer its shareholding in FSC to the cane farmers and the transfer was to be exclusively to the National Farmers Union, leaving out other cane-growers organisations. He asked that the government write in with an invitation to submit comprehensive proposals on the restructure of the industry. Mr Chaudhry did this to ensure that he would receive a payment for costs incurred. He made references to an overseas company which would be given contracts to manage the FSC and to supervise maintenance in the mill. He also said that long term financing would be arranged for FSC’s capital development through this overseas associates financing. Mr. Chaudhry could not have referred to the company and its associates and finance if he had not been involved or associated in commercial negotiations”.

Qarase also made public a letter from him to the High Commissioner of India to Fiji Ishwar Singh Chauhan dated August 2004 where he is requesting the Indian Government for the $86 million loan for the restructure of the Sugar Industry.

The Prime Minister also revealed an email addressed to the Head of the Indian Technical Mission J.J. Bhagat from FLP Senator Anand Singh where Singh is demanding more money from an Indian company ISGEC.

Audio Comment

“Senator Singh’s involvement in India was specifically with a company ISGEC. He himself revealed in communications with Mr. J.J Bhagat, head of the Indian Technical Mission that he had received some payment from ISGEC, but was wanting more. According to Mr. Bhagat Senator Singh is still demanding payment and has been sending obnoxious and threatening communications on this. Since Mr. Chaudhry himself had confirmed in his letter 25th September 2003 that Senator Singh and his Consultant company United Consultant were acting for him and the NFU one is led to believe that Senator Singh is demanding money not just for himself”.

Qarase also challenged Chaudhry to allow the Auditor General to carry out an inquiry into the communication from the FLP's parliament office to the Indian company.

Qarase said Singh, on behalf of the FLP and the NFU used the office to call and fax ISGEC to derive the commission under instructions from the FLP Leader.

The Prime Minister said that he will consult with the Auditor General and the Solicitor General before deciding whether to refer the matter to Police for investigations.

When contacted this afternoon, Anand Singh denied the allegations saying the PM has failed to prove that they tried to derive a commission as he was only negotiating the acquisition of shares on behalf of the NFU

However, in a new twist to the saga, Singh said he is now taking the Indian Government and J.J. Bhagat to court on the matter.

help with payday loans link

26/11/2013 03:10:14 am

You lot monumental info about Fiji Labour Junket dearths a custodian administration to contract storm of the operation of restoring Fiji to popular further lawful criterion.

FRANK Bainimarama's former Finance Minister Mahendra Chaudhry & FLP want caretaker government before promised elections, the 1997 Constitution and regime to abide by 2009 Fiji Court of Appeal ruling

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