Opposition demands answers to Expression of Interest Advert - contracts to hardware retailers for materials for Cyclone Winston rehabilitation, and who is INTAZ SHAH, charged with acting as gatekeeper to the tenders?

12/4/2016

"The expressions of interest are to be sent to a Mr. Intaz Shah who is named as acting manager of the Construction Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Finance. This unit I understand was recently set up. What is its role and responsibility and who are its members? Will its decisions be referred to Mr. Sayed Khaiyum for final approval? Is Mr Intaz Shah a civil servant? How was he selected for the position? As he is acting, who is the manager? I submit that these supply contracts are normally handled by the Tenders Board? Is it still functional? Who are the current members of the Board and who is the Chair?"

STATEMENT
[No 13 April 12 2016]

Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa today expressed concern about a lack of transparency and accountability, as well as possible conflict of interest issues, in the process of awarding supply contracts to hardware retailers for materials for Cyclone Winston rehabilitation.

Ro Teimumu said Firstly, an April 11th full page newspaper advertisement by the Attorney General and Minister for Finance for Expressions of Interest for the supply of materials was only placed in the Fiji Sun. It was not in the Fiji Times.

This was a clear case of bias and favor, denying crucial public information to those who do not read the Fiji Sun.

Secondly the expressions of interest are to be sent to a Mr. Intaz Shah who is named as acting manager of the Construction Implementation Unit in the Ministry of Finance. This unit I understand was recently set up. What is its role and responsibility and who are its members? Will its decisions be referred to Mr. Sayed Khaiyum for final approval?

Thirdly, is Mr. Intaz Shah a civil servant? How was he selected for the position? As he is acting, who is the manager?

Fourthly I submit that these supply contracts are normally handled by the Tenders Board? Is it still functional? Who are the current members of the Board and who is the Chair?

The Advertisement referred to some $70 million in supplies to be awarded. A quick assessment shows Fiji has about 40 plus suppliers of hardware. The bigger firms number about eight. How many of these have made donations to Mr. Sayed Khaiyum’s Fiji First political party?

The Attorney General and Minister for Finance is also the general secretary of Fiji First. So a conflict exists.

Mr. Khaiyum has demonstrated a consistent trend in his conduct in the past eight years of disregard for conflicts of interest, favoritism and nepotism in his dealings. He also has an almost feverish obsession for absolute control and influence in many facets of life in Fiji.

Over the past seven years, tens of millions of dollars has been donated by individuals, companies and nations for hurricane relief with no audited accounts published for public scrutiny.

Both the Prime Minister and the Finance Minister have been secretive about documentation on the payment of salaries amounting to millions of dollars to ministers from 2009 to 2013 through the firm of Nur Bano Ali.

They have yet to provide acquittals for more than $200 million in payments they authorized when Ministers of Finance. Any civil servant who failed to provide acquittal details for a fraction of this amount would be made to face the full force of the law.

Will their past practices provide the standard of governance for the management of the $70 million intended to be used for rebuilding homes damaged or destroyed by Cyclone Winston?

Authorized By
Ro Teimumu Kepa

12 Comments

Naidu

13/4/2016 08:10:50 am

What Tender Board? There is only one authority in Fiji. This is Aiyaz Saiyad Khaiyum. He is Tender Board. He is Judge. He is Jury. He is Jailer. He is Executioner. Nothing can move without his agreement.

There is only one person who he has to keep on his side. The one who controls the guns. This is Voreqe Bainimarama. Voreqe is the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy, the Commander of the armed thugs.

And then we have the Merceneries. These are what were known as soldiers before. They do as Commanded by Voreqe. The only thing they want is more Pay. A 6 month trained for 5 drop out mercenary is now earning more than a BSc qualified school teacher who studies hard for 4 years at USP. Aiyaz Sayed Khaium and Voreqe Bainimarama make sure that the gravy train runs to the army barracks without fail on schedule

Finally we have the spectators - the Great US of America, the UK, Australia, New Zealand, the EU, the UN, the Commonwealth. They will be okay if occassionally they smile to the camera with Aiyaz Saiyad Khaiyum and Voreqe Bainimarama and give applause.

Get used to this Khaiocracy. Or get rid of it. No middle option.

There is only one person who he has to keep on his side. The one who controls the guns. This is Voreqe Bainimarama. Voreqe is the Commander of the Army, the Commander of the Navy, the Commander of the armed thugs.

And then we have the Merceneries. These are what were known as soldiers before. They do as Commander by Voreqe. The only thing they want is more salary. a 6 month trained mercenary is now earning more than a school teacher who studies hard for 4 years at the University.

This is Fiji now.

Some Corrections

14/4/2016 08:36:30 am

Vorege was literally pushed out of the barracks on his last day as the army commander, hence he does not control the guns.

However his bodyguards remain the thugs within the army that even the commander of army would not dare mess up with, hence Tikoitonga lasted only months in the job!

Mele

14/4/2016 11:05:14 am

Frankie's bociguards are feared by all except Khaiyum. Khaiyum dont give a shit to them. Frankie goes to drink grog at the barracks so often that we know he is still the big boss of the army. Bill Naupote is just a front.

Rajend Naidu

13/4/2016 10:04:59 am

Editor,
Close Associate of Power holders
We learn from LAHT 13/04 that the Brazillian Federal Police detained former Senator Gim Argello, a businessman and politician, closely associated with President Dilma Rousseff, as part of the on-going investigation into the corruption scandal involving state controlled oil company Petrobras.It is alleged that when he was still a member of the Senate he accepted hefty bribes to obstruct the work of a legislative committee investigating Petrobras.
The 54 y o Argello has amassed a sizeable fortune on real estate dealings.
It's not hard to guess what other dealings he engaged in to amass his wealth.
We have people like that in positions of power who abuse their power for personal gains.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Rajend Naidu

13/4/2016 11:29:04 am

Editor,
Greedy Degenerate
Mining magnate and Palmer United Party leader Clive Palmer faces the possibility of five years jail after siphoning more than $200 m from Queensland Nickle which contributed to the collapse of the mining company and the loss of livelihood for some 1000 workers.
Clive Palmer it is alleged was using QN as a " piggy bank" to prop his political party and election campaign and his political ambitions.
I wonder if that favourite Chinese communist label of " greedy degenerate" can be applied to Palmer?
It can I know be applied to many politicians who abuse their position for their own personal gain and aggrandisement .
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Samjha

13/4/2016 11:48:56 am

It doesn't matter who Intaz Shah is. What matters is that he is someone prepared to be Aiyaz Khaiyum's boy. And of course approval for final decisions will be referred to Aiyaz Khaiyum. Isn't that the new norm in Fiji under Khaiyum?

Absolutely Corrupt

13/4/2016 11:59:27 am

POINT 1: Why do they want last 2 years of financial reports to establish ability and capacity of potential builders / businesses?

It is the government who has to put forward the funds for construction and building materials, via international grant/bank loans/ budget hence this criteria is CORRUPT to lock out cheaper options spreading out to benefit many against feeding a handful allies.

POINT 2: Why is the building design(s) not presented to greater public PRIOR to them showing their interest in if they want to compete for the tender?

Absolutely Corrupt

13/4/2016 12:06:13 pm

Why can there not be a new company registered to compete for the works?

If a new Political Party can qualify to head a government then why can not have a new company able to build houses or supply materials?

Fiji First Party certainly did not have same thoughts when deciding to form a new political party. They did not have to show experience in dealing with parliament so why general public are excluded from knowing the design of buildings they are to compete with UPFRONT if they want to offer a competitive price?

Why is this tender CLOSED after 4 days unless the decision is designs to shut out those who are not aware of the details so that those who have worked behind the scene are prepared to gain the tender contract?

Tomasi

13/4/2016 12:19:53 pm

Well said Mr Naidu. Very well articulated. Fiji is now a Khaiocracy under the protection of the mentally unstable but now financially very stable Baini and the well fed mercenaries or dogs of war. As you said it, there is no middle option for us because our so called friendly nations are spectating and playing the old political and PR game of pose and smile. But it is up to us the people of Fiji. As I have said here and there many times, civil disobedience and people revolution is the only option if no other means is found soon. This Khaiocracy is getting increasingly unbearable by the week.

Alibaba

13/4/2016 12:23:35 pm

Naidu great comments. Could not have said it better. The level of power ASK craves is startling. If he was in the middle east or Africa he would have been no different to the likes of Assad or Gadafi. The said thing is that Muslims in Fiji are all brushed together with this loony and i know for a fact that most hate his guts. The dumb people of Fiji are also so gullible as they will vote for FF again.

Ultimately the people get the government they deserve.

Socho

13/4/2016 09:11:34 pm

I know what one means by saying " ultimately the people get the government they deserve". But I still think it is being unfair to the people. The good people of Fiji do not deserve the government they have today. This government was thrust upon the people by force. Let us not forget that. The people were rendered impotent to oppose the usurpers because the military threw its support behind the usurpers instead of the people. Remember in the Phillippines the people were able to get rid of dictator Marcos because the army belatedly decided it was time for Marcos to go. The same happened in Eygpt to end Mubaraks rule.
It is true the people could have done more to oppose the Bainimarama - Khaiyum regime but lacked the right leadership. The regime successfully imposed its will on the Fijian people with the threat of violence by the military against opponents, through rule of fear and intimidation and control of the media. Then all hope to remove the usurpers was lost when the international community bought into their phoney agenda to return to democracy. But remember rotten rulers don't rule forever. What has a beginning also has an end.

Soko

13/4/2016 10:10:44 pm

The marama's comments are well on the mark.

But the good marama also need to clean her own bosom before pointing fingers at others.

In the same week she is questioning this appointment, the rest of Fiji is questioning the same sinister quietness with which the good old marama appointed Laifitu Malani in a position paid for by taxpayers.

The marama raises good points. But the marama needs to really appoint better advisors, or clean her own slate first, or both.

The marama is not smart. Do not be like the marama.

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Opposition demands answers to Expression of Interest Advert - contracts to hardware retailers for materials for Cyclone Winston rehabilitation, and who is INTAZ SHAH, charged with acting as gatekeeper to the tenders?

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