Blog Posts

LOTUSGATE: Two weeks after Malimali stopped (5 September) probe into Biman Prasad's lies in his statutory declarations, Suva City Council, on 19 September, renewed his plans for Lotus to build 4 storey apartments

1/5/2025

"Regarding his interest in Lotus Construction and Lotus Tours and Travel, Dr. Prasad had declared his shareholding and confirmed no dividends were received, which met the requirements under the Act.”- Malimali

COMING SOON: How controversial Ficac Commissioner Barbara Malimali, while closing Prasad's FICAC FILE, ignored Fijileaks complaints against NFP leader and Fiji's Finance Minister Prasad and focused solely on the complaints filed against Prasad by Sydney based resident Ms Alex Forwood, who had filed her complaints in February 2024.
We had filed our complaints with documents in August/September 2024.
According to the then acting Deputy Ficac Commissioner Francis Puleiwai (30 August 2024) to Fijileaks Founding Editor-in-Chief, Ficac was conducting two separate but connected investigations into complaints against BIMAN PRASAD and his statutory declarations from 2014-2024

LOTUSGATE, 19 September 2024: 'That this consent relates to the renewal of proposed four (4) storey residential apartments on Lot 14 DO2705 Burerua and Naiyala Street, Raiwaqa, Suva.'
*The original application was in Biman Prasad's name but in 2024 it was on behalf of 'Lotus Apartments Development for Lotus Investments Ltd'

"To support CONSTRUCTION and bring down building costs, the fiscal duty on PREFABRICATED buildings will reduce from 32 percent to 5 (FIVE) percent while Fiscal Duty on STEEL structures or articles of iron will be maintained at 5 per cent."
Finance Minister Biman Prasad
2024-25 Budget

15 March 2014. Biman Chand Prasad is co-director in Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd. He did NOT declare his Directorship in his 2014 Statutory Declaration under the Political Parties Act 2013. He continued his subsequent lies from 2014 to 2024

AN: The initial AN circled in blue is that of architect Adish Naidu, a FNPF Board Member

Architect Adish Naidu has been appointed to the Fiji National Provident Fund Board, in accordance with Section 7 of the FNPF Act.

Mr. Naidu brings with him more than 35 years of experience, having worked on various projects locally and abroad as an architect and project manager. Mr Naidu’s experience in building and architectural products would contribute immensely to the FNPF’s growing investment portfolio, particularly through our asset management and projects.

A forensic investigation into the 'Burerua Property' wielded multiple breaches committed by Biman Prasad in his Statutory Declarations
From Fijileaks Archives

*Worst, Biman Prasad never declared in his statutory declaration that Rajni Chand owned two villas worth $300,000 or that she jointly owned the Burerua St property.

RAZED TO THE GROUND: Burerua St property demolished in preparation of building 14 units by Biman Prasad and Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd

On 12 March 2014, Biman Prasad bought two villa units off-the-plan from his cousin Sunil Chand worth $300,000 ($150,000 each). Three days later, on 15 March 2014, the two formed Lotus Construction (Fiji) Ltd to build 28 units (Westfield Villas) in Nadi. Prasad never contributed a single (CENT or DOLLAR) but was made a 50% shareholder in Lotus (Fiji) Ltd.
In 2016, Prasad and his wife Rajni Kaushal Chand sold their Burerua St property to Lotus (Fiji) for merely $550,000. He never disclosed in his statutory declarations that his wife was joint owner of the Burerua St property.
The couple transferred the property on 19 January 2016 with a reported market value (on 9 July 2015, some 7 months before the transfer) of $2,815,000 (end value) for declared value of $550,000.
In return, Lotus (Fiji) paid Prasad's CGT and other debts, including his ANZ bank loan.
*Further, Sunil Chand gave Prasad's wife 2 Units worth $300,000 in Westfield Villas. Also, Rajni Chand was granted a lease for the term of 99 years plus of Westfield Villas, effective from 13 August 2018 (rent of $320 per annum).

www.fijileaks.com/home/lied-in-his-declarations-for-three-consecutive-years-biman-prasad-claimed-house-with-ct11907-belonged-to-him-but-in-2016-same-house-was-jointly-sold-for-550000-by-him-and-his-wife-rajni-to-lotus-fiji-ltd

www.fijileaks.com/home/lotus-fiji-and-mr-50-director-biman-chand-prasad-his-litany-of-lies-in-his-statutory-declarations-from-2014-2024-can-only-be-understood-if-we-examine-his-directorship-with-cousin-sunil-chand-in-lotus-fiji

www.fijileaks.com/home/mysterious-lotus-finally-bloomed-open-in-2024-when-biman-prasad-revealed-in-his-2024-declaration-that-he-holds-50-shares-in-lotus-fiji-construction-with-sunil-chand-and-two-borrowed-over-1m-from-anz

www.fijileaks.com/home/sharing-in-lotus-lootoos-a-thorough-forensic-examination-of-the-nfp-leader-biman-prasads-finances-raise-questions-about-consideration-he-provided-to-sunil-chand-to-get-3350-shares-in-the-lotus-companies

DISPUTING From the Mountaintop. Mataqali Naveitokaki in Cakaudrove dispute Lands Minister Filimoni Vosarogo's statement in Parliament on Mt Kasi Gold Project. 'There are several inaccuracies in the STATEMENT'

30/4/2025

Vosarogo

Minister for Lands Filimoni Vosarogo confirms that there is no mining activity happening at Mount Kasi, and currently, it is an exploration project.

While responding to Opposition MP, Taito Rokomatu’s question on the progress of the Mount Kasi Mining operation, Vosarogo says mineral exploration is granted under an exploration licence, and mining is usually granted or approved under a lease.
He says Mount Kasi’s prospect was granted to Vatukoula Gold Mine PTE LTD on the 20th of June 2024 for a term of three years.

Vosarogo says Vatukoula Gold Mine was awarded the right to apply for an exploration licence after the company was rated first among seven in a competitive tender process that was done in December 2020.

He adds the company met the criteria and was identified to have technical proficiency, financial capability, and sector-wide experience to undertake what is needed.

The Minister says as part of the application they had sent to the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources in 2020, the company had proposed an exploration expenditure of $50 million for a duration of three years.

He says despite issuing the exploration licence, Vatukoula Gold Mine has not been able to commence the proposed exploration work that they had identified in their work schedule.

Vosarogo adds they are still working with the landowning unit, who are proposing the grant at the moment and are closely working with the elders of the landowning unit.

The Minister says if the mining operation in Mount Kasi commences, it would mean employment for 300 to 400 young men and women, particularly in the Wailevu area.

He says in terms of money, this is an immediate $500,000 to $600,000 for a fortnight's pay alone.

When asked by the Leader of Opposition Inia Seruiratu if the landowners were part of the initial consultation as the exploration has not started yet and if the issues landowners are raising are new, the Minister said consultation with landowners continued to happen from 2020 to 2024 after the award was granted.

He says there has been some interference by companies who were not successful in the application process in 2020, and they are trying to make sure that it does not affect the proper administration of the issuance of the license that was properly awarded in 2020. Source: Fijivillage News.

Delegated spokesman Emori Bukadina

FIJI is cursed, From Paradise to Devil's Island. Daughter's Cry for Help, as her mother lay dying from stab wounds, was drowned by loud Church music, with congregation telling her to shut up, 'We are praying to God'

29/4/2025

GOD, Help Cursed Fiji. It is time the fundamentalist Methodist lay preacher Sitiveni Rabuka and his Coalition government ordered Fiji Police to police churches on Saturday and Sunday, and confiscate their music instruments if they are found to be breaching certain level of accepted noise, and throw the bloody talatalas* in prison.
From The Fiji Times, 29 April 2025 (Below):

Sadly, all races seem to be engaging in domestic violence, murder, and suicide in 'Cursed Fiji - The Devil's Island'.
Twenty-five years ago, most victims of domestic violence resulting in either murder or suicide were mostly Indo-Fiji women. As a young court reporter in the early 1980s I had reported most of the cases from Magistrates Court, Fiji High Court, and the Supreme Court of Fiji. The old Fiji Sun, closed down by Rabuka after his 1987 coups, had a whole page, 'In the Courts with Victor Lal'. Today, Fiji media chiefs are mostly on free junkets, and one would struggle to find any in-depth court reporting.
Over two decades ago, I had penned an impassioned plea in my
'Opinion Column' in Fiji's Daily Post,* 20 October 2005

LOUD Music in Churches and Firing Fire Crackers on Diwali Sunday.
Fiji Police must crack down and confiscate music instruments if God's missionaries defy rules regarding the volume of permitted noise.
We may recall uproar in November 2020 regarding Diwali celebrations

THE REPUBLIC OF FIJI

DECREE NO. 20

SUNDAY OBSERVANCE DECREE, 1987 (NO. 20)

IN exercise of the powers vested in me as Commander and Head of the Fiji Military Government, I hereby make the following Decree:

1. This Decree may be cited as the Sunday Observance Decree, 1987.

2.-(1) Sunday shall be observed in the Republic of Fiji as a sacred day and a day of worship and thanksgiving to Christ the Lord and such observation shall be without prejudice to section 3(2) and section 10 of the Fundamental Freedoms Decree.

(2) For the purpose of this Decree Sunday commences at midnight on the preceding Saturday and ends at midnight on Sunday.

3. All persons irrespective of whether or not they profess the Christian faith shall respect Sunday and shall subject to section (4) of this Decree neither do nor omit to do any act that may undermine the significance of Sunday to the Christians in the Republic of Fiji.

8. This Decree shall come into force on 29th October 1987.

Dated this 11th day of November 1987.

COLONEL SITIVENI LIGAMAMADA RABUKA O.B.E (Mil.)
Commander and Head of the Fiji Military Government

KEEP On Running Biman Prasad. As Malimali closes file on NFP leader, we call on Police Commissioner Tudravu to arrest and charge Malimali for Perverting the Cause of Justice. Bainimarama and Qiliho duo were jailed

25/4/2025

In her affidavit to the Commission of Inquiry, Barbara Malimali asserts that she holds the same rank as the Commissioner of Police and the FICAC investigators hold ranks that are similar to police officers, citing s13AA of the Ficac Act.
She was recalling her arrest and detention by her own staff on 5 September 2024, describing it as a 'mutiny'
*If so, then she should be charged for telling one of the FICAC Investigators on 24 December 2024 not to proceed with Biman Pradad's file at FICAC

Keep On Running

24 December 2024

Fijileaks: In an outrageous decision, FICAC under Barbara Malimali and her side-kick Lisiate Fotofili have rushed and terminated the case against NFP leader Biman Prasad before the Commission of Inquiry, led by Justice David Aston-Lewis, released his Report to the President Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
However, Malimali and Fotofili did not consider any of the evidence provided by Fijileaks* from August 2024, and only focused on complaints from Ms Alex Forwood (Sydney, Australia), the original complainant to FICAC in February 2024.
We call on Police Commissioner Rusiate Tudravu to take Malimali and Fotofili into custody for attempting to pervert the cause of justice.
Below is the evidence that was sent by FICAC Commissioner Malimali to one of her investigators. Fijileaks had sent the Whats App exchanges to Attorney-General Graham Leung, Justice Minister Siromi Turaga, Army Commander Jone Kalouniwai and Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
The rotten to the core bunch did nothing and let Malimali continue as FICAC Commissioner, and now she has let Biman Prasad loose on Fiji.
These Whats App exchanges took place on 24 December 2024, and we repeat our call to Tudravu to take Malimali into custody.

FIRST COUNT
Statement of Offence

ATTEMPTED TO PERVERT THE COURSE OF JUSTICE: Contrary to section 190 (e) of the Crimes Act 2009.

Particulars of Offence
JOSAIA VOREQE BAINIMARAMA sometime between July 2020 and September 2020 at Suva in the Central Division, attempted to pervert the course of justice by telling Sitiveni Tukaituraga Qiliho , the Commissioner of Police of the Republic of Fiji to stay away from the USP investigations that was reported under CID/HQ PEP 12/07/2019.

SECOND COUNT
Statement of Offence

ABUSE OF OFFICE: Contrary to section 139 of the Crimes Act 2009

Particulars of Offence

SITIVENI TUKAITURAGA QILIHO on the 15th day of July 2020 at Suva in the Central Division being employed in the civil service as the Commissioner of Police of the Republic of Fiji, directed the Director of Criminal Investigations Department Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass to stop investigations into the police complaint involving CID/HQ PEP 12/07/2019, in abuse of the authority of his office, which was an arbitrary act prejudicial to the rights of University of the South Pacific which is the Complainant in CID/HQ PEP 12/07/2019.

"It was not right for you to tell the second respondent [Police Commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho] to stay away from investigating the alleged mismanagement of taxpayer’s fund at the University of the South Pacific by top senior officials, who appear to be citizens of Fiji. The second respondent was the Commissioner of Police. The second respondent’s brief as Police Commissioner was guided by section 5 of the Police Act 1965. It was mandatory for the second respondent to prevent and detect crimes and enforce the criminal law of the Republic of Fiji. The police were investigating the USP mismanagement of funds at the time.
The police had sought the Director of Public Prosecution’s assistance. He had recommended the caution interview of the suspects. By telling the second respondent to stay away from the USP investigation, you have in a sense effectively sabotaged the police investigation. To this day, the investigation had not been completed. Your action was inconsistent with the oath of your office.

Breach of the Public’s Trust.
At the material time, the second respondent was the Commissioner of Police of the Republic of Fiji. By virtue of section 129 (3) of the Constitution, he commands the Fiji Police Force and is responsible for its administration, organization, deployment and its control, and in those matters, he is not subject to anyone’s control. He is the top police officer and it is his task to lead the police maintain law and order. By virtue of section 5 of the Police Act 1965, he leads the police in preserving the peace, protecting life and property, prevent and detect crime and to enforce the criminal law of this country.

However, when he, on 15 July 2020, at Suva in the Central Division, directed the Director of the Criminal Investigations Department Serupepeli Neiko and Inspector Reshmi Dass to stop investigations into the police complaint involving CID/HQ PEP 12/07/2019, he was certainly abusing his office, which was an arbitrary act, prejudicial to the rights of USP.

What he did was a direct violation of section 5 of the Police Act 1965 and as such, was a breach of the public trust in him.

(ii) By acceding to the first respondent’s request to stay away from the USP investigations reported in CID/HQ PEP 12/07/2019, the second respondent violated his constitutional independence as guaranteed by section 129 (5) of the 2013 Constitution.

In sentencing you [Bainimarama}, I am guided by section 4 (1) of the Sentencing and Penalties Act 2009, that is, to punish you in a manner which is just in all the circumstances; to protect the community; to deter others from committing similar offences and to signify that the court and community denounce what you did in Count No. 1. I start with a sentence of 6 months imprisonment. For the aggravating factor, I add 2 ½ years making a total of 3 years imprisonment. For all the mitigating factors, I deduct 2 years, leaving a balance of 1 year imprisonment. On Count No. 1, I sentence you to 1 year imprisonment.

The Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) authorizes the release of the following statement concerning the closure of the complaint against the Honourable Deputy Prime Minister, Dr. Biman Prasad.

The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has formally responded to Ms. Ana Mataiciwa, Supervisor of Elections, regarding a complaint alleging that the Honourable Dr. Biman Prasad, Deputy Prime Minister and leader of the National Federation Party (NFP) had committed an offence for failing to comply with the declaration requirements under Section 24 of the Political Parties (Registration, Conduct, Funding and Disclosures) Act 2013.

The initial complaint was lodged with the Supervisor of Elections by one Alexander Forwood of Sydney, Australia. The complaint alleges that the Honourable Dr. Prasad, submitted false information in his declaration of income, assets and liabilities for the years 2014 – 2020, 2022 and 2023 to the Fijian Elections Office in his capacity as Party Leader of the National Federation Party.

FICAC initiated a comprehensive investigation that included an in‑person interview with the Honourable Dr. Prasad and a detailed review of documentary evidence and legal submissions provided by his counsel. Although the Political Parties Act does not explicitly list “party leader” among those required to declare, the Commission concluded that the Honourable Dr. Prasad’s role qualifies him as an “office holder” under section 24 and therefore subject to its declaration obligations.

The complaint that the Honourable Dr. Prasad should have disclosed his superannuation is debatable. Since 2014, the Honourable Dr. Prasad has provided his declaration to the Fijian Elections Office without including superannuation information, and there is no evidence before FICAC that the Supervisor of Elections or the Electoral Commission ever advised Honourable Dr. Prasad that his declarations were insufficient or requested that superannuation information be included in the declaration form.

As there were no grievances raised in almost a decade, any ordinary person in the Honourable Dr. Prasad’s position might think that the declarations provided were sufficient. Furthermore, the forms required the Honourable Dr. Prasad or any other office holder to declare their assets and did not specifically require information pertaining to superannuation.

Allegations regarding his spouse’s ties to FEMLink Pacific and the Global Girmit Institute (GGI), as well as his professional association with Dr. Ganesh Chand, were similarly reviewed and dismissed, as none involved reportable business transactions. Under section 24 (1A) and (1B) of the Political Parties Act 2013, an office holder must disclose business interests and transactions but does not require the disclosure of personal connections.

In relation to Lotus Construction and Lotus Tours and Travel; the form requires that declarants are to declare any dividends received and directorships. Honourable Dr. Prasad declared his shares in two companies, the value of one company and the loan obtained from the bank. Honourable Dr. Prasad also declared that he did not receive any dividends. So, whilst the Honourable Dr. Prasad declared his shares, no income in the form of dividends were received from the companies. (Fijileaks: We will respond to Lotus and Prasad's declarations)

If an office holder under section 24 of the Political Parties Act 2013 commits a technical breach in their declaration, that person can still be prosecuted because it is a strict liability offence. FICAC appreciates the objective of the declaration requirement which is to promote transparency and accountability. However, it is a provision which generates disputes (whether made in good faith or not) between political parties, opposition and their supporters, which in turn has the potential to weaponise FICAC disproportionately against certain individuals.

In this light, in its prosecutorial discretion, FICAC will examine all electoral cases referred to it closely to identify cases of a trivial nature or is a technical breach versus those who wilfully flout the declaration requirements.
FICAC will not be prosecuting Dr. Prasad.

Ms Forwood

Ms Ana Mataiciwa,
Acting Supervisor Fiji Elections,
Fiji Elections Office,
Suva, Fiji

12th February 2024.

Dear Ms Mataiciwa,

Re: Party Leader- Biman Prasad- False and Non Declaration under the Political Parties Act 2013.

I am writing this letter to lodge an official complaint regarding one Biman Prasad who is the Party Leader of the National Federation Party which is currently in the Coalition Government.

I note that Biman Prasad has declared that his income being $188,000 per annum, however he failed to declare the FNFP contribution as it added on top of his salary under the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 2014, excluding his personal contribution as required by law (Attached as exhibit 1- Parliamentary Remuneration Act 2014). I state the following:

1. Under section 24 (1)(A) (B) (i) which stipulate one must declare total assets whether in Fiji or Abroad (including money and other property) in their possession or under their control. Therefore, I argue that FNPF contributions and any funds is considered personal property as one can have access to funds as stipulated in the withdrawal provisions of the fund being FNPF. Therefore, Biman Prasad should have declared his contributions and the amount held by FNPF. I note the case precedent used by Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum whereby in one of his previous declarations he declared his FNFP declarations. Therefore, the same must apply in this case.

2. I note that Biman Prasad failed to declare his travel allowances during his overseas travel and the amounts he received. That evidence is in office and can be verified upon your perusal of his declaration.

3. I noted that Biman Prasad failed to declare that he is the Governor of the Asian Development Bank in Fiji. As that position is not Gazette to him under the Parliamentary Remuneration Act 2014 it is thus separate to his Minister of Finance Post- which must be declared under section 24 (1) (ab) (iv) of the Political Parties Act where a person must declare any directorship or other office in a corporation or other organisation whether in Fiji or Abroad held by each of them. In support I attach exhibit 2- Asian Development Bank Documents stating that Biman Prasad is Governor of the Reserve Bank.

4. I note that Biman Prasad did not declare that his wife one Dr Rajni Chand is the trustee of the Global Girmit Institute and that it facilitated the funds of $200,000 given by the Coalition Government. The Not for Profit Organisation was re-registered in 2023, after it deregistered in February 2022 for failing to supply its financial statements as required under the laws of Fiji. The period of re-registration falls within the required period upon which Biman Prasad is required to declare in his 2023 Financial Declaration (Attached is exhibit 3- Global Institute Deed of Trust and
Registration Documents).

5. I note that Biman Prasad did not declare his connection to Ganesh Chand and Hirdesh Sharma whom are the registered Trustees of the Global Girmit Institute upon whom received $200,000 of Tax payers funds. This is a breach under section 24

(a) (b) (iii) of the Political Parties Act. I submit that no tender was called in relation to the event organisation.

6. I note that Biman Prasad declared that he owns 50 percent shares in Lotus Construction Pte Limited, however upon obtaining the registration documents and the Article of Association – it was established that Biman Prasad only has a 5 percent share in Louts Construction and not the 50 percent share he claims in his declaration (Attached as exhibit 4- Lotus Construction Pte Limited Registration Documents and the Article of Association).

The document was re-lodged in 2022 with the date of the Article of Association dated and signed in 2014 and upon which the re- registration occurred in 2022.

7. I note that one of the directors of Lotus Construction upon which Biman Prasad has shares in is Sunil Chand (Please refer to exhibit 4). Biman Prasad did not declare the business connection with Sunil Chand who has the same Lotus Construction company in Australia thus being a breach under section 24 (a) (b) (iii) of the Political Parties Act 2014 (Attached is exhibit 5- Louts Construction registration in Australia).

8. Biman Prasad’s spouse Dr Rajni Prasad [Chand] did not declare that she is Chairperson to Femlink Pacific (Please note she has held this position 2009 to date), therefore being a breach under 24 (1a) (d) of the Political Parties Act (Attached is exhibit 6- Femlink Document stipulating that Dr Rajni Prasad is the Chairman of the organisation). Dr Rajni Chand may/may not be receiving a salary from this post nonetheless it was a non-declaration.

9. I note that Biman Prasad and Dr Rajni Chand have not declared under section 24 (1) (a,b (iii) and 24 (1A) (c) of the Political Parties Act 2014 their business transaction to one Dr Ganesh Chand who is the co-trustee of the Global Girmit Institutre as previously mentioned. However, due to the business transaction the fact must be taken into account is that Biman Prasad allocated $1 million to Pacific Polytech whose Advisor is Dr Ganesh Chand. Please note that there was no tender process in line with the Laws of Fiji. Please note that Pacific Polytech has not submitted that their Audit reports as required. The funds was transferred in 2022 to Pacific Polytech.

I therefore submit this complaint for the breaches under the Political Parties Act 2014 upon which I understand that whilst some elements of this complaint cannot be handled by your office.

You must, therefore, refer the matter to FICAC under section 18 of the Political Parties Act.

Ms Alex Forwood, Sydney, Australia.

RIP, POPE FRANCIS, the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. As son of Italian immigrants to Argentina, Francis (born JORGE MARIO Bergoglio) invested personal passion into his fierce advocacy on behalf of migrants

21/4/2025

Francis, standing second left, with his two brothers, two sisters and parents, both Italian immigrants who settled in Argentina. Photograph: API/Gamma-Rapho/Getty Images

Pope Francis made history when he became the first leader of the Catholic Church from the Americas.

The 76-year-old Archbishop of Buenos Aires, who was born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was given his new name after he was elected to succeed Pope Benedict XVI on 13 March, 2013.

He was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 December, 1936, to Italian immigrants.

The Argentine had worked as a bouncer before turning to the priesthood after recovering from pneumonia back in 1958.

Francis was ordained a priest on 13 December 1969 and trained in Spain for a year before moving back to Argentina.

Francis took over the role of Pope in 2014, and was seen as an outspoken moderniser, reformist and progressive.

POPE FRANCIS never visited Fiji. The last Pope to visit was John Paul 11, who in 1986 had described 'Fiji: The Way The World Should Be'.

14 May 1987
"Fiji - A Garden of Eden to Satan's Paradise

Fijileaks: The Government of India, on application, may register as an Overseas Citizen of India, any person who: (a) is a citizen of another country, but was a citizen of India on 26 January 1950 or at any time thereafter; or (b) is a citizen of another country, but belonged to a territory that became part of India after 15 August 1947; or (c) is a citizen of another country, but was eligible to become a citizen of India on 26 January 1950; or (d) is a child or a grandchild or a great-grandchild of such a citizen.

September 2024: Fiji's Archbishop Peter Loy Chong meets Pope Francis in PNG

In Wonderful Company. Some of Fiji's most senior journalists are on free jaunt in the United States, even hitching a ride on a private jet owned by Fiji Water's Californian owners (Resnicks). Yet not a story in the Fiji press

17/4/2025

Who is PAYING for the trip of some of Fiji's most senior journalists?
What are they doing, gallivanting from one place to another, in the US?
*Update: After the uproar, we are told that these senior journalists are part of the International Visitors Leadership Program tour to the US organised by the US State Department.

Pio Tikoduadua, 'Middle East Tour to catch up with RFMF soldiers on the ground'. FLP, '$126,000 Travel Allowance Junket'. Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua, 'I don't respond to parties led by CONVICTED CRIMINALS'

16/4/2025

*Among the 10 charges NFP leader BIMAN PRASAD was facing, included his failure to disclose that his wife Dr Rajni Chand was one of the three Trustees of the Global Girmit Institute. He had handed $200,000 of taxpayers funds without any tender to GGI to organise the Global Girmit Conference at the USP

Fijileaks to Pio Tikoduadua and Biman Prasad:
FLP leader Chaudhry has faced the full brunt of the law

"I don't respond to parties led by convicted criminals"
Pio Tikoduadua, April 2025.

Fiji, in 2008, Tikoduadua was among FIRCA Board Members who had filed legal action against VICTOR LAL, the late former Fiji Sun* publisher Russell Hunter (RIP) and the Fiji Sun after the paper had published Victor Lal's investigation that Bainimarama's Interim Finance Minister Chaudhry was hiding $2million in his Sydney bank account. Chaudhry was also FIRCA line manager in 2008.

**Fijileaks:* Shortly after Victor Lal had revealed Mahendra Chaudhry's $2million in the Sydney bank account, Bainimarama's military thugs were unleashed on Fiji Sun publisher Russell Hunter. He was abducted from his Suva home, tortured, and deported out of Fiji the next day, and was declared a prohibited immigrant.
*The RFMF army thug leader was later identified by Russell Hunter.

From Fijileaks Archive, 11 September 2014

Standing "shoulder to shoulder" with Tiko...

The six-week long Middle-East trip of Defence Minister Pio Tikoduadua to visit our peace - keeping troops to 'hear their concerns directly', as he puts it, is unbelievably absurd.

Six weeks is a long, long time for a highly paid Minister to be away from his duties at home.

To make it worse, he adds that he is ..'not going on a vacation but to stand shoulder to shoulder with our men and women in uniform'.

Minister, it's going to cost the taxpayer thousands to send you on this junket as we see it.

Besides, we think our men and women in uniform are quite capable of standing shoulder to shoulder on their own- they hardly need a Minister to inspire them.

As for 'hearing their concerns directly', may we ask the Minister: Does the RFMF not have its own machinery to deal with such matters?

Thousands of dollars will be wasted on this puerile trip while our hospitals and health centres remain deprived of money to provide medicine and other critical supplies to our sick.

Just how the Prime Minister allows such abuse of funds and irrational ministerial conduct, boggles the mind!

VASU appointment of rabid racist Navakamocea, the political turncoat as acting PS, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs. He is allegedly MINISTER VASU's wife's cousin. But his rabid racist views of Indo-Fijians cause for alarm

15/4/2025

Navakamocea

POLITICAL TURNCOAT. Navakamocea was State Minister for National Planning in the SDL government of Laisenia Qarase.
Following the 5 December 2006 coup, he was appointed Minister for Local Government, Urban Development and Utilities in the interim government formed by Commodore Frank Bainimarama.

Navakamocea was one of a few members of the Qarase government to run and join Bainimarama's interim regime.
In August 2006, Navakamocea had caused racial storm when he demanded that the term Indo-Fijian be banned, saying it amounted to identity theft by Indo-Fijians.
He claimed the term Indo-Fijian was created by racist Indo-Fijian academics like Dr Ganesh Chand for the purpose of 'Fijianising" the Indian ethnicity in Fiji at the expense of i-Taukei Fijians.
However, our sources at the i-Taukei Affairs Board were shocked to see him take the job test in February for the post of Deputy PS Operations.

Ganesh Chand

Deputy Secretary Operations in the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts Jone Navakamocea has been appointed as the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, with the agreement of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka.
This has been confirmed by the Chairman of the Public Service Commission Luke Rokovada, who says Navakamocea is holding the position for now, as the Permanent Secretary for iTaukei Affairs, Culture, Heritage and Arts Pita Tagicakirewa has been on medical leave from 31st March 2025. Rokovada says Tagicakirewa will take his annual leave following medical leave. He says Navakamocea has a background in economics having acquired a Master of Science in Macro Economics, Policy and Planning in Developing Countries from the University of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. Rokovada says Nakavamocea has had extensive experience in economic planning and development in Government and the public sector spanning more than thirty years.

'Talibanistic' views of Indo-Fijians, with Navakamocea claiming that the late deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase had endorsed his views on Indo-Fijians

"Minister, you don't have to apologise. There was nothing wrong in your speech. Sometimes they just need to be told who they are, and who we are," Prime Minister Qarase to Navakamocea, allegedly in August 2006

*Navakamocea, did you know that Laisenia Qarase (RIP) was a JEW?

*Unlike the political JUDAS Jone Navakamocea in 2006, I fought for deposed Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase's rights until he passed away.

*American ambassador Larry Dinger in secret cable to Washington

Jone Navakamocea, Interim Minister for Local Government and Urban Development. Navakamocea won a parliamentary seat in 2006 under Qarase's SDL banner and served as State Minister for National Planning in the multi-party cabinet.
He reportedly formally applied for a cabinet position in the interim administration and resigned from the SDL Party.
Navakamocea was previously Deputy Secretary of Finance.

*From Prussia to Mavana. From Madras to Muaniweni

Riddhi Damodar, 'I am NOT my Sister's Keeper'. "I believe Fiji women are more than capable of running strong, winning campaigns without 30% of seats handed to them. Let us Fix the System—NOT Force the Outcome."

13/4/2025

Fijileaks Editor-in-Chief: We fully endorse Riddhi Damodar's views against the call for a 30% Quota for Women in Parliament. In 2014, we fully supported Lynda Tabuya when, as president of the People's Democratic Party, she contested the election. We supported Ro Teimumu Kepa when she led Sodelpa into the election. We supported the former Acting Permanent Secretary for Education Basundra Kumar when she stood in the 2022 election as NFP candidate. In fact, in 2014, we had exposed how the then FFP Education Minister Mahendra Reddy had allegedly, based on personal vendetta, ousted her from her position as acting Education Secretary.
We firmly believe that if activist Shamima Ali adopted her position on a case by case basis, instead of always claiming 'I am My Sister's Keeper', voters might be more favourable to women candidates.
We notice another champion of women's rights Imrana Jalal is once again calling for the reservation of 30% of seats in Parliament. During the formulation of the 1997 Constitution, she had presented a lengthy written submission to the Reeves Commission:
'An initial 20% of reserved seats might be a realistic aim. This does not mean that women are limited to just 20% of seats, only that 20% of all seats must be reserved for women and all parties have to field candidates for these seats."
The Reeves Commission merely mentioned women in passing by referring to the UN Convention on Women (CEDAW) and did not give it any other added importance in the 1997 Rabuka-Reddy Constitution other than advise that the 1997 Constitution 'must not discriminate against a person on any other prohibited ground, such as sex, gender or age, and they must not deny to any person any other human right or fundamental freedom recognised by law'. Other than this, there was no specific mention of the reservation of seats for women.
Our understanding is that race and ethnic politics, the divisions and efforts to reconcile simply dominated the political and national landscape at the time. So, something like the reservation of seats for women, would simply be rendered invisible in the highly charged tension of post-coup 1987 military politics, ethno-nationalism, land issues along with the racial/ethnic lines.
Throughout Fiji's electoral history, women candidates managed to break through the political wall. Take, for example, Mrs Irene Jai Narayan, the former NFP Deputy leader who was part of the delegation to London that negotiated Fiji's independence.
In both the 1972 and 1977 elections, she comprehensively beat my paternal uncle for the Suva Indian communal seat in the Muanikau Ward, despite him being the Alliance Party's former Lord Mayor of Suva.
Mrs Narayan became the most hated figure in the Indo-Fijian community when she became Sitiveni Rabuka's Minister for Indian Affairs after the racist 1987 military coups.
She was one of the few Indo-Fijians who agreed to serve in the transitional government of 1987-1992, a government that was widely condemned by many of her fellow Indo-Fijians for promulgating the racist 1990 Constitution of Fiji.
*Once again, we fully endorse Riddhi Damodar, the failed 2018 NFP candidate.

On the 30% Quota for Women in Fiji’s Parliament

As someone who firmly supports women in leadership, I want to see more capable, confident women in Parliament. But I don’t believe the answer lies in guaranteed quotas or handouts. Real progress means building systems that empower women to rise on their own merit—and win because they’re the best for the job.

Fiji’s population is nearly half women. Our voter base reflects that. And yet, women remain underrepresented in Parliament. Why?

Let’s ask the harder questions. Are women not putting themselves forward—or are political parties not selecting them? Is the political culture discouraging women from contesting? These are structural issues we must address before we fall back on quotas as a fix-all.

But here’s a question that’s often left unasked—especially for voters:

In past elections, did you vote for a woman candidate? Or did you choose a male candidate instead? Why?

If voters and especially women are not voting for women candidates, we need to understand why. Is it a lack of trust? Lack of visibility? Lack of women candidates? Or a reflection of deeper societal attitudes? This isn’t about blame—it’s about introspection.

If we want more women in Parliament, it’s not just about how many women stand—it’s about how many of us, especially women, are willing to vote for them.

I believe women are more than capable of running strong, winning campaigns without needing 30% of the seats handed to them. But we need to give them a fair shot: better support from parties, safer spaces to campaign, and a culture that takes their candidacy seriously.

Let’s fix the system—not force the outcome, And let’s back women—not just in talk, but in the ballot box.

Jalal

A call is being made to support a submission by the Fiji Women’s Rights Movement (FWRM) and Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre (FWCC) to have temporary special measures for 30 percent reserved seats for women in parliament.

Imrana Jalal, who is a founding member of the FWRM, is calling on NGOs and civil society organisations to support the submission titled “Reforming our Electoral Legislation for Gender Equality in Fiji’s Parliament” by the FWRM and FWCC to the Fiji Electoral Law Reform Commission.

Jalal says the submission calls for temporary special measures to reserve 30 percent of seats in Parliament for women, to be contested only by women, but open to votes from all voters, not just women.

She says they ask for either extra seats for women or a proportion of existing seats.
The renowned lawyer says they believe that this is a temporary solution to create a level playing field between men and women until women can compete fairly with men in normal seats.

She says their submission contains a plethora of evidence in support where they also ask for other improvements which they believe will create a better representative democracy such as a geographical constituency representative model where people can go to their MP for accountability.

Jalal says they also ask for scrapping of the current system which glorifies the ‘Big Man’ autocratic patriarchal concept and allows MPs with minuscule votes to be in Parliament and Cabinet.

They also ask for better protection for female candidates and MPs against online and offline sexual harassment, bullying, intimidation and threats of violence.

We won't be surprised that sooner or later Indo-Fijians and Other Minorities will demand Reservation of Seats in Parliament to prevent Idi-Amin like expulsion from Fiji, now that i-Taukei have become MAJORITY.
From Fijileaks Archive, 9 October 2021.

The recent glorification of NFP founder and leader A. D. PATEL
in the Fiji Times is all HOGWASH. The London Constitutional talks, even though Patel had passed away before the talks, revolved around majority and minority population rights, without taking into account the fact that the Indo-Fijians were on their way to becoming a minority race in Fiji
There were projections that by 1988 the Fijian (i-Taukei) population would overtake the Indians (Indo-Fijians) as the largest racial group in the country. Apart from the far-reaching implications, this trend also raises a fundamental question: which group is to be treated as a minority in need of constitutional and political safeguards?
Victor Lal, Fiji: Coups in Paradise - Race, Politics and Military Intervention

The NFP also handed veto power to CHIEFS, argued against DUAL CITIZENSHIP, and accepted ongoing future COMMON/COMMUNAL ROLL voting system talks. In a hurry to KICK the British out, they went to London with the voice of NFP founder and India-born AD Patel ringing in their ears, and returned empty-handed, except with a new Constitution of Fiji that was the final depository of an i-Taukei's Charter of Rights. Since 1970, NFP kept Indo-Fijians trapped into a BOTTOMLESS PIT but hopefully in 2022 they will have broken free from their inglorious past. So much has been made of the 1997 Constitution. It was designed to ensure that SVT-NFP (Sitiveni Rabuka-Jai Ram Reddy) formed the new government (mandatory power-sharing) after the 1999 election but the
heavy baggage of history and bigotry was against them.
"Colonial rule on its departure left Fiji in Fijian (i-Taukei) hands and might thereby be deemed to have fulfilled, at least in a political sense, its promise of paramountcy of indigenous interests. By permitting European over-representation and facilitating an alliance of European and Fijian communities, it substantially secured the European positiion. As for Indians (Indo-Fijians), who had been brought in initially as indentured labourers but with the prominence of 'employment of rights' and a large majority of whom in 1970 supported the opposiiton National Federation Party, the care of their future was transferred, without any specific legal provisions, from the British to the new rulers of Fiji." - The late Dr AHMED ALI, who later ran and became a Cabinet Minister in the Alliance Party and Rabuka's Interim Coup Cabinet

The Great Council of Chiefs. We look forward to the day when WOMEN (especially i-Taukei women) will rise up and demand equality in the Great Council of Chiefs. So far, there is only one lonely figure - Ro Teimumu Kepa in the GCC. PATRIARCHY on full display in Fiji.
Ro Kepa was also cheated of the Presidency, for it went to Rabuka's paramount chief, who had only managed to get 300 votes in the 2022 general election as PAP candidate.
Maybe, those (including Daniel Fatiaki) now screaming against candidates with 200-300 votes in Parliament, will agitate to remove Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu as President of Fiji.
From Fijileaks* Archive, 12 November 2024.

The NFP's Deputy Leader Mrs Narayan signing away Indo-Fijian rights (while her fellow Indo-Fijian women and young girls were being raped-confirmed by Shamima Ali despite Lynda Tabuya asking for evidence like Police Reports) to Coupist Sitiveni Rabuka in October 1987.
Mrs Irene Jai Narayan oversaw the passage of the racist and feudalistic 1990 Constitution that disenfranchised Indo-Fijians.
The Australian Justice Michael Kirby had branded the 1990 Constitution 'quite as bad'* as the apartheid laws in South Africa.
'Those who lift their voice against that form of entrenched legal discrimination must do saw against this new and completely unacceptable [1990] Constitution of Fiji'*, said Justice Kirby.
**Fijileaks:* Who says more women in Fiji's Parliament will protect and defend women's rights - Mrs Narayan is a disgraceful example why more women like Riddhi Damodar should reject calls for the reservation of 30% of seats in Parliament for Women.

LOW Turnout at Electoral Act Consultations. Fatiaki, 'I really don't know. I have tried very hard to create awareness'. Smart-eyed public can see the charade. Even Narsey will struggle to understand Hindi in advertisement

8/4/2025

Fijileaks Apology: We apologise to our worldwide readers, including those inside Fiji, who couldn't access Fijileaks. We have fixed the 'Glitch'

Daniel Fatiaki, you told Fijivillage, the Coalition's $1.7m annual recipient of public taxpayers money and propaganda lapdog, that you have put out questions in all three languages, including FIJI HINDI.
No, it is not Fiji Hindi. Its Biman Prasad's Mother India HINDI.
Take, for example, Mahilaaon. For God's sake, we say 'Aurat'.
*The majority of Indo-Fijians who contacted us claim they are struggling to read the English translation into Biman Prasad's Hindi.

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