Blog Posts

PLAYING CHINA CARD and Eating CHOP SUEY with the Chinese will not frighten the Americans into mollifying Bainimarama. Anyway, Fiji is NOT Chair of Pacific Islands Forum yet, not until September. TUVALU is Chair

30/3/2021

"It is time we cut our cloth to fit our size and influence, especially with the economic condition of the country and the economic sufferings of our people, a situation caused directly through our globe trotting excesses." - ROBIN NAIR

VIEWPOINT: By ROBIN NAIR, Former PS, Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs

GREAT diplomatic language from the Americans. Says nothing while it appears to be fulsome. It is about time Fijian leaders descend from the gravy train. Fiji has spent far too much money and resources on attending such talkfests with large delegations, including the large absences of the Head of Government with his enormous travel allowances, and travel entitlements which surpasses those of many developed countries' leaders, without contributing much to the global dialogue nor to Fiji's and its people's well being. Even if we had expended a quarter of those funds to Climate Change issues, the net benefits to Fiji would not have been any lesser. Instead we might have had better healthcare and other social neccesities of our people. It is time we cut our cloth to fit our size and influence, especially with the economic condition of the country and the economic sufferings of our people, a situation caused directly through our globe trotting excesses. We need humble leadership befitting our humble people, not show ponies delivering only for their enormous appetite for luxuries and status.

Fijileaks: We have no doubt that Mary Bainimarama's free travel junket is over $100,000. We have never seen COP23 expenses published by Fiji

Chargé d’Affaires TONY GREUBEL is seasoned veteran in Pacific Island Affairs and won't be easily fooled by Bainimarama's childish antics

WAKE UP AND SMELL THE COUPS:
Fiji will only move forward the day we BOOT OUT Coupists Rabuka and Bainimarama and Currency Convict Chaudhry. We don't need these recycled TRIO to carve out a better and brighter FIJI. And National Federation Party must cut loose from Rabuka's underwear and from talks of a grand political COALITION to fight the 2022 general election.

IF NOT, KICK THE BLOODY PARTY into the gaping POTHOLES.

If we are to believe the former US Ambassador Larry Dinger, Chaudhry is equally guilty of creating the Frank Bainimarama Frankenstein Monster after the 2006 treasonous COUP. Aren't Fijians of all races sick of
political chamars or kaisi bokola botobotos?

HUGGING COUP SNAKES

As Fiji SUN finally rises on Biden's exclusion of Bainimarama, we told that US Charge de Affairs TONY GRUEBEL summoned to explain full reason to COUPIST Kubuabola, new Fiji envoy to Pacific Islands Forum

29/3/2021

Fijileaks to the Biden Administration: Tell BAINIMARAMA TO GET LOST
Kubuabola has no legal authority in international law to summon Gruebel. The US has a thick FILE on the treasonous coupist Bainimarama

[Police Commissioner Andrew] Hughes suggested Bainimarama should educate rather than threaten. The Commander said education wouldn't work.
The Fijian people "only respond to the stick from us."

"The secret report of a late-February conversation between Fiji Police Commissioner Hughes (protect) and Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama is worrisome reading, with Bainimarama signaling he is willing to remove Prime Minister Qarase and place himself in power if the PM and his party win re-election in May and continue their present course...Hughes concludes that Bainimarama is distorting and exaggerating the Fiji situation in describing what he sees as a duty to the nation that transcends democratic principles and processes. Hughes reportedly warned the Commander that he is contemplating "treason," which would bring him into conflict with the police, the courts and the international community. Bainimarama dismissed such "by the book" concerns as not applying to the Fiji context. He added that he does not care about a possible loss of aid from Australia, the United States and New Zealand."
Larry Dinger to Washington, April 2006

Larry Dinger

Classified By: Ambassador Larry Dinger.

Summary 1. The secret report of a late-February conversation between Fiji Police Commissioner Hughes (protect) and Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) Commander Bainimarama is worrisome reading, with Bainimarama signaling he is willing to remove Prime Minister Qarase and place himself in power if the PM and his party win re-election in May and continue their present course. Hughes noted (as we have) that the Commander's views in a conversation often vary from benign to a sense that military intervention is nearly inevitable. Hughes concludes that Bainimarama is distorting and exaggerating the Fiji situation in describing what he sees as a duty to the nation that transcends democratic principles and processes. Hughes reportedly warned the Commander that he is contemplating "treason," which would bring him into conflict with the police, the courts and the international community. Bainimarama dismissed such "by the book" concerns as not applying to the Fiji context. He added that he does not care about a possible loss of aid from Australia, the United States and New Zealand. Hughes sees a "strong possibility" of a coup, if Qarase wins and doesn't alter course.

2. In other developments, Bainimarama led 200-400 armed troops in a "parade" through Suva on the day Fiji's Parliament went into pre-election dissolution. Our conversations with RFMF senior officers lately leave the impression the Commander has the support of his troops. In conversations with Bainimarama, the Embassy and senior visitors have made clear U.S. views of the proper civil-military relationship and have signaled the sort of negative consequences that would follow a coup. It is possible the RFMF's recent statements are bluff, intended to influence voters against Qarase and his party in the elections; but even that would be disturbing. We will continue efforts to convince military leaders to act in appropriately democratic fashion. Commander Bainimarama's Iraq-planning visit to Washington in late April will be another opportunity to reiterate USG views.

Fiji's fractured civil-military relations

3. We have received several indications in recent weeks that the Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) is seriously contemplating a coup if the current Qarase government is reelected and doesn't change course. Reftels lay out the fractured relationship between RFMF Commander Bainimarama and Prime Minister Qarase's government and indications that the RFMF might seek to remove the government if it continues to act contrary to the RFMF's view of the national interest.

Bainimarama drew two lines in the sand in February: if Fiji's Great Council of Chiefs selections in early March of Fiji's new President and Vice President were tainted by the 2000 coup (in the end the GCC reselected the incumbents, fine with the RFMF) or if constitutionally required elections in 2006 are flawed. Bainimarama has since qualified the elections issue, saying the RFMF believes the elections will inevitably be manipulated by the Qarase government and will not be free and fair; however, the new government may be given a chance to perform appropriately: to set aside flawed reconciliation and fishing-rights bills; to turn away from "racist/nationalist" politics.

Added evidence of RFMF "coup" contemplation

4. We received on March 30 a copy of a "secret" memo Fiji Police Commissioner Andrew Hughes (protect) wrote after meeting with Commander Bainimarama on February 27. Admittedly the memo is a month old, but Hughes told an interlocutor on March 30 he considers it still accurate. (Hughes, an Australian Federal Police officer on secondment to Fiji, is home on holiday for two weeks, so we cannot follow up at the moment. We have known him to be a solid, professional policeman with excellent judgment.) In recent months, relations between Hughes and Bainimarama, which appeared relatively close seven months ago, have clearly become strained. The Feb. 27 meeting did not help matters. Hughes portrayed an erratic Bainimarama surrounded by a compliant officers corps that is feeding the Commander's sense of righteous grievance against the Qarase government.

Frank Bainimarama railed against the "evil, corrupt, cannibalistic" Qarase government

5. Hughes attempted unsuccessfully to allay Bainimarama's concern that the police were gearing up to confront the army. The conversation then broadened to the RFMF's Pakistan-like "doctrine of necessity," put forth as justification for potential military action against the government (ref A). Bainimarama railed against the "evil, corrupt, cannibalistic" Qarase government and expressed regret for putting Qarase in power during the events of 2000. He said he should have retained power himself, for 5, 10, even 40 years. Now, if he must remove the distasteful Qarase government, he would not appoint an interim government but would rule by himself. Bainimarama discussed three possible flashpoints. First was the March president and vice president selection process (now OBE). Second would be re-election of the Qarase government. Bainimarama said he "would not tolerate regression back to ethno-nationalism." Third, if the Indo-Fijian-dominated Labor Party wins the election and civil disorder results, the military would step in to restore order (seemingly to buttress the government, not to remove it).

"Coup as catastrophe" argument falls on deaf ears

6. Bainimarama rejected Hughes view that a military government would be catastrophic for Fiji, suggesting that unnamed Indo-Fijian businessmen had told him Fiji could bounce back from another coup in 18 months. Bainimarama added that he does not care about international reaction, including the possible loss of aid money from Australia, the United States and New Zealand.

"Don't worry" v. "the stick"

Hughes suggested Bainimarama should educate rather than threaten. The Commander said education wouldn't work. The Fijian people "only respond to the stick from us."

7. Hughes noted (as we have) inconsistencies in Bainimarama's logic. He swung between saying "Don't worry, there won't be a military intervention" to implying a near inevitability of intervention no matter what happens at the polls. Hughes reported he told Bainimarama that removing the government "would amount to treason." The police, the courts, and others would be compelled in turn to take action against him. Bainimarama dismissed this as "doing it by the book," which would not work under the circumstances. Hughes suggested Bainimarama should educate rather than threaten. The Commander said education wouldn't work. The Fijian people "only respond to the stick from us." When Hughes raised practical issues for his police under a coup scenario, including for personal-protection officers who might be caught in the middle, Bainimarama responded: "as long as they didn't get in the way, they would be all right." The Hughes memo notes that the police would be powerless to prevent a takeover.

Lines have been drawn

8. In conclusion, Hughes painted a bleak situation in which "the lines have been drawn." Hughes alleged the Commander is "distorting and exaggerating" the situation in Fiji to suit his own agenda. He sees a duty to protect the nation in a role that "transcends democratic principles and processes." He professes not to want to intervene militarily, but unless the government and Great Council obey his demands, he will take over. He will not listen to contrary views and is underestimating or ignoring the repercussions of a coup. Hughes concludes that Bainimarama is prepared for a military takeover, and there is a strong possibility this will occur if Qarase is returned to power in May and pursues policies that offend the Commander's sense of what is right. Hughes ends by judging that the RFMF is not as strong nor as well-led as in 1987 (Fiji's first coups). In any coup attempt, factions would occur. Hughes predicts any military government would be inherently unstable, which would lead to bloodshed and, inevitably, to that government's downfall.

Recent events: an RFMF march in the streets
9. In March, Bainimarama and his spokesmen injected themselves frequently into Fiji's political debate. On March 27, the day Parliament was dissolved to make way for the elections (May 6-13), the commander led some 200-400 (estimates vary) of his troops in a military "parade" across the capital city, passing by the Parliament compound. The soldiers and their leader dressed in camouflage and carried weapons. Bainimarama told the media the soldiers were doing "what soldiers should be doing - taking long walks, but this is a public display of reassurance to the public."

RFMF inner circle: support for the Commander
10. At a recent social event hosted by the Embassy DATT, the Ambassador talked at length with several of Commander Bainimarama's inner circle, stressing the importance of the military taking its appropriate place subordinate to the elected civilian leadership in a democracy. A few months ago, similar conversations with RFMF officers brought reasonably comforting responses: that the RFMF fully understood the lessons from 1987 and 2000: coups are a disaster for Fiji, and the nation "can not go down that road again." Now the responses are unsettling: that the Qarase government and its corrupt, racist policies are a disaster; the RFMF has a duty to protect Fiji's best interests; the Commander has the support of his troops; the RFMF does not want to act but will do so if necessary.

Comments

11. The Ambassador, the DATT, and senior-level visitors like PACOM Commander Fallon, CENTCOM Commander Abizaid, and MFO Director General Larocco have good relations with Commander Bainimarama. All have used interactions with the Commander in recent months to emphasize the U.S. view of civil-military relations. Bainimarama is certainly giving the impression that, despite such advice, he is prepared to remove the Qarase government, if that government is reelected in May and if it then does not immediately change course to policies that meet RFMF approval.

The realities that such a course would contribute to Fiji's "coup culture," would have severe economic consequences, especially for Fiji tourism, and would result in ruptured military relations, including cancellation of the U.S. Army Pacific PAMS conference which is now scheduled for Fiji in September, appear not to be major factors in Bainimarama's calculations. Such factors also do not seem to sway the senior officers we have been talking to lately.

12. It is conceivable that the rhetoric is just bluff, intended to influence the voting public to reject Qarase and his cohort in the elections. Bainimarama has backed away from extreme statements before, suggesting he had been misunderstood. Bainimarama and some of his senior officers have repeatedly tried to reassure us, saying "you don't need to worry." Still, Commissioner Hughes is clearly worried that the threats are not bluff.

We worry, too. We worry that the threats may be real, and we worry that, in any case, such threats will warp Fiji's electoral environment to the detriment of a free and fair election. We will continue to utilize opportunities to try to convince RFMF leaders to play their proper, limited role in Fiji's governance. Commander Bainimarama is planning to attend an Iraq planning conference in Washington later this month. That will be another opportunity for the USG to reiterate its views. DINGER

BREACH OF DIPLOMATIC AND INTERNATIONAL LAW: Bainimarama and Kubuabola have no legal right to summon Greubel to a meeting:

https://eedition.fijisun.com.fj/dated/2021-03-30/2

WARNING:
REMEMBER WHAT UNITED STATES DID TO DICTATOR SADDAM HUSSEIN

SLEEPING ON THE JOB?: Biden's SNUB to Bainimarama raise questions about Fiji's Ambassador SATENDRA PRASAD's role for the JOB. What is he up to in the US? The Climate Summit was announced in late January!

29/3/2021

UNITED STATES DUMPS STOOGE FRANK BAINIMARAMA
In 2016, the former United States Ambassador to Fiji, JUDITH CEFKIN (above), was at a gathering at the Natadola Hotel when she received a call from Washington. After the call, she walked to a high-ranking official from the Fiji Ministry of Foreign Affairs and confided to him that Washington wanted FIJI to take over the COP23 presidency. The official told her she should relay the request to Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Khaiyum who were also at the Natadola gathering. She did in his presence but Bainimarama was not only stunned but frightened to accept the daunting task. After further discussions and the assurance that Fiji would not suffer any financial burden, Bainimarama accepted the offer. However, the EU Ambassador to Fiji informed the Foreign Office official that the United States was choosing a weak and insignificant Fiji because it did not want its arch rival IRAN, the hot favourite, to win the COP23 presidency. The rest is history. Now, the Biden Administration has dumped Bainimarama. He is one of a long line of stooges who have been cut loose from the climate mooring, drowning in his own belief in invincibility. His Minister Responsible for Climate Change is fighting his own medical battle in a Singapore hospital

SLEEPING ON THE JOB?:

There are many who claim the snub is Aiyaz Khaiyum's fault, for he closed down Fiji's Embassy in Washington - the seat of power. But even if we had an Embassy in Washington, Fiji has to have an Ambassador who can perform, put forward a case and be persuasive.
What is SATENDRA PRASAD doing in the United States?
Prasad is the super Ambassador for Fiji. He is Ambassador to the UN and Cuba, Ambassador-Designate to the US, Canada and Mexico, and the International Seabed Authority in Jamaica. He is a former World Bank consultant.
One would have thought he would have contacts in the Biden administration. This should have been his FIRST PRIORITY to ensure Bainimarama was invited with his COP23 credentials. As we have pointed out, these Biden invitations did not happen overnight. The summit had been announced in January 2021.
But Fijian taxpayers should breathe a sigh of relief, for it looks like the Bainimaramas junket days are over the Climate Change gravy train.
What else could earn him $3,000 a day for his long absences from Fiji?
His favourite airline was Emirates A380s. He preferred it because of the plush bathroom and shower on the Emirates A380. And, those shoppings in Dubai - for shoes and sneakers - to match his GOLD ROLEX. As one former CEO of a reputable company in Fiji noted, 'I'll never forget Frank coming to a lovo wearing a Gold ROLEX'. COUPS PAY IN FIJI

GROTTY RUBBISH TO GOLD ROLEX: Have a good look at the cheap rubbish $5 wristwatch Bainimarama is wearing a few days before coup

GRAHAM Davis, 'BIDEN Bites Back at BAINIMARAMA: “You are NOT a true FRIEND of Fiji. See that guy over there? (Pointing to the CHINESE ambassador). That’s a true friend of Fiji”. Bainimarama to the US Envoy

28/3/2021

"True story because I was there: Fiji's Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, says to the former US Ambassador, Judith Sefkin [Cefkin], at a reception at State House in Suva: "You are not a true friend of Fiji. See that guy over there? (Pointing to the Chinese ambassador). That's a true friend of Fiji"...As they say in Fijian: Qori (There you are).
A major foreign policy embarrassment for Fiji.
Graham Davis, Grubsheet, 28 March 2021
Fijileaks: Its three days since the White House released the list of invitees but Fiji's local media, who have full time journalists to troll social media and report the anti Bainimarama-Khaiyum postings, are yet to run the story that 'Biden Bites Back at Bainimarama'. TOTAL COWARDS!

BLOODY NOSE: BIDEN invites 40 World Leaders to Leaders SUMMIT on Climate. Guess what? Fiji's so-called Climate Champion Bainimarama who has received $$millions with his climate slogans TOTALLY Snubbed

27/3/2021

Meanwhile, his Minister Responsible For Climate Change,
Aiyaz Khaiyum, remains critically ill in a Singapore hospital. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore, makes Biden's list.

The WHITE HOUSE invites President David Kabua of the Republic of the Marshall Islands

PARIAH AND PRIME MINISTERS: While Bainimarama has been locked out, Australian and New Zealand Prime Ministers make Biden's LIST

The President invited the following leaders to participate in the Summit:

Prime Minister Gaston Browne, Antigua and Barbuda
President Alberto Fernandez, Argentina
Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Australia
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh
Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Bhutan
President Jair Bolsonaro, Brazil
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Canada
President Sebastián Piñera, Chile
President Xi Jinping, People’s Republic of China
President Iván Duque Márquez, Colombia
President Félix Tshisekedi, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen, Denmark
President Ursula von der Leyen, European Commission
President Charles Michel, European Council
President Emmanuel Macron, France
President Ali Bongo Ondimba, Gabon
Chancellor Angela Merkel, Germany
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India
President Joko Widodo, Indonesia
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel
Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Italy
Prime Minister Andrew Holness, Jamaica
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga, Japan
President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kenya
President David Kabua, Republic of the Marshall Islands
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Mexico
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand
President Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria
Prime Minister Erna Solberg, Norway
President Andrzej Duda, Poland
President Moon Jae-in, Republic of Korea
President Vladimir Putin, The Russian Federation
King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Singapore
President Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, Spain
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Turkey
President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, United Arab Emirates
Prime Minister Boris Johnson, United Kingdom
President Nguyễn Phú Trọng, Vietnam

USPGATE: Frank Bainimarama wants FICAC to investigate allegations of mismanagement at USP as highlighted by Khaiyum's uncle MAHMOOD Khan. We say start with new PS Education Jokhan who is a BIG WINNER

26/3/2021

Bainimarama should also explain why he has appointed Anjeela Jokhan as PS Education - she is 57 years old - when he has been kicking out civil servants when they turn 55. If we believe the former acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Derrick Armstrong that she was not qualified to be re-appointed as DEAN, then she should pay back the huge salary ($295,000), perks and benefits she got from the former Vice-Chancellor and regime lackey Professor Rajesh Chandra.
FICAC should investigate CHANDRA, JOKHAN and ARMSTRONG. We will reveal more highly compromising e-mails, reports, and documents that had been leaked to us even before Professor Pal Ahluwalia had
taken official charge at the USP. The 'Chandra Cabal' Belong in Prison.
Frank Bainimarama in Parliament, 26 March 2021:
"It would be better if the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption gets into the University because of the corrupt practices
that ravaged its corridors."

CHICKEN AND EGG PUBLICITY STUNT: Suddenly ASHWIN RAJ seems to be very active on behalf of Bangladeshis who claim poulterer Ram Sami & Sons has their passports. Where is RAJ on Trafficker MD Yousuf Ali?

25/3/2021

A Bangladeshi "investor" Muhammad Nazrul Islam Khandakar who was murdered in Ba last year had reported to Lautoka Police that MD Yousuf Ali and his Bangladeshi goondas had assaulted him. But it seems Ali was never questioned and charged. He is seen rubbing shoulders with Bainimarama and Khaiyum. Khandakar had been granted investor permit to start Sumon Oceania Poultry Farm Pte Ltd. At the time of his murder the farm was yet to be built, raising questions if a investor visa scam was in operation. More later! We challenge the Fiji Media to question the relevant authorities, including Ashwin Raj about MD Yousuf Ali

MURDERED BANGLADESHI Khandakar to LAUTOKA POLICE on MD Yousuf Ali
“I have been residing in Fiji since last 2 years. At present I am on investor permit. I have been residing at above mentioned address since last 2 weeks. I can clearly recall today, 24/12/19 at about 6.30pm at Tukani Street, I was sitting at Kasabia’s car park resting as I had just returned from Suva. Suddenly MD YOUSUF ALI came by a car and then he got out and forcefully held me by my hands and telling me to get inside the car. They were 2 private cars and I could see that about 4-5 Bengalees (Bangladeshis) were inside the car. And some more Bangladeshi came on foot. And when I insisted to go along with him he then punched me on the right side of my face, and head for about 4-5 times. I was in pain and I cried and yelled for help. Some I-taukei youth then warned him not to punch me. He said that he will punch me and injure me badly. He has been threatening me from the time he learnt that I complain[ed] against him for trafficking at Immigration Department. I have received bodily injuries and I request Police to charge him.”
Muhammad Nazrul Islam Khadakar, 24 December 2019 to Lautoka Police

From Fijileaks Archive, 21 July 2020

PHONE LINK: The murder suspect's family had Ali's contact details in Fiji

Fiji Sun on a mission to rehabilitate Ashwin Raj, alas at the raid scene

BEHIND THE HEADLINES ON LAND DEBATE: FFP Lands Minister JONE USAMATE has been flagrantly converting Crown Agricultural LANDS to other uses, ignoring special protection accorded to SUGARCANE lands

24/3/2021

THE ABBAS ALI LAND FILE AND AIYAZ KHAIYUM - NO FANTASY CLAIM
Coming soon: HOW Sudhakar was dumped as Lands Minister and Faiyaz Koya was brought back into FFP government after Sudhakar had refused to endorse FFP donor Abbas Ali's illegal extension of prime native land. Meanwhile, read on what new Lands Minister JONE USAMATE has been up to these days!

A SPECIAL Fijileaks investigation has revealed that after our arch critic ASHNEEL SUDHAKAR was booted out as Lands Minister, his successor JONE USAMATE, has been wily nily converting CROWN Agricultural lands to other uses in Fiji.

Our sources inside the Lands Ministry have informed us that Usamate ordered them to re-open and approve land conversions that were disallowed by the then Lands Minister Sudhakar. According to our sources, one WAISEA RARAWA of Nadi got his conversion done in spite of Sudhakar's refusal, who had disallowed the appeal too. "That should have ended the matter, " the source told Fijileaks. The conversions of these lands are highly irregular.

There is a strict process if someone wants to convert agriculture land to other uses, especially Crown leases. There is special protection for sugarcane land. There has to be written approval from Sugar Tribunal, Agricultural Department, Local Government and Fiji Sugar Corporation.

This week in Fiji's Parliament:

According to our sources in the Lands Department, during his time as Minister of Lands, SUDHAKAR strictly followed the law and scrutinised each and every application properly based on the documents so that arable sugarcane land was not lost to other uses, since the lives of so many farmers depends on the sugar industry..

We have also been informed that AIYAZ KHAIYUM was allegedly forcing SUDHAKAR to convert in some cases where people approached him directly. These were mostly foreign-born MUSLIMS..

Now, according to our sources, the lands where Sudhakar had refused conversion, based on proper documents, are being converted anyhow by Usamate. The cases in point are Bhimas Company land in Rakiraki, Waisea Rarawa in Nadi, Design Engineering boss Babba's land in Tavarau, Ba, and one Muslim lady in Wailoaloa, Nadi, whose identity we will reveal later.

Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama says the opposition is misleading and misinforming Parliament with its misinterpretation and selective references to the Land Use Act 2010 as the plain and simple fact is that the law empowers the iTaukei landowners to better participate in the decision making process of how their land is utilized for their benefit as well as future generations.

While speaking in parliament on the Review on the Follow-Up Audit on the Management of the Land Reform Programme, Bainimarama says the opposition purports to argue that the Prime Minister has the complete power to make decisions on the utilization of iTaukei land without any consultation with the landowners.

The Prime Minister says the opposition fail to tell us that the Act prescribes that a minimum of 60%t of the members of the landowning unit must provide their consent before any iTaukei land can be designated for lease under the Act.

Bainimarama stresses that no land can ever be designated by the Prime Minister unless and until 60% of the iTaukei landowning unit provides their consent.

He has also highlighted in parliament that section 5 of the Land Use Act states that the ownership of any iTaukei land designated under the Act shall always remain with the iTaukei landowners.

Bainimarama says section 11 of the Act explicitly provides that any lease issued over iTaukei land must at all times take into consideration the best interests of the landowners.

The Prime Minister says the Act establishes a Land Bank for the benefit of all iTaukei landowners and takes into consideration the best interests of the land owners and the overall wellbeing of the economy.

He says the landowners have a say not just in the fair market rent of the land but also in the terms and conditions under which the lease is to be issued, including the duration of the lease, the use to which the land will be put, and the person or company to whom the lease will be issued to.

Bainimarama says the protections and safeguards provided in the Act are much more than what is provided to the iTaukei landowners under iTaukei Land Trust Board laws and policies.

CONFIDENTIAL E-MAIL lifts the lid on cronyism and gross abuse under Rajesh Chandra at USP. Acting VC Derrick Armstrong to incoming VC Pal Ahluwalia on how Committee ignored Not Fit for Re-Appointment Jokhan

24/3/2021

0 Comments

LAST month, on 24 February, we sought comments from Professor Derrick Armstrong on the highly contentious e-mail and documents that he had sent on 16 November 2018 to the incoming Vice-Chancellor Professor Pal Ahluwalia on Associate Professor Angeela Jokhan.
"I share this information in confidence but I would expect that as incoming VC you would be entitled to see this material".
We have not heard from Armstrong. Surprisingly, he joined the howling pack to condemn Professor Ahluwalia (resulting in Ahluwalia's inhumane deportation from Fiji) when it is quite clear that the BDO Report on Jokhan was prompted by Armstrong's strong objection to her re-appointment as Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment (FSTE) Dean at USP in 2018. Egged on by the Fiji Sun, Winston Thompson has launched several investigations against Ahluwalia. On 22 January 2015, Jokhan was issued a three-year contract (17 April 2015 to 16 April 2018) for the role of Dean of FSTE with annual total remuneration of $231,662. On 29 August 2018, a SMT contract review panel gathered to review Jokhan but the Committee excluded Ahluwalia. The panel awarded Jokhan a one-step increment, three cash bonuses, and a five-year contract (1 November 2018 to 1 October 2023) which was signed on 19 September 2018 by Rajesh Chandra. BDO further noted that following the expiry of the above contract there was a period where they found no evidence of a renewal or contract that Jokhan was employed under. Then on 17 July 2018 Jokhan was awarded a two month contract from 1 November 2018 to 31 December 2018, carrying a salary of $294,514, signed by Chandra. (Jokhan Contract November to December 2018). BDO was unable to obtain evidence of any review meeting prior to this contract being awarded, if this was the case “it would appear as being a breach of policy of VCP Ordinance section 50 which states that SMT remuneration is to be covered by the remuneration committee”.
We wonder if Jokhan will be asked to resign as Permanent Secretary of Education. She is also on the USP and the Fiji National University Councils

DERRICK ARMSTRONG to PAL AHLUWALIA, 16 November 2018,
Re: ANGEELA JOKHAN and why Armstrong strongly objected to the renewal of her Dean's CONTRACT at USP. This was her contract renewal 2018 a few weeks before Pal took over as Vice-Chancellor.
"A little while ago you asked me about the process by which Anjeela’s contract as dean of FSTE was extended by 5 years. I’ve attached the written report that I submitted for the review together with her QoR reports and a Scopus report. You will see that she has a h-index of 3 and a career citation total of 58. The small number of recent publications she has contributed to are outside her discipline area and co-written with other staff and students. There is a very big gap in her publication record between these recent publications and the two or three publications that look like they came out of her PhD. I made the points contained in the written report even more vigorously in the meeting itself but the committee came to a different view on her suitability for reappointment. I share this information in confidence but I would expect that as incoming VC you would be entitled to see this material."

Derrick Armstrong on Angeela Jokhan
"Her enthusiasm can from time to time lead to her being quite abrasive and dismissive of other points of view. She can be a very effective member of the SMT team but this is not always the case and she has an unfortunate tendency to create conflict with her peers and to be extremely disrespectful. She does have a tendency to insist that she is correct on an issue on the basis of her personal knowledge and long experience with the University, even when there is no evidence to support her viewpoint."

"There have been many conflicts with Heads of Schools and with other staff. On occasions the Dean has taken actions with regard to staff members that have put the University at risk. She demonstrates considerable impatience with those with whom she differs. It would be hard not to be aware of the widespread grumblings and dissatisfaction within the Faculty over her management style."

"Associate Professor Jokhan does not have the rank of full professor and her personal research leadership is minimal. She is a biologist by academic background but in recent times has contributed to publications with her students and junior staff in the area of ICT enabled learning. However, she does not have an academic background in this area, nor does she have a strong profile. The absence of academic leadership is a significant deficit in the leadership one might expect from a dean. Her contribution is principally as a manager rather than as an academic leader.

Feedback on the Performance of Associate Professor Anjeela Jokhan as Dean FSTE by DERRICK ARMSTRONG to USP Committee headed by RAJESH Chandra

Contribution made to support the University, the Vice-Chancellor and President and the Senior Management Team.

Associate Professor Jokhan is a highly experienced manager and makes significant contributions to the University across a number of areas. In addition to her Faculty responsibilities she has also recently taken over temporary responsibility at the SMT level for the University’s ICT area.She pursues her responsibilities with vigour and has been fully engaged in a number of key areas and activities central to the University’s strategy and performance. She is a very active member of the University Senate. Her enthusiasm can from time to time lead to her being quite abrasive and dismissive of other points of view. She can be a very effective member of the SMT team but this is not always the case and she has an unfortunate tendency to create conflict with her peers and to be extremely disrespectful. She does have a tendency to insist that she is correct on an issue on the basis of her personal knowledge and long experience with the University, even when there is no evidence to support her viewpoint.

Contribution to the Faculty/Department.

Associate Professor Jokhan runs her Faculty with a very firm hand. The Faculty is successful on a number of indicators and she has put together a good team of Associate Deans who ensure efficiency and consistency in the administration of Faculty procedures. The Faculty has led the University in a number of areas, for example in the development of apps and the granting of patents. The Faculty has also been very successful in achieving the international accreditation / recognition of programmes in, for example, Engineering and Computing. The research performance of the Faculty might be considered satisfactory overall but there has been very little success in achieving external funding for research and with some individual exceptions its performance would not be considered notable compared with Science Faculties elsewhere. With stronger academic leadership there would most certainly be opportunities for the Faculty to step up a gear. There have been many conflicts with Heads of Schools and with other staff. On occasions the Dean has taken actions with regard to staff members that have put the University at risk. She demonstrates considerable impatience with those with whom she differs. It would be hard not to be aware of the widespread grumblings and dissatisfaction within the Faculty over her management style.

Leadership, Representation

Associate Professor Jokhan does not have the rank of full professor and her personal research leadership is minimal. She is a biologist by academic background but in recent times has contributed to publications with her students and junior staff in the area of ICT enabled learning. However, she does not have an academic background in this area, nor does she have a strong profile. The absence of academic leadership is a significant deficit in the leadership one might expect from a dean. Her contribution is principally as a manager rather than as an academic leader.

BDO REPORT FINDINGS ON ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR Anjela JOKHAN

FAST FORWARD TO BDO REPORT 2020 on ANJEELA JOKHAN
The objectives of the BDO investigation were to independently determine the existence of possible breaches as reported in the Paper - “Issues, Concerns, and Breaches of Past Management and Financial Decisions” written by the new VCP, Professor Pal Ahluwalia in early 2019. The New Zealand based accounting firm, BDO investigated and unequivocally confirmed a number of breaches of the university processes and procedures by the individuals concerned, and by the then Vice Chancellor and President (VCP) Professor Rajesh Chandra. We have liberally extracted excerpts from the independent BDO report that very clearly show that in the case of Anjeela Jokhan and three other cases there was clear violation of university rules, unethical conduct, and gross financial mismanagement by the previous administration including elements of the Senior Management Team.

Associate Professor Anjeela Jokhan

BDO report on the ‘Dean of Faculty of Science, Technology and Environment

On 22 January 2015 Associate Professor Jokhan was issued a three year contract (17 April 2015 to 16 April 2018) for the role of Dean of FSTE with annual total remuneration of $231,662 per AJ1 (Jokhan contract renewal January 2015).

On 29 August 2018 a SMT contract review panel gathered to review Associate Professor Jokhan, this committee excluded Professor Ahluwalia The panel awarded Associate Professor Jokhan a one-step increment, three cash bonuses and a five year contract (1 November 2018 to 1 October 2023) which was signed on 19 September 2018 per (AJ2), this was signed by Professor Chandra (Contract renewal September 2018).

BDO further noted that ‘Following the expiry of the above contract there was a period where we are have no evidence of a renewal or contract that Associate Professor Jokhan was employed under. Then on 17 July 2018 Associate Professor Jokhan was awarded a two month contract from 1 November 2018 to 31 December 2018 carrying a salary of $294,514,
signed by VCP Rajesh Chandra (Jokhan Contract November to December 2018). We were unable to obtain evidence of any review meeting prior to this contract being awarded, if this is the case it would appear as being a breach of policy of VCP Ordinance section 50 which states that SMT remuneration is to be covered by the remuneration committee.’

BDO observed that there was no formal remuneration committee:
‘Therefore, we note the five-year contract renewal which is required for standard USP policy to be considered by a remuneration committee was in the form of a review panel. The matter highlights the lack of a formal remuneration committee as the review panel was just made up of members of SMT and the PC. We do note the interim contract issued prior to the "remuneration committee review" appears to fall outside of USP procedures and policies. The issues with HR that have been disclosed throughout our work also shows HR as being inattentive in regards to the renewal of the contracts of SMT.’

BDO confirmed that there was no consultancy with VCD:
‘Furthermore, from the above there is no evidence to suggest Professor Chandra obtained Professor Ahluwalia’s approval to renew contracts, and we note that the five year length of the contract is potentially restrictive in regards to Professor Ahluwalia being able to reshape his team as he intends throughout his tenure.’

EIGHT YEARS BEFORE ARMSTRONG'S REPORT ANOTHER REPORT HAD DECLARED

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CHIEF MAGISTRATE TO COURT JESTER: Usaia Ratuvili rules that former Fijian Holdings Ltd CEO NOUZAB FAREED has case to answer but HE can give evidence in camera. Now, we read he is facing only ONE count?

23/3/2021

CASE TO ANSWER: Chief Magistrate Usaia Ratuvili has ruled that the former senior executive of a publicly listed company has a case to answer to. Despite the accused maintaining a not guilty plea, the Chief Magistrate found that there is a case sufficient to put the accused to his defence.The Magistrate says the question of the credibility of the witnesses specifically whether they were evasive or selective in their recall of the facts, the issue of the delay, and motivation for the complainant will all be addressed at the end of the trial when all the evidence is before the court. The former senior executive, charged with one count of indecent assault, is currently giving evidence in closed court. SOURCE: FBC News, 23 March 2021

HIDING BEHIND CAMERA TO GIVE HIS EVIDENCE: In July 2018, he was VERY HAPPY TO TELL ALL ABOUT HIS FHL CEO APPOINTMENT. He is INNOCENT until proven guilty but Ratuvili is setting dangerous precedent

From Fijileaks Archive, 14 February 2016

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