Fijileaks: Why Narendra Prasad, a New Zealand citizen, has not been placed on the Travel Ban List by FICAC and FNU informed not to grant him a lengthy leave until investigations are completed against him? Prasad's buddy & former VC Ganesh Chand was interviewed recently under caution by FICAC, so this Chand side-kick knows he is NEXT!
"On my work permit application Prasad mentioned that FNU interviewed 18 candidates for my role. This is false ." Andrew Moti Singh to FICAC
Ms Tave Tofinga to be acting Director of Finance at FNU:
Education Minister and FNU Chancellor Mahendra Reddy should also be taken in for questioning, for Reddy also implicated in FICAC Report; he tried to interfere with FICAC probe against FNU; Prasad must not be allowed to join other NZ citizens & regime supporters (John Samy, John Prasad and others) who flooded into the country after the coup and later fled their former Fiji when caught in scandals:
The former FNU's Finance Manager Projects Andrew Moti Singh's complaints against Chand/Prasad to FICAC, and a copy to Bainimarama:
Prasad’s holding of 2 positions at FNU on consultancy basis is clear conflict of interest and conducive to corrupt practices
As mentioned in the background Prasad is a NZ citizen and has been holding dual positions at FNU – Director Finance and Director HR. He is paid an expatriate salary and is classified as a “consultant”. This raises serious issues.
First, the holding of two roles is a clear conflict of interest. This is patently self-evident from his handling of my case. FICAC will notice that when he complained against me to Chand and sought my summary dismissal, Chand appointed the employment relations manager to investigate Prasad’s complaint. However, the employment relations manager (a Sahadeo Singh) is Prasad’s subordinate and clearly beholden to him. Despite being fully aware of this fact, both Chand and Prasad were content with Sahadeo (a former labour officer who was sacked by Ministry of Labour for unknown reasons) to investigate Prasad’s complaint. It was only when I challenged Sahadeo’s independence and impartiality that Chand removed him and replaced with his house trained poodle – Mikali, despite my objection.
Other staff in the finance section who have legitimate grievance against Prasad cannot complain against him given his dual role. Those who complain have their cases dealt with by Sahadeo who simply does not have the courage to uphold complaints against Prasad.
Second, Prasad does not have the required qualifications to properly and diligently discharge the accountabilities of both the roles. The Director of Finance position requires postgraduate qualifications in accounting, finance or business and holding full membership of a professional accounting body like the Fiji Institute of Accountants or the overseas CPA qualification. My inquiries reveal that Mr Prasad does not hold any such membership, and never held one throughout his entire career. Professional membership is not only a hallmark of professional competence, but a bulwark against corruption or unscrupulous conduct. This is pure common sense.
In order to disguise his incompetence, Prasad has created various managerial positions in both finance and HR departments and uses these managers to do his job and take credit for the tasks. This will be revealed during FICAC investigations. Again Anand plays a major role in this scam.
Thirdly, Prasad has been in his dual role for more than 3 years. This in itself raises serious questions. The Immigration Department’s rule is that an expatriate is only allowed a 3 year work permit by which time the expatriate must have trained a local to fill the role. Further, there must be exceptional circumstances for the renewal of the work permit for more than 3 years.
My inquiries reveal that there is no reason why locals cannot fill Prasad’s dual role. Obviously he does not have any exceptional skills, knowledge or expertise in both finance and human resources. Most of the time he spends in NZ on medical treatment and this raises serious questions why a sickly expatriate person (having four heart bypass at FNU’s expense) is on FNU’s payroll as a consultant. In addition, Prasad has recently been appointed Housing Authority’s (HA) chairman and it beggars belief how an incompetent person like him can hold three roles at the expense of the public purse. I assume this can only happen in Fiji.
I believe that the only reason Prasad still occupies his dual role is due to his close and personal association with Chand. Both have been university mates and worked together during the yesteryears. It is also public knowledge that Chand appointed Prasad as HA’s CEO when Chand was the Minister for Housing.
FICAC must liaise with the Immigration Department as part of its investigation to delve into this issue. It may well be that the Department has been duped into believing that Prasad is irreplaceable. I make this comment because in my case, Prasad advised the Department that I was the successful candidate for the MFP position when as already mentioned, I had not even formally applied for the role. On my work permit application Prasad mentioned that FNU interviewed 18 candidates for my role. This is false.
FICAC must also investigate various other overseas citizens working at FNU under work permits as I have reasons to believe that locals can fill the positions with proper training and development by FNU. The first priority for jobs at FNU must be for Fiji citizens. Again this is pure common sense.
It is my claim that all these matters demonstrate abuse of office and constitute a breach of s139 of the Crimes Decree. Again the conduct of Prasad and Chand are arbitrary acts that is prejudicial to the FNU and the local workforce. FNU is being financially disadvantaged by the conduct of an expatriate who is clearly promoting his self-interest. This must stop immediately. Prasad must be removed from his role as the HR Director. His dual role is a conducive to corrupt practices flourishing at the FNU in cohort with Chand.
http://www.fijileaks.com/home/fnugate-now-it-emerges-that-ganesh-chand-had-forged-professor-rouses-signature-to-appoint-a-relative-of-then-education-minister-bole-to-a-job-she-was-not-qualified-on-merit
http://www.fijileaks.com/home/fnugate-sex-attack-cover-up-chand-allegedly-blocked-police-probe-and-prime-ministers-office-looked-the-other-way-for-suspect-was-brother-of-chand-at-fnu-labasa-camp
From: Fiji Leaks [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Tuesday, November 25, 2014 7:55 PM
To: Director Human Resources
Subject: FICAC Investigation, Date: 28th June, 2012 to 8th August, 2012.
Bula Narendra
Would you like to comment on the following
Editor, Fijileaks:
FICAC INVESTIGATION REPORT 2012:
5.1.Director Human Resource and Finance.
Mr. Narendra Prasad, former Housing Authority CEO (Dr Ganesh’s acquaintance and appointee as CEO Housing Authority) a New Zealand citizen and close friend of Dr. Ganesh was appointed as Director Finance and Human Resources of FNU. Mr. Narendra Prasad’s appointment needs investigation as there are a lot of able qualified people for the two positions he is holding. Issuance of work permit to Mr. Narendra Prasad has to be scrutinised to establish the merit.
Remuneration
Mr. Narendra Prasad is on a salary of F$150,000.00. Was there a Higher Salaries Commission approval sought? No. F$150,000.00 would have to to be approved by HSC. The two positions are inter related and in this case it is conflicting for one individual to hold two positions. However, it has a micro chip attached for the two positions which simply means that it would make decision making easier on non ethical basis. It is evident that integrity and transparency ethics have been compromised. Other perks attached to these two positions will have to be tabulated to justify payment. It must also be determined as to whether he is medically fit for employment or other wise, establish any health related payments which is outside FNU HR Policy.
5.1.1Medical Evacuation
In accordance with the FNU HR policy, inpatient sick leave is only 30 days per calendar year.
Quote Policy Number 19 Sec 4 (Sub Section 4.1) – Any employee requires to undergo treatment as an inpatient in hospital or required by a registered Medical Practitioner appointed by the university to be confined at home on grounds of illness, is entitled to a period of up to 30 consecutive days of sick leave on full salary on any one year of service”Unquote.
In March, 2011, Mr Narendra Prasad has been paid F$30,000.00 for medical treatment in New Zealand and received salary for normal hours when in fact, he should have been paid as an inpatient.
Mr. Prasad was again paid $30,000.00 for medical treatment in New Zealand in June, 2011 and this time his leave was treated as InPatient Sickleave. Further investigations would reveal whether or not a medical review board is in place to determine medical evacuation for employees of FNU.
There is no medical insurance cover in place for employees of FNU and in all such cases taxpayers fund is being abused to fund medical treatment of employees of FNU. Mr. Prasad, a New Zealand resident, had been referred to New Zealand hospital, however, all other employees, have been refereed to India for treatment.
Findings:
a) Mr. Narendra Prasad was not treated as an inpatient for the first payment of $30,000.00. He was paid normal hours salary.
b) Mr. Narendra Prasad was paid a second payment of F$30,000.00 within a span of three months for medical treatment in New Zealand.
c) As a Director for Finance and HR, he would have been the best person to understand the HR/Finance Policy.
d) Accordingly, he has abused his authority insofar as the double payment of $30,000.00 for medical treatment is concerned.