The Prasad-Radrodro PAC Controversy: Now, MICK BEDDOES wades into the controversy by coming on board the "Waiqele Bus": 'The source of my information were verbatim notes and A-G's reference to Radrodro'

18/5/2016

8 Comments

"If Hon Radrodro disputes what the AG said, than he needs to take aim at the AG and call him out on it to clear the air on this matter and his name."

We publish below an e-mail from Mick Beddoes stating his position:

"Bula All

While I have kept away from commenting on the issues surrounding the Fiji First Government’s disgraceful decision to remove Professor Biman Prasad as chair of the Public Accounts Committee, I thought I should set the record straight in light of some comments in social media, including Fiji Leaks. Hon A Radrodro, has referred to me in this controversy.

I confirm that in my final submission to a SODELPA disciplinary committee I referred to remarks to the Parliamentary Standing Orders Committee by the Attorney-General, the true leader and mastermind of the Fiji First government. He had referred to Hon Radrodro complaining to the Fiji First side about Hon Biman Prasad's chairmanship of the PAC.

The source of my information were verbatim notes which I attach for your perusal. The AG's reference to Hon Radrodro is clear. If Hon Radrodro disputes what the AG said, than he needs to take aim at the AG and call him out on it to clear the air on this matter and his name."
Mick

"Now to Mick Beddoed statement. We are grateful to him for revealing the truth. I don't see Radrodro's point of order objection in the minutes to set the record straight about his complaining to Khaiyum, the leader of the other side, about the behaviour of a coalition partner in the PAC Chair. This is a craven act of disloyalty. The practise of party members discrediting their own party's policies is known as "fire bombing"-
Pita, Fijileaks commentator

http://www.fijileaks.com/home/pac-fallout-aseri-radrodro-fights-back-as-sodelpas-vakatora-accuses-him-of-being-judas-over-biman-prasads-sacking-i-was-quite-furious-in-the-way-i-was-ambushed-by-biman-in-front-of-media-radrodro

8 Comments

rajend naidu

18/5/2016 11:28:29 pm

Editor,
Disgraceful Decision
Mick Beddoes comment on " the Fiji First Government's disgraceful decision to remove Professor Biman Prasad as chair of the Public Accounts Committee" reminds me that it's not the only government engaged in making disgraceful decisions.
Responding to Australian Immigration Minister Peter Dutton's disgraceful comment about " illiterate" refugees taking away jobs for Australians , Mark Minchinton says in his letter to The Age 19/5 " What did we do to deserve the moral vacuum that is Peter Dutton? Oh, that's right, we voted in the conservatives".
( Both the PM Malcolm Turnbull and Foreign Minister Julie Bishop have backed Dutton's perverse view).
I wonder if there are people in Fiji who also feel they made the mistake of voting in some " moral vacuum" into power?
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Pita

19/5/2016 12:26:23 am

Rajend Naidu please Stop chipping in from time to time to tell us what's the topical issue of the day reported in the Australian media. Seems you are being of if by Julie Bishop to promote the Australian brand in non mainstream media. Read my lips No body is interested.

Now to Mick Beddoed statement. We are grateful to him for revealing the truth. I don't see Radrodro's point of order objection in the minutes to set the record straight about his complaining to Khaiyum, the leader of the other side, about the behaviour of a coalition partner in the PAC Chair. This is a craven act of disloyalty. The practise of party members discrediting their own party's policies is known as "fire bombing"
The public and voters of Naitasiri want to know about Rewa Daity privatisation consultancy and why Ministerial salaries were paid through a private firm belonging to the AG's aunt but Radrodro is more interested in who fills the PAC Chair and the Chair as alleged by Radrodro adopts a "watered down" approach. I give up on these politicians, just a waste of tax payers' money

Dekho

19/5/2016 08:54:20 am

Pita it is not only from the Australian media but media from around the world that Rajend Naidu draws our attention to with a view to showing the connection with what has happened and is happening in Fiji to debase democracy. It's not doing any harm to the pro- democracy cause in Fiji, is it?

Wanda

19/5/2016 09:11:46 am

I totally agree with you Dekho and Pita does sound the Khaiyum.

Rustam

19/5/2016 08:23:13 am

Thank You Mr. Beddoes for putting the records straight –Verbatim. But that leaves us even more confused.

Hon. Radrodro says he has “NEVER spoken to AG [Khaiyum] on any of this or anything else for that matter." And Hon. Khaiyum as per Verbatim says “Hon. Radrodro has complained to our side about the manner in which the Chairman of the PAC conducts over meetings….”

Now, both being such Honorable men that it is very hard for us to decide who is lying …and in the meantime the BanoPAC remains un-revealed.

Rajend Naidu

19/5/2016 08:40:21 am

Editor,
Vote- buying allegation
Mick Beddoes return reminds me of it in our last elections. It is not an uncommon allegation. Here's an example.
We read in ' Defeated Dominican Candidate Accuses Winner of Vote-Buying' ( LAHT 19/5 ) that the main challenger to incumbent Danilo Medina in last weekend's presidential elections said his opponent prevailed by vote-buying and putting pressure on citizens who received government aid.
Challenger Luis Abinader said his newly formed PRM party was created to fight " against the abuse of PLD candidate ( Medina ) and his shameless use of public funds, against vote-buying and against all kinds of irregularities".
He said his party and allies will not accept " a hijacked democracy" and " we will work together ... in defence of the rule of law and the institutions of democracy including independent electoral bodies".
Have the opposition parties in Fiji accepted " a hijacked democracy"?
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Bahuki

19/5/2016 01:05:59 pm

All talk and not so much action is how I would describe this, no wonder that bus is always picking up passengers for the ride.

INVITED MEMBERS ONLY

19/5/2016 03:30:49 pm

Pita those are minutes of the Business Committee meeting in which the members are the Executives only re; Bainimarama, AS Khaiyum, Ro teimumu Kepa, Isoa Tikoca, Dr Biman P, Tupou Draunidalo etc.

Aseri Radrodro cannot raise a point of order as you suggest because this is not minutes of parliament meeting but a private meeting that decides on what agendas come before the next Parliamentary siting! And he isn't a member of the Business Committee obviously so is not in that meeting!

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