grubsheet

Grubsheet is taking a complete break for the next couple of weeks and not a moment too soon, judging from the following missive from one of my most devoted readers. It is a good time to do so, between the second and third readings of the draft constitution bill and before things really hot up, assuming the bill is passed by the parliament in … [Read more...] about # IT’S TIME FOR ME TO START LISTENING TO SOME OF MY READERS AND BUGGER OFF

The Rokoikas are among the cream of the elite in Fiji - reportedly related to both the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, and the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, and with top jobs in the iTaukei establishment. Lavi Rokoika, of course, is the Acting FICAC Commissioner brought in by Rabuka to supposedly clean up the mess of the Barbara Malimali … [Read more...] about # IT HAS NOT BEEN A GOOD WEEK FOR THE ROKOIKA FAMILY AND IT IS ABOUT TO GET A LOT WORSE (UPDATED)

It's a stark sign of the sorry state of Fijian democracy that we sent a whole lot of people to parliament at the last election in 2022 who haven't reflected our choice at all when it comes to constitutional change. More Fijians voted for Frank Bainimarama's FijiFirst than any other party, whose core foundation was the 2013 Constitution. Others … [Read more...] about # THOSE WE SENT TO PARLIAMENT TO KEEP THE BASTARDS HONEST. NEXT TO FRIGGING USELESS

Grubsheet predicted that the new draft constitution would clear the parliament by 37 votes and in the end, Sitiveni Rabuka got an extra one to give him victory. He needed 35 votes - according to the Speaker, Filimone Jitoko, or 36 votes according to Nilesh Lal at the Centre for Democracy and Dialogue (see below) - and in the end, got 38, which … [Read more...] about # THE NEW DRAFT CONSTITUTION BILL PASSES THE PARLIAMENT BY 38 VOTES, WITH ONLY FIVE “NOES”

It was the former US President, Lyndon Johnson, who coined the celebrated line that "it is always better to have your colleagues inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in". And Biman Prasad seems to have embraced that notion - that instead of a showdown with his own rebellious colleagues in the NFP, it is now better to go … [Read more...] about # BREAKING NEWS: BIMAN PRASAD HAS REVERSED HIS POSITION AND WILL VOTE FOR THE DRAFT CONSTITUTION

As Grubsheet flagged four days ago, two NFP ministers in the government - the Defence Minister, Pio Tikoduadua and the Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection, Sashi Kiran - have ratted on the party and will vote "yes" in Friday's parliamentary vote on the new draft constitution. Both have rejected appeals from the NFP leader, Biman … [Read more...] about #…NOW THE BAD NEWS. THE TURNCOATS* PIO AND SASHI ARE VOTING WITH SITIVENI RABUKA TODAY TO PASS THE 2026 CONSTITUTION