For the first time, a senior public figure in the form of the Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, has raised questions in public about the failure of the Judicial Services Commission under its head – the rogue Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo – to properly manage the offices of state under its jurisdiction.
It has been a long time coming but clearly for Seruiratu and the “Gang of 16” former FijiFirst MPs that he leads in the parliament, enough is enough.
The Opposition leader says that if the FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali, won’t resign after the allegations of abuse of office, intimidation and harassment of witnesses made against her by the Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa, the JSC should remove her. And if it refuses to do so, then it too needs to be brought to account.
Here’s the relevant extract from today’s front page story in the Fiji Times.
“Whether the JSC has been compromised”? This is a highly significant intervention. Because Inia Seruiratu has become the first and only person in public life to question the conduct of the JSC and in doing so, has brought into sharp public focus some of the issues that have so far been confined to these columns about the conduct of the Acting Chief Justice who heads it.
This includes not only his violations of the Constitution in relation to appointments to senior offices of state but his choice of Barbara Malimali to head the supposedly independent FICAC when she is a blatant political appointment; his mercurial conduct including threatening unlawful police action against the Resident Magistrate, Seini Puamau; and, most recently, Salesi Temo’s false testimony to the Christopher Pryde Tribunal that the DPP had “stolen” his superannuation when it was part of his contract signed by two heads of state.
The subtext of the Opposition Leader’s comments is that if Salesi Temo isn’t prepared to do anything to remove Barbara Malimali given the grave allegations against her and four separate inquiries, including by a judge, then it is time for him to be investigated. And about time too. Because Salesi Temo’s conduct as Acting CJ and head of the JSC has been as outrageous and unacceptable as that of “Car Crash Barbie” and even more so. And he too must go.
Salesi Temo’s own position is now very much on the line, along with that of the person he appointed to head the supposedly independent corruption watchdog who is anything but and is already causing disruption in the courts.
Having succeeded in having a trial aborted in Tuvalu when she was working there as a lawyer, Barbara Malimali is now holding up a trial in Fiji.
She is not only unsuitable to hold the job of FICAC Commissioner because of the allegations of misconduct against her but she can’t even do the job properly. And as Inia Seruiratu says, she must go.
The contrast between Barbara Malimali’s refusal to step aside and that of the Home Affairs Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, couldn’t be more stark. Today’s front page in the Fiji Sun on Tikoduadua’s decision to step aside during an inquiry into part of his own ministerial responsibilities.
At last, some justification for his position as Leader of the Opposition.
Good on you GD.
It seems like we have two people who are able and willing to ‘do the right thing’ and hopefully this number might grow and overcome the ones that can’t and they will be forced to account for their actions. It would be a good sign that even in having sunk to the lowest level, that the parlamentarians and justice department officials will possibly be held accountable for their blatantly illegal actions.
The only way this can happen is if the right thinking people shout loud enough about the misdeeds they are aware of, so that everyone can actually see what is going on and call for it to cease.
It has now reached a point where the ones in question do not even try to hide what they are doing and have become enabled, because they feel that there is no accountability for the illegal actions that they are perpetrating.Hopefully with a lot of noise, the Press won’t be able to ignore what is happening and the people of Fiji will be able to read about the level of corruption and all of the other bad things that are going on, that they currently have no knowledge of.
Shining a light on this behaviour is the only way that it will stop, when those in high positions see that everything they do is being scrutinised by the people that they are supposed to be working for and either decide to act in their best interests or pack up and leave the position to someone that is better able to carry out that work.
What can you expect from them in coalition. They follow the ale of forgiveness using whale’s tooth.
The way the law is taken for a ride is a way of neglecting our bindings in constitution.
Seems we all have to hunt for whale’s now to keep a tabua each to present after committing crimes.
We are moving backwards to 1800s in the name of sovereignty that leads to being heathen and cannibal.
BM is a ‘big’ asset to Fiji and Fijians. We all can see that and the Acting CJ and others can also see that. What will Fiji do without such big assets and treasures.
Yup….she has two of those bountiful assets that she used to obtain the desired effect in Tuvalu.
Forgot to mention, apart from being a big asset to Fiji and Fijians, she is also very pretty……depending on your personal preference, of course!
Did I mention she is full of professional integrity and conduct.
She is an ideal role model for all aspiring young girls in Fiji.
All the schools in Fiji should be lining up and making appointments for her to come and give a talk at their assembly.
What has Lynda Tabuya got to do with it?
The Government won’t do anything as the PM has yet to be “officially informed”.
Paralysis has set in. Being PM is too much for him. We need decisive leaders with no skeletons in the cupboard that give rise to public distrust.
National Leadership steps in Decisiveness for 2023-2024
1. Be Calm
2. Use the line “I was not aware”
3. Disappear
End
It just baffles me to read these kinds of news on a daily basis. Rampant rule breaking and corruption by persons in authority and the PM is nowhere to be seen.
Every time he’s asked, PM is unaware of the obvious. I am no fan of Bainimarama but in him, we had a PM who acted with an iron fist. In Fiji the shamelessness is such that people won’t resign even if caught red-handed. Our Civil Service rules only apply to smaller positions. We need a leader who can set things right, work with authority.
Rabuka isn’t a leader, he’s an ailing old cat living out his days just enjoying himself. We need to change things fast if we are to have any hope.
Someone please tell this rogue CEO of FICAC and a public servant that there is a thing called nipple covers. She needs one immediately.
She is entitled to flaunt it. It has got her places doing so. Just ask the Tuvalu Law Society !
Barbaric Barbs is just a straight up bully. My goodness! She’s just throwing her weight around. Literally and figuratively.
@Fed she achieved successful through illicit and gratifying means.
Finally, the ‘Opposition’ (the gang of 16) who for so long appeared to be the appeasers of this shambolic government have grown a pair and called out this poor excuse of Commissioner and her patron the incompetent A/CJ.
As for the other gang of 9 they continue to shut their eyes and cozy up with the coalition. So much for their alleged standards and integrity!
As I said yesterday, she will do neither given her arrogance and self-important stance. Another entitled iTaukei, who is essentially corrupt, and believes standards of conduct and laws don’t apply to her!
And of course, the feeble and it would appear senile PM will do nothing!
If you believe the rumours Barbara is another to have been a lover of the PM.
Perhaps the press has also finally ‘grown a pair’ and will report and question the actions and appointments of the excuse for a government and the incompetent JSC. We live in hope!
Assets and asses, big asses too.
Without you, what would I do with me…
That must be the snake SLR’s theme song now. Hilarious.
Smoke and mirrors. This will do nothing.
Temo and Malimali are too thick (literally and physically) to take the hint, bow their heads in shame and exit their respective roles.
Who replaces them? An Indian? It’s an anathema to the very fundamentals of the corrupt Rabuka government.
If you can ignore the fact you have a pedophile for a president and carry on as normal, this latest shitstorm is considered normal.
This dumb opportunist opposition leader is useless .
He is speaking on someone’s behalf,as he was for last 10 years.
He is hearing the smile of Coalition government which are also useless like him .
It’s a movie in the making.
Agree 💯%. Inia is merely playing to the gallery. A false dawn.
He should’ve resigned. Instead, the gormless worms voted for huge salary and benefits increases.
While long overdue, you have done a great job, LOP Inia. The ballot box is less than 2 years away (except if our law breaking first citizen decides otherwise, upon the prompting of his subject PM and their stooges), so please rev up such interventions. Simply because illegitimate policy actions are prevalent, ever since Dec 2022.
One more thing, please. Time to to change your tie colours! Just as well you didn’t represent Fiji in rugby or else your alternate tie and jacket would have the coconut palm on them like someone does so often. We all know him.
Fiji a racist country. Nothing will happen to etho nationalistic racist i-taukies like Rabuku, Temo, Malimali, Turaga, Naiqama, and others. Rabuka and his coaliation government will make sure that elite i-Taukeis benefit at the expense of vulagis including Fiji Indians. Fiji is for Fijians, Indians go away. It is high time that Australia, Canada, UK and New Zealand give asylum to Fiji Indians. There is no future for them.
One thing at a time, Kamlesh.
Right now nothing is more important than getting Australia give 2000+ convicted itaukei a second chance to work in PALM.
Except, someone forgot to tell the doce PS Nemani, conviction(s) are no longer required to enter the penal colony.
But you forget, iTaukei are special people. Just ask PS Nemani.
That is why Baimaan was looking for visa free entry for Fijians to Australia and NZ as well. Fijians are special. The idiot has gone a little silent on that front.
I do not think Australia and NZ have the same imagination or pretence.
Sorry to say, but all you who hope for any changes in Fiji are just wasting your time. Nothing will change as long as Rambo lives.
He will keep fueling to spread hatred between various races in Fiji. He is not on their side but he is showing to be on the side of iTaukei people. It is high time iTaukei people realise Rambo always was and will always be for himself.
He even sacrificed his own daughyer’s marriage to remain the PM, he would not suspend Linda T. He bought of president Villi K boy from Macuata. Then he blackmailed him to get his rapist high chief to become Presiedent of now useless FJ. How about the military kommander sold out before the election. His hatred for Khaiyum boy was well utilised for influencing.
He has got the baimaan boy by the tail. BP can not open his mouth, or anything else for that matter. He will be shoved. Oouch!
He is behind every controversial appointment. He does on purpose to remain PM. Even Buta was better than him. At least, Buta used to say what he thought, unlike this snake.
Why do you think he will not bend down infront of Chinese govt. They will promise it will be quick, shape will not change and help you remain Pmp of fidgee.
Serious crimes being committed in judiciary. But he will not take any action until someone reports it to him. Within hours of ferries wheel accident, though no one was hurt, Rakuba has announced the banning of all ferris wheel operations until further notice in the country. His minister responsible has already made a statement (atleast this time).
So who is benefactor behind these illegal appointments, fueling this fire of ethno-nationalism, who is the biggest final beneficiary? Yes, handful of well to do iTaukeis do benefit from this. The chiefs, Vasu boy, etc, etc.
The ordinary iTaukeis realise the better for the drowning country. The vulagis can do fcuk all to bring any good in the country. It is too late for you guys. BP, R Naidu, V Naidu, Ali girl, Thakur boy (nz) has done too much damage to you guys by telling lies and trusting Rambo’s fake apology.
The false saviour held his patience for 37 long years.
Totally agree with you. It’s too late. Pack your bags if you can and move away.
Get your children into trade jobs, Australia and NZ will always welcome hard working people from Fiji. Those who moved here…vulagis…most are close to being or millionaires already. Those clinging on to hope for Fiji are living a false dream.
Fiji has gone to the dogs. They will rip her to pieces and drag her to destruction.
This is a sad sad realization…but better now than late.
Lets not only focus on Malimali. We still have a porn Minister still holding office Mrs. Room 233 Lynda Tabuya Radrodro the Minister for Weed, Drugs and Bonking. This government is a TOTAL Shambles, my gosh its not even funny anymore. Rotten thieves and greedy pigs. Isa lei Viti! Dou Yadra mai kerekere.