The attempts to remove the Fiji-born New Zealand lawyer, Janet Mason, as Counsel Assisting the Commission of Inquiry into the “rotten” circumstances surrounding the appointment of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner masks a much bigger story. That the government is trying to shut down the inquiry by Justice David Ashton-Lewis altogether.
Yes, folks. Put an end to the inquiry it commissioned – or the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, commissioned – because it is getting too close to some home truths that the government doesn’t want exposed. They reportedly threaten more than just Barbara Malimali’s position but the position of the NFP leader and Finance Minister, Biman Prasad.
Lifting the veil of secrecy that surrounds the Commission’s proceedings, Grubsheet has learned some explosive details – that the Attorney General, Graham Leung, filed a written submission that the Commission cease its inquiries and not proceed with its work to establish the facts about Barbara Malimali’s appointment.
Justice Ashton-Lewis understandably asked the AG why as chief law officer of the state and legal advisor to the Coalition and the Prime Minister, Leung didn’t advise them not to proceed with the inquiry in the first place. And since he hadn’t advised them not to proceed, why was he doing so now that the inquiry has heard from the main witnesses and is entering its final stages? Precisely.
We don’t know how Graham Leung responded but Grubsheet understands that the AG was given something of a dressing-down by the judge, who reportedly “spoke strongly” and “told him off”. Good for Justice Ashton-Lewis. Because this is a scandalous position for the government to now take, having embarked on this expensive and very public exercise in the first place.
There’s an old saying in governments the world over that you should never establish an inquiry into anything unless you know the outcome in advance. Clearly amid its chronic chaos and dysfunction, the Coalition government ignored this dictum. The inquiry into Barbara Malimali isn’t the white-wash that many Fijians feared. Far from it. It is evidently uncovering secrets about events at the corruption watchdog that the government wants concealed – to let sleeping dogs lie.
They have picked the wrong man in Justice Ashton-Lewis. As someone with an international reputation, the Coalition must have known that he would be fiercely independent. Or was Sitiveni Rabuka lulled into a false sense of security because the Judge reportedly attends the same church – Butt Street Methodist – and is part of the same prayer group? It sure looks that way.
An all-out attempt is now being mounted to save Barbara Malimali amid reports that hard evidence has emerged that she instructed FICAC investigators not to pursue Biman Prasad. Readers will recall that Malimali was installed as FICAC Commissioner virtually on the same day that the ousted Deputy Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai, was about to charge the NFP leader with abuse of office. So if the evidence that Malimali intervened on Biman Prasad’s behalf is upheld by the inquiry, that is the end for both of them.
It is astonishing to witness the concerted attempt now being made to derail the Commission of Inquiry. They won’t go for Justice Ashton-Lewis because he is simply too big a fish to hook. But they are sure going for the Counsel Assisting, Janet Mason. Barbara Malimali herself has lodged an application for Mason’s removal. And there have also been interventions by the Chief Registrar, Tomasi Bainivalu – acting on behalf of the Chief Justice, Salesi Temo – and by the President of the Fiji Law Society, Wylie Clarke, who happens to have been Barbara Malimali’s lawyer.
Grubsheet readers will recall that back on November 22, we reported the fact the Janet Mason had fallen foul of the legal disciplinary authorities in New Zealand – not an unusual event in the law and something she says she is appealing. But it has taken a full two months since for this episode to be used against Mason in Fiji. Now the Chief Registrar on behalf of the Chief Justice and others are suggesting that this infringement makes Janet Mason unfit to be Counsel Assisting the Malimali inquiry.
Why ignore the evidence when it was there last year and make a big deal out of it now? You got it. Because it suits their purposes to do so. And Janet Mason is having her reputation dragged through the mud as the establishment generally tries to head off some inconvenient truths emerging at the Commission of Inquiry and the Attorney General wants it wound up altogether.
The usual double standards are glaring. They say Janet Mason shouldn’t be on the COI because of her alleged professional misconduct. Yet on almost the same day, they announce that Nancy Tikoisuva is now no longer acting DPP and her duties have been taken over by the Deputy DPP, John Rabuku, whose professional misconduct saw him removed as Acting DPP after three Supreme Court judges ruled that it was unlawful. Go figure.
The attempt to derail the Commission of Inquiry is just the latest scandal to envelope the Coalition government but has all the makings of being the biggest. By any standards, it is explosive – the government establishing an inquiry into what the Prime Minister described as the “rotten circumstances” surrounding the Barbara Malimali’s appointment and then trying to wind it up when it starts to uncover the truth.
It isn’t going to work. David Ashton-Lewis gave a judicial order right from the start that the proceedings themselves were to be secret because of the implications for various criminal investigations. Grubsheet has adhered to that order. But it is clearly in the national interest to report that the inquiry itself is under direct threat from the government that established it.
The Fijian people have a duty to side with the Judge to face down the government and insist that the pursuit of the truth continues. And they then have a duty come election day to consign these low-lifes to the dustbin of history, where they belong.
————
The first public sign of the attempt to derail the COI came in this posting by Mai TV’s Stanley Simpson.
Now Janet Mason goes on the attack herself, including against Stanley Simpson…
In the Fiji Times, Janet Mason also goes for the Fiji Law Society, whose President, Wylie Clarke, has been Barbara Malimali’s lawyer.
The allegations against Janet Mason aren’t new. We reported them as part of a wider story on November 22, 2024
—————
Now to the latest on the Christopher Pryde saga.
First from the front page of today’s Fiji Sun…the Crooning Stallion is back running the ODPP in Pryde’s absence.
Yay! No more partying for Nancy but John sings on.
And John Rabuku is back heading the ODPP when his close friend over at FICAC, Barbara Malimali, is investigating the recycled allegations of financial misconduct against Christopher Pryde.
What the government of Tuvalu thinks of Barbara Malimali. “Not a fit and proper person”. It’s been no impediment to her being appointed to head the corruption watchdog in Fiji under the corrupt Coalition.
It is all so squalid. And, of course, good old Pontius simply washes his hands of the whole debacle.
So now a veiled threat against Christopher Pryde saying anything in his defence.
Are they going to pursue him now for “releasing classified information”? Or for not returning to Fiji on Monday into their FICAC trap?
The public aren’t that stupid.
NOTE:
I am getting comments from anonymous readers with snippets of information about what has allegedly transpired at the COI and at FICAC.
I’m sorry but because they are unattributed and in some instances, speculative – and the Judge has warned people not to reveal what is happening at the Commission – these comments cannot be published for legal reasons.
Isn’t it a real shame that we have such ignorant want to be journalist (who by the way doesn’t recognise his Indian heritage) uses his personal Facebook page to put such a vile and an incorrect report on Mason. This is Stanley Simpson, Fiji. Your most celebrated yet embarrassing journalist of all time.
Stanley is in cahoots with many in the government and thinks the people of Fiji are naive and blind to understand his agenda.
Stanley, you are so doomed that even your own followers and family now talk about you openly. Bro, your grandmother must tumble in her grave seeing what you have become now. A national shame and nothing less. We expected better from you and you have put the nation and your family to shame. For the love of God and the country do the right thing. It is not too late to salvage a little dignity that is left for you given your short career that is left.
I pray that Mason chews Stanley alive and embarrasses him further. Fiji needs to hear from lawyers who don’t hold biases. Stanley and his fools should know why media is not allowed inside the inquiry room. Simply because the media in Fiji lack basic knowledge and understanding to differentiate between a fact and a lie and report accurately. This alone is a slap in the faces of the journalists and the law society in Fiji.
Why is the President of the Fiji Law Society, Wylie Clarke, representing Barbara Malimali as her lawyer? That itself wreaks of conflict or am I not right as an everyday person reading this?
Where is RFMF clown of a commander? Still asleep. The house is on fire. The country is burning down big time.
Still asleep at the wheel while the country runs aground as drunks run into the wharf-with their chests full of medals.
Deer caught in the headlights.
For 16 years sitting in opposition and what did they learn while on full salary? How to be more corrupt. That’s all they qualify in.
@ Oh boy.
Please dont get the military involved. To do so is to admit that civil society cannot solve issues of governance and that we need to be prodded by military bayonets to sort things out. Thats not what we want. We have to find solutions on our own even by muddling through.
You’re right. What fiji needs is the right thinking itaukei to speak up now more than ever. The minorities are counting on you.
Yes, agree. Only the iTaukei can save them from themselves. We need iTaukei men and women of integrity and honour to call out the misconduct of their own people. Because this government doesn’t stand for all iTaukei let alone all citizens. It stands for an iTaukei elite that is all about promoting the interests of its own.
The degradation of the nation’s institutions by these people doesn’t help the iTaukei. It protects the interests of that elite. And ordinary iTaukei will suffer as much as the minorities if these people are permitted to prevail. It will be government for the privileged and ordinary iTaukei who aren’t part of the elite will be steadily marginalised and left behind.
Such a person is Jiaoji Savou. But the problem is he has no political aspirations. Hopefully, the reportedly new underground political party will emerge soon with persons of integrity and honour.
I wouldn’t be too sure about that. I’m hearing that Savou is being hyperactive on Facebook as a prelude to standing at the next election. And good for him.
Vinaka Graham, then Savou better be a man of his words, an increasingly rare trait of iTaukei politicians. And if that’s true, then it’s worrying as he has declared his non-interest on FB post.
Well let’s see what he says now that I have reported the fresh speculation. In the way of these things, people can declare that they aren’t interest but can then become very interested as an election draws closer.
Everything that the Coalition does turns to shyte, due to incompetence, unrestrained selfishness and nepotism.
Made worse by the complete disregard for the law.
This is the hallmark of a banana republic.
So much for the new broom AG.
Just a new handle maybe with the same broom, or perhaps it’s the other way around.
What we need is a sewage vacuum truck to suck up all the shite and pump it out at Kinoya.
If Tomasi and Wylie are asserting that Janet Mason didn’t disclose her NZ disciplinary issue which she is appelaing, then they need to apply those same standards to the characterless Barbara Malimali. She has been banned from Tuvalu. Her conduct was openly discussed in a court judgment and is far worse and in doing so, BM should never have been appointed.
But it’s obvious why BM has been placed there by Rabuka and Co. These corrupt itaukeis and Wylie represent the new Era of substandard lawyers and a legal system which has been rightly compared to that of Zimbabwe.
If Tomasi and Wylie the fu@kwit want to apply standards, then they need to look at themselves first. Wylie is turning out to be as bad as the others.
He has a personal and vested interest in this COI. His name has obviously come up and he is being implicated as one of those involved in all this corrupt activities of CJ and Tomasi.
When a new government does come in after the next elections, I just hope they review Tomasi’s case file and also take action against Waleen George.
@2026. The Karma Bus is coming.
A good friend, an investor to Fiji, with a resort has just up and gone. She was fighting her case in the courts. She cannot trust anyone there. A total failure at every aspect she said. Corruption is all she sees in the courts of Fiji. It is about who you know. She is now warning other potential investors to think very wisely before buying anything in Fiji. It was bad under Bainimarama and now the country is in trouble with Rabuka. I heard she is going on an overseas documentary program to reveal about her experiences with Fiji’s justice system and the failure of the government to protect investors.
@moretocome I need to be in touch with your friend. I have stories to tell also.
Falsification of court records? I recall mentioning in an earlier post, based on feedback from someone within, that this is why Tomasi exists. His job is to destroy and manipulate court records.
With Rabuku now back, Pryde’s fate is going to be sealed as Rabuku moves to ensure all the evidence Pryde needs to exonerate himself is destroyed. I admire Chris and his determinaton to fight this out. However, I suspect this is all being done deliberately to stall him to the point where he doesn’t have too much time left in his contract to do anything, then send him home when the contract ends.
As the world reads the articles on this site and the comments, they should know the truth about Fiji. Behind that bula smile lies a heart of pure evil which hates anyone who is not an iTaukei. If you’re white, those tourism ads which falsely lure you to Fiji are only doing it so they can take your money. The hate continues in the background as you sit and relax at the resort with your spiked cocktail.
Here are the expatriates who left their home to come and work in Fiji to help it prosper. These people have been humiliated, treated as inferior and their reputations destroyed in Fiji – by iTaukeis in power:
1. Christopher Pryde
2. Elizabeth Rice
3. Janet Mason
4. Davis Ashton-Lewis
The world should know how dangerous it is to work in Fiji. A judiciary which is being run by an incredibly corrupt person and a government that exists purely for iTaukeis. Fiji has become the Zimbabwe of the Pacific and will probably morph into a Nazi style government in the near future. The fuse to ignite the dynamite is all but lit and when it happens, the Indians and other ethnic groups will find themselves without their homes and probably their bank accounts as well.
The slogan “Fiji is for Fijians” seems to be getting louder by the day and I am told by people in Fiji that they are seeing the beginnings of racial abuse as they go about their daily business. They can’t go to the police because they know they wont be helped and they cant go to court because Tomasi will never let the cases see the light of day.
The Fiji that once was is gone and those of us who chose to leave to save our families can only look on in horror and come to websites such as this to get factual news which neither of the dailies in Fiji will publish. We can only urge those in Fiji who are not iTaukei to get their children out first and then get out themselves.
I hear you and my heart bleeds because not all ITaukei are racist. There are also many of us disgusted with what the coalition government is doing and we are repulsed by the actions and scandals engulfing these so called losers leading our nation and putting themselves out there as leaders.
Sadly majority of Fijians hated Khaiyum so much and distrusted Bainimarama they gave their votes to Rabuka and his clowns and we now get the mass we are in !
All the hallmarks of weak leadership!
Whenever the minions play up and are not kept in line, the rot pervades deeper…..
There is no handbrake in Government at all so those with personal agendas are free to do as they wish.
Would NEVER have happened under the last Government. May not have been the best in some areas but were way better than this lot……..
And we sink even lower!
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any worse.
Do these clowns even realise what all this is doing to investor confidence?
The entire shite show might be less embarrassing (if that’s even possible!) if the likes of rabuku, rabaku, coyote wiley, aunty titi, maglomaniac santa CJ, drunk registrar, egotistical treasonous dimwit pm and all other government sycophants stopped throwing rocks from glass houses.
No matter how hard you all try to hide in glass houses, stop making fools of yourselves. All you dunderheads need to know the world can see that you all have no clothes.
GD.
The clowns in the circus are totally confused amid the chaos that’s been created by the ring master, who now is so stressed that he’s decided to shave off his evil mustache.
The media is woeful. In fact theres no words to describe the current lot. They have simply abandoned their duty, principles and jobs.
The ring master baritone baku has got his fingers in every rotten pie that’s spoiling the good name of fiji with its ever increasing stench. It’s become too obvious now, even for the dumb fijian media.
First rabaku said the COC would look into the Pryde 2nd round of allegations issue. The media didn’t question him about how it was the JSC and not the COC that was responsible for that. So Rambo repeated this a few times to the media. Obviously someone finally tapped the idiot on the shoulder and told him it’s wasn’t the COCs responsibility. So he has now changed his tune and said that, relying as always on the fact that the stupid compliant media will not question his contradictory statement. And how right he was!
After evading the impotent soft cock media for a few days Temo finally said that new allegations against Chris would mean a new tribunal. A couple days later he said no tribunal. A couple days after that Rabaku says there could very well be a tribunal regardless of the cost. Did the media point out these glaring contradictions? You bet your life they didn’t. They are just too numb and dumb.
Then Stanley takes time off from reporting about his family’s dinner to do a story to discredit Mason. But in it Mason actually reveals that Malimali has been trying to shut down the COI. Does the media jump on this juicy claim like a bad rash? You bet your life they didn’t. Now Mason is also claiming that the Fiji law society and the chief registrar are doing the utmost to shut her and subsequently the COI down. Does the media ask the follow up questions viz a viz the contradictory statements being made so far? Of course they didn’t.
How about asking Etuate Tavai’s former boyfriend Graham Leung how he feels after telling everyone in the ODDP to stop all the nonsense about Chris Pride but he gets glaringly ignored by Rambo, rabuku and Temo. How about asking him if he still wants to continue as AG after getting repeatedly shafted by the powers that be. ( on second thoughts hold the “shafted” question).
How about asking Rabaku about the Mason issue or if he’s making threats against Chris for releasing information about his plight. How about asking questions on how John Rabuku is put in charge of the ODDP by Temo once again despite the courts having declared that he can’t be in that position?
How about camping outside Wylie Coyotes office and asking him similar questions and about the loss of public perception and faith in the obviously compromised Fiji law society. Hell..ask Richard love handles Naidu the same questions, since he and Wylie share the same bed.
Theres a reason why the new pedo president was hurriedly sworn in and why he waited for more than a week before revealing the tribunal’s findings. It was because his evil cabal made up of the CR, AG, Temo, Rabuku, Nancy were all hatching a plan B on how to take Christopher Pryde down again. Of course all this was done with the instruction, direction and blessings of the sans mustache evil ring master.
His job is to look good, look innocent, look ignorant, oh hell even look stupid dumb doce…as long as he doesn’t look or sound guilty or involved. Because Fiji’s very own home grown Satan will do anything to survive politically. Anything.
To help him along the media will bend over and offer their collective backsides to rabaku to do as he pleases with them at his pleasure. The latest bending over will be done tomorrow when Vijay vuji Narayan takes a ride with rabuka in his vehicle, like an excited virginal 16 year old about to get rooted by her sugar daddy. Oh, he will ask some questions to keep the appearance of how good a journalist he is. But they will be lame soft cock questions with no follow up even if baritone accidentally reveals some juicy bits on his own volition as he is increasingly prone to do in his demented state.
You see vuji Narayan and stan the kaidia Simpson have all been beholden to Rabuka and his circus of clowns because he had promised them cold hard cash and he has now delivered!
Yep, that’s right just recently contracts were signed with the beggars at Mai tv and pupu Parkinson and his band of poofters at CFL for the fijian govt to give them more then 1.5 million dollars a year. In return they have to do some “work” for the public and a whole lot of propaganda work for Rabaku and whoever he is in bed with at any particular time.
This is how fiji rolls at the moment when people say we are just “going with the flow”.
I really don’t like saying this again, but this is what the short sighted arsehole cock sucker’s who supported rabaku and biman have got us into. A country completely in ruins with no respite or solutions in sight until the one person who has polarized and f***ed us for almost 4 decades is gotten rid of one way or the other.
>The media didn’t question him about how it was the JSC and not the COC that was responsible for that. <
Because the media does not know the difference.
All of the shyte going on like a soap opera is solely the fault of FFP for the last 16 years. JB amd ASK bring bad luck sara ga.
Oh FFS. It’s nothing to do with the FFP. Nice try but no banana.
Wow.. they’re getting rid of their own now..Nancy’s contract has been canceled..or is it another smokescreen.
These problems wouldn’t have existed if people didn’t have children. First of all they have children and then the children do all these things. Sex is an evil thing. There should be a ban on sex and no one should be allowed to have children.
Rabuka has lost his balls and has lost control and any credibility he had ,he is the worst PM and on top of the hill is the weakest commander RFMFs has had so overall law and order will not improve but what will happen in the end is the itaukei will fight with the itaukei as they want positions of power so they can loot the tax payers.
This what happens when voters choose to recycle old head in politics.
Rabuka did not earn the position of Commander RFMF on merit. He took it at gunpoint and promoted himself and all his cronies. He then covered them in medals North Korean style. What a sham !
Stanley Simpson goes on a limp and posts (see below) on his Facebook. Like for real Stanley! You didn’t do the story on Mason for her New Zealand practicing concerns because you thought it was a minor or non-issue and dealt with? How fu&cking dumb are you? It was and still is all over media and accessed easily over Google. You decided it was a story now that your close associates are in muddy waters. Grubsheet reported on this two months ago.
Stanley decided it was minor issue. His job as a journalist is not to assume but provide facts.
Boy oh Boy, you are further degrading yourself with such nonsense posts. You should stand down from your presidency post (or what you hold) for Fiji media. This is a serious matter and your lack of leadership is disturbing. You are one of the reasons why Fiji media is not allowed inside the COI room.
Media in Fiji simply cannot be trusted. Ya na nomudou freedom. Useless va ca.
………
“This story is becoming bigger than I thought and now twisting in a crazy but serious direction with the allegations of tampering a practicing certificate application. It is the first time I have heard an allegation of a practicing certificate application being tampered with or falsified! We almost didnt do the story when we first found info that FICAC inquiry legal counsel Janet Mason had a disciplinary penalty matter in NZ. My first reading of it was that it was a minor issue/non issue and must have already been addressed. But then we asked around and found that some people who should have been aware were unaware. We then dug further and found that Mason also had disciplinary matters from 2015 and 2022 which she appealed. So to be fair we asked her about the issue and she said it was a minor matter and was only being raised by those who wanted to shut the Commission down. We thought that was it – but by Sunday we got reliable information that a letter had been sent to Mason by the Chief Registrar asking her to explain why she did not disclose the matter when she applied for her most recent practicing certificate in Fiji. She was being given 5 days to respond. We also got info that Mason had filed a Police complaint but could not confirm that.
By Monday afternoon Mason had confirmed she had filed the Police complaint for alleged tampering of her application, and that the Law Society had also tried to get her removed from the Commission. Apparently (next thing I knew) my name was mentioned for spreading lies and nonsense that she did not disclose her disciplinary matter. But no lies were spread – only questions being asked. We reported verified information that Mason was being asked by the CR why she did not disclose her penalty matter when applying for her PC. Mason now says she did disclose but her application was tampered with. So I believe someone has lied or is lying, or got it wrong, or a serious criminal action has happened with the alleged tampering. This has raised the stakes. We will now work to uncover the truth and the facts.” Stanley Simpson
Lynda Tabuya got her practicising certificate in Fiji after being Declared bankrupt in Missouri USA.
I want to see how Malimali is holding a practicing certificate after what she did in Tuvalu.
The stupid fool lodges a complaint against Mason only to further shoot her own foot.
Agree.. was this disclosed? This is a question when applying for a practising certificate.
Mason is a highly regarded lawyer.
She holds a current practicing certificate in New Zealand.
As she said, a commission of inquiry doesn’t require her to have a practicing certificate anyway but here it is.
Mason has been providing advice on the Great Council of Chiefs set up and other work in Fiji.
https://www.lawsociety.org.nz/register/janet-mason/
Malimali and co really sound and look desperate now. The spotlight on
Mason is just that and makes her look more of a winner than the victim that Fiji wants her to be. Huge mistake Barbara and Wylie.
They can’t touch Ashton-Lewis, former High Court Judge and well respected.
The biggest chor in Fiji, Bimaan Prasad has been exposed time and again.
I was not a fan of ASK, but he’d wipe his ass with Biman.
Kava: So you’re saying baimaan is an ars£ wipe?
Sounds about right. Fair dinkum mate.
Reliable sources indicate that Biman the betrayer is petrified and maneuvering frantically behind the scenes to derail the commission. Said to be constantly holding meetings and always on the phone talking to people in whispers.
The traitor betrays all the signs of a man running scared. He knows that once Malimali is gone, he’s finished. Not just due to his corrupt practices, but also because of his despicable sexual harassment of the Japanese woman. In her house, in front of her husband and in his own wife Rajni’s presence. Even secretly taking a photograph of the Japanese woman.
A corrupt and creepy bastard who is not fit to be the finance minister, let alone deputy prime minister.
A disgrace to his family and to the country.
Mockery of the Judiciary. Those sitting at the helms are circus Masters with their whips.
Whts next Fiji??….Fiji is on 🔥. Let’s see where the 🔥 fighters will come from. Start praying Fiji!!
OMG, these guys make ASK and Bainimarama look like angels!
I had voted for change but started losing hope after the PM appointed his AG back in Dec 22, then lost all hope after Stanley’s Kai was anointed by the PM as Fiji’s representative to the UN in at such an electrifying speed in early 23. So all these latest developments are not surprising at all. We will never ever rise again from the ashes and by the way, we are yet to hit rock bottom!
So the previous illegaĺly appointed acting DPP Rabuka has been reinstated AGAIN as acting DPP ? Whoever reinstated him did so with the full knowledge they were acting in breach of the constituon and a judicial ruling that such an appointment is illegal and should be sacked immediately .Ratu Sukuna must be turning in his grave !
Not just Ratu Sukuna but also Ratu Mara, Ratu George, Ratu Edward and Ratu Penaia, as these non-Ratus (or in iTaukei, kaisis) help themselves and their stooges in blatant violation of the land’s supreme laws. One day mafatu!
Being of the Ratu variety, let me remind you I certainly am not contemplating turning around anytime soon. So much entertainment in the ambulance chasing legal circles in the land of the gifted people. Like ‘INJUSTICE Temo’ (there’s a new one for you GD) who runs around with that silly looking Vulagi mop of white curly hair he stole from the bum of a sheep.
Lawyers eh, couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of pettifoggers !
2 hours ago dumbo Stanley writes (see below) another round of his spill! 2 within the same day. Must be hurting given Fiji’s media and Stanley are under the radar and regarded as useless. People are asking that Stanley stands down from his media role immediately too.
Again, Stanley doesn’t still get it that Fiji’s media is deeply in trouble given Justice Aston-Lewis doesn’t believe that Fiji’s media can be trusted.
…………
“This is now the problem with the proceedings of the FICAC Commission of Inquiry not being open to the public or accesible to the media. Unverified stories going around.
Was there a submission made to close the Commission down or were they advised to stick to their TOR?
Claims and information are leaking out, as they usually do, and we cannot ascertain who has said what, who is doing what, what evidence was given etc to make an informed view.
We are spending so much of our taxpayers money on this and this is what we get?
Now we have all kinds of information coming out, some true, some false and miseleading, which are spreading and we are not authorised to report on anything about the proceedings.
Just watch people go in and out.
This is not fair to the people of Fiji who want to get the full story.
Justice Ashton-Lewis said the decision to keep the testimonies confidential is in line with the need to protect ongoing criminal investigations and national security.
Ok great (even though I dont agree) – but a balance needs to be found about the public’s right to information.
A regular update would be useful i.e A submission was made by so and so to shut the commission down; a submission was made for the Inquiry to stick to its TOR; The Fiji Law Society made a submission on this or that, Justice Ashton-Lewis ruled on this or that etc. I dont think that would have any impact on any criminal investigation or national security.” Stanley Simpson.
……,..
The shame continues for Stanley and Fiji’s media.
The Fijian government currently playing the game called “who’s the biggest, most corrupt idiot among us”.
And there is some very stiff competition.
This milamila is worse than kanikani.
Nothing seems to work to cure it.
Well what’s new to see here? Has everyone forgotten how former DPP, Peter Ridgeway was sent packing when his prosecution of the shadowy figures behind the 2000 coup got too close to the Fijian leadership?
And who was the leader of Fiji then? None other than the (apparently Jewish) saint of Fiji, Lai Qarase.
Yep, we’ve seen this movie before.
I wonder when that idiot Charan Jeath Singh will come under closer scrutiny?