The pressure on the Coalition government not to settle the Barbara Malimali case seems to have worked (see previous story) with a report by Mai TV that the case will proceed to be heard in the High Court on Monday.
If Tanya Waqanika‘s comments to Mai TV that settlement talks have collapsed is confirmed by the government, the question remains why it rejected an offer by the New Zealand government to provide Fiji with a King’s Counsel to argue the government’s case.
This would have given the State the best possible chance of winning. Because if it’s to be the Solicitor General, Ropate Green Lomavatu, who goes head to head with Tanya Waqanika (or someone else she hires to argue the case), then the outcome is a lot more uncertain.
The importance of the New Zealand offer cannot be underestimated:
- This was NZ offering to provide a KC free of charge, so it would have been at no cost to the Fijian taxpayer.
- It sent a powerful signal to everyone that the Luxon government in New Zealand was backing the findings of the Ashton-Lewis Report and was willing to support its implementation.
We await an explanation from the government as to why the New Zealand offer has been rejected. Perhaps there is still time for Fiji to change its mind and accept a King’s Counsel to argue the case.
It might be a good idea to do so, just as it has been a good idea not to settle the Malimali case, especially on the basis of her becoming an instant multi-millionaire when there are 17 allegations of criminal conduct that the COI has made against her.
But it won’t be because of pressure from the local mainstream media. And that is a national tragedy.
Government should be mindful that it is the custodian of taxpayers money. Government should not fall for Tanya Waqanika’s bluff. She is in best a mediocre lawyer running a failing practice, if you can call it a ‘practice’ because she has hardly any clients.
Lazy and incompetent Tanya has smelt easy money after having already received exorbitant fees from MaliMali.
Unfortunately we have a very weak and pathetic finance minister in Biman Prasad, who should never be anywhere near taxpayer funds.
If it were up to him, he will hand over the 2 million as he doesn’t have the balls to stand up to anyone and of course Malimali is his protector in our corrupt system.
Taxpayers will appreciate it if this case is decided in court but it has to be a properly constituted court, not a kangaroo court run by kangaroos.
New Zealand is offering support because it is concerned about the rule of law in Fiji. As a mature democracy, New Zealand understands how important the rule of law is for a young democracy, like Fiji.
Unfortunately people like Tanya, Malimali, Ropate Green and Sailosi Temo are destroying due process, and the rule of law and raping democracy. The government should not be party to this by meekly surrendering 2 million dollars of taxpayers money. Otherwise the entire government is no better than that corrupt weakling, Baiman.
Dead right about Tanya Waqaniika’s law firm. Hardly have any clients.
Yes that’s the only client she can get to bring public money to her law firm. Bloody hopeless lawyer.
She’s probably thinking ok Barbie doll win this $2 million compo. My fee is 10% which is $200,000 easy money for my firm.
But go sweat your arse first Tan find proper valid legal points to fight against the COI findings fight those in court let’s see if you are a lawyer worth your salt.
Tanya you were just a reality show TV manager with Fiji TV, ay?
So show Fiji your true worth as a lawyer
Hi Graham, this seems to be a well planned inside job of the judicial department and all are on governments side but coming from different roads to meet after the settlement .And not only the NZ government but others are waiting and watching the moves of the Coalition government 🤔
The late Jese Mucunabitu’s hit song Heaven in Fiji has become meaningless with the worsening breakdown in law and order.
Fijivillage’s top 5 items today are on two men remanded for alleged sextortion, an 18-year old’s alleged murder charge, a Fiji national’s alleged indecent exposure on an Australian flight, the resurgence of the pre-COVID declining re-offending rate to higher levels post- COVID, and yet another man charged with alleged murder. This is special as Parliament passes the Budget.
Econometricians in the Finance Minister’s office should workout causal factors associated with or contributing to this disturbing downward trend in law and order. They may or will find (and suppress the finding) that a significant causal factor here is high-level constitutional violation. Then execute remedial policy actions for the benefit of particularly the poor.
Should the song be retitled or remixed to Hell in Fiji? Thank you Tanya, Barbara and all the heavyweights in the judiciary, ODPP and FLS for that.
Hopefully, ex-AG Graham will not follow his Barbie Girl and sue the government for his dismissal too.
I suspect now the Coalition has seen what happens when objective eyes analyse the situation (such as Ashton-Lewis) that they fear the international attention objective eyes from neighbours would bring.
They are still desperately scrambling for ways around this.
Rabuka has backed himself into an uncomfortable corner and is fumbling for a way out.
Well done GD for your role in this pressure!
Oh lord, Eliesa Tuiloma is supposed to be the lawyer arguing for the State. The case is already lost then. Not the sharpest tack in the box. Bring on the KC.
Only a stupid government with a snake as PM, a monkey as finance minister, and a baboon as attorney general will bow to blackmail and threats from a fat and lazy lawyer like Tanya. It just shows what an effed up government we have and what a weak and clueless leader the Snake is.
Dear Hippo and Barbwire, please note that defamation suit is not covered under Judicial Review. Thought you are lawyers with over 25 years experience.
While waiting for an appointment, I saw an interesting tiktok by malimali. She was indulging at GPH while showing the contents of her hand bag and the three shades of broken MAC lipsticks she always carries. It was crass but I suppose she will now have to downgrade to revlon 😭
She’s probably showing off in anticipation of the 2 M payout.
People still don’t get it. Rabuka is the main culprit. He has been fooling the people all the time. He is a coward …dua na siga on qai sotava nai sau ni nomu i valavala… You fooled me in 87 and now you are fooling the new i taukei young generation by posing as a saviour.
Do not believe this man, young i taukei people and also other races. RACISM IS BEARING ITS FRUITS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. It breeds corruption and instability. It has no place in civil society
Be proud of who you are but not to the detriment of others. Believe me, I was once a hardcore nationalist.
Vinaka.
Rabuka is the main culprit. He has not changed. His hand is behind all that’s going on and his pedo chief and the racist CJ are all part of what’s going on.
How can a man who committed the ultimate crime in a democracy, which is treason, be able to follow the law. Throw him in prison and all that do his bidding.
Rabuka gave a directive GD for settlement! The AG’s office has the written directives from Rabuka to settle the matter outside of court . He is intentionally lying knowing the AGs office won’t be able to call his lies out !!
The President is also in on it . Naiqama also wrote to AGs office for the matter to be settled.
GD Rabuka won’t hide forever ! He is the same person who nominated Lavenia Vakalalabure to be Acting FICAC Commissioner to the Present. That appointment is also wrong as it is the JSC who makes the nominations and not Rabuka.
The media is sleeping !
Dina sara. I don’t know why people ever believe this man, he has nothing good to show. what we should be saying is remove the immunity decree and try him for treason and throw him in jail for life. he has ruined our good country and its people. He is a liar and a manipulator.
I just can’t stop laughing at this manipulative lawyer Tanya,reading her comments demanding an apology and now this hot soup. Little did she ever understand the meaning of karma is a bitch. She lobbied for positions on boards and ambassadors positions knowing very well that people one day will get to know that she was behind all of it. Now the same people are watching her being publicly ridiculed and criticized. All for the sake of grabbing power. Shameless!
What you do behind closed doors, one day it will be brought out in the open. During her campaign she quotes a Bible verse to fool the people and than she compares the PM to King Saul of the Bible that he has lost the Annointing. And it’s so funny that she thought that she could fool Rabuka. Now the weather has changed, the PM knows what a cunning manipulative person she is.Now she’s just collateral damage period!