Lynda Tabuya has made a preposterous speech in the parliament dismissing her “brutal” sex encounter with Aseri Radrodro in Room 233 and her pornographic video as “personal matters” that have no bearing on her new role as Information Minister – the Coalition’s face to the nation and Fiji’s face to the world.
It is delusion on a scale so grand that it usually denotes someone suffering from an acute mental illness such as psychosis, schizophrenia or a mood disorder such as bipolar or depression. There’s actually a psychotic condition called Delusional Disorder characterised by an unshakeable belief in things that are untrue.
Has Lynda got Delusional Disorder or is she just inherently amoral and dishonest – a pathological liar with a penchant for “weed” and rough sex with other people’s husbands, along with a taste for power, expensive clothes and those groovy “cat’s eyes” glasses?
Either way, the new “Minister for Truth” (seriously, the proven liar used the word “truth” in her speech) is destined to find out the hard way that scandalous conduct is baggage that no reputable democratic government the world over can credibly carry into an election. Lynda Tabuya is going to be dogged by the events in Room 233 and the tag of being “Minister for Bonking and Weed” for the rest of her political career, along with the steamy “bush and butt” pornographic video that remains in thousands of Fijian phones.
And whether she is clinically delusional or a common and garden variety lying tart, the wonder of it is that she thinks she can purvey “truth” on behalf of the Coalition – to be its face to Fiji and the world – and that the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, shares the same delusion. Whatever they have shared between them in the past – and the rumours have begun all over again – they certainly share the same opinion of the Fijian people. That for all their outward piety and “Sunday whites” churchgoing and hymn-singing, they much prefer to be governed by liars and whores.
Yet there’s a scandal even bigger than bonking and weed hanging over Lynda Tabuya and it is this: That as well as taking illicit drugs and betraying her duty to set an example for Fijian young people in the middle of a drug epidemic, she has made a false income declaration to the Elections Office. And a specific recommendation of the Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry is that this be revisited just when the Coalition needs clear air so that the new “Minister for Truth” can weave her magic with a dazzled (or dazed) electorate.
Perhaps this is one of those recommendations that Sitiveni Rabuka – having promised that the COI’s recommendations would be implemented – will simply ignore because it is politically inconvenient.
Yet that doesn’t mean the story is going to go away.Many of the details aren’t new. In fact Grubsheet covered the scandal in detail as long ago as last October. And that article is well worth revisiting if merely to set the context for what is to come.
To recap, Lynda Tabuya is married to Rob Semaan, the multi-millionaire co-owner of Pacific Building Solutions – Fiji’s largest construction company – and the recipient of a host of government contracts, including the new GCC headquarters and Labasa Airport.
Rob and Lynda fled the United States leaving behind debts of more than $F100-million from their failed fat-busting business but either kept enough money or rebuilt their fortune to be able to live a lifestyle that very few in Fiji enjoy – the best houses, the best cars and the best holidays, including a share of the Leluvia Island resort in the Lomaivitis leased to them by their friend, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau, the Vunivalu of Bau.
If you’ve read the previous article, there are happy snaps of Rob and Lynda on the island and declarations of eternal love. But it seems that in 2016, the couple officially obtained a “divorce”. Now why would they get divorced when they are so happy and continue to live together as man and wife?
That’s the burning question that remains hanging over this entire affair, accompanied by another burning question. Was it a “sham divorce” to enable Lynda to hide her family’s millions from public scrutiny so that it didn’t become a drag on her political career? Would her adoring public – and especially her people back in Kadavu – think any less of her if they realised she was worth squillions? Was she concerned that it would tarnish her carefully-crafted image as woman of the people and champion of the down-trodden?
Whatever the motive, the outcome is the same. Rob and Lynda might have officially “divorced”, but they are to all other intents and purposes married. And here’s the proof in the photos taken at State House on Tuesday for Lynda’s swearing in as Minister for Information.
There’s Rob in the front row next to his wife surrounded by the Prime Minister and three of the couple’s children.
There they are again in a wider group, including two other daughters. Now seriously, Fiji. Do these two look divorced to you?
And check out that rock on Lynda’s wedding finger. Do divorced women usually appear in public looking so loving with their exes and wearing such an ostentatious symbol of that love?
Lynda Tabuya clearly thinks that the Fijian people have as short a collective memory of her claim to be divorced as they have of her bonking and weed and that notorious porn video made when Lynda was co-Chair of the government’s Anti-Pornography Task Force.
But none of it is going away, including the issue of whether the new Minister for Truth made a false income declaration to the Elections Office.
That allegation was forwarded by the Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa, to FICAC before Lady Luck shone on Lynda Tabuya and guess who was parachuted into the top job at the corruption watchdog? Her old friend, Barbara Malimali.
And what did Barbie do? Yep. Shut the whole thing down.
Here’s the formal press release that let the new Minister for Information off the hook, along with a conga line of other government ministers whose cases are now being revisited. Or at least are supposed to be being revisited, though there is precious little evidence of any movement.
Lynda Tabuya undoubtedly thought it was the end of the matter. But neither she nor Barbara Malimali counted on their carefully-crafted pantomime being interrupted by a couple of new cast members who began to rewrite the plot.
Justice David Ashton-Lewis and his Counsel Assisting, Janet Mason, have shone a new spotlight on the precise nature of the relationship between Lynda Tabuya and Rob Semaan and have recommended that “independent senior counsel” go through all the evidence again.
Here’s the reference to the Minister in Chapter Six of the COI Report, which specifically raises the “possibility of a sham divorce”.
There is now no guarantee that the government will act on the COI’s recommendation that Lynda Tabuya’s case be re-examined by senior legal counsel.
Certainly her reappointment as a minister tells us that as far as the Prime Minister is concerned, the case is closed or he wouldn’t have brought her into cabinet and posed with Lynda and Rob so publicly at State House.
But there are the formal courts and there is the court of public opinion. What do you think, Fiji? Was this a “sham divorce” to enable Lynda Tabuya to hide the family fortune? And was Sitiveni Rabuka right to make her the face of the Coalition to Fiji and Fiji to the world when her integrity has been so tarnished across a broad front?
This is not going away and here’s the thing, Lynda. Grubsheet will be making sure of it. Before the last election you asked me to work as your personal PR consultant. Now you accuse me of peddling fake news. But you wouldn’t have approached me if you didn’t think I was any good at what I do. And now I am on your case and will be all the way to election day, whenever that is (see previous story). Whenever you and your political kai vata decide that you can face the people.
Next year or in three years, it doesn’t really matter. There is truth and there is lies. And while you spin the absurd notion that you stand for the truth, you routinely hide behind lies. And those lies will eventually catch up with you.
March 4 2024
August 5 2025
But a cat rapidly using up her nine lives and destined to eventually be caught in the headlights and crushed.
NOTE TO READERS:
For a great many other stories on the background to this saga, just type “Lynda Tabuya” into the Grubsheet search engine on the right.
I think wise women all over Fiji have lost all hope in the government of Fiji.
Even my daughters at high school level are disturbed. Is this the role model they have to look up to?
That is all I can say this morning.
This is below gutter politics.
Those who have lost all hope include “women all over Fiji” except the likes of Shamima, Barbara, Nancy, Tanya, Laisani, Lavi and the list goes on. What an immensely powerful, proud and destructive group?
Any others to add to this group?
MAJORITY voters HAVE lost hope. It’s clearly evident.
A recent Facebook message from the Fiji Women Lawyers Association President, Madonna Fong, is refreshing and reassuring especially in the context of the prevailing political climate. They are focused on advancing the interests of women lawyers and addressing as well the legal issues that women and girls across the country are facing. In other words, neither Suva-centric nor ethnicity-driven.
Remarkably, it also seems that none of the powerful and influential lady lawyers named by Women’s Rights are in FWLA’s executive board. Could a FTWLA be in the making then, to look into various legal issues facing iTaukei women, girls and lady lawyers?
A brilliant idea! Yep, let’s carve up this dwindling groups of volunteers and pit them against each other. That should keep these peskies busy and focused on their own palari business! Leave the big stuff to us, the real warriors. Phew!
C Wilson of Fiji Times. Adding her to the list.
This woman is not mentally stable.
Nor is the President and the PM.
Even God cannot save Fiji now.
Well that’s precisely why she’s been made Minister for Information or rather false information! She has no moral conscience and therefore will lie and hoodwink the people of Fiji with her special brand of charm. That way she is their lead campaigner using govt resources to now go out and do her thing on taxpayers funded campaign!!
Not applying for a seat on PAP was a well played drama by Rabuka and Lynda to subtlety influence other PAP Executives to accept her ministerial appointment as a necessity to keeping her in PAP and her so called votes !
Chemical Ali.
Ours is of desert storm porn.
There is a Ricky Martin song – She bangs.
S Gopal Raju and other Key Board Warriors today printed on FB that former AG is selling his house for 7m, they want to know how he accumulated such wealth – three things, Raju’s mate Lynda and wife Rob have accumulated more wealth than any Minister while in power and yet nobody questions them, secondly, Rambo walks around with his Rolex and nobody questions him and thirdly, it s well known fact in Nadi that Aiyaz has a huge morgage on his property and selling as he can’t afford to pay- it frustrates me that key board warriors don’t do proper research and want to be investigative journalists- learn from this page please.
Raju is a proper limp hijarah with two brain cells remaining from alcohol abuse.
When the crap hits the fan he’ll be chased and beaten up as the rest of any minority for what he fails to see in the mirror- a limp kaindia.
Charming.
Wow..easy champ..but aptly described!!
Just look at the body language of the 3. Rob wants to run out as fast as possible. His foot pointing towards the nearet escape route. But you see Rob will stand by Lynda as long as he gets the government contracts so they can both live a comfortable life either together or apart later. Madam and her old boy sitting like a couple. The feet are always a give away. The others are all looking uncomfortable.
And the cabsl rolls along with no fear and with no consequences. The capture of the Itaukei is complete and they will tow whatever lines are drawn as long as the Kaindia bogey is strategically waved in their faces. Unfortunately this farce and Fiji as a Nation is only pushing the majprity of Itaukei to a permanent ghetto of villages and slums as a vote bank of the dispossessed. Land lies idle and the greedy grab for even more means further cutting off any hope for any kind of productive base for future generations. More frightening is there is no prospect of foreign countries displaying even token concern at events in Fiji including the PAP power grab because of the China bogey. Well…red pants …as Austin Powers says Shall we Shag…..maybe we can all take the cue and make ourselves the porn hub of the Pacific.
There’s nothing beautiful and good about this cheap porn trash masquerading as a Cabinet crackers minister. Including that ugly pair of Dame Edna glasses (wince!)
A minority of 5000 Fijian voters (and falling) out of 800,000+ may disagree, no one gives a vark (Aseri’s swearword in the Viber messages 🙃) Tobo tale tu nodrau Lasaituba, wili kina o British Army, ni dou se boci ga, hahaha!
Rem that crunchy chocolate ad back in the day. “Bubbles of nothing that make up something”, kaila!
A legend only in her drug-fueled mind.
Fiji doesn’t deserve this bunch of clowns!
Let’s watch them fall one by one because a Higher Power sees and knows all that’s been said in secret chats and convos. Rabuka knows this too, se vaevei SLR?!
They will be exposed when they least expect it; and when they least need it to happen.
Boom!
Her friends say that only two of her kids are fathered by her husband? The rest are from various liaisons?
Time for a DNA Test.
No wonder Rob the robber has no friends left!
It seems the children are borne out of different parents.
It paints a sad picture of that relationship.
Damudamu, Boica
Kana peka.
The husband must be the most cuckolded man ever! Gives a new meaning to the song “stand by your man oops woman”.
I won’t be surprised if Lynda gains support with her ongoing claims of being a victim. Fijians especially itaukei women can be gullible and naively support her because she is glamorous and rich.
In Fiji, she is shiny, smells nice and has good clothes…something many women want and so revere her achieving that regardless of how.
Such an understanding husband she has, to get away with all that she’s done whilst married.
Partners in crime I s’ppose, given their US bankruptcy case. Are all 3 kids standing behind them theirs?
Day of reckoning is coming for this bastard Rabuka. E na yaco mai nomu siga ni veilewai rabuka..dro tiko mo na yaco i vei.
The first picture of the scarlet whore Minister, her husband and Rabuka is telling . Her body tilts towards Rabuka and away from her husband ! She is definitely Rabuka’s sex buddy!! And her body language reassures him that she is his (Rabuka’s) no matter what!
GD our country is being led by the most scandalous govt ever in the history of Fiji! Its leaders are corrupt and devious ! They are bold and arrogant about their criminal activities and they don’t care what others think of them . They are fortunately determined to stay in govt !
Anywhere else in the world , you don’t reform scandalous ministers by bringing them back to power within the same term of governance they are disciplined ! But these gang are special !
Lynda is Rob’s defacto partner if she is indeed divorced on paper ! I keep arguing that there is legal recognition of such relationships as partners !! It holds they need to be seen as a legal relationship that requires each declares their assets to SOE!
But alas what can we do!
And No Mandua bi#$%ch
if anyone can get a video of the tryst between rabuka and lynda, it would uncover the biggest scandal on this side of the south pacific. lynda waxing coconut oil on old rambos dessicated nuts….
It cant get anymore sickening.
Fiji needs a peaceful transition to a genuinely democratic government.
This coalition government is full of criminals. The good ones are poor and rely on the corrupt rich politicians to keep getting their ridiculously high fortnightly salaries to feed their good families. Look at how they coyly stand behind the corrupt slut politicians.
All MPs, except Rabuka, Iowane, Naupoto, Biman, by virtue of their former PM, PS and USP Head of School salaries, have never seen a 6-figure salary slip before in their lives prior to becoming MPs in this worst ever Fijian government in our beloved country’s history.
RFMF, come through with clean hands and redeem yourselves by saving Fiji from this corrupt government before we descend into the abyss!
For the first time in my life, I believe this is the only solution.
Fiji needs to reset from a clean slate, let’s do this!
Both men in the photo have eaten the rotten fruit.
Corrupt government.
Dirty politicians.
I would be so embarrassed to be her child. Far out.
I will duck for cover.
Irrespective of whether this woman believes that her personal matters became public knowledge, they did become the knowledge of the public who , now , have very little confidence in her ability to conduct herself in an appropriate manner befitting the role she now fills. She has clearly displayed and engaged in behavior that is totally inappropriate and she should step down immediately and save face of what’s left of her tattered reputation in the public sector. Hopefully the leadership of any party will see to it that she never gets to represent anyone in any capacity in future!