There is nothing “confidential” in Fiji, least of all the confidential letter from the Elections Office to FijiFirst demanding that it change its constitution within a month to allow the parliamentary leader to participate in leadership committee meetings.
Nothing has been said by the ousted 17 FijiFirst MPs about the FijiFirst Constitution not allowing this since the head of FijiFirst, Frank Bainimarama, stood aside as parliamentary leader after the last election. But now they suddenly see it as a way to prevent them from being expelled, though it will only delay their demise, not prevent it. Because even if this action results in Inia Seruiratu getting a say in whether or not he and his colleagues should lose their jobs, he is still going to be outgunned in the leadership committee meetings controlled by Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.
Grubsheet – who was present at the birth of FijiFirst but studiously kept away from party matters – has never understood why the ousted prime minister and attorney general ever allowed Mosese Bulitavu into the party before the last election. He is a ratbag who had a record with SODELPA of extreme nationalism and giving him a berth before the last election was a clear attempt to tap into his support and damage the nationalist cause.
Now he is proving to be the “snake” he always was – making it clear that the rebellion of the 17 to try to avert their executions isn’t aimed at Frank Bainimarama but Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. It is a naked attempt to play the race card – as in “we have nothing against our iTaukei leader but the manipulative Indo-Fijian who controls him” – but it isn’t going to work. Why? Let me explain.
Even when the Military Council turned on Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum after the 2018 election because of FijiFirst’s relatively poor performance, Frank Bainimarama stuck with Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. Grubsheet also happened to burn because I was delegated by persons whose names shall remain confidential to tell the PM that he needed to reduce the then AG’s power. Bainimarama agreed to do so but then changed his mind. Then he told Khaiyum and I was toast.
The point is that if the Military Council couldn’t drive a wedge between Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Mosese Bulitavu has a snowflake’s chance in hell of doing so. The Elections Office might oblige the FijiFirst leadership to give Inia Seruiratu a seat at the table but he will be outvoted. And as we have reported in recent days, both the FijiFirst Constitution and the 2013 Constitution provide the rebels with zero hope.
They defied an instruction from the party leadership and all it takes is for the party leadership to tell the Speaker of the Parliament that the instruction was defied and he has no choice whatsoever but to accede to the demand. He may be stalling for the moment but that’s the LAW.
The gang of 17 are desperate and it is written all over Inia Seruiratu’s face.
And after all of that, some light relief. A movie script capable of beating even “The Adventures of the Queen of Tarts in Wonderland”.
Seruiratu, Bulitavu and the others who voted for this disgusting pay rise don’t deserve a place with Fijifirst. They have betrayed us supporters by putting their greed above the interests of the nation. Their positions are indefensible and we are fully behind the Party president, acting GS and Aiyaz on this particular issue.
Seruiratu needs to have some principles and values. It was clear how Rabuka and the Coalition has been exploiting his weak leadership. He was part of the recent Coalition delegations, headed by the Speaker to Canberra, Singapore and Geneva. He was part of one of the largest Fijian contingents to the climate change meeting in Dubai and Dubai 7s. Rabuka somehow bestowed on him the climate change champion role after the long hiatus from 2018 when he was pictured trying to ride a bicycle in Bonn! All these to appease the guy and it was obvious, from his spineless responses in Parliament, that he is no threat to the Coalition. It is amazing how cheaply such people can be bought off. Now his actions (or inactions) have come back to haunt him.
At least he has not shown himself to be an ethno-nationalist thus far like Bulitavu, Peter Wise and Rabuka’s other advisers who feel that the i-taukei supremacy agenda is now the way forward to finish the unfinished business of 1987.
Interesting to see that the Speaker who received a mighty increase in his salary too, hasn’t declared the seats of the 17 MPs vacant. He doesn’t have a say. He simply needs to receive a written notification signed by the Leader and Secretary of the Party stating that the MPs defied party instructions. That’s it. Vacancy of seats is automatic the moment this letter is received by the Speaker’s Office. The 17 claiming they’ve been terminated is wrong. They’ve vacated their own seats by defying party instructions. The constant references to ASK and Koya by the 17 is a farce. They know that Bainimarama doesn’t take disloyalty lying down. He signed the letter. He wants them out of Parliament. Time for the belligerent lot to face the truth and go home.
How come Bai signs letter in prison
Does FFP have a office in prison ?
I am confused on this one
Interesting point
Wouldn’t it be a clear conflict of interest if Inia Seruiratu is to sit on the Leadership Committee to make decision on the sacked MP’s including him?
Which Law firm will take up their case?
Not sure if Goolly and Dave will,as the they have also been loyal to the 2 men.
GD, you mentioned,
“” They defied an instruction from the party leadership… “”
Are you telling us that the orders were already relayed to the rebels to vote NO on the controversial pay rise motion ?
When was this directive given and what on earth compelled them to commit political suicide by defying instructions.
Now members of FFP has directly pointed fingers at this person for the chaos he has created within
the party and suspension of parliamentarians
The same person who has been accused of bombing in Suva
The same person who had control over Bainimarama for 16 years
The same person who had control over military and police
The same person who had control over all sectors of Fijiian economy
The same person who oppressed citizens
This person has caliber to do unexpected things and very dangerous
Fiji needs to be careful of this person
Guess who is this man?
The gang of 17 now now have the guts to stand up and speak to power but only when their position as an MP is under threat.
Where were they when Aiyaz ruled with an iron fist and brought in all the questionable laws, where were their moral and basic human dignity then.
I gave no sympathy for these bastards. They deserve what they get.
All were lame lamu of one man
Even almost all Fijians too
He was so powerful
Probably Saddam of Fiji you may call him
Would you stand up to a person who has loaded guns and a dozen body guards
Only in Fiji and in Middle east
Graham
Funding of the Fiji First Party is replenished by the Fiji Muslim community living in Sydney and Auckland I suspect without any proof. So why should people complain if Aiyaz Khaiyum has a disproportionate say? Fiji has a banana republic but without the weaker dollar often seen in other developing economies like Thailand.
Yes, I agree with you Fiji needed a change of leadership for democracy’s sake. Yes, Khaiyum has control. But so does other parties and their internal dynamics: the FLP has Chaudhary, Alliance Mara..
Plus Fiji First left most institutions in good order after it left offce, bar the CWM hospital (which was never prepared to handle the pandemic). Khaiyum and Bainimarama tried to turn Fiji into a mini Singapore but when you are stuck with a Fijian workforce far too interested in completing their washdown after a night of grog drinking (and then taking a sickie next day), it was never going to work.
Singapore is Singapore. Fiji can only dream.
Was money inappropriately used under Khaiyam. Including nepotism with many muzzie hangers on hired. Were all of them corrupt. Well no. Was some of them corrupt were corrupt. Does this deserve scrutiny? Absolutely.
But stil, I find it incredible that when Indo Fijians exercise power, it is viewed as a threat? Would viewers here prefer that we Indians simply serve tea, bhajiyas, and say yes sir, no sir?
Or that Khaiyum and all his muslim appointees simply behave and act out the typical stereotypes so commonly attributed to “lebos here in Sydney”?
Had Fiji placed time limits for politicians serving parliament, it would have induced much needed renewal. But we both know, when there is kere kere opportunities at the tax payers expense, it makes no difference what the religion or race: Itaukeis, curry munchers, and the towel heads all love to party when there is free grog and chaser at some one else’s house.
Especially us Indians and the itaukei. Our habitual custom of getting a free chow at someone else’s expense is extraordinary. If GDP was measured this form of activity, Fiji would surpass even Singapore.
I pity the average tax payer. And I pity Fiji. No stopping this race to the bottom.
Brilliantly put.