Graham Leung is the latest head to roll as the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, begins to conduct a purge of the government and institutions of state in the wake of the Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry.
It is something of a surprise because none of Grubsheet’s sources flagged Leung’s departure in advance. So why has he gone after the suspension of Barbara Malimali as FICAC Commissioner? One report has it that the axe fell on Leung after he told the President that he didn’t have the power to suspend Malimali. But undoubtedly the facts will soon become clear.
Fiji’s “day of the long knives” has begun in spectacular fashion. And if the celebrated coconut radio is right, there is a lot more blood to be spilt in the coming days.
———–
UPDATE:
Just as sensationally, the RFMF Commander, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, has broken many months of silence on political matters to urge the government to release the Ashton-Lewis Report. (Grubsheet now understands it will do so in the coming week).
The manner in which this news has broken is controversial in itself. The RFMF Commander is reported to have made his views known in a letter to the Defence Minister, Pio Tikoduadua, which is supposedly meant to have been confidential. But Tikodudua has evidently taken it upon himself to make the details public and it is front page news in today’s Fiji Times.
So why would the Defence Minister release a supposedly confidential letter from the RFMF Commander? Was it to deliberately embarrass Major General Kalouniwai for “interfering” in the political process or was it done with the Commander’s concurrence to send a strong message to Sitiveni Rabuka?
Either way, it has not gone down well in certain quarters.
Well, the Armageddon started now. Or is it just a red herring afloat.
He will be back to further botch up Ratu David’s good legal firm.
But good riddance of an unprofessional legal receptionist from power.
Good riddance. Ineffective and weak.
GD I was wondering why the hell the military has been so silent on these saga all this time
But apparently it appears they have been professional in their approach
They waited for the COI to be completed and then ensure that the government not only release the finding but act on it as its now happening
Back to what Tarakinikini said in that prayer breakfast at the Suva Holiday Inn in January 2001 ” the message and the rort happening in Fiji then did not just start on May 19 2000,it started way back on 14 may 1987 ”
Yadra mai Viti
Rabuka has the numbers in Parliament without the NFP vote. As well as SODELPA. Rabuka wants to project his “statesman” image and get ready for 2026.
All of this is a convenient ruse.
I’m not impressed with him or his whole lot.
Unsurprising given his conduct and advice to date. He came with much promise and proved to be not to the standards expected!
Who will replace him?
Perhaps Richard (I have the means) Naidu? His performance in the economic area has been less than spectacular!
I don’t see any in the current Government or for that matter in the legal profession mentioned or tainted by the current COI or previous activities. So we shall see who is appointed!
Lee James Burney -AG
Boot out santa Clause.
Boot out the drunk CR.
Boot out drunk corrections idiot.
Boot out the useless SG.
The country badly needs to reset sails again. We need expatriates to right the ship.
Our gene pool is too small and incestuous. Sa rauta Mada na kilavata.
Let Christopher Pryde back to restore the ODPP. Let CP clean out the corrupt, drunk, dancing, and crooning cabal. We’ve had enough.
Light a fire under the police commissioner’s chair-no more excuses from him!
No transport, my ass. Give police 20 bicycles. Ten bicycles will be stolen by the police. The remaining ten should keep them healthy too.
Arrest Baimaan for repeated questioning in Toorak as we saw with ASK for no real reason.
Richard was offered the position of Attorney General by Rabuka before anyone but he declined on the basis of his (then) ongoing court case. Maybe all the missteps by Government could have been avoided (most probably) with him at the helm.
Nonsense. His action as Chair of the Fiscal Review Committee to recommend a seven year tax holiday for his billionaire clients at Fiji Water is a permanent stain on his reputation and he is politically toast.
Just imagine, Dick Naidu was run out of the country by Rabuka in 1987 and now he wants to appoint him A-G. Everything is rather twisted in Fiji. But not many people seem to realise. (EDS NOTE: Last sentence redacted to remove obscenity)
This is what happens when you engage people who have experience in “powerhouse” Pacific countries like Nauru, Kiribati, Tuvalu and Niue.
Send all these people back to these countries and make them stay there, bloody incompetent crooks and shysters. No professionalism, no integrity and no idea.
To be fair those power house tiny Pacific nations were trying to do good. And these are all aid funded positions so the best are not sought.
Power house countries they are too for their votes count same as all other countries in the UN. Depending on which super powers are able to bribe the more.
They did not count on these fockkers from Fiji to ruin things for them though. Now these little countries have been chastised to know that these Fijian ‘lawyers’ are merely drunk sexual deviants.
Don’t be surprised if we see them pop back up into prominent roles in regional bodies and international agencies. Such agencies employ as many cast offs as possible to do nothing.
Most likely Vosarogo gets the AG post and Lynda gets a ministerial post in the the government again. There might be some shuffling around.
If Lynda Tabuya gets a cabinet position, it will haunt the PAP all the way to election day. I, for one, will make sure of it.
There is also the question of her own false declaration to the Elections Office claiming to be divorced when she is very much married.
Richard Naidu is seriously overrated as a lawyer and totally unfit for AG. There are many examples of his stupidity and arrogance including stupid and empty threat to sue GD. Even a first year law student would know that it was no case to answer. Maybe he was trying to intimidate GD which is equally dumb. GD is a seasoned journalist who knows the law and no chance of being scared off by limp dick threats. Richard’s portrayal as ethical and a paragon of good governance also proved to be lies. He’s as self serving a bastard as his buddy Biman. They both fooled voters. Hopefully their day of reckoning has arrived.
Almost a Bastille Day in a Fijian context, on Ratu Sukuna Day.
Where the clean up or apparent clean up is apparently due to the letters of angry men in green khaki uniforms! Do you hear the people sing, singing the song of angry men. Or the leader listened to the angry voices once the voices of the people started typing on the keyboard.
Graham is keeping his tradition alive – he doesn’t last long wherever he takes up such high profile positions.
An incompetent dimwit- all noise but no substance and showed how corrupt he was whilst in office. Favored his friends and selective in his legal opnions. National interests always came last.
Good riddance. Can’t wait for Biman, Siromi, Ropate, Temo, Bainivalu, Richard, Wylie and others to be charged.
Lets just hope the replacement this time is someone credible and a person of integrity.
Still too early to say whether this cleanup is genuine or a move by Rabuka to put his own people in strategic positions.
Good riddance.
Is Graham Leung escapegoat for Chief Justice Temo? Is PM deflecting the scenario by suspending Graham? The COI report recommended Justice Temo to be suspended, he is the most hopeless person for this position.Temo is neither fair nor honest.
Looks like the term “In Confidence” is not completely understood and/or followed and is meaningless. Even at Ministerial level.
Breaking news!!!
Aiyaaz has been approached for new AG.
Watch the space and stay turned .
This is Fiji,anything is possible.
The Coalition had commanded significant public support against previous regime who were seen to have lost their 16 years grip with greed, persecution, self interest and dictitorial approach – largely perpetuated by former AG Sayed-Khaiyum behind the scene. Now, the COI report (while waiting for its public release) appears to be providing that Coalition (in just over 2 years) has broken the 16 year record by doing the same – although not all in Coalition may has been part of it directly.
Honourable Biman Prasad (DPM) should now stop blaming the previous Government for everything (except, of course where it is true) as he is also implicated in the COI Report. Malimali should have stayed away as it is clear she was just parachuted in to protect certain senior figures in Coalition – and now although she may feel betrayed, she will have to clear her name.
Leung, who was initially praised in some quarters for his appointment, was ultimately proven to be ineffective as a number of his legal advice to the PM was questionable as this was also properly pointed out by former AG on at least 2 occasions in his FB post (first advice was process for Constitution Review; and the second advice that former PM can’t stand in next election despite the appeal is in process).
Left field but how about Lee Burney as AG. Consumate professional that understands the written law without local interpretation and beyond political influence. It would restore faith in the system.
Good idea. He had a great working relationship with Christopher Pryde at the ODPP and they would work well together, assuming Chris Pryde is allowed to return to Gunu House without being charged by FICAC on the trumped up charges of which he has already been cleared by three High Court judges.
Rabuka has realized that he will not be returning as the PM in 2026 if he does not release the report and action the recommendations by the COI.
Its quite apparent this is a case of kill or be killed; Rabuka not intending to go back to collecting plastic bottles, realises that the culling of the herd is a necessary evil.
With Leung having been turfed and shot out of a canon from his office, he is probably beginning to realise that having platonic or bromance relationships with snakes such as Rabuka always leaves someone with a sore bum. That being said, the CJ’s grumpy appearance has no doubt been replaced by someone who has caught a nasty bought of gastro, as the Sword of Damocles comes down on him in the future.
Madam Waqana eek a must be quivering in her booties. Return the taxpayers money you twit.
Based on appointments over the last two years, the next A-G must have the following qualifications and experience:
1. Must have a record or scandal of some sort in the past
2. Must have served in a ‘powerhouse’ country such as Niue, Tuvalu, Kiribati or the Cook Islands
3. Must be iTaukei
4. Must be arrogant and full of prejudice
5. Most importantly , he/she must be an idiot.
I forgot to mention, he/she must have fiddled their Trust Account. That is a must as well.
Haha! You left out the most important quality. Trust abuse and adultery. We have a stellar bunch of eminently qualified AGs!
Even before Graham was sacked – the axe shoukd have started with the incompetent Salesi Temo!! He is the enabler of all that occurred !!
Now Rabuka you are also to be blamed along with your PAP cronies for your cunning conniving is coming home to roost!!
Vinaka Kalouniwai! Now you look like a man! I thought you were being a sissy !
As for Naiqama- you also need to retire ! Both you and Rabuka. Sa dou boidada mai! Yuck !
It’s simple.
JSC is not consulted because they are next to go. Run Wylie while you can. Take your cowards from the DPPs office with you.
What a f**ked up mess you all have made Fiji since Rabuka’s leadership.
Tbh, this is all on Rabuka and the President.
The fish rots from the head.
Time for snap elections anyone?
Who was consulted when Malimali was appointed.
Now just remember that Vosarogo and Graham L were her referees!
Va ya na corruption.
Now that Malimali has been referred to Police- they also need to haul in her lawyer Tanya Waqanika that big mouth kocokoco who was trying to manipulate all appointments to Boards and CEO’s through Manoa Kamikamica along with her sidekick Emele Duituturaga Jale!! How Barbra got FICAC to pay for her legal fees to Tanya’s firm even though she was being investigated for her recruitment, which is a personal matter that should be separated from FICAC!!
Tanya should have known she can’t bill Barbara for that period of investigation yet she did and got lots of money for it !! Collusion kecega ! Every dog has its day !!
Fiji Village News has stated three times in one single article today that COI has not provided any “legal proof”. How can fijivillage news make such baseless statements when the COI Report has not even been publicly released? Also, COI report was prepared by a learned judge and not a biased and propaganda media outlet like CFL. Can CFL, Vijay Narayan, Night time Sunglass Satya Nand and team at Waimanu Road care to explain? Has the government grant compromised your media ethics in being independent?
Yes.
After 16 years of tyranny, people of Fiji had so much hopes and dreams for a new government.
Christians were praying and fasting.
Discussion around grog sessions every night.
Civil servants and all had high hopes.
Signs were there that a change was coming.
After 2 and half years, this is what the change was about.
Fundamental and basic things this government can’t get right.
They cannot differentiate between, right and wrong or chalk and cheese.
Their priorities is something else rather than looking after unfortunate and struggling people.
People who have put them in power have been betrayed, big time.
This will continue and for how long is anyone’s guess.
Fiji’s political history shows unless and until it gets to breaking point, change is not going to happen or unless the useless comes with guns.
People of Fiji deserve better than this .