It was the former US President, Lyndon Johnson, who coined the celebrated line that “it is always better to have your colleagues inside the tent pissing out than outside the tent pissing in”.
And Biman Prasad seems to have embraced that notion – that instead of a showdown with his own rebellious colleagues in the NFP, it is now better to go along with them in voting for the new draft Constitution and try to make changes along the way than vote it down and lose all influence.
Let’s not pretend that he is doing so as a matter of high principle. As Grubsheet reported in our last article, the NFP leader started the day facing a full-blown rebellion from Pio Tikoduadua and Sashi Kiran, who told him they intended to defy him and vote for the new draft. And he couldn’t be certain that the remaining NFP member, Lenora Qereqeretabua, wouldn’t do the same.
He could have sacked them for disobeying his instruction to vote it down but that would have just left him isolated – the sole NFP MP continuing to insist that the process not be rushed. So in typical style, Biman has given in and is trying to spin his way out of his humiliation.
The word from the NFP camp is that he eventually decided it was better to try to influence events from within. And will use his membership of the parliamentary subcommittee that will examine the draft over the next 30 days and consider changes until the third reading and final vote.
Will he be able to influence the other parties to alter some of the more provocative clauses? We shall see. But he has averted a showdown that would have displayed his impotence to the entire world. And is trying instead to portray it as a strategic withdrawal aimed at making a difference. As I say, we shall see.
The vote is due later tonight. But the second reading of the draft constitution will now definitely be passed.
Yep, better to be in the mix than a footnote to history. He should push for a Senate that is a fair reflection of society as a whole and a selection process for President that considers candidates from all ethnic groups.
Great news!
With the total votes minus NFP being 34, NFP holds the deciding single vote to reject the bill at the 3rd reading.
But is there anything NFP can do to ensure the MPs vote against the bill if the changes the party wants aren’t accommodated? Can it draft a contract or make the MPs sign a document to prevent them for voting for the bill? Apart from physically preventing the MPs from entering the parliamentary chambers to vote, I don’t think so.
I am very disappointed in Shalen and Sachida who got 1000 and 500 votes respectively in 2022. I can understand Bulitavu, Bia, Niudamu, Ravunawa, Naivalurua, Tuinaceva, Tuicolo, Rokomatu and Naupoto joining Rabuka, but what was the motivation for Kumar and Nand to join them?
Cry, My Beloved Fiji
So it has come to pass .
House of Treachery
Kiran U shameless w***e
Cheap woman -wonder how much it took for you to sell your soul?
Rest of the traitors
Wait for your karma
You will never find peace
Die in shame !
Today My nation mourns
The roots are entrenched in greed and evil.
There has recently been a flurry of Biman’s chamchas and supporters here trying to deftly and discreetly paint the Bhadiya and NFP as some kind of heroes. But their gentle and cunning spin doctoring is far from the truth. Fiji is in this position today because traitor Baiman failed to stand up and be heard during crucial moments in the past and exercise his balance of power because he was too cowardly and too greedy. Rabuka saw right through betrayer and knew he was a soft touch and pushover who could be bought because of his greed for power and position.
Now, after losing his position, this piece of shit is trying to play hero. As someone remarked, too late the hero. If this bastard was still DPM and finance minister you can bet your bottom dollar that he’d still be following Rabuka’s orders and singing his praises. Remember how he couldn’t stop repeating ‘I trust Rabuka. NFP trusts Rabuka.’ This monkey face used to shout it from the rooftops at every opportunity. Never trust, forget or forgive him.