Of all the long line of witnesses at the Tribunal hearing the allegations of misbehaviour against the DPP, Christopher Pryde – from Pryde’s driver to Charan Jeath Singh – the most important came late in the proceedings on Friday in the form of the Permanent Secretary for Finance, Shiri Gounder. Because in testimony that has largely gone under the radar, Gounder gave the lie to the claim earlier in the week by the Acting Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, that the DPP had “stolen” superannuation payments to which he was not entitled.
The PS revealed that Pryde’s superannuation was actually part of his contract, in fact two seven- year contracts he has signed with the state during his tenure as DPP, the first co-signed by the former president, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau, and the second by Ratu Epeli’s successor, Major General Jioji Konrote. Have these heads of state been party to theft? That’s what the Acting Chief Justice is suggesting.
This is part of what Shiri Gounder told the Tribunal – critical evidence in the case reported by Fijilive but ignored by the mainstream media.
So there’s proof that Christopher Pryde’s contract entitled him to superannuation and he was given the choice of whether to have it paid into the FNPF or an overseas fund at his discretion. The Acting Chief Justice must surely have known this in advance of his appearance at the Tribunal. So why did he choose to defame the DPP with the false allegation that he had stolen superannuation payments from the Fijian people to which he wasn’t entitled?
We can only conclude that Salesi Temo has been determined to nail Christopher Pryde at all costs, to the extent of fabricating evidence against him and giving false testimony to the Tribunal that will either recommend to the current President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, that Pryde be dismissed for misbehaviour or reinstated.
Have we really reached the stage in Fiji where the head of the judiciary would appear to have perjured himself while giving evidence in open court? It is either deliberate or Salesi Temo was speaking in ignorance. But could the Acting Chief Justice really be so injudicious as to cast the nation’s chief prosecutor as a thief without calling for the terms of his official contracts signed by two presidents?
The whole thing beggars belief. But it also beggars belief that the rest of the Fijian media has chosen to ignore Shiri Gounder’s testimony, which is obviously critical to the case. Only Fijilive has reported it. And only Fijilive has reported the letter from the Fiji Law Society to the Chair of the Tribunal, Justice Anare Tuilevuka, telling him that the Tribunal couldn’t proceed without Christopher Pryde’s involvement because it violated his constitutional right to fairness.
Fijilive has finally carried the story five days after Grubsheet first reported it but better late than never and it has done its job. Which is more than can be said for the rest of the media, including swaggering “big guns” like Vijay Narayan – the News Director of CFL-Fiji Village – whose decision to largely ignore the Pryde Tribunal is as shocking as the conduct of the Acting Chief Justice.
As for the other “big guns” of the media, the selective and biased coverage given to this story is also shocking. We singled out the Fiji Sun yesterday for being willing to report the Acting Chief Justice’s depiction of Christopher Pryde as a thief but being unwilling to carry the DPP’s response. But with the honourable exception of Fijilive – a small Internet news site – the Fijian media’s overall performance on this story has been woeful.
They continually crow about a “new era of media freedom”. But it is not the freedom to report with more candour and integrity for the benefit of media consumers like you and me. It is the freedom to report selectively based on the bias of their editors and proprietors and the protection of their relationships with the current government.
A betrayal of natural justice in the case of Christoper Pryde and a betrayal of the public’s right to know.
Fijilive is also the first media outlet to report the Fiji Law Society’s letter to the Chair of the Tribunal warning that the treatment of Christopher Pryde is unfair.
The original Law Society letter.
Besides this corrupt government, the biggest let down in the country is the imbecilic media. Feeble Fred Wesley’s editorial comments are enough to put one to sleep. Vain Vijay Narayan is vacuous. His show should be renamed Soft Talk. I don’t see anything Hard about it. Every second person in Fiji is talking about the pathetic state of the Fiji media. Many people I know have stopping buying newspapers and most don’t bother watching news on TV or listening to the radio because it’s a waste of time and money.
I think you meant ‘soft cock’.
Expect a resignation based on personal reasons from the PS Finance. Soon.
Like the many during the FFP regime.
Vijay narayan is going with the flow . Bloody puppet
The racist and incompetent Acting CJ must be sacked immediately and some semblance of respectability restored in the judiciary. Or Fiji will be a confirmed Banana Republic run by monkeys. Real third World stuff happening in Fiji. And proudly so. I mean, who can touch them now!!!
As I said in an earlier post the A/CJ does not understand or want to understand the employment laws of Fiji. The evidence of the PS Finance has confirmed that he does not even know the contract arrangements for Christopher Pryde, a person appointed by the President on the advice of the JSC!
Either he is dumb or a liar, take your pick! The allegation of theft has, by the evidence of the PS Finance, been well and truly debunked and the A/CJ found out!
As for the comment that the PS Finance will resign for personal reasons that may happen. He has, by telling the truth, become a target of the A/CJ and other members of the ethnonationalist cabal who are pursuing the racist agenda of this Government.
Racist President, racist and incompetent Chief Justice, racist Minister of Justice, racist FICAC commissioner, racist Acting DPP. Fiji is doomed, investors will never be attracted to Fiji with all the happenings in the country. It is nearly two years and I wonder what this coalition government has achieved. This is a scandal prone government. Bring back Bainimarama as they were 100 times better than this lot.
Prosecution doing a marvelous job of defending Pryde without his presence, his lawyer or the Fiji Law Society.
We should see Mr Pyde back in his job soon enough, with full restitution and the required purge, for his good health and the nation.
I think we all know what Ian Simpson is suggesting is the right thing to do.
Unfortunately, we also all know it ain’t happening.
These peoples’ head is so up some dark hole they are unable to see what is right and what is wrong.
When pigs fly, Ian, when pigs fly
What the Permanent Secretary for Finance Shiri Gounder said during the Tribunal proceedings is how any high-ranking civil servants should behave.
Unlike Parmesh Chand, PS Civil Service, who is so obvious with his appeasing comments.
He, like the Coalition ministers, gave his observation that Pryde shouldn’t have been talking to former AG yet admitting he didn’t hear what the conversation was all about.
But let’s not forget that Parmesh Chand is a political appointee who got rewarded for supporting PAP as its election candidate. He has always lacked ethics and only survived by appeasing bosses.
I have said enough on the media before—gutless and shameless. They have lost their freedom by being managed by the Coalition government.
For the likes of Vijay Narayan, he only asks questions which pleases the government and not on issues and challenges the Coalition government has failed or on the charges of corruption by the ministers, illegal appointments, high cost of living, poor health services and many more.
Even where there is evidence available, the media has remained silent. Letters from PAP on Lynda’s removal as Deputy Party Leader; from Fiji Law Society; from JSC on Pryde etc, have not been published and commented upon by the so called free Fiji Media.
Thanks, Graham, and social media postings for the fearless coverage that we get to know what’s going on in Fiji.
Shiri Goundar will now be labelled a FijiFirst stooge for stating facts (telling the truth). And people will call for his removal.
That is how people think these days. Anyone who dares tell the truth and go against the current racist mob is a FijiFirst supporter who should be removed.
People are so polarised in their thinking. You either support the current government, if you don’t, you are a FijiFirst stooge. There is no room for people thinking on their own and making their own judgement.
The PS has done the right thing being apolitical which all civil servants should be.
And you are totally correct about Pramesh Chand. This person lacks ethics and will appease anyone to move ahead. I have had the unfortunate experience to work with him in the past.
No different to his namesake Pramesh “Snake in grass” Sharma.
I hope there are more people like Mr. Goundar in the civil service today.
Parmesh Govt Chand never held a real job in his life.
An ars*wipe who habitually feeds from the public trough, and is otherwise unemployable.
It may be difficult to comprehend but truth will prevail. Soon Mr Pryde will be reinstated. By the way, what happened to the tribunal that was supposed to investigate Commissioner for FICAC? Was that piece of news just to calm the public?.
Well it won’t be surprising to see that PS for Finance will be asked to resign or terminated. That’s the Ethics of this government. ‘Speak the truth and you are fired’. When will the PM be interviewed by the media, for this or any other issues?’ I am not aware’….yeah yeah yeah!!!.
Mockery of the Constitutional Rights.!!.
Let’s pray Fiji that Mr Christopher Pryde is reinstated. Kalogata. Vinaka.
How did Temo get his law degree? Has he practised professionally?
What exactly is his background?
If any one here can enlighten us, it would help bring some perspective to his insane conduct!
Blows or punches to the head can potentially damage brain cells. In the sport of boxing.
He has been caught in his own snares.
So we have a PM who has onset dementia- “I haven’t been told, I am not aware of, I have no say, people have no say, I apologise…..”
Now it seems we have a brain damaged person for CJ.
The Acting CJ is definitely not brain damaged. He is openly and deliberately racist and proud. He has an agenda against anything vulagi. His main objective is that the iTaukei are the best to do things, even though they may be third world, with no standards and despot characteristics.
The reality is that nothing vulagi can be gotten rid of, not even God can take vulagis away. This guy is just a piece of sh*t in the overall scheme of things. And he will be shown that very shortly.
If the PS for Finance is wished well jn his future endeavours by his employer (ie made to resign or other methods used to discontinue his employment) there should be a groundswell of protest in his defence.
For stating the facts as it is, no one should be scared or intimidated in carrying out their responsibilities professionally. And a crowd funded campaign to fund the best legal team in Fiji for his defence should the need arise.
The rate at which incompetent people are getting posts and jobs in the coalition government, one has to think what will happen of the civil service in a few years.
The wrecking ball is totally at work to demolish Fiji.
This bloke (Shiri Gounder) hasn’t towed the line and lied. He’s going to lose his job.
He’s also an Indian so get ready for a false accusation to be thrown at him and used to terminate his contract. That role is reserved for a Fijian, regardless of whether he is qualified or not to be there.
Hopefully Shiri has a permanent residency or something for Australia, NZ or the US and can move quickly.
It’s horrifying to think that time, money and processes kicked in way too quickly prior to basic fact checks and key gatekeepers being asked the right questions from the beginning of this saga.
The more we (the taxpayers) wait and watch on, the sequence of events appear to confirm our suspicions from the start that this whole suspension is a political and personal vendetta against anything related to the previous leadership regime. How shallow and amateur can this administration get ?
If the Rabuka Administration wanted the DPP gone they should have clearly just exercised the options in the exit clause of the contract. How hard was that to do ?
No , but I can only assume that they (Rabuka and his appointees) wanted a show or flex of muscles to demonstrate their power and intelligence.
Well fat load of good that has been aye ?
The only thing it has demonstrated and confirmed is that Rabuka’s house (government) is out of order and a house divided amongst itself is destined to collapse.
More so & scariest of all is that the legal arm of government and it’s file and rank look more and more by the day as green eyed monsters (jealous and envious) and it appears they can no longer even keep themselves in check publicly either .
People operate at their highest level of intelligence and if this is the highest display of competence, skill and professionalism that the current government has …. as they say in the itaukei language – CEGU !!! (meaning let’s just rest our case)
The unimaginable is happening
An unchecked government & officials
Neutrality is out
Political loyalty is rewarded openly
Corruption thrives
And as a result Fiji has become a Gangsters paradise !
PS.
A suggestion that maybe regular random drug test should be conducted on officials? Just to ensure everyone is in their right state of minds when carrying out their duties?