The embattled Deputy Prime Minister and MInister for Finance, Biman Pasad, has taken a page out of the playbook of his predecessor, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, in promising that things will be better if only the Fijian people stay the distance and give the Coalition another term or two.
Back in 2018, much of the nation fell about laughing when Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said Fiji could be better than Australia and New Zealand if only the people gave FijiFirst two more terms. Biman Prasad isn’t going that far. But he still makes the claim that when it comes to health, “first class” facilities” will be in place “In the next four to five to seven years”. Which adds up to two more terms at the higher end of this strikingly imprecise timetable if only we stick with the Coalition.
And, of course, it is all Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum’s fault that the health system in such a parlous state, just as Biman Prasad continues to blame his predecessor and FijiFIrst for every single problem the Coalition can’t fix after more than two and a half years in office.
When it comes to health, did Biman Prasad really have to drop another bucket on his predecessor, albeit without naming him, while Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum lies in the Aspen Hospital in Lautoka having suffered a stroke? And in a condition that reduced the MP, Ketan Lal , to tears when he saw him? Common decency seems to have eluded both Biman and the army of ghouls on social media who are kicking the man when he is down.
The NFP leader and the rest of his grisly gang in the Coalition are clearly getting desperate as the clock ticks towards to their day of judgment at the election and so is their principal cheer squad at the Fiji Times. There can be no promises of better times in the here and now, especially when it comes to the health system. But if we are dumb enough to put our trust in them again after their serial betrayals, “first class infrastructure” is coming.
And when will that be, DPM? Oh, er, in the next 4 to 5 to 7 years?
O vinaka sir. On another matter, what’s that object flying above your head?
Of course, while Fijians who stick with the Coalition can look forward to “first class health infrastructure” – just like Australia and NZ – they’ll still be earning a minimum wage of $5 an hour, in stark contrast to anyone fortunate enough to be working in our larger neighbours.
As always, Fiji, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Nothing wrong with dreaming, of course. Just as Aiyaz’s successor, Biman Prasad, also dreams on.
The former AG has been copping a beating on social media even in his current weakened state. But many will join Grubsheet in sending him best wishes as he continues to recover in hospital.
He and Frank Bainimarama at least gave everyone equal rights, plus a level of unity, stability and security in the country that is in sharp contrast to the current rabble.
As a notable workaholic in a nation of precious few workaholics, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum clearly worked himself into his current physical state trying to achieve his vision for the nation. And for that, many fair-minded Fijians are grateful.
But when FijiFirst wanted more terms so that they could remain in government, everyone was saying they wanted change. So why should the coalition have more terms in government than the current one? Won’t people again want change?
I bet if Biman has any health issues he will run overseas. The level of ministers we have in coalition government and level of debt we have and still no government can fix the health system in Fiji. Nothing is gonna happen for next 20 years if these politicians are still around. And for sure for next few elections, no party can make a government alone. It will be a coalition with the same mess.
If Baimaam gets sick he will not run away overseas for treatment.
If Baimàam is sick, he’ll go firewalking.
True to form, Baimaan has begun his pre-election temple/mandir tours, starting in his backyard playground, Vunivau, Labasa – saying firewalking must contniue.
No sh1t Einstein. As if without his saying they’d be no firewalking tradition in Fiji! Something that’s been happening all around Fiji for hundreds of years.
What Baimaan really needs is a big firecracker lit under his pants.
That’ll fix poor health services in Fiji with a big bang! Why wait 4–7 years.
Our prayers are with the former AG. He commands more respect than the Dishonourable Biman and without a doubt has achieved more for Fiji than this sorry excuse of a finance minister. Speaking with the benefit of hindsight, Fijifirst did deserve another term.
Your prayers. Not mine, nor of many others in Fiji who believe in Karma.
What goes around, comes around.
The piggery in Naboro is waiting to be cleaned by someone in an orange jump suit.
I guess you’re one of those “Sunday best” Christians. The “love me and my kai vata”, not one another, as Jesus implored.
What a nasty place Fiji is behind the “bula smiles” and bullshit piety. Children raped, wives beaten, neighbours robbed, the sick vilified, the weak downtrodden.
Where are the lions when we need them?
Since you were one of those children, I understand that you are speaking from a place of hurt and blame. I pray that you will find peace.
Sashi Kiran said in the parliament last week – quoting UNICEF figures – that five in six children in Fiji are abused, including sexual abuse.
It has essentially become a rite of passage. So I’m nothing special. It is the nation that needs your prayers because of the chasm between its chronic self-righteousness and its dirty little secrets.
We forget that expecting or hoping for compassion from @Anonymous says
July 21, 2025, at 9:02am is futile.
History tells us that less than 100 years ago, the natives buried their loved ones ALIVE.
That’s right, if when a parent/sibling/spouse and relatives got sick and were dying, it was easier to”strike preemptively” and bury the no longer useful family member.
We will leave for another day the act of sacrificing of humans alive rammed into the ground of holes dug for “bure kalou” posts.
Compassion is not a part of certain people’s history.
A dog eat dog world indeed.
If you are white, your ancestors were doing this not so very long ago also. If you are Indian, look up sutti and various caste-based cruelties. This has nothing to do with contemporary politics and is a universal in human history, with variations.
No problem criticising cultural norms or contemporary politics, but try and avoid making it about the culture of the ancestors: we are all in glass houses there.
If you ask any random person on the streets about ASK, they all will give a mixed feedback. Some hate and despise him to the bone whereas some are very loyal supporters. Then there are some people who see things more objectively. They see a visionary person who thought outside the box and made some critical decisions very few politicians would dare think about. Regardless of his shortfalls, if we put aside his alleged ‘wrong-doings’, ASK made a greater positive impact on Fiji compared to perhaps the whole coalition combined.
Pull your head out of your arse and smell the roses bro. You sound like the idol-worshipper Ketan Baku Lal, MP
What’s your mosi anonymous? Whether Ketan Lal worships an idol or ASK at least he worships something and has the moral decency to have compassion towards the sick. Does he require your permission? No. Go be racist under baku’s sulu ..
While the likes of Pramesh Sharma, Shailendra Raju and other Facebook warriors have taken to social media and wished ill of ASK, it’s good to see fair minded critics like Grubsheet, Nirmal Singh and Rajendra Chaudhary wish ASK well.-
Humanity needs to prevail and unfortunately, the likes of Pramesh Sharma and others think that the end won’t come to them. Rather sad to hear about ASK in this condition. After all, like most of us, he is a father, son, brother, husband and most importantly, a fellow human being.
Where was humanity when ASK and Frank weaponised the law and jailed those who disagreed with them?
What sort of person is Bill Gavoka? His daughter’s husband, his grandchildren’s father and his son in law is dying and he pretends nothing affects him.
I guess it’s a dog eat dog world in Fiji. You will be judged, Bill.
In Australia and NZ, when we hear someone is going through a period of poor health, we show compassion. In Fiji, if that person is someone we dislike, we talk bad about them & secretly wish they were dead. It’s incredible, what a stalk difference. Are we really filled with so much hate!?
FijiFirst was in power for 16 years, the health system went from bad to worse. But, many other world class private health care started to establish. Where would a common man go if he is sick in Fiji, definitely cant afford to go to Singapore? There are hospitals in Fiji, who can treat ASK, if indeed he is sick.
ASK is an extremely shrewd and cunning person who is faking his medical condition just to avoid his trials. It also appears that his lawyers are also not giving ASK proper legal advise or appears to be delaying trials by milking money from him.
The best way out is to fight out the case no matters what is the outcome. Court by court challenge the matter and go right to Supreme court if there is an adverse findings in any of the matters that is before the court.
Running and delaying cases will not exonerate him. As simple as that.
You are a disgrace. You can’t fake a stroke, you idiot. The doctors have provided the court with the necessary evidence and that is the end of it. And you could at least have the decency to keep your mouth shut.
As for ASK’s lawyers “milking money” from him, Devanesh Sharma and Fatima Gul are two of the most outstandingly professional and honest lawyers in Fiji. Certainly streets ahead of the supposed pillars of rectitude in the profession who have been in the news recently.
The manner in which the corrupt Salesi Temo has seized the Khaiyum case for himself tells us that this is indeed a kangaroo court in which the sole objective is to put the former AG behind bars. So pardon the rest of us for not having the confidence you have that justice will be served.
With Temo as Chief Justice and Nancy Tikoisuva and John Rabuku at the ODPP – and with Christopher Pryde still sidelined – the entire criminal justice system has been corrupted by Sitiveni Rabuka and the rest of these goons.
And what is happening with the Supreme Court Commission of Inquiry? Total silence, including from the pussycats and masi polo in the mainstream media.
“Devanesh Sharma and Fatima Gul are two of the most outstandingly professional and honest lawyers in Fiji. ”
REALLY!
Well can you please show me where they have been found guilty of professional misconduct by the Independent Legal Services Commission, like the Deputy DPP, John Rabuku, or Coalition frontbencher Filimoni Vosarogo. Or perhaps I am missing something.
I think this Kumar guy is used to people in the judiciary with a record and history of being idiots and with fiddling their trust accounts. These are essential elements nowadays to be appointed to the judiciary and being a lawyer. So when he sees someone with a clean slate they start asking questions – simply because that is not normal. I can see where this idiot is coming from.
Just ask them how honest they were in last 16 years.
Dominant lawyers who were associated with last government and now they are fighting for them in court.
We are not blind GD
How does that establish wrongdoing?
Wonder what “take a break” is smoking or has he personally examined ASK to check if he really has suffered a stroke. The hate from some of these is nauseating to say the least.
You’re right, GD. The masi polos won’t say anything. Their mouths are stuffed with the balls of their racist saviours.
You do not have to go far. Just ask the residents of Ba about their experience at Aspen Hospital in Ba. The answer is there. Residents choose to spend a little bit more and visit the private medical facility.
The government is full of lies and false promises.
Biman needs good hiding.
I reckon it is possible because they have already achieved so much in the last two years and a bit. The country is booming, iTaukei are in charge, foreign investors are lining up (there seems to be a hold up at the entry gates though), things are so good that we have to import foreign workers. Most importantly the judiciary is full of Fiji’s best and brightest, who are all iTaukei as it should be which gives everyone a great deal of confidence. So Baimaan knows what he is talking about. He can see the light at the end of the tunnel , 7 years away.
What DPM Biman is saying is possible. However, he needs to tell us where the money is coming from to meet the cost of this capital expenditure.
With government currently borrowing to cover its operational costs, any additional borrowing to meet the proposed improvements in the health sector means additional major borrowings. This, we know, is not sustainable.
Maybe they have found a new major income earner for Fiji. But haven’t told us yet.
Didn’t you hear what Manoa “I’ll get you off the hook at FICAC” Kamikamica said?
There are 195 new projects in the pipeline with an estimated value of $5-billion. It’s just that he didn’t name any.
Which means that the last line of your comment is at least true. “They haven’t told us yet”.
ASK’s budget was aimed at infrastructure development to maximise revenue to manage debt, Biman’s strategy is to take out more loans to repay loans.
The Law Society should have stepped up to support Khaiyum when he was denied bail to travel overseas for his medical treatment. But what do you expect in a corrupted legal system?
The Law Society is not a charitable institution. Khai’s medical condition is none of their business.
Another lie by the failed Minister for Finance.
The amount of money allocated to capital expenditure while he has been Minister has decreased and, in this budget, by $272.7343 Million! Including the allocation to the Ministry of Health & Medical Services!
You cannot improve health services and outcomes by reducing capital expenditure!
Nor will they improve as staff leave to find better jobs in countries where their worth is rewarded and NOT determined by their ethnicity or who they are related to!
Any improvements in Hospitals and Health Facilites in this government’s term were started by the previous Government or paid for by donor Governments.
Biman is good at talking, but talk is cheap! And the Government issue press release after press release but nothing is improving or getting done.
Isa Viti….where happiness comes au naturale…naturally along with sick racism, blatant corruption, web- spinning lies from politicians led by Rambu, Baimananu, Vosarogu Kamikamicu, and other milking succubus from the judiciary and money-grabbing whores Barbu, Waqaniku, Tabuyu and Na Ohes from DPP. What a shit load of dickheads that were voted in for the promised land of all things right.
The Junior Deputy PM is talking from his arse. Just as he fooled the public in opposition to get votes, he’s trying to fool them again with another election around the corner.
But once bitten twice shy. The public will not fall for this lying bastard again. He is indeed the worst finance minister in Fiji’s history, plus a traitor and a sellout. That’s his legacy.
We have some world renowned “cloud” architects. Building castles in the sky.
Biman is the new Khaiyum. Charlie still can’t bake white long Loaf for Fijians. Both are shit.
Baimaan has allocated some $270 million to WAF in this budget. Fiji needs billions ($8 billion I read somewhere) to improve the water infrastructure. So after we get the hospitals right in the next 7 years, we can then start on the water supply. There is a plan, the guy is doing a great job. Just ask him and the government. I am not sure whether the hundreds of millions in donations from Australia as direct budget support almost every couple of months to prop up the budget is mentioned anywhere in the budget.
But this guy is the best Finance Minister Fiji has had, just like the best Chief Justice, and President, and Prime Minister, and 3 deputy PMs and …..the list goes on.
Some time back the patients had to go outside the Navua Hospital to poop and pee. Some may have gone into the bushes. That’s what Bee-man has to work on, first of all.