In December 2021 – a full year before the election he eventually won and when we were still on cordial terms – Grubsheet sent Sitiveni Rabuka a list of suggestions on which to campaign and close to the top of that list was to concentrate on service delivery.
I’m sure I wasn’t alone but here’s an extract from that email:
“I think you can capture the public imagination with policies that don’t involve huge outlays and appeal to basic common sense. There is a big positive in a “back to basics” campaign that focusses on jobs, infrastructure (roads, power, water), health, education, law and order and environmental protection. FijiFirst is vulnerable on all of these and can’t even keep the power and water on in Suva.
Back to Basics – Your job. Your health. Your child’s education. Your security. Your surroundings. Your access to proper roads, power and water. No more big talk. A People’s Alliance for genuine action”.
Well so much for that. Four years later, all the Coalition does is talk. It is chronically unable to deliver improvements in service delivery. It can’t get basic supplies into the nation’s hospitals, it can’t pay teachers, the nation’s infrastructure is steadily crumbling, its governance is chaotic and dysfunctional, the institutions of state have been degraded, its ranks are riddled with scandal and the Prime Minister is sporting a $150,000 plus gold Rolex and refuses to say where it comes from.
But it is very good at blah, blah, blah – commissions for this, commissions for that, public hearings on this and that and endless bouts of finger pointing in which all the nation’s ills are the fault of its predecessors.
We don’t know what the public really thinks about it all because there has been no public opinion polling since the Fiji Times announced the return of its Tebbutt poll in a blaze of post-election publicity and then it vanished. But we’re getting a pretty fair idea from the simple fact that the Fijian people appear to have simply switched off.
The papers are full of expensive ads announcing public consultations but very few people are turning up – so much so that it has prompted an extraordinary display of hand-wringing from Daniel Fatiaki, the Chair of the Electoral Reform Commission.
————
Could it be that the Fijian people think the electoral system is just fine as it is? Or have they simply tuned out? Or is it a combination of both?
Either way, the fact that they have turned their backs on the blah, blah, blah spells disaster for the Coalition. So much so, that senior figures like Biman Prasad are currently reduced to lashing out in frustration – the political version of kicking the cat.
“The opposition doesn’t know whether it is coming or going?” Seriously? Now there’s a kettle calling the pot black.
It’s the Coalition government that has lost its way and the Fijian people have simply stopped listening.
See that last bit about the need to be more people-centred? This is a government that is entirely centred on itself – whether it is massive pay rises for MPs or an obsession with its own agenda. Change the Constitution. Change the electoral laws. Change this, change that. And about as far away from the needs and priorities of the Fijian people as it is possible to be.
The Coalition long ago lost the plot. It’s failure to curb the blah, blah, blah and get back to basics is going to haunt it all the way to polling day. And in the case of Biman Prasad, the dead man walking of the moment is going to burn fiercely on top of a special funeral pyre built just for him.
It’s not as if they weren’t warned. But this is a government with a tin ear that is totally out of touch.
It now has just months to turn things around yet having wasted the last three years gazing at its navel (or Lynda’s extremities), does anyone seriously expect it to change?
POSTSCRIPT:
Some free advice for that nice Mr Fatiaki. Shut up and just get on with it.
Oh, and as our best teachers leave the country in droves for better paid positions overseas, is it too much to ask that those who are left behind to instruct our children get paid at all?
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/business/tariffs-no-problems-acting-pm/
https://www.fijivillage.com/news/No-major-short-term-economic-fallout-from-US-tariff–Prof-Prasad-8x5r4f/
Biman with contradicting interviews. This guy has no clue on how to run an economy. No wonder he rebranded it to Ministry of Finance.
Does this mean that Graham actually supported Sitiveni before the 2022 election?
Yes, I supported the Coalition including the People’s Alliance until the Liliana Warid comments about vulagi, which Rabuka refused to repudiate. On that basis, I withdrew my support for the PAP.
Then I supported the NFP believing that they would keep the bastards honest and urged people to vote for Biman and his team. But they have betrayed that trust and I have campaigned against the Coalition ever since.
In fact, I now wish that I had supported Frank and Aiyaz. Like many Fijians, I had tired of their arrogance and thought they deserved a period in opposition. But they were streets ahead of this lot.
Rabuka promised us all that he had learnt the lessons of 1987 and would govern for all Fijians. It was on the basis of his public apology for 1987 that I supported the Coalition. But he lied. And both he and Biman Prasad have betrayed the Fijian people with their lies, cronyism, corruption and gross incompetence.
They are worse than FijiFirst. Much worse.
I concur GD they were significantly ahead in certain aspects. However, I find it paradoxical that current shortcomings are frequently attributed to their failure without clear, specific articulation of their missteps.
Regardless of the infrastructure conditions during the old gang’s tenure, it must be acknowledged that services were consistently delivered. I do not recall medicine shortages being as prevalent then as they are today. Road conditions, while not perfect, were not as deteriorated as they were a few months ago—though improvements are now evident.
Additionally, I cannot recollect instances of salaries being delayed or contributions going unpaid during that period.
Some might label me as their supporter; however, my stance is rooted in a preference for stability and progress. To those who disagree, I would invite them to identify any single, tangible improvement to the livelihoods of ordinary citizens achieved in recent years.
So who will you support in the 2026 election?
Not them. 🙂
Absolutely correct GD.
Rabuka blatantly misled and turned out to be wolf in sheep’s clothing. Moreover, he has proven to be an embarrassment for Fiji with his inconsistencies, lack of principles and with no acumen for diplomacy or leadership.
Biman Prasad has lied and deceived so many of his close confidents and supporters, especially in the IndoFijian community, from his time in opposition, that I do not know how he can face people with a straight face. Maybe he, like Rabuka, has not only developed a thick skin but also a thick skull, bereft of any ideas, skills or vision.
They are the most dangerous type of snakes and, if anything, have made the Fijians learn huge lessons following their gamble to trust these buffoons merely to get rid of the BaiKai regime.
@2026 elections and before that the municipality elections cannot come soon enough.
In preparation for the next elections, we all need to lobby for a government that does not have the current incompetent clowns.
I’d love to see the return ot Frank and Aiyaz.
Let’s be honest with ourselves, despite their shortfalls, they were miles ahead in running the country and ensuring peace, safety, and most importantly Unity.
I dont see anyone else of their calibre.
Best to go with the devil you know.
Return of Khaiyum and Frank???
You must be joking.
They set about marginalizing taukei interests.
Why should the taukei support their return?
https://www.fijivillage.com/news/Fijian-soldier-serving-in-British-Army-dismissed-for-recording-a-female-colleague-having-sex-45xrf8/
Oh dear, is this the new wave of the younger generation’s behaviour? Sex ,Lies and Video tapes !?!?
Pornography seems to be the new religion for some from Fiji. Fijian British Soldier and recording pornography seems to have become a habit in this Godless country.
Hmmm…British Army guy recording sex videos. Sounds familiar!!
Lynda perhaps?
This sexual deviant is supposedly back in Fiji.
Wait for his re-emergence in the Nabua brigade in due time.
All the videograper has to do is present a tabua, mataganisau, cry, ending with hugs all around.
Jone will welcome him within safe the confines of his own people, decorate the fella with tin medals, barrettes, stripes and all the rest of it.
Followed by a church service with Aseri, Lindah, Chutney, and the rest of the crowd attending to later Jin the matagiti.
Of course, with the tutor being no other than our PPQ, Parliamentary Porn Queen!
You didn’t expect the lessons to be ignored did you?
Exactly, the people have bigger problems related to the government’s inability to deliver the basics. I suspect for most, the electoral system is the least of their worries. And this government is completely out of touch, being driven in motorcades with lights and sirens blaring, pushing other cars off the road in their new Prados, and flying first class to obscure international junkets with nothing to show for it. Just look at the Ministry of Health’s petulant response on Facebook to the indomitable Judy Compain’s calling out of their attempt to gaslight the people about the shortage of intravenous fluids despite complaints by the public and medical professionals:
“ Despite the negative commentary in the media, the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MOHMS) remains committed to delivering critical medicines to our healthcare facilities across the country.
The Fiji Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Services (FPBS) team works tirelessly around the clock to meet the ever-growing demand — whether it’s for medicines, medical consumables, laboratory reagents, radiology supplies, dental materials, or biomedical equipment.
We continue to do our best with the resources available.
Recently, there have been individuals or groups spotlighted for their acts of care and service. While we acknowledge these efforts, the Ministry will conduct verifications and investigations to ensure that the correct procedures and due diligence were observed. The governance and integrity of our government systems must not be compromised.
We welcome and appreciate support from volunteers and donors. However, proper processes must always be followed to preserve the trust and integrity of the Ministry of Health and Medical Services.”
#FijiHealth #MOHMS #FPBS #HealthcareDelivery #MedicalIntegrity #GovernanceMatters #StrongerHealthSystem #TeamMOHMS #AccountabilityFirst #ServingFiji
Frank Bainimarama on Sitiveni Rabuka: “The snake changes its skin, but it’s still a snake.”
During the height of the last election campaign, I asked a close friend of one of Fiji First’s high-ranking officials what the general public sentiment was and what he thought of Frank’s chances. He seemed a little pessimistic this time around but concluded with a cynical smile, “Most politicians are devils—but better the devil you know.”
How can social media posts be Fake Baiman Prasad when people are actually posting your very own videos, where you promised to cut Ministerial pays, offer 200 million dollars per year for housing, increase minimum wage, stop overseas travel allowance etc
All those videos are on Facebook and tik tok
Meanwhile to prepare for elections and more importantly to distract the fijian public from all the current chaos created by the coalition circus, the ring master pulled yet another dramatic performance out of his saggy ring.
Rambo knows he’s up shit creek with the mounting self-inflicted blunders getting out of control.
So what does she do…he starts crying in public again! This bullshit artiste bastard belongs in lollywood, the cheaper and more dramatic, over the top cheap cousin of bollywood.
First he cries while speaking at some women’s meeting whilst calling for equality etc. Then he cries whilst recalling how he facilitated the rescue of the freeloading rewan princess and her confused Christian/Jewish friends from Israel after the latest conflict started.
This swine has no shame. Start expecting more of such performances as he publicly puts on more shows choking over the most mundane, bullshit, made on the spot stories about his smug modest greatness. Once in a while he will also entertain you with bewildering stories about dogs and rabbits and how he got the American president and chinese premier to discuss peace on his insistence. You see Rambo above all fancies himself as a statesman. He reckons he’s top dog of at least out of all Pacific leaders. His increasingly baritone bullshit knows no bounds. If this shit wasn’t so serious for a struggling country like ours rabaku the boci could actually have won the audition for one of those strange demented/funny/evil characters that have made lollywood so synonymous with ludicrous movies and their ridiculous characters.
Who goes to these events and why? How amny are there who go to these functions – they should have their heads checked. And to those of othet ministers and DPMs. Why would you go to an event to listen to well known donkeys blow hot air and rubbish?
To eat some free cake, I suppose?
Or maybe attend the prayer?
Surely it cannot be to listen to their bullshit.
If you revew Hansard when the current speaker was appointed, this snake PM said something to the effect that they both knew the Late Queen very well and she held them both in high regard or something bullshit to that effect. When I listened to that rubbish I wondered by any of the opposition members did not get up and call out the bullshit. Someone should find and post that video from parliament here. I am sure it s publicly available.
Teachers have not been paid for 8 weeks? Am I reading that correctly?
Aseri says it’s nothing new.
Blames the previous goverment.
Water- previous goverment.
Electricity – previous government.
Medical services – previous goverment.
Drug problems
HIV
Crime
Gold Rolex
Corruption
Constitution
Electoral Act
All on previous goverment.
At least poor Fijians are getting the privilege of seeing a 150,000 dollar on their PM’s wrist.
It really doesn’t matter how dire their own life situation is. All that matters is that a dumb ethno-nationalist is in top position in the government.