Winston Peters is named after the famous wartime leader, Winston Churchill. Yet rather than being the lion that roared over one of his own citizens being treated unlawfully by a foreign government, this Winston is a Neville Chamberlain-style appeaser – a man willing to hang a Kiwi out to dry if it placates a regional government and keeps it out of the clutches of the Chinese.
His dismissive attitude to suspended DPP Christopher Pryde now being unable to defend himself against a false charge of misbehaviour because his salary has been severed is classic Winston Peters – highhanded and bereft of principle. And it sends an ominous message to every New Zealander working in the Pacific or contemplating doing so that if they fall foul of their host governments, Winston will cut them loose. They are on their own.
Winston Peters has given an astonishing “exclusive interview” to the Fiji Sun newspaper at the PALM summit in Japan that raises serious questions about his conduct as NZ Foreign Minister. A prime duty of any foreign minister is to look after the interests of their citizens overseas. Christopher Pryde appealed to Winston Peters for assistance after the Fijian government unlawfully cut off his salary at the eleventh hour and deprived him of his ability to defend himself against a charge of misbehaviour that Pryde contends is false.
He was suspended initially for being seen in conversation with the former attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Kahiyum, at a Japanese Embassy function in February 2023. And fully a year later, an extra charge was laid that he had received superannuation payments that were not specifically authorised by Fiji’s Judicial Services Commission.
The issue is clear-cut. The Fijian Constitution lays down a process that must be followed when a charge of misbehaviour is laid against a constitutionally-appointed officer of state and that person is suspended. The suspension is on full pay while a judicial tribunal of at least three judges is convened to hear the allegation and then recommend a course of action to the President. That is the law in Fiji.
Yet not only has Christopher Pryde so far been kept waiting for 15 months for a tribunal hearing date to be set, the salary he had continued to be paid was summarily cut off two weeks ago, depriving him of the ability to pay for his legal defence when that hearing is finally held. It is a clear-cut case of unlawful behaviour in violation of the Fijian Constitution. And it is also a glaring case of a denial of natural justice to a New Zealand citizen working for the State in Fiji.
In desperation, Christopher Pryde wrote to Winston Peters asking for his assistance, copying the letter to him to the New Zealand High Commissioner in Suva and the heads of the New Zealand and Fiji law societies. “CC-ing” such a missive to relevant parties is perfectly normal, including in the interests of transparency. As is what happened next – releasing a copy to the media.
Nine days after Christopher Pryde sent the letter to the Foreign Minister’s personal and work email addresses, he has yet to receive a response. Yet out of the blue, Winston Peters has unloaded on his fellow citizen to a member of the foreign media, ignoring the substantive issue of Fiji’s unlawful conduct towards the suspended DPP and castigating him for the manner in which he contacted him.
This is what the Fiji Sun quotes Winston Peters as having said:
“He (Pryde) wrote to everybody and sent me a copy”, Mr Peters said. “He sent me a copy? He wrote me a letter and sent it to everyone else at the same time!”. (The exclamation mark is the Sun’s and indicates that the Foreign Minister was forceful in his indignation).
FACT: Christopher Pryde sent the letter via email to Winston Peters. No-one else was copied into that email. Again it went to two addresses – the Foreign Minister’s official work email and his personal email that Christopher Pryde had been given by a mutual contact. So what the Foreign Minister has claimed is just plain wrong.
He continues: “What do you think about somebody that wrote to you – asking for help and then sent it to everyone else at the same time? What would you think?”, Winston Peters wails.
FACT: It was not “sent to everyone else at the same time”. It was sent to the Foreign Minister, cc’d to his High Commissioner in Suva and the Law Society presidents of New Zealand and Fiji. Why? Because it related to the DPP of Fiji being treated in an unlawful manner. But these other recipients were sent the letter only AFTER it had been sent to Winston Peters.
It is extremely puzzling why Winston Peters is making an issue out of the process of him receiving a letter from Christopher Pryde – taking (feigning?) offence at some arcane notion that he and he alone should have been the sole recipient when what the DPP did has become normal practice the world over, especially in correspondence to government ministers. And it is even more puzzling, and deeply troubling, that the NZ Foreign Minister completely ignores the central issue here – a New Zealand citizen working abroad seeking his assistance to deal with the unlawful conduct of a host government in the region that is the recipient of a great deal of New Zealand aid.
The exclamation marks the Fiji Sun attaches to Winston Peter’s comments point to an intemperate outburst rooted in indignation about the perceived slight to his own status than a sober response to a legitimate issue. He could have just as easily said something moderate and sensible such as “We are clearly hoping that the Fiji government and Christopher Pryde can work this out amicably and the law can take its course”. But no. The suspended DPP went to the New Zealand Foreign Minister for help and got a lesson in etiquette in response.
And speaking of sober, the exclamation marks raise the question of Winston Peter’s own sobriety when he made his outburst. Grubsheet has done three in-depth television profiles of the New Zealand First leader over the years – one for Australia’s Seven Network and two for Channel 9. We spent a lot of time in pubs and Peters is known to be fond of whisky. So was this an instance of a politician being “tired and emotional” at the end of a long day? We’ve seen it before in New Zealand when Robert Muldoon was drunk on the night he called the election in 1984 that saw him defeated by David Lange. So drunken outbursts are in NZ’s political DNA.
Yet whatever the circumstances, Winston Peters has clearly hung Christopher Pryde out to dry. Never mind that he has been the victim of a grave injustice and never mind that New Zealand had the ability to quietly lobby the Fijian government on his behalf. Winston Peters – like some character in a 19th century comedy of manners – is more concerned with the etiquette of letter writing. A prissy Miss Peters. How quaint.
The central issue remains the unlawful conduct of the Fijian government towards a New Zealand citizen recruited to preside over an independent office of state. Any New Zealander in Fiji, including those in the judiciary, at least know where they stand. Alone. And what impact that perception will have on the willingness of Kiwis generally to work in Fiji and other island nations remains to be seen.
Can anyone imagine the perennially sober Penny Wong, the Australian Foreign Minister, conducting herself in the same manner? The same harrumphing and exclamation marks? No, me neither. Winston, like his WW2 namesake, might look good in a pinstripe suit. But when it comes to substance, he really is a little Neville. An appeaser more prepared to humour a government abusing its power than take a stand alongside a fellow citizen for what is right.
Christopher Pryde’s letter to Winston Peters.
Winston Peters is an indigenous guy from NZ. So he understands perfectly how the indigenous people in Fiji think. He is an aggrieved person in NZ who changes allegiances to suit his purpose and he has done it several times to stay at the top echelons in NZ. But what exactly has he done for NZ and the Kiwi people over the years? F*ck all, that is what.
Do you remember the first thing he did when he became Deputy PM after the last election? He got on a plane and came to Fiji to lick Rabuka’s arse. Why? Only he can explain, I guess.
For Pryde to write to this dick, I was surprised knowing his friendship with Rabuka. He should have written directly to the NZ PM.
He’s a plastic indigenous
He bloody kicks his own people’s stomach.
He came to Fiji as he had not finished his Pacific Reset. lol.
Him and his Pacific buddies go island hopping on taxpayer funds. What have any of those NZ born Pacific people doing or done for Fiji? They are the nobodies in New Zealand. Or the wannabes.
Look at the last lot on the plane. I think there was only one Fijian on board. More of them went for the trip of their lifetime. Some had never been to Fiji!
Glad that with National Government none of that bullshit is entertained anymore.
The calibre of those working at NZ High Commission in Fiji says a lot too. Some absolutely bizarre lot. Charlotte doesn’t care about Pryde. He is there fending for himself. Typical New Zealand behaviour.
I made this comment earlier on, Mr GD
Winston Peters is a disgrace.
Plastic maori !
Self serving opportunist.
He will do nothing about this Pryde thing.
Wait and see.
Yes, sadly you were right.
W-Pee is an ignorant drunk skunk stuck in the past.
Just how far backwards he is becomes clearer everytime he opens his mouth. Useless piece of pukohe dropping fertilizing ethno-nationalists minds at every opportunity. He can’t be and is not what NZ is about. This man is desperate to be accepted as an intellectual. Wee Winston is but a vain man with no soul and yes, smart – a smart ass.
If Fiji wants to regain any semblance of better values to be respected both at regionally and the rest of the world: follow the rule of law. Simples.
People like “the settler community” rabuka, “you come alone” baimaan, “I have the means” dick, weed and bonking slut, woman abuser and sexual deviant ministers, plus the myriad criminals in the Fijian govt., the judiciary, the police -all combined, have ruined Fiji’s standing regionally and the world at large.
Say what you will about Voreqe, no amount of hate can deny how hard VBs govt. worked to (re)build Fiji’s regional and international relations. Voreqe built a ton of goodwill, kept the ethno-racism in check, focused on rule of law, created stability and a degree of unity to bring new investments directly to our shores. 10,000 Fijians per month were not fleeing their homeland.
Wee Winston, meanwhile, has long derided the pakeha while shamelessly riding on the coat tails of the pakeha’s labor of love to advance NZ’s status in the world.
Remember what I said
“Kiwis and Aussies need Fiji more than Fiji needs them”
Nothing has happened in last 10 days
They would have air lifted a patient if he or she was in critical state by now.
Winnie is full of himself. Ask any NZ journalist that covers politics.
I think he is more concerned about his perceived loss of mana by others being party to copies of the letter than addressing the issue raised. The man has elevated himself above the message.
I lived in NZ for approximately 10 years in the late 90s and early 2000s. Winston Peters only ever cared for Winston Peters. I feel for Mr Pryde, his plea for help will get shelved in one of Winston’s many false drawers. Rabuka is laughing quietly in Suva.
Bula Graham,
Can you tell us why there is the perception that Christopher Pryde, was a yes man appointed by Bainimarama and Khaiyum, to do their bidding
P.S.
Your recent description of Grubsheet as “opinion journalism” is a departure from investigative.
Slim or no pickings for anyone needing unbiased investigative journalism and not biased opinion on Fiji, “to keep the bastards
honest “.
Vinaka for the work you do.
And this is where Pacific Useless Correspondent Barbara Dreaver is even more useless. She is the worst reporter in New Zealand and suitable for reporting about nothing, just like her drug series in Fiji recently.
NZ keeps hanging its citizens out all the time. Remember what they did to the pregnant women during Covid-19. They left her out with the Talibans! Yes, you read that right. Action was only made, again by Peters, when NZ public made a huge noise about it.
NZ is also the country that segregated vaccinated and non-vaccinated people. Again, it was by Peters coalition with Jacinda Ardern.
Peters is New Zealand’s most useless foreign minister. He didn’t achieve anything under the Pacific Reset.
Unless and until NZ media pushes for this there will be nothing anyone will do for Pryde. Pryde should write to the PM of NZ and to the Human Rights Commissioner now.
Peter’s mouth moves faster than his Biden brain. Kuku needs to go.
Had Mr Pryde not cc’d others on the email, Winston Peters would have buried the complaint
He is pissed off for that very reason
The world has become greedy and filthy with political bastards.
In the future, people will become fed up of these bastards and a new law and order will come into place.
Politics has no room in the modern world. Politics is the reason, single handedly careers, countries and economy are being destroyed.
Remember, politics is a game and not a democracy. In the future, people will come to senses, the common people, low income earners. A new order will emerge. Similar to how Kings used to rule, politicians are ruling now. In the future, people will control each countries, each common people. That day is not far.
Until then, suffer for what you vote for now. A time will come no one will go and vote.
Peter’s is known for his loose style of speaking. As a foreign minister he lets New Zealand down at best of times and creates a scene everywhere he goes. This is a perfect example of another one of his usual failures.
He should acknowledge who all are included in that email from Pryde to him but that is the least of anyone’s concerns right now. Pryde includes those he sees fit while seeking for help and guidance. He is taken through the court of Fiji in a very unsettling time as a NZ citizen and he must feel unsafe. These are the key concerns that Peter’s should be worried about for Pryde and for other Kiwis working in Fiji right now. The assistant DPP was illegally appointed.
These are matters of great concern in the scheme of regional displomacy.
I hope Pryde is now going to write to the PM highlighting this behaviour of Peters as a concern.
Let this not dampen the right to fight.
Winnie is the most useless Māori politician in the history of New Zealand. He will sell his soul for power.
Pryde did the right thing.
NZ government is bigger than one man and that is Winnie right now. He is a disgrace to NZ and would have never entered the coalition if National had all the votes they wanted. Same for Seymour. These two men are evil and racists.
I am taking that Luxon will be returning after a week off to clean another mess left by Winston.
Keep the good fight Pryde.
Truth matters.
Well, I predicted it on this page more than a week ago, Winston Peters will do nothing.
He let both NZ and Fiji down before when he refused to have Voreqe arrested in NZ at the behest of former Fiji Police Commissioner, Anthony Hughes.
Now he’s done it again. He is a selfish nutcase. It’s lucky Julian Assange was not a Kiwi; he’d still be in prison today with a Foreign Minister like Peters around.
As I said before, GD, this is an employment matter. Employment law is a subset of contract law. Arguably, you could say the Fiji government breached Mr. Pryde’s contract. In other words, Pryde may have been unjustifiably dismissed or unjustifiably disadvantaged. Regardless, this is an employment/contractual issue and it does not meet the threshold for Winston Peters to apply political pressure on Fiji, especially since Pryde is a highly paid (albeit not anymore) and well-resourced senior lawyer. Political intervention is warranted for serious breaches of human rights or serious mistreatment of a nation’s citizens. Pryde has been living comfortably. Winston Peters is also a highly experienced lawyer as well as statesman. He knows what he’s doing regardless of his ‘race’ or being a ‘plastic Māori’ as some are commenting in these threads. He’s not going to jump just because you and some of your followers think he should. Essentially, to sum up, Pryde is big enough and ugly enough to look after his own backyard and this whole dilemma is a storm in a tea cup.
Additionally, the very fact that Pryde sought NZ political intervention for his alleged mistreatment and has not taken, or even attempted to have taken, his matter through the courts via judicial review suggests he may be as incompetent as some have claimed. Just my two cents.
You completely ignore the fact that the path the constitution – the supreme law – lays down to be followed in such a case has been violated. Christopher Pryde had every right to expect that it would be upheld in the same way that you or I would.
He is a constitutional senior officer of state and it is all there in black and white. So the notion that this is an employment matter is nonsense. There is no recourse under the normal laws of unfair dismissal because it is specifically a constitutional matter.
Cutting off his salary, also in breach of the Constitution, is something no-one in his position could have expected. You either subscribe to the rule of law or you don’t. And while the Coalition doesn’t, Christopher Pryde does.
With no income now to pay for his defence, the notion of him applying for judicial review of the unlawful decision of the JSC is also a nonsense. How is he to feed himself and his family in he meantime, let alone pay his lawyers? No one is offering to conduct this pro bono and it could take months for this matter to even be listed for review. And would you honestly trust the system to produce justice after what has happened?
For God’s sake, the man is desperate. So he has every right to ask for assistance. Rather than further prejudice his position with your “two cents” worth, how about advocating that the State comply with the law rather than place the onus on a defenceless individual to require it to do so.
A “storm in a tea cup”? Only for those who don’t believe in the rule of law when it suits their prejudices. Shame on you. And them.
I don’t think any Government will interfere in the internal constitutional affairs of another country. Although it may ask the Fiji Government to move fast and resolve this matter through the appropriate channel which in this case is the appointment of a tribunal to hear CP’s case which should have taken place by now and I don’t understand why it’s taking so long.
I am sure Winston Peters must have taken legal advice on this but in my opinion does not meet the test nor the threshold of NZ interfering on behalf of CP.
Definitely CP’s constitutional rights has been breached and for that he should seek redress for the courts and not through Winston Peters.
He asked for “assistance”, not for NZ to interfere in Fiji’s constitutional affairs. This could take the form of financial assistance because his income has been illegally cut off or a representation to the government that the Constitution be followed in the interests of other New Zealand citizens retaining confidence in the rule of law in Fiji, which is obviously important for the overall relationship.
In any event, Winston Peter’s conduct is outrageous. An intemperate lecture on the etiquette of writing to a politician. Gratuitous and demonstrably prejudicial to the legal rights of one of his own citizens. He could have at least kept his mouth shut, even if he thinks Christopher Pryde deserves to be treated unlawfully.
GD, are you a lawyer as well by profession?
As well as what? Actually I am a professional bullshit detector. And you don’t need a law degree for that.
The NZ government cannot be involved in this as it is an employment matter between Pryde and the Fiji government. The NZ government did not send Pryde to work for the Fiji government. Pryde went in his capacity as a private person. NZ government has nothing to do with this.
It is not an “employment matter”. It is the violation of the prescribed law in the Constitution relating to the removal of a senior constitutional officer of state. Pryde asks NZ for assistance to enable him to defend himself whenever a tribunal hearing is held because the JSC has unlawfully cut off his income. Whether that is in the form of financial assistance or encouraging the Fijian government to comply with the law is up to them. But what else can he do with no money?
Nine days ago, even the Fijian Prime Minister said what had happened was wrong. A fat lot of good that did. Incidentally, is the suspended Police Commissioner, Sitiveni Qiliho, still being paid? Because he hasn’t been formally replaced even though he is behind bars.
This is an act of pure vindictiveness. And any New Zealander working in Fiji now knows that if the Fijian government decides to ignore the law and they are disadvantaged, they are on their own.
Section (15)(3) of the Constutution requires every party charged with an offence to have the matter dealt within a reasonable time. It is totally unreasonable to keep a charged person hanging like this. In Chris’s case it is inordinate delay. He should be paid his salary until the matter is properly determined by a Tribunal or an alternate settlement is reached with Chris. Chris doesn’t deserve this kind of injustice.
Thank you, Devanesh. This is a valuable contribution to this debate from one of the most distinguished lawyers in Fiji. Let’s hope the powers that be take note. Very much appreciated.
To paraphrase ‘I have the means’: and there you have it.
Except the judiciary does not read well. The ag and rest of judiciary interpret the constituition to suit their own ends.
Will pryde’s salary be restored?
Will sarvanand be paid his $3m? We should not hold our collect breaths.
Me thinks Devanesh is using this blog to snag a client, lol.
Well it is not going to be for money. That’s all gone. Christopher Pryde has been unlawfully deprived of his income and his ability to fight his case.
Maybe his existing lawyer, Adish Narayan, will support him. Maybe Devanesh Sharma will support him. But it won’t be the miserable effing New Zealand government and the preposterous poseur who by playing off both sides of politics, happens to be the Kiwi Foreign Minister.
What a pissant. What a disgrace.
What about Chris Pryde applying to the Fiji Legal Aid Commission for assistance. Yes there is criteria for eligibility for assistance so not guaranteed.
Shouldn’t need a King’s Counsel – the case to reinstate his salary is beyond any Doubt…even the non lawyer PM Rabuka can see the miscarriage of justice there. Salary reinstatement has to be the first challenge…it’s the low hanging fruit.
Lucky Dube sang
“Doctors smoke it and even my Lawyers too”
Someone must have been high!
If the same comment was made by a market vendor , would the comments be equally valued. No offence to the lawyer Sharma but he is stating the obvious. And directly quoting section 15 (3).
Of course Sharma’s contribution does enhance this blog discussion simply by considering it worthy of comment!
The market vendor or taxi driver could be one of those 60,000 USP graduates, and one without a job in the area of their study….paid good money to academics for little return.
Just like having to pay for fair and accessible justice at $700 an hour or more
Section (15)(3) of the Constutution
Hmmm !
Is this from the same constitution drafted by few and made into law for people of Fiji to follow .
Interesting aye!
OFFS. It is the law. L-A-W. Until it is changed. What is wrong with you? There is no other L-A-W. So if you don’t want to obey this, how about I come round to your place and steal your yaya? It is the same principle, you idiot.
Fiji already had almost half a dozen of different constitutions to suit agendas of the rulers since independence.
Signs are that more would come.
Mr Graham sometimes I fail to understand if you are doing investigative journalism or you write articles about someone and become a lawyer, to defend the same.
Accept positive criticism than to become a grumpy journalist .
I am grumpy about the country’s supreme law being violated. Get over it.
I am not responsible for what’s in the Constitution. But while it remains the supreme law, it must be respected. The alternative is anarchy.
Well if you steal yaya in Australia, you will still look white before cops will come and take you away.
Here in Fiji there is no guarantee if you are going to look white or red.
That’s how unclear the 2013 constitution is.
Inordinate delay and reasonable time to deliver justice.
How is a ‘reasonable time’ measured or determined.
While this is a case by a tribunal ( which I understand has not even been appointed yet!) and beyond a mere employment dispute – the wheels of justice should not have deliberate brakes put on its forward motion.
Should the pace of delivery of justice be determined by wealth and status of the subject person, the public interest. What about a person of lesser status in a similar miscarriage of justice. Is justice delivery subjective or does everyone stand in the same (very long) queue without being put ahead or behind others in the same line.
With the distressed and high caseload of the Fijian judicial system as noted by the newly appointed AG, there is a long backlog to clear. This likely is not the reason why Pryde has not had his hearing. Rather other prejudices, including racism, appear to be in play. Maybe incompetence. Maybe lack of resources. Maybe ‘ on Fiji time’.
Nevertheless – our new found Freedom and speedy Justice to all.
No intended prejudice against Pryde, just airing how delivery of justice can have structural inequality.. This is where the Media plays its role in making a noise to get things moving and moving in a just direction.
“What’s good for the goose is NOT good for the gander.”(Emphasis is mine)
CP “can’t have his cake and eat it too.”
Oh so he has no right to rely on the rule of law. When your own rights are deprived, don’t come crying to the rest of us. Creep.
He has every right to rely on the rule of law, but not a one-size-fits-all response.
That’s the point about the law. It ought to apply to everyone equally. So of course, it’s “one size fits all”. Otherwise it isn’t justice.
Chief registrar caight drunk drivingdid not spent a day in police holding cell. The drunk chief registrar had a special -very special CLOSED court trial. FBC News reported:
Chief Registrar (name) received a non-custodial sentence from the Suva Magistrates Court, ensuring that there will be no permanent record of his conviction as long as he pays the fine of $300. And keeps his job! WTF!?!?
One size fits all, you say?
Meanwhile Tomu, Dickie, and Hari spend the weekend in police custody (if lucky to be spared a good old fashioned police butaraki) to appear in open court the next business day.
Mr. Siromi Itaukei had complaints filed for possible misconduct/malpractice (bigamy case)-crickets from the police, dpp, and/or ag’s office. Leeeung wait for justice. Meanwhile the common man goes to jail for such fraudulent conduct.
One size fits all, you say?
Former dpp suspended 15+ months, salary now severed illegally. No closed tribunal for dpp. Heck, the tribunal is yet to be called.
One size fits all, you say?
Seriously? I clearly mean one size SHOULD fit all. It doesn’t fit all because Fiji is a country where there is one law for some and another for others.
I have made a point of repeatedly highlighting all the cases you have cited in my reporting over the months and years. And you throw them back at me as if I haven’t? I don’t know why I bother. Crikey.
A lot of money buys the Top Gun lawyers. So a legal fight has to be financed to the extent of one’s ability to pay, or settle for Legal Aid.
START: Fiji Constitution section [15] (10) The State, through law and other measures, must provide legal aid through the Legal Aid Commission to those who cannot afford to pursue justice on the strength of their own resources, if injustice would otherwise result.
(11) If any fee is required to access a court or tribunal, it must be reasonable and
must not impede access to justice.
END.
Above is in Page 12 of the 2013 Fiji Constitution document available online free of charge. In English, I-Taukei and Hindi language.
From the webpage of Legal Aid Commission Fiji:
START: Currently, the Commission provides service in all areas of Family, Criminal, and Civil law. Assistance is provided in civil law matters but these are limited to certain areas of practice only. Assistance through the Legal Aid scheme is given to an individual upon the fulfilment of the eligibility criteria.
END.
Getting the Top Gun lawyers does imply getting the best available representation. However if the deciding powers that be (like the Chief Justice) have predetermined the outcome against you at any cost – the defendant may as well hold their hands up in the air and ask to be shot – sparing the expense and futility and right to a fair trial.
What justice is there if the Chief Justice officer is also the Chief Injustice officer by conduct in violation of the constitution and / or the Law.
Apologies GD. I did not make clear my response was directed @winston fiji.
I was trying to say to one size fits all means equal justice for all! The examples demonstrate the law is not applied equally. Va sota.
Sorry, I misinterpreted you. My apologies.