The day set aside by the United Nations to draw attention to the achievements and challenges of women ought to be one of celebration in Fiji and around the world. And yet this year, International Women’s Day in Fiji is being marred by the sex and drug scandal that has enveloped the Coalition’s Minister for Women and Children, Lynda Tabuya.
The news on IWD is dominated by the scandal, with the front page of the Fiji Times headlining the astonishing call by the head of the Fiji’s Women’s Crisis Centre, Shamima Ali, for the People’s Alliance to reinstate Tabuya as PAP deputy leader despite the Party’s finding that the allegations against her are proven. (see previous story).
The women – and men – of Fiji will doubtless be impressed to know that their tax dollars have been spent on not one but two full page messages from the government to commemorate International Women’s Day. The first is from the Prime Minister – who is currently deciding whether to sack Lynda Tabuya from the ministry and maybe even cancel her PAP membership, which would automatically remove her from the parliament. And the second, incredibly, is from the Minister for Bonking and Weed herself.
So Lynda Tabuya has been removed as deputy leader of the People’s Alliance with immediate effect and has been forced to withdraw from a high-powered delegation to a women’s conference in New York, which will now be headed by her permanent secretary. ( Why not the Assistant Minister, Sashi Kiran?). But thousands of dollars of taxpayer’s money has been spent to give her a platform in the local newspapers to peddle a whole lot of platitudes about the role of women in Fiji.
Read this, Fiji, and be gobsmacked by the elephant in the room that everyone else can see except Lynda and her remaining supporters in the Coalition. That because of her scandalous conduct, she has lost her mana altogether, has forfeited her right to lead the Women’s Day debate and should be removed from the cabinet as soon as possible if the Prime Minister still has his political mojo.
While Sashi Kiran tells the media that she can’t comment on the Tabuya scandal, it doesn’t stop her colleague in the NFP – Home Affairs Minister Pio Tikoduadua – from joining Shamima Ali in publicly siding with Lynda Tabuya. Good old Pio doesn’t argue about the authenticity of the leaked photos and messages which have cost Tabuya the PAP deputy leadership but says they have no status because “they were obtained illegally”. Ergo, the allegations are baseless. Que?
Pio, they were physically obtained from Aseri Radrodro’s phone by someone close to him with the ability to do so. Whether or not his privacy was breached, they contain graphic details of sex and drug-taking on Lynda Tabuya’s part that are not only authentic but have been judged to be authentic by your coalition partner – the People’s Alliance.
Leaving aside the images themselves, it is the fact that Lynda Tabuya – and Aseri Radrodro – lied to the Prime Minister and he, in turn, misled the nation about whether they were having an affair that is just as potent. No minister in any democracy who lied to the leader of any government about a scandal of this magnitude would survive dismissal. No chance whatsoever. Yet Pio Tikoduadua doesn’t seem to think this matters at all. Like Shamima Ali, the Home Affairs Minister needs to get a grip.
We also get a fresh insight today into the complex web of relationships that has worked to prevent this scandal from getting the media coverage it deserves. Just as the Fiji Times was in league with Shamima Ali in remaining silent about the appointment of Aseri Radrodro as education minister when he had almost killed his former wife, the Prime Minister’s daughter, they are birds of a feather when it comes to Lynda Tabuya.
The Fiji Times not only gives Shamima Ali its front page but she is pictured with Fiji Times staff to commemorate International Women’s Day. And good old Fred Wesley continues to be the slobbering lapdog in the corner – writing an entire editorial on women that doesn’t include a single word about the scandal involving the Minister for Women that the whole nation is gripped by. (Just read the comments on Grubsheet for proof of that).
Happy International Women’s Day! (If you can bear the hypocrisy and cant).
Sack Tabuya, Shamima and Pio!
I guess Tabuya has dirt on Pio too.
You both should be ashamed of yourselves
Shamima and Pio you cannot possibly think she is the best person for the job. It’s not about saving her ass but what is in the best interests for women and children. I’m very concerned about your mental state when you put one person above a nation and the future. You did nothing when you knew about wife beating, and cheating men… now you say it’s unfair. You are welcome to name and shame Radodro and the other scumbags. Oh but you won’t, will you?
To everyone that has information on the scumbags: Why not bring all the dirt out now on everyone as Tabuya is clearly holding it over people’s heads. She is a sociopath desperate for power and control, better sack her now is this is going to be on ongoing issue. If you keep her, don’t think the same issues won’t come later. She’s a cancer in Fiji. She doesn’t need a medal for what she’s done as her job is to help women and children. She is getting paid well for that, has a car and lots of weed and Jack. The requirement is to assist women and children.. there are better candidates out there.
I would like to file a complaint against Shamima Ali for reports of her using NGO platform and money for her own agenda and self interests. Please will the appropriate bodies investigate her. She does not speak for women of fiji.
She has failed the women of Fiji.
We don’t want her representing us any longer.
Her ulterior motives are clear and we cannot have this.
Thank you
I would like donor agencies like DFAT Australia and MFAT New Zealand to investigate all funding into Shamima Ali’s NGO and establish effectiveness of the investments to date.
In particular we want to know if the programmes invested in is producing better results for women in Fiji. We also want to hear from the Fijian diaspora how satisfied they are with this NGO in general. Men should speak up.
Signed,
New Tax Payer.
Pio as Minister for defense should handover Tabuya to police to investigate use of drug whilst on official tax payer funded trip rather than defending her. He admits text messages were authentic but there was no consent for public dissemination. These are types of people running the govt no wonder Fiji is going back to wilderness setting very bad precedent for young generation
It is rather sad to read all this on IWD2024.
Past respected women leaders must shake their heads in disbelief.
Current leaders have gone quiet. It is a horror story unfolding.
No wonder Fiji has such a high rate of violence against women and girls.
This shows the types of two women at the help of violence prevention going all out to endorse themselves as targets when they are the culprits and home wreckers.
We can only wonder what they do behind the scenes and how dishonest their practices must be everywhere.
Shamima has lost reality and all credibility.
She herself was known for extra marital affairs so she will not disregard any wrong doings.
So embarrassing to be a woman in Fiji today.
Why is Sashi not given the limelight she deserves?
This racism and discrimination must stop.
Because she is not i-Taukei doesn’t mean she is not performing.
She has been doing more work than the useless Minister.
Pio can shut his pie hole and sit down. Didn’t see him say anything about the woman beater Radrodro. He suddenly woke up for this glorious Delilah. What has she got on him?
Does Vosarogo have anything to say about Delilah too?
Come out. One by one. So we can keep a tab of those being cheer crowd for Jezabel.
Surely Pio, your Police can do a caution interview with Lynda about her admission of weed use?
I thought u told us only days ago we are in a “War on drugs?”
U can’t clean up the Police Force, your Commissioner of Prisons doesn’t know how to calculate the terms of incarceration of inmates.
It’s all about appearances with you, not aboutt substance.
You like Lynda, should just go away and fall on your sword.
IWD 2024 and she makes headlines for all the wrong reasons. As expected 100% because the PM and Coalition has let this woman run wild with less than 12,000 votes!
Why is tax payer funds used on these two women when there are thousand other women with kudos and mana to showcase in Fiji today.
The women who plants and sell in the market has more respect than Shamima and Tabuya.
Legacy of Tabuya to be noted for IWD 2024. Here we go Viti and add to the list:
1. Gaslighting victims of 1987 coup.
2. Demanding no celebration of Diwali on Sunday.
3. Blamed a Hindu ritual procession when she was running late to the airport in Nausori.
4. Used an abused child in states care to gain her political mileage. Exposed the child’s identity to over 200,000 Fijians through her social media page.
5. Slept with another married man and breaking the code of conduct expected of a minister while overseas.
6. Used illegal drugs and sneaked drugs into her room while on a diplomat passport entry into Australia.
7. Rubbed into the faces of women hurt in 1987 coup by telling them that Rabuka is the PM for them. She showed no empathy for victims of civil unrest.
8. Lied about Australian Police in her sex saga when they had nothing to do with any of this.
9. Never said that the images and text messages found on Grubsheet and Fijileaks was not conforming to an incident that was true. Said the images were uplifted without her consent.
10. Lied to the PM who then lied to the country.
I can write a whole heap more as I have a fair idea of other things Tabuya.
You are naive if you think only Grubsheet can expose you. The village gossip travels faster and Fiji’s coconut wireless has good coverage for these sort of things.
You Tabuya, reap what you sow. Karma is a bitch. Shamima the sidekick can keep barking as no one gives two f#xks anymore about her. Fred can have her for the whole newspaper.
Happy IWD2024 to all other women of Fiji except Ali and Tabuya.
Sincerely
A woman
Fred can learn not to put an image up that up close.
Ali looks scary.
Is she high too?
Too much as Lynda would say.
Enough is enough as her grandmother would say.
Jiloma. Ciqoma.
All the best Lynda.
No one can save you this time.
Is there any other not so wise man coming to defend Tabuya now?
Please step forward but do think more than twice before you do.
She is gone. You will too.
Women are keeping a tab of who says anything for her and what are you saying. You are endorsing all things wrong. And this will be remembered come GE2026.
You see, we the educated and civilised women of Fiji have progressed as a nation because of our hardwork and respect.
We never needed Tabuya nor voted for her. We have many other wise woman leaders in the Cabinet and we celebrate them. Not you at all Tabuya.
Don’t cry for this Jezabel.
I am celebrating with the men and women folk in my vuvale that she is out the door and my daughters will hopefully never have a narcissist leader like her to look up at.
Dear Fijian Women
Happy International Women’s Day.
I read alot and across all media. Fiji Times disgusts me today as there are many wise women to celebrate. We have a day set aside to do this for women and Fiji Times chose to cause more misery than celebration.
Shamima should know that all leadership is judged for their behavior and performance.
She can stop playing the gender card.
Shamima and Lynda have let woman down.
It is a sad day to be a Fijian woman but I will quietly think of the leaders like late Hon Vakatale and Mere Samisoni. They were our trailblazers. How beautiful it is to cherish those memories and Fiji’s media could have celebrated these women today. But no, they chose the unwise ones.
We did not have many women in Parliament but those before Lynda did well. Adding to this is Sofia Akbar who I admire for her genuine care to help our women and girls in remote parts of Fiji. She went beyond her call of duty to serve.
Thank you women for rising up and saying a big NO to this behavior. We must stand tall and together as women so we can talk about what we expect from our woman leaders. They are not voted to run fashion shows and alcohol raffle tickets in government. Please use your positions to serve with common dignity for all. Our nation is falling apart and times are worrying. I pray for better leadership.
Sincerely,
Grandma (78 years) and past public servant, Fijian teacher for 32 years.
A prime minister who has had numerous extra-marital affairs and also fathered children from the affairs.
Two members of his government engaged in extra-marital affairs with each other – one who flaunts her narcotic consumption, while the other is notorious for beating woman, nearly killing one.
A deputy PM who physically harassed a former candidates wife and sent her lewd messages through Whatsapp. There are articles and evidence of his extra-marital affairs during his trip to India.
The only feathers Lynda has ruffled are Aseri’s you-know-where.
She’s irrelevant to the rest of us.
She’s done zero to improve lives in Fiji.
Piece meal donations here and there.
Unsustainable.
This Coalition government needs to go.
Let’s boot them out in 2026!
We have a screw loose Women Minister in the Papers on IWD trying to tell us how to breathe.
This PAP led government is falling and falling faster than anyone can say ‘brutal’.
PM Rabuka is a PAP member like every other member !
Without a Party he would not be in Parliament.
If he was a moral man, he would have sacked LT without needing to refer to the Party disciplinary system. PM Bainimarama would have taken two minutes to sack her.
Wise advice was given and taken and the matter was sent to the Party disciplinary system.
PM Rabuka, the Party wants her gone, somebody has to embody some morals.
PM Rabuka , the world knows you were and maybe still, the biggest “slut” or is that, biggest ” tagane” around, so you were relieved from becoming the biggest hypocrite on the planet.
Repent , and SIN NO MORE.
Parliamentarians, you are employees of the Government of Fiji. We have a head, he is the President. You are there to manage the Civil and Public Servants and the Disciplinary forces of our Nation – Army, Police, Prisons. If you have no morals you do not belong, it is not supposed to be a learning institution. Unfortunately for us, the employers, ( voters) we did not have all the facts at hand when we hired you. Now we do , we know, and you must go.
This is taking longer then TEN minutes, bodes bad, very, very bad.
If LT is at the next sitting, SHAME SHAME SHAME on FIJI !!!!!
Enough! Too much focus only on one woman. Be equal and expose all men as well Lots of people screw around.
And enough with name calling. That’s not journalism not even fit for the tabloids
Time to focus on more important issues.
So sad, your page has deteriorated. I dare you to post this.
Dare accepted. Though I will be a lot more impressed when you can spell the word you accuse me of. Misogyny.
Nothing is more important than the integrity and conduct of those we vote for to represent us in public life. So, sorry. I have only just begun.
The Prime Minister is next if he doesn’t do the right thing. Because it is nothing to do with gender and everything to do with leading by example.
I understand that this is a story in the public interest but I have some sympathy with the previous post. More should be done to strive for balance as at the end of the day LT remains a person who could be seriously hurt. This is not to say she hasn’t contributed to the situation herself, she has made mistakes and her reaction to those mistakes has made things worse, but as you say she doesn’t have a good PR advisor who could spin much of this towards a political redemption arc.The concern is that whipping up too much righteous anger towards her could have repercussions that nobody wants, and as Jesus said – who will cast the first stone? Or something along those lines – because we have all sinned.
A respectful suggestion because I review your page frequently and on balance you are providing valuable information that is not being covered – can you run polls to determine the most significant issues affecting people, for example is it:
this sex scandal?
the actions of the Fiscal Review Committee – punishing the poor with VAT and rewarding the merchants in the temple and conflicts of interest? (This seems to have affected people a lot more than Ministerial sexcapades)
Something else? Appointments in breach of the Constitution? Financial scandals linked to flights to Israel? Biman’s pet projects for minions?
It would be good to know where to focus the efforts for investigative journalists as nothing is coordinated, resources are limited and it would make sense to focus on the biggest issues affecting ordinary Fijians.
Listen up, “Ernest”. There is nothing more important than integrity and proper conduct on the part of our elected officials. Everything begins and ends with that. I am not going to back off. It is a matter of vital importance to the nation’s future. So sorry. You can worry about the impact on Lynda Tabuya but that isn’t my concern. Nor should it be the concern on any journalist. Our job is to keep the bastards honest
Graham, Linda’s cheer squad never really had much cerebral matter to begin with. I’m surprised they even managed to answer the captcha correctly.
Investigate the drugs in rm 233 on a government trip.
Where she got it and who else participated.
Who stopped the Police Commissioner from investigating and why aren’t the papers even interviewing him about why he isn’t investigating!
He agrees to investigate the images for Tabuya but not the drugs? What were his findings on that?
The police should not be influenced by politicians.
Men, get out and protest for better role models for your daughters.
Speak up louder.
Sign off as a concerned father, brother, grandfather, etc. This is your bold moment of advocating for change.
Yes, we advocate for better leaders but leaders with respect.
We don’t need Tabuya.
Give us someone respectful to lead that Ministry. A man will do.
Tabuya and Shamima are a stain on our society.
Sincerely
A man, father, husband.
We have the freedom to speak up!
Use it or lose it.
Let’s put our freedom to the test!
Empowerment fails
With disingenuous folk
Claiming to be good
Just a little haiku for IWD
And what of the man who betrayed his wife? There is no public furore or even eyes on him. He sits on the backbench for other reasons. He has never been held to account for his part here, the way Lynda is.
And what of the wife who was betrayed just metres away, who can see the public reaction and be constantly reminded of that betrayal. Trust is gone.
And what of the husband who was betrayed? Yet his wife parades happy family snaps on social media like she never slept with another woman’s husband.
What of the children, whose friends whisper about what the public says? Have their values changed? Are they embarrassed? Defensive? Traumatised? How do they weather the storm?
Good questions.
In a civil society, and one that holds its morals together, and in a professional society guided by a Code of CONDUCT, Tabuya should have been stood down, removed and made a back bencher with Radrodro.
Both Minister’s failed and so is the government that continues to fail. The lasting impact of such poor decision falls on their families.
Voters don’t care about the families as they didn’t vote for them. MPs should think before opening their mouths, pants and legs.
When the workers at the coalface like nurses and teachers are talking then we know that the leaders are failing.
Pull your head in PM.
We need to move on.
And without Tabuya.
“I call on Fiji to partner with the Fijian Government in their own capacities to make gender equality a reality for a sustainable tomorrow.” Tabuya on Fiji Government page today.
Tabuya, are you serious?
You calling on who in Fiji?
The voters who voted for you have been let down already.
Now you want Fijains to “partner” with the Government.
Did you even understand what you were saying?
The Fijians own the government.
You need to brush up on who you are serving and who employs you.
Truly lost it. The PM who keeps giving this woman a platform has lost his marbles big time.
Can the Coalition get together and decide where they are going and who they are! They have absolutely lost the plot.
Hold them accountable Fiji First. Where are you all? Sitting and doing what exactly while being paid by taxpayers!!!
https://www.fiji.gov.fj/Media-Centre/Speeches/English/MINISTER-TABUYA-INTERNATIONAL-WOMEN%E2%80%99S-DAY-2024-MES?fbclid=IwAR2owKL8pLb2zb3Fgmvtwm2a_WOAD8Uu1b1zJMFdDS9qOB0YNNrLqHJucAs
I think Graham has been pretty fair in what he stands up for. He exposed Radrodro on a daily basis.
Advocacy is what it is. Like it or not.
I don’t think Graham is hanging up these gloves anytime soon.
Keep at it, Graham.
Some of us equally called out Radrodro for weeks. We will do the same for Tabuya. We arenot allowing anyone to play the pity me gender card.
It’s a frightening day when they bother about where the messages came from and not whether the messages reveal a deep dark danger that’s now freely roaming around Fiji in the form of Lynda Tabuya.
On Pio’s birthday around September this year, LT ordered a cake for him from the Holiday Inn and went to see him at his office . This is a week after LT was caught with her brutal lover!
Mark my words they will not do anything to her! Even the well known lawyer Aca Rayawa known for his bible bashing is now defending LT saying the same ! That the messages were obtained illegally. Is that even the point ? Did they or did they not f**k whilst on a tax payer funded trip to Melbourne last year?
I see Mrs Radrodro is now being attacked yet again and there are now suggestions that she should be criminally prosecuted for being suspected to have leaked the messages from her husbands phone!
What a sad day that the victim is now being accused of being the criminal .
Sad, sad day for Fiji !!
You should deeply be ashamed Pio and Lynda!! How many other of those Ministers have you slept with ? Genuine question !! ????
Not a word about adultery by 2 cabinet ministers from the bible basher !!
Hypocrisy.
Well Pio has a lot to answer.
All non performing Minister’s.
Is there anyone who really works in this Coalition?
Saw this Grubsheet link on Facebook.
Whoa! the old hag LT just loves attention.
She can’t seem to get enough of it.
As she sleeps tonight, she must thinking what photos she’s going to post again tomorrow hihihi and how many likes she aims to get.
Sa qase Nau.
Act your age.
Maybe she needs help.
Her attention seeking behaviour is not normal.
Especially for a Cabinet Minister.
Former Ministers for Women, Adi Mereseini Rakuita and Rosie Akbar are smart, classy women compared to this one.
Too cheap.
All over the place.
No self respect.
Boy is this lady thick skinned or what! After her scandal have been making headlines she has the audacity to put out a full page supplement on IWD, put out a recorded message on Govt page and participate at her Ministry’s IWD celebrations.
Sa rauta Lynda, enough of your “look at me” and“I’m a damsel in distress attitude” hear this loud and clear – the women of fiji reject you.
PM pls get rid of her, she’s really becoming an eyesore and a real nuisance.
Happy Bonking @ Room #233
Way to ruin IWD for all the women and girls…
We don’t want to see you or hear you speaking for us.