Manoa Kamikamica goes public saying he is sweet with the Prime Minister as the nation speculates about the identities of those Sitiveni Rabuka was referring to when he revealed a split in the ranks of the People’s Alliance.
So who are the rebels and would-be defectors? In the absence of them being outed or identifying themselves, the guessing game continues.
Yet one thing is certain. Despite the protestations of Manoa Kamikamica and a clutch of other ministers in Friday’s dailies, all is not well in the main governing party. Our spies tell us that the “grumblings within Rabuka’s own cabinet and the party are real”.
The most outward manifestation thus far has been the resignation two weeks ago as PAP President of the Tui Nadi, Ratu Vuniyani Navuniuci, who made it known that he was deeply unhappy with the direction the government was taking. “The Tui Nadi went because he had lost confidence in the leadership of the party”, says a well-connected Grubsheet source,”and there is merit to the information that the new party (to challenge the PAP) is likely to spring from the West”
“A major discontent is the perception that Sitiveni Rabuka is busy consolidating and entrenching the Vanualevu (Cakaudrove, Macuata, Bua) influence with little, if any, regard for the West and Central East (rest of the provinces). And he has not really done anything for the youth within the PAP, who worked very hard voluntarily to get the thousands of signatures to have the Party registered and established”.
“As soon as he got into power, there was an expectation among young people that the Prime Minister would organise a major youth rally or some other event as an expression of appreciation for their efforts. But he has done absolutely nothing to date, and there has been a pervasive state of disaffection among the youth who played a pivotal role in acquiring signatures and forming the People’s Alliance. This sense of being used and let down badly has resulted in a number of young people leaving the PAP”.
“At the recent AGM, it seemed that young people weren’t present in the expected numbers, which is not a good indicator of PAP support when the youth population will be a sizeable voting block at the 2026 election”, this source writes.
All this indicates structural problems in the People’s Alliance and a basic disenchantment with the leadership by arguably the most important group in the Party – those who did the hard yards to bring it to power, will represent the largest number of voters when Fiji goes to the polls in two year’s time and are the nation’s political future.
When disaffected young people join forces with those resentful about provincial favouritism and those who have become disgusted with the Coalition’s chronic dysfunction and scandals, it is a volatile mix that is exploding in Sitiveni Rabuka’s face and driving the establishment of a competing political force.
Rabuka and those around him can say all they like about the party remaining strong. Yet the truth is that at the half way mark of the election cycle, critical parts are falling off the vehicle in which they intended to ride to victory in 2026.
The defections to a new party will be a major blow to the PAP and its leadership. They now have no hope of achieving an absolute majority in the parliament and shedding their Coalition partners. And if a new Western-based party pledging a return to proper standards of governance gains traction – as it surely will – all bets are off.
Much of the country is now feeling just like the youth of the PAP – marginalised and forgotten as the fat cats of the Coalition gorge themselves on the spoils of power – including those unconscionable pay rises – and indulge in conduct that is unethical and immoral. They are looking for fresh faces and politicians who live up to the ideals of public service rather than merely giving them lip service. And a day of reckoning beckons.
Now to some of Friday’s media coverage as the PAP hierarchy tries to paper over the cracks…
A strange statement that again underlines how much Manoa Kamikamica is a babe in the woods when it comes to politics.
“Keyboard warriors and rumour mongers” can hardly be blamed for the current divisions in the PAP.
Oi, you dope. It was the Prime Minister who revealed the split in your party. And you’ve only got yourselves to blame for your inability to manage the mess you are in and for the government’s woeful performance.
Sheesh.
Friday’s coverage in the Fiji Sun...
Plus a Fiji Sun editorial …
Over at the Fiji Times – the Pravda of the Coalition – it’s no surprise to find that the propaganda has kicked in and the split in the PAP is, to all intents and purposes, over.
“Talks of division within the ruling The People’s Alliance were diffused yesterday when several Cabinet ministers rallied behind Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and put up a firewall between themselves and those who want to hunt with the hounds and run with the foxes”. And they have the temerity to call this news.
Is it journalistic naivety – the inability of Fiji Times journalists to understand that this is how party splits and leadership challenges always play out in the initial stages and division hasn’t been “diffused”? No, it is Soviet-style propaganda. There is no problem because we say so.
Read on for an astonishing manipulation of the news. No attempt to identify the dissenters who want to leave and set up a rival party or the issues that have triggered the schism. Just a conga line of ministers pledging their allegiance to the Prime Minister.
Well they would do that, wouldn’t they?
“There’s no such thing as a split”, says Charan Jeath Singh. So are you calling the Prime Minister a liar?
This guy may be rich but he’s just proved beyond reasonable doubt that he’s an idiot.
And the Queen of Tarts gets her own article saying the government’s focus should be on “serving the people”.
Er, we understand that Aseri Radrodro gave you a serve, Lynda. And you presided over parliament’s Emoluments Committee that enabled you all to serve yourselves.
But we’re having trouble grasping your idea of service to the people. Nice outfit though. And appropriately black.
Meanwhile, Frank Bainimarama has been back before the courts and cutting a sorry figure in handcuffs.
Say what you like about Frank and the FijiFirst years. But there was discipline in the government and little of the instability that now plagues the nation as the various indigenous elites fight over the spoils of office.
Well one thing I can tell you that it is Manoa. The names I have heard include two members of SODELPA and 4 members of People’s Alliance. And that they are backed by the chairman of the Public Service Commission Luke Rokovada. What an odd bunch of bedfellows they make.
SODELPA
Viliame Gavoka – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation
Ifereimi Vasu – Minister for iTaukei Affairs
People’s Alliance
Manoa Kamikamica – Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade, Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises and Communications
Filimoni Vosarogo – Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources
Lynda Tabuya – Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection
Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure – Assistant Minister for Home Affairs
I have also heard of these same names being passes around by Rabuka’s closest confidantes. I just took the list at face value with no real evidence to back it up but with Ditoka’s comments that the MAJORITY (which means not all) of the Ministers and Assistant Ministers from People’s Alliance support PM makes the rumoured names just a little more credible as nobody was posting anything about Assistant Ministers (i.e., Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure) leaving to form a new party.
Given that this rumour of PA ministers leaving to form a new party was just another post on facebook until Rabuka himself proved those rumours fact by commenting on them to the media. And now that this list of names have been leaked to the public which contain names not in the original post that started all this makes me think that Rabuka is lighting a fire under all the alleged defectors and waiting to see their next move. Could this all be a devious and masterful ploy by Rabuka to remove any challengers to his position or is this just another case of people not being able to stop running their mouths and leaking all this information?
No, there is a new party in the making. It is not a construct of the PM. Though he is clearly trying to smoke the would-be defectors out of the PAP before they pose a threat to his leadership. ie. Cut out the cancer and move on.
The problem is they may well eventually constitute a viable force to compete against the PAP, which has brought all this upon itself with its chronic dysfunction and corruption.
I also heard the same names but Siromi instead of Rakuita. I was surprised to hear the SODELPA names also mentioned but could understand given the state of the party. I would have thought Gavoka and Vasu would have joined PA but it seems they thought they would be better off forming a new party without all the baggage attached to it.
I find MK’s comments chilling and surreal, . . . there is no room for instability. . . “ also “We will not allow anyone to derail that vision,” is clearly a warning for the use of force against its critics
This smacks of fascism, when big business allies with government and the coercive apparatus of the state to clamp down on dissent.
What sacrifices is he talking about when only recently in justifying the massive salaries and perks they paid themselves he said the huge increases are necessary to make him work harder.
What vision is he talking about when his party did not even bother to release a proper manifesto at the last election, but issued a few dot points referred to as “The First Hundred Days.”
He is acting as if the PAP got the greatest number of votes in the last election. It didn’t, it was the Fiji First Party that received the majority of votes, but not enough to win outright.
And Lynda is “feeling chill” on FB tonight with essentially an “It’s me! Look at me post”
Quoted post below:
“Always focus on your goal. Do not focus on any direction but ahead.”
Complete with archer and bulls eye target meme.
Charan Jeath Singh meanwhile: “Who says there is a split..?!” Bhai your PM says! Clueless
Hope they all tear each other apart and leave our Fiji to a fresh lot of leaders who truly have the country at heart.
After Gavoka, Manoa is the most useless person in Fiji.
Why aren’t the people of Fiji doing something about these dickheads?
Perhaps they all are bigger dickheads themselves.
Manoa Kamikamica seems like an angry man. See the use of those words after keyboard warriors and fear mongers – “good luck and goodbye”
I have de words for MK – work harder to earn our trust!
Let these parliamentarians fight and we the voters take out our pop corn and watch these useless pigs go at each other!
Rabuka has been in politics for some time and he is very clearly playing a political game. He’s cast the dice and now his stooges are lining up to chorus support for him. But, this is just another smoke screen the snake is putting up as he tries to achieve his own agenda. MK, ST, FV, and others are just biding their time. Watch as this comedy act crumbles by Xmas 2024.
The rumours that a new political party is being formed in the west is nothing new. In the events post 1987, there was a lot of hue and cry about the west being the financial powerhouse of the country whereas the east was deemed as where the bureaucracy idiots resided.
This kind of geographical divide in politics can not be good for any country. But, we shall wait and see.
A tip for the western elites etc who maybe part of the setting up of this new political party, (#10 now?), please do not, do not involve or include any of the current politicians in your party.
Why? You have seen the almost irreparable damage they have done to our beautiful country. If you grant them access and inclusion, you are going to be tarnished with the same brush. Have nothing to do with them. Harness strong, genuine, and honest patriots who have a strong desire to put country first. You will then gain the trust and support of the electorate. The sight of even one face out of this bunch of failed crooks in your new party will be your downfall before the party even gets off the ground.
There are young energetic, well educated individuals who are waiting in the wings to provide the necessary leadership in a time such as this. Grab them, support them, but more importantly, listen to them. Gradually infuse wisdom in with enthusiasm and you will have a strong platform to launch your political agenda.
All the best!
Filimoni Vosarogo is quoted asking of Alexandra Forwood: [Does she pay taxes here. She contributes nothing to nation building.]
Well does any of his Party’s supporters overseas who engage in Fiji politics pay taxes! Or anyone non resident in Fiji who does not have a tax paying business in Fiji. Should they all shut up! Should the diaspora shut up!
What about the rest of the hundreds of thousands in Fiji who don’t pay tax?
It has been estimated that only about 20,000 people in Fiji pay income tax which is a direct tax. So all the rest of you in Fiji and overseas please shut up!
Noted that Indirect taxes – the main one being VAT, are paid by everyone who purchases a taxable service or goods in Fiji. 21 basic food items are exempt from VAT – so all you people who live in poverty who mainly buy these staple foods with no VAT and those in the cash economy Shut Up as you don’t pay much or any taxes!
Vosarogo’s comment about people paying taxes or not and participating in nation building, and challenging the govt and whether living in Fiji or abroad is poorly thought. It’s a sign of Ms Forwood getting under his skin with her probing insights – good on her! Another one of us keeping those thugs on watch.
And the other matter of Fiji’s limited tax payer base presents the dire situation of how few people pay taxes to fund govt services and how many more benefit…and that’s why govt has to keep borrowing budget after budget. And if the few of those who are paying taxes in Fiji are heading overseas as they have been, the future is a bigger burden on those residents left to foot the bill of operating the economy.
Long live Alexandra the Great! You go young lady .Keep them on their toes!
The overseas Fijian diaspora is paying you all through remittances now. Very soon that will be your backbone of the economy. Just like in Samoa.
What will Fili know? He is a corrupt and incompetent lawyer and anything that he wants to be.
He can enjoy his last few months of Tik Toking using fancy glasses with his wife. The show will end soon.
Manoa’s statement that he stands by the PM has these words missing – for now. He is only there for now as he will probably have to forego the perks if he admits his intentions. He is a snake in training.
It will change to all sorts. Including Shaggy’s It wasn’t me. Except this floor won’t be the one in the bathroom but the village vale ni po. Nothing rosy left. Time to go.
Stand by Me!
Stand by your Man Tabuya
Oh darling stand by me, stand by me, when the mountains crumble..
Stand by me Fili
Stand by me, when the perks run out…
Et Tu Kamikamica ??
Rabuka lost the confidence of people when he reneged on the promise to give Burebasaga’s Ro Teimumu to be president and the western chiefs who come under her are not happy. Just because the big honcho at the State House did his duties does not mean he needs another term. Promises and gentlemen agreements should count for something, unless of course one does not have the values, political realities aside. Rabuka’s job was to displace Bai. Now that is done, he should concern himself with handing over to younger guys and ladies for the next term to take Fiji forward.
The ar@ is parading in New Zealand for Fiji Day. Useless leader has nothing to give and provide for his people at home.
The New Zealand indo Fijians must turn their backs on. Give him no attention.
Mr trying to be sweet Kamikamica is all talk and no show. The whole team has to go.
I am not casting a single vote for any party that has any current and past MPs. This is it Fiji. We demand for a better future for us and our children. They can all start collecting bottles come 2026.
Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum on 6.10.24
“The Economy is not robust. There is less confidence, highlighted by the reduced or muted drawdowns from the banks, there is less consumption spend because of increased overall costs for ordinary Fijians.
On the other hand, the rich, those earning over $270,000 a year, received a Christmas gift last year as they now pay 5 percent less tax. They and Members of Parliament got more money in their pockets while those on social welfare, the working class, paid more from their pockets and did not receive a reduction in personal income tax.
The slowing down of the Economy has also been exacerbated by the fact that so many Fijians have left their country in such a short period of time. This departure is not only about Fiji losing different skill sets and expertise but it is also about people with regular income leaving the country. If they were still here they would have spent – for example buying clothes, phones, buying lovo packs, roti parcels and pineapple pies from ordinary Fijians, building homes, eating out at restaurants or buying cars, generally spending and creating economic activity.
So last year VAT was increased by 66% and corporate tax by 25%. Other government charges were also increased including duty and departure tax.
Anybody with a basic knowledge of the markets and global economy would have known that global inflation was already elevated and that is why many central or reserve banks were putting tighter controls.
So Biman increased VAT, corporate tax and government charges with global inflation elevated, and coming fresh into a new government where the first thing he should have done was to provide confidence, continuity and stability, not disrupt or jolt the market, citizen and investor confidence, business stability and overall economy.
Our inflation peaked at about 7% or thereabouts after the VAT increase. Today it sits at about 5% or thereabouts.
Yet despite these large increases in VAT, corporate tax and inflation, he is making a big deal about collecting 3 billion dollars through FRCS. The figure needed to be far more than 3 billion dollars given these factors. In fact, previously without the VAT and corporate tax increases and inflation, revenue collected was just below 3 billion dollars.
So in real terms they collected less than 3 billion or conversely they should have collected close to 4 billion dollars.
This misplaced celebration of revenue is not only a dubious celebration but is very cruel because Biman is congratulating himself and FRCS for increasing the burden on the poor and the working class of Fiji.
Biman and Manoa and some of their erstwhile and myopic supporters always have only one come back when we analyse the economy – debt levels.
We have already provided various analyses on debt a number of times. Suffice to say under Biman, debt has significantly increased in such a short period of time and there is nothing to show for it. There has been no major cyclone, no pandemic and almost no new infrastructure development, except for the completion of those projects that were started under the Prime Ministership of Frank Bainimarama. Funnily enough, now Biman wants to talk about debt to GDP ratio as opposed to the actual total
The fact is the Economy has been severely disrupted by these abrupt changes. The fact is that the debt stock has increased. The fact is that the increased debt has not translated into any major capital infrastructure investments by government. The fact is that government operational expenditure has gone up. The fact is there was no need to increase VAT. The fact is there was no need to increase corporate tax. The fact is we were not defaulting in our debt payments prior to 24 December 2022. The fact is we borrowed money to see us through COVID by providing unemployment benefits and other services. And, the fact is we borrowed money to build schools, hospitals, new roads, police stations, bridges and jetties and rebuild after approximately 12 cyclones in less than 10 years. One of which destroyed one third the value of our GDP in less than 36 hours.
Borrowing for such purposes with sustainability, to build productive capacity, unleash individual and private sector confidence and investment is, as stated previously, good use of debt.
Prime Minister Rabuka must do far more than what Biman and Manoa are doing to urgently help Fijians who are on social welfare, the poor, the working class, pensioners, our children, ordinary Fijians and those on the forefront of providing essential services such as police officers who have to deal with law and order, the drug situation and our nurses and doctors.
It all boils down to having compassion for the poor, the working class, and ordinary Fijians, while knowing in practical terms what drives everyone, including businesses, to engage with confidence and gainfully in the Economy.
As Bill Clinton’s campaign slogan said ‘It is the Economy, stupid’.”
Ends
The guy has 65k followers on Facebook and his post is liked by 1.2k people. Shared over 160 times.
Meanwhile, Kamikamica and the lot, even Tabuka, don’t get 100 likes to their post.
The intelligent lion is still alive Fiji. We know who has prominence. It will be even better if Ella Khaiyum stands up in the next elections. That will totally tip the scale.
No thank you. Please keep that member of the lost tribe of Israel away from politics. Having to deal with her Father, who is DPM, LMNOP and all the other alphabets, but never an alpha, is bad enough.
Better than the Tabuya you have now.
At least Ela is a woman of dignity.
Her father’s incompetence is not her problem.
Dr Atonio Lalabalavu rhetoric regarding “Keitou domo dua ga” meaning “we are one voice” has lost its traction and mana in modern democracy. That is the vanua mantra which worked when traditional leaders aren’t in politics.
My message to Atonio Lalabalavu is that in modern democracy and certainly with our educated lot from Cakaudrove, the chiefs no longer control our political interest or affiliation. That type of rhetoric no longer cuts it as we have learnt our lessons. Sorry Atonio, you’re a good person but your father sadly spoils it for you and your generations. If you want your mana to remain intact, then your best bet is to go back to tradition leadership. Sadly, it doesn’t work for us younger generation from Cakaudrove.
It’s a tinpot political strategy within PAP (although most of the naive ones are not even aware) to deceptively create a saviour party. Pick up the votes of the disgruntled Fijians who are sick of this government’s all-talk and no-results, abysmal performance record. Testing the ministers and testing the voters’ reactions. Just see how they all come bowing to the Emperor with no clothes.
The sheer stupidity of thinking that the people of Fiji would even bother voting for the splinter group, kaila! You all look the same to us, regardless of how you split it.
You’re all tainted and we don’t trust you, nor believe the cheap tinpot country PR spins you’re sending out on social and mainstream media.
The good thing with politics, is that we can always kick you out in the next election, and this time around, don’t bank on us having short memories. We will remember.
But thank you for showing us your true colours. We’re enjoying the current shit-show as the masks fall off one by one. Reminds me of the Lord Shiva. We had high hopes but now we need to send you all to Bin #13 so our dear country can rise from your ashes and we march forward to real freedom.
The people of Fiji had high hopes for your lot but you all turned out to be a huge disappointment. Covering up for each other’s black asses and just a sequel to FFP’s 16 years of modern slavery. Time to go.
Dou rogoca qo. Sa rauta na va-Jesus wavoki tiko.
Cegu laivi mada yani na caka hollow quotes tiko.
We don’t pay you to do PR on social media. We pay you to deliver for the people of Fiji.
Keimami sa kida!
Go and preach your BS to your small remaining handful of naive supporters whose heads are still all the way up the gurgling giraffe’s neck..and they can stay right there. Sega na isa. Elimination process done.
We need strong patriotic citizens who know that even when your friend or relative is not doing the right thing, call them out! If they have to go to jail for it, so be it!
Look at Bai, George Speight, Qilio, etc. No one is above the law.
Lady Karma is waiting on the other side. She doesn’t miss and she likes to dish it out cold. Winter is coming, folks!
Come GE2026, we have a common message for all of you PAP smears.
Go home!
Given that this rumour of PA ministers leaving to form a new party was just another post on facebook until Rabuka himself proved those rumours fact by commenting on them to the media. And now that this list of names have been leaked to the public which contain names not in the original post that started all this makes me think that Rabuka is lighting a fire under all the alleged defectors and waiting to see their next move. Could this all be a devious and masterful ploy by Rabuka to remove any challengers to his position or is this just another case of people not being able to stop running their mouths and leaking all this information?
Who names a party PAP anyway!
It starts with the name and values. They might as well pap their mona now.
Clueless, useless, pathetic losers and users they are.
Acha, if PAP is falling apart then what will happen to Bimanwa, Labasa ke kadwadu (Labasa’s smoked fish)?
Time to pack up and leave Biman.
You are officially dumped as of yesterday.
Rabuka is a small-minded racist bigot who has to go back to his earlier profession of collecting empty bottles!
Rabuka had to put it out there because it’s already out anyway! You don’t just have your party General Secretary resign albeit get pushed out! Nor do you sack your PSPMO who’s got powerful alliances like the Tui Cakau unless it’s very serious and you need to start shaking the tree!!
Lynda and Fili thought their antics wouldn’t be noted by SLR!! When the two didn’t turn up to the PAP AGM it was evident that trouble was around the corner . For slut Queen, she knows PAP senior officials won’t have her back in PAP come 2026. The wives don’t want her!
As for the rest of the defectors , they are the same crew that left Sodelpa almost wiped out in the last elections . Now it’s a repeat stunt and Manoa has audacity to call for the traitors to leave PAP now! Your cover is blown Manoa. Besides you all didn’t have a problem with those Sodelpa opposition MPs who only jumped to PAP last minute when parliament was prorogued in 2022!
The names in the Fiji Times GD is too funny. I hear it’s SLR himself who gave baby mamma Margaret Wise the names to go interview- the official newspaper of PAP carrying the interviews was telling . LOL
Well… Welll… Well… Now the whole of Fiji gets to see who Rabuka really is. Its is the very leadership style that split Sodelpa…
Apart from many of his dictatorship styles…He promised to mentor youths for leadership …. DID NOT HAPPEN. He is a power hungry man who will stay in power for as long as.
Now the PAP youths who worked hard to get the party up and running knows how it feels like despite them being warned.
There are only 3 kinds of people that gets a tick in his books.
1. Military personnel
2. OB’s
3. CBM
The rest…. Can all get lost regardless of how hard you work to get him up there. Believe me when i say ….Im talking from experince.
At least Frank was right on one thing.
A snake will always be a snake.
We Veratans stick by each other through thick and thin – Sakiasi Ditoka:
While this loyalty and allegiance concept sounds noble it is a big problem in Fiji society.
The tribal Neanderthal like groups of School Alumni (RKS / QVS/ Grammar/Marist/ LMS etc), same Province, same Village, same religious denomination, Eastern, Northern Fiji and so on. Any wrong doing of members gets overlooked and even supported – just because of being in the group. These group networks help you get jobs, contracts, queue jumping – all sorts of corrupt practices. An extension of the who you know to get ahead.
As long as this thick and thin continues in this improper way, we can’t expect to see good governance – there is too much of small self interest groups overriding what is good for all. The disunited tribes of Fiji – claiming to stand as one under noble banner blue.
I have never seen PM Luxon’s team write a short post on LinkedIn for a PM visiting New Zealand.
It reads:
New Zealand and Fiji’s partnership is going from strength to strength. Great to catch up with Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka before he celebrates Fiji National Day tomorrow in Manukau.
That’s it! And with a photo of Luxon laughing hard out. Might as well and should have written: Go home mate! Your party just coup’d you 😂
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/christopher-luxon-bb701b195_new-zealand-and-fijis-partnership-is-going-activity-7252948052905205760-X0HZ?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_ios
One by one they all fall.
Saving themselves with Godly scriptures and anything on serving the poor won’t cut it anymore.
GD, I say this is worth repeating simply because many Fijians had no clue who Rabuka is. They can now learn.
As Frank said, “a snake is a snake.”