Some people have misconstrued my last article predicting that Sitiveni Rabuka will win next year’s election as an expression of support for the Prime Minister when it is definitely NOT.
Incredibly, word has reached me that this misapprehension evidently extends to certain individuals believing that Grubsheet has been the recipient of a gold Rolex to buy my silence and support.
I guess this kind of thing is to be expected when we live in an era in which most people, and especially politicians, have their price. But whatever accusations my critics make about me being mercenary enough to work for Qorvis in Fiji to promote Frank and Aiyaz, I can assure my readers, hand on heart, that my support in these columns is not for sale.
I will decide closer to the election precisely which individuals or political parties I think are worthy of our collective backing when the Fijian people face a choice but here’s a cast iron guarantee that it won’t be Sitiveni Rabuka. And for the following reasons:
- He is a confidence trickster who lied his way into power by saying that he realised what he did in 1987 was wrong and would govern for all when he has pursued the same ethno-nationalist agenda to establish indigenous supremacy.
- His chaotic and capricious management style has been a disaster for Fiji as the country lurches from one political crisis to another.
- He has destroyed public confidence to the extent that more than 100,000 Fijians have left since he took power to add to the mass exodus he triggered with his coups of 1987.
- He refuses to rule out abolishing the common and equal citizenry and the common identity and his ministers openly talk of returning Fiji to the racially-weighted 1997 Constitution, inviting global condemnation and disgrace.
- He is utterly amoral – tolerating scandalous conduct from his ministers that would be sackable offences in any other democracy.
- He is totally insensitive to the plight of the underprivileged to the extent of flaunting a “$150,000 plus” solid gold Rolex when many of those who elected him can’t even get water or electricity.
- He has broken all standards of acceptable public conduct by refusing to be transparent and accountable about the source of his Rolex and other manifestations of wealth, making the ludicrous claim that he is “entitled to remain silent” when he is not.
- He has taken cronyism and patronage to an entirely new level with grossly inappropriate appointments to civil service positions, the offices of state, government boards and the diplomatic service.
- He has given tax concessions to foreign billionaires and raised taxes for Fijians struggling to put food on the table.
- He has increased the national debt and is steadily reducing the nation’s tax base as more of our best and brightest leave, making us more dependent on foreign aid to prop up the budget and entrenching Fiji’s status as a beggar nation.
- He has trashed the integrity of our institutions of state by putting handpicked individuals into positions that should be independent but who are actually there to do his bidding.
- He pretends that when these people make decisions that are not in the public interest that it has nothing to do with him when he exercises total control over the levers of power.
- He has degraded the quality of governance in Fiji to the extent that the most basic of services such as national infrastructure, health and education are worse than in the entire history of post-independent Fiji.
- He has enriched himself and other politicians with unprecedented pay increases, allowances and tax concessions on new vehicles when more than half of those who put him there are living below the poverty line.
- He is grossly unfit to lead yet has increased his majority in the parliament and will win the next election, having bought off a large chunk of the opposition with cabinet positions using your money.
Does that sound like an endorsement to you?
Right. I hope I have made myself clear.
NOTE TO MY READERS:
Grubsheet will be posting intermittently or not at all in the coming days as my esteemed Marama and I move house as the flood-damage rectification to our apartment that began 9 weeks ago enters its next phase.
We have been living on a building site but count ourselves at least fortunate to have the power on, unlike much of Viti Levu.
Sota tale whenever I get time to post again.
Are you talking about Baimaan or Rolex Rabuka? Hard to tell the difference—they’re two sides of the same rotten coin.
Albo has announced election date for Australia.
What’s your comment about that.
People here are also struggling.
Food prices and cost of almost everything gone high.
There are struggles as well for many.
You know better GD, aye mate.
The people of Greenland are also unhappy about JD Vance coming there and Trump saying the US is going to take their country. But it’s not Fiji and for better or worse, this is specifically a website about Feejee.
Cool
Let that tax payers money from Australia flow into the islands and no comments.
Vuvale Aye!
Then have have one for Australia too.
Wil be interesting as you are based there and will have first hand knowledge of what’s happening.
GD you should run. Richard Leakey was critical of the government in Kenya and he won his election. People are fed up of poverty caused by corruption and incompetence and greed.
GDR I agree.
I would have faith in Fiji again if GD would run.
Nobody has the knowledge, integrity and ability to take for Fiji action as GD. He knows all the issues inside and out and would not be an embarrassment on the world stage. He would not sell out. Fiji needs an articulate, kind and educated person with strong values to turn this place around.
Maybe he can actually enact laws to put a stop to animal cruelty. Nobody at the top even mentions it. I hate this about Fiji.
I’d love to see him in a debate on the issues! He’d be running circles around these guys.
‘Maybe he can actually enact laws to put a stop to animal cruelty. Nobody at the top even mentions it. I hate this about Fiji.’
Politicians in Feejee don’t like to talk about themselves! They’ll suffer cruelty in silence with gold rolex for comfort! lol
The only running I’m doing is in the opposite direction to keep out of the clutches of Salesi Temo and anyone else who wants to throw the book at me. Having been warned to stay out of Fiji, that’s what I am doing.
But, yes. Richard Leakey’s story is very interesting.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Leakey
Well summarised, GD.
May I add something to help him understand that his lack of constancy and uninformed utterances on matters ranging from climate change, environment, geopolitics, peace, oceans etc etc has tarnished Fiji’s image on the world stage. Amongst the Pacific leadership, which always held Fiji in such huge regard, they are aghast at his not so subtle agenda of ethno-nationalism and naked assault on governance, human rights and equality.
He should recognise that 2025 is very different from 1987 and any attempt to deprive the non i-taukeis of their rights as Fijians will not be tolerated by the international community. The Indo-Fijians and other minorities who have made Fiji home are Fijians and Pacific Islanders period! They have contributed to the status Fiji now enjoys in the region and world.
He and his erstwhile supporters including Biman and NFP may continue to bury their heads in the sand and expose their arses, but the category 6 winds of change will clearly reveal its true impact.
It’s almost end of March, does anyone know where Christopher Pryde is?
Sorry for being out of topic.
Just curious 🤔
Christopher Pryde is in New Zealand awaiting a response from the Judicial Services Commission headed by the Chief Justice, Salesi Temo, as to whether they intend to again suspend him and set up another Tribunal to try him for misbehaviour. Being exonerated by the Tuilevuka Tribunal counted for nought.
Nothing has changed from the statement the DPP issued some time ago – that he has responded to the fresh/recycled allegations of financial misconduct against him and is waiting for the JSC to make a decision. So the ball is in their court.
Why the delay? That is a question for them.
Yeah, Prado. And what’s happening with aunty Titti Barbwire inquiry?
And what’s happening with Tudravu taking people to task for 600 guns and one ammunition? Or was was it one sin of a gun and 600 rounds of munitions.
So much going on to make the head spin!
Sorry GD, slow Saturday in Fiji.😀
Karma will get this snake sooner or later. He has destroyed Fiji and lives of many Fijians and deserves to rot in prison
On another note, this is where Fiji got it’s 2/3 majority requirement in the constitution from:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=AVFcODXMP_8&si=tVokazf8UiHEmJ_V
The last minute of the video is enlightening when the PM is asked why he cannot achieve greater change in India. Presenter being LEE KUAN YEW
To suggest – however remotely, Fiji copied India for the provision of 2/3 house majority to amend/remove/add/replace the Fijian constitution is disingenuous at best and outright preposterous, mischievous, and overt racism of the worst form.
Is India the only country other than Fiji to have such constitutional guardrails? No!
For example, Japan and USA require similar and/or a combination of high bars, as do other countries.
For example – speaking to current suggestions by a few in the U.S. of a possible third term – to modify USA presidential term limits requires two thirds approval from both the Senate and the House to propose a change, and the approval from three quarters of the country’s state legislators.
Such high-bars/provisions are included –also sometimes referred to as a super majority–are used to ensure broad support for constitutional changes and to protect fundamental rights and structures from being easily overturned by any passing racist idiot.
Fundamental rights such as secular state, freedom to practice any faith, or none at all, equal citizenry, equality before and in the courts, police protections that allow society to live in peace and free from fear, equal vote, et al. Other basic freedoms include speech, media, religious, the right to education, child protection, etc.
Mainly, constitutions have guardrails to protect the people from people exactly like the current moron Fiji has as a PM.
A serial liar, adulterer, treasous bastard wanna-be tin pot soldier self-promoted with tin medals.
A racist, bigot, hateful dictator who rejects every suggestion as criticism, and is tone deaf to everything and anything from tax-payer funded GGC, the state of the economy, exponentially high salary increases, travel and per diem incomes going on junkets (to pray for 20 freaking days!).
Does nothing to address water supply woes, electricity blackouts, 15% VAT, 7-year tax breaks to billionares, cost of living crisis, thousands of children not in school, high unemployment and higher crime rates, drugs crisis, HIV crisis, horrendous health services.
What this racist moron does best go begging for “budget support” and most consistently is lie, wear a gold rolex -not confirming nor denying it is a bribe.
Instead of serving all people equally the bastard gallingly says he has a right to remain silent while being publicly elected to represent the people. A serial liar and adulterer who has a special place in his heart for a porn and drug-addled slut.
Corrupt Rolex rabuka routinely ignores lawful orders, refuses to meet with the FICAC Inquiry Commissioner, refuses to suspend the FICAC Commissioner even after a KC was brought in to give clear guidance/directions
In other words, he constantly spits on the electorate with his defiant conduct ignoring the law, the shambles within the judiciary, FICAC, ODPP, the suspended DPP saga.
Corrupt Rolex man specializes in blaming the previous goverment for everything that he fecked-up. We are short or have ran out of passports! Except therr are passport books but issued on basis of race and based on whom you know.
All these important issues and crisises go unaddressed and ignored. Yet his main priority is to change the constitution.
The current AG seems to have grown a pair, even as he continues to flip flop about the constitution: “there is no intention to go outside the scope of the constitution. It certainly won’t happen when I’m attorney general.” In a normal democracy that would be encouraging to know from the most senior government legal advisor.
Not with Leung though. With him, each new position is like a coin toss still flipping in the air and no one knows which side the coin will finally land.
Expect Leung tobthen say heads I win, tails you lose.
Back to this once broke bottle collector now unashamedly living the high life, and wants to remain in goverment as some wanna be strong man because ‘politics is for life’ he says.
To top it all off, the corrupt Rolex man is advising his race-based old school on the subject of students bullying students.
Ironically, he fails to see that he, Rolex Rabuka, is the biggest bully this country has ever known.
Twice in 1987 he bullied with guns. And he has since remained the biggest bully playing the racist card and shamelessly uses a non-issue as a boogie man – itaukei land.
PS–
There’s little to fuss about Lee K YEW’s wisdom and contributions to Singapore becoming a first world nation within 50 years.
He realized very early and declared English to be the offical language. He ruled with a very firm hand. YEW did not like dissent or opposing views. Iron rule. Everyone equal. Let’s get to work together to ward peace, progress, and prosperity. No land disputes, no supremacists ideals.
L
Not something the itaukei like at all as JVB will attest. The itaukei hated JVB for his no nonsense firm approach policies and governance. The itaukei called him a dictator. The ethnonationalist till destest JVB simply for introducing equal citizenry and a common name.
So yeah, nah, itaukei will not have liked Lee K YEW much at all. Apart from branding YEW a dictator, the itaukei would vilify and refuse to accept YEW as a leader simply because YEW is not an itaukei.
Fiji remains rooted in bigotry and hate; full of disingenuous idiots who 50 years later still cannot decide how we want to progress.
Amen ,Anonymous, I also know that Australia has the same provisions and thank you for elaborating further on my L K YEW contribution.
I was hoping someone else would add to my 2 cents worth and you couldn’t have done it better. At least now the ethnos won’t have a leg to stand on .
What about his drive, his governments drive to amend or rid us of the 2013 Constitution ? The amount of effort spent on this for the ethno-nationalist cause that will benefit a tiny minority of iTaukei racist arseholes while the rest can rot or die as far as they are concerned.( believe me, from my own experience, a majority of these people are not liked by anybody, including their own race. Look at Israel, a whole country, the largest community of hateful racist on the planet, on the brink of civil war, because of racists and their ethos of being the chosen whilst a good number find it abhorrent. Hitler and Netanyahu , peas in a pod. )
Rolex Rabuka on fire for the iTaukei, yet iTaukei will die by the thousands from AIDS for the lack of drugs on one hand whilst on the other hand die from highly addictive hard drugs and NCD’s.
The Indo Fijian descendants of the Girmitya’s blame the British for just about everything!!…to paraphrase GD.
Too right they do!
Just see what the racist anti “Indian” indoctrination of the iTaukei, by the British colonialists has done to the country after all these decades.
Fast forward…the anti “Indian” military coups of 1987 led to Rabuka’s rise as a strongman hero….and now a military MADMAN.
The sooner he disappears from the scene altogether, the better.
To blame the British for poisoning the minds of the iTaukei about “Indians” is rubbish. What about AD Patel’s public declaration that the then Indo-Fijian majority were intent on setting up a “little India” in Fiji? That was hardly likely to engender warm relations with the iTaukei.
It is time for Indo-Fijians – as it is with the iTaukei – to stop pointing the finger of blame at the colonisers when they have had half a century to get their act together but haven’t. And to start working together as One Nation to move Fiji forward.
The British – who everyone chooses to ignore were invited to colonise Fiji – left behind solid, workable institutions plus education and health systems that have been steadily degraded since. And to blame them is scapegoating of the worst, most juvenile kind.
Grow up!
The Indians in Fiji did not help their cause by refusing to fight the Japs during WW2. Some of them were outwardly supportive of Subhas Chandra Bhose in India and his pro Japanese militia that fought with the Japs.
How can the people of Fiji forget this historical fact?
You need to accept Indians into the armed forces first, stop the Christian praying, stop everything iTaukei, give them equal opportunity and make them want to fight for the country.
The same applies in rugby.
And get rid of your ingrained prejudice in your DNA as if it is normal. You are not normal because you have prejudice running in your blood and that of your children if you have any. And you are not the only one who is getting any. This is not about you and the iTaukei. This is about fairness and equality for all.
Your vulagi religion which you and the army and everyone else has taken up with so much passion is not suited to your purpose. It is a misfit.
And I just got some this morning and will be getting more everyday day.
Get rid of your ingrained prejuice, acha? Only you can do it.
@ idiot. You leave the Itaukei to decide on ‘what fits’. You and all vulagi can contribute to advancing the cause for a fair and just Fiji by getting rid of ‘your prejudice’ that you made this country so.
And, there are a fair number of Itaukei national and district soccer reps over the years, why? Because they are good at it. There is little national representation by the vulagi in rugby, why? Exactly!! As Grubsheet is noted for constantly stating, “bugger off.”
There is frequent reference to this “fact” and like most things historical not always clear. It is also historically true Indians from India fought in WW1 for a war their country was not “involved” in – we also celebrate ANZAC Day which by the way had many Indians die but the movies or historical accounts gloss over. Context is important when comparing eras as to why.
Here is a link in relation to the history of the Indian platoon in Fiji. As someone ( Idiots everywhere post ) said if this was celebrated and encouraged it might yet be possible. How many Fijians know of this Indian platoon do we even know ( or care) who was in it ? Or do we just laud Sukuna and Sukanaivalu? Both fine gentlemen of course but a choice made to glorify one aspect of history.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indo-Fijians
The Indian Army during World War II, a British force also referred to as the British Indian Army, began the war, in 1939, numbering just under 200,000 men. By the end of the war, it had become the largest volunteer army in history, rising to over 2.5 million men in August 1945.
We not talking about the Indian Arny idiot. The issue is Fiji Indians service in Fiji during WW2.
The positive aspects of the British era are overlooked if not dismissed. A “poor us oppressed” mindset continues in various groups across the ethnic spectrum.
Yes grow up. Get over the grievance mentality. Get over the inferiority complex.
And acknowledge the benefits of the Judeo Christian ethos of the British or associated movements that sought to fight injustice and inequality..like Wilberforce or the Marist Brothers or Hannah Dudley in Fiji who focused on educational opportunities for the minorities including Indian children. And there are others.
Stop feeding the ache and massaging it to get relief by complain and moaning.
And I don’t mean to ignore past wrongs as well, but be fair in appraising what has happened in the past.
Anonymous.
Your ingrained prejuice shows. Just ike many others, yiu are just not aware. It is my job to point it out.
How do you know that the vulagi are no good at rugby? Automatic prejudice? The problem is you live in a tinpot little shithole and are pretending you are the centre of the world. You seem to know more about Christianity than the missionaries who brought you the vulagi religion. I maintain the religion is not suited to you.
See these:
https://www.livemint.com/Politics/gPnTTSyuK5xIZbUabPrhzH/Orissa-tribal-boys-are-rugbyworld-champions.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ap9t9zi5500
https://www.sbs.com.au/language/punjabi/en/podcast-episode/indian-origin-rugby-player-wins-mccarthy-sportsperson-of-the-year-award/5v4fxa7yj
@Idiot. There is no need for your lowbrow vulgarilty at this forum. And you are entitled to your illinformed delusional opinion of others and their values.
Indians are not second class people. Let them play rugby in Fiji, let them join the army and navy, let them be pm, let them be in all other aspects of life in Fiji as equals. The idiots in the GCC and the government want apartheid. Indians can play tidbit better than anyone as they can do with everything else. They will not be calling for divine intervention and praying to a foreign god before every game. That is not what Christianity is meant for . What the f*ck do the iTaukei think? That they are special in the eyes of god? I am telling them they are not, so stop the silly praying and fasting. That is not what Christianity is about and that is why it is not suited. You understand all wrong . And you are not better than any other Christian or any other religion. So bugger off with all the public praying and singing hymns. I do not want to see silliness. Because it easily spreads.
SLR has pumped up the tax for ordinary Fijians while giving tax concessions to a Billionaire Owned Company.
In his previous swansong as PM most govt owned companies went bankrupt such as NBF, Government Shipping Line which was later bought by Samoa which was renamed Pacific Forum Line etc etc. Now the only logistics companies in Fiji is owned by Fiji Water eg. Swire Shipping, etc etc. This is just a few of the many organisations that went bankrupt in the 1990s. Yet people continue to believe in his BS.
Whenever I see Rabuka’s pictures I feel sick and violated!! Yuck !
When almost all the Fijians of indian descent have moved away from Fiji, the itaukei will realize that they cant eat soil and survive on sucking Rabuka and their chiefs.
Anonymous seems to imply that Indians are not good at rugby. Where did not get this prejuidiced thought from? Automatically?
https://www.espn.com.au/rugby/story/_/id/26965494/on-big-screen-how-12-tribal-boys-changed-indian-rugby
There was a movie made about this called Jungle Cry.
Let the Indians play rugby in Fiji please. Give them a chance and do not shut them out, acha, with your prejudice.
WD50, calling everyone idiot isn’t going to help with your learning of facts. The Fijian Indian was only going to join on the same salary as the British soldiers ,and once rejected didn’t bother.
Would I join the army today to die for my 30 year native land lease? NO ,NEVER
People join armies to fight for their country. You kaivitis don’t want us to call this country ours ,you call us visitors ,vulagis.
Only an idiot visitor would go to war to defend somebody else’s country. GET IT IDIOT ??
To critics of Indo-Fijian participation in rugby, World Rugby’s Get Into Rugby Statistic report 2019 had India at the top of the rankings globally, reaching out to 214,053 new rugby participants through the Get Into Rugby outreach program.
Perhaps someone can find a report from the sub-continent that criticizes Fiji’s participation in cricket.
“From Japan, England, France, and the USA, I have now made my way to India. India and Fiji share a close bond, and it gives me great pride as a Fijian to help elevate rugby in India to the next level,” said Waisale Serevi.
So let us not insult Serevi by degrading the potential growth of participation in rugby by the local and global Indian communities. Please love your neighbour as thyself!
https://pina.com.fj/2024/08/13/india-and-fiji-share-a-close-bond-rugby-legend-serevi-proud-to-take-charge-as-head-coach/
Our PM is looking more like a lizard now GD, why is that?; secondly where is the COI REPORT we all looking forward to see and read?
WHY the Govt. is not revealing the COI?
All Fijians should unite to VOTE in a new Government that is accountable to the people and pays off our $10 billion debt quickly . …NO MORE PORN QUEENS and RAMBOS!
The COI is not meant to report until April 11. But, yes, let’s see if it is officially released or is leaked out in dribs and drabs.
What has Rabuka achieved for the majority of iTaukeis since 1987? He is one of most corrupt leaders of Fiji. Look at the latest pay rise for MPs and Ministers. How can he justify this when the majority people in Fiji are managing day to day living? How can he justify the large number of ministers he has in his government? However, the majority iTaukeis keep propping him. We need young talented multiracial leaders who have Fiji at heart. It is time for change.