Manoa Kamikamica, has responded to the seizure of his mobile phone by FICAC by doubling down on his preposterous claim that he had nothing to do with influencing the appointment of his friend, Barbara Malimali, as FICAC Commissioner.
Worse, the Deputy Prime Minister exploits the gormlessness of the Fijian media by avoiding altogether the main accusation against him – that he offered to use his relationship with Malimali once she was installed to shut down a FICAC investigation into his PAP colleague, the former fisheries minister, Kalaveti Ravu.
This is what Manoa Kamikamica has told the Fiji Sun, among other media outlets, and it tells us that Mr Sweet subscribes to the Josef Goebbels formula for shrugging off inconvenient truths – the bigger the lie, the more believable that lie.
Yet far from being “stupid and ludicrous”, that is precisely what the Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry has found.
And the COI has also found something much more serious – evidence of corruption of the worst kind.
But you won’t read about that finding in the Fiji Sun. Manoa Kamikamica doesn’t tell and the reporter doesn’t ask.
The Minister “hopes that Fijians can now read the report for themselves”? Rubbish. Because if they did, they would soon realise that the central allegation of the Deputy Prime Minister using his influence to shut down a FICAC investigation is being ignored altogether. And that has been the case in repeated media stories over recent days.
It is only natural that Manoa Kamikamica doesn’t want any attention on this aspect of the COI Report and the main reason he is now being investigated by FICAC himself. He wants to divert public attention away from the Ravu case onto the manner in which Barbara Malimali was appointed because that is the less serious of the allegations against him.
He is being able to get away with this smokescreen 1/ because the Coalition government has publicly released only a redacted version of the COI report and 2/ Because Fijians journalists are either too stupid or too lazy to find out what the Report actually says.
Their defence will presumably be to say: “well we don’t have the full story officially”. Yet Grubsheet, for one, has published the COI Report in full – unredacted – so it is available for anyone with access to the Internet. And even if local journalists have been instructed to only report the redacted version, they ought to at least be checking anything Manoa Kamikamica claims by referencing the full version simply because they owe it to their readers not to let him get away with lying.
And make no mistake, that is what Kamikamica is doing. It is a combination of telling outright porkies and trying to divert media attention with red herrings – all of which adds up to manipulating the truth of the COI’s findings against him:
- that the Deputy Prime Minister actively worked to install his friend, Barbara Malimali, as FICAC Commissioner
- and then allegedly told Kalaveti Ravu – who was under investigation by the corruption watchdog for abuse of office – that he could intervene with Malimali on Ravu’s behalf. (Kamikamica says he can’t remember doing this, not that he didn’t do it).
That finding by Justice David Ashton -Lewis is now being investigated by FICAC, which as we know, has seized Manoa Kamikamica’s phone as part of that investigation.
How might we have expected someone of integrity to behave under the circumstances ? It would be perfectly acceptable for the Deputy Prime Minister to have said something along of the lines of: “I maintain my innocence, I am cooperating with the investigation and am confident of being cleared”. Yet instead, he has gone on the attack, actively trying to undermine the credibility of a Supreme Court Commission of Inquiry and in doing so, bringing the judicial system into disrepute.
By misrepresenting the nature of the allegations against him, he is also trying to manipulate public opinion in his favour on false pretences. And that is totally unacceptable, especially for a Deputy Prime Minister and someone who aspires to lead the nation – the putative successor to Sitiveni Rabuka for the top job.
Read the evidence for yourself, Fiji – extracts from the COI Report which tells us three things:
- that Manoa Kamikamica is mendacious and manipulative.
- has no respect for the rule of law and proper conduct when under formal investigation.
- and that Fijian journalists are allowing someone so conspicuously in the firing line to manipulate the facts without making sufficient effort themselves to establish the truth.
The “Hon Ravunawa” in the following extract is Penioni Ravunawa – the Assistant Minister for Health, who supported Kalaveti Ravu’s evidence to the COI.
———-
So which mainstream media organisation in Fiji is going to be the first to actually do its job and give us the full story?
And when will Manoa Kamikamica stop spreading disinformation and allow justice to take its course?
POSTSCRIPT:
From the cross-examination of Kalaveti Ravu, you can judge yourself the veracity of his claim that Manoa Kamikamica offered to intervene on his behalf with Barbara Malimali in our story from three days ago.
It is Manoa Kamikamica’s word against two of his parliamentary colleagues – Ravu and Ravunawa. And if there is anything on the Deputy Prime Minster’s mobile phone to support their allegations, he is facing the prospect of a jail sentence on top of the destruction of his political career.
This COI report is good for everyone not only those who were implicated but all the good citizens of this country. We must all learn to behave within the law and with integrity.
Nobody is above the law and this Tuvalu SHIREN should know better. She knew her past unprofessional behaviour in Tuvalu would not make her the right choice for the commissioner position, yet she applied and hoping her connection to all those PIGGY custodians of the law will help her, like the CJ, former AG, MK, etc.
She is pathetic to the core and does not deserve to hold any legal position in Fiji nor practice law in the country!
What he should be saying at this point is, the authorities are looking into the events outlined in the CoI report and I am not at liberty to discuss this matter until the investigation has been completed and any issues pertaining to my involvement are brought forward for me to answer.
There is no advantage to him to try and influence ‘his family and the vanua’ as to his innocence when those investigating him are not going to be interested in his protestations, no matter how many people he tells or how often he does it.
When you find yourself in a hole that you dug, stop digging!
Manoa Kamikamica is one of the most dangerous persons in our Fijian parliament today. The man used to work for Lyndhurst, the company that sold its warehouses in the Valelevu Tax Free zone in 2024 and which was bought by FNPF! Biman took that cabinet paper to cabinet for approval. That’s the reason FNPF staff didn’t get any bonus last year because the purchase of Lyndhurst was unbudgeted and unplanned !
I worked for a company that used to rent the Lyndhurst warehouses and I’m well familiar how Manoa would overcharge rent and bully tenants into paying thousands and thousands of dollars!!
So Manoa is a schemer and people like me have called him out in the past but we thought he’d do better once he is in parliament.
Ravu must come out and complete what Manoa tried to do. He wanted Ravu to join his group in outvoting PM in a vote of no confidence within PAP. In exchange Manoa would influence Malimali to close Ravu’s case.
How else did Manoa know Malimali was going to be FICAC Commissioner unless he had a hand in her appointment?
An interesting comment on a previous post from a supposed staff of GPH outlined that Ann Steele, Tanya Waqanika, Lynda Tabuya and Malimali used to have tea together at GPH.
Those are the same lot that tore Sodelpa apart and set up PAP. They are Manoa’s inner circle!
Good job GD! Thank you for your vibrant and enlightening page. 🙌
In light of the recent developments surrounding Deputy Prime Minister Manoa Kamkamica and the findings of a Commission of Inquiry now under investigation by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), it is imperative to reaffirm the values of transparency, accountability, and due process that underpin our institutions.
While every individual is entitled to the presumption of innocence, it is concerning when a senior Minister chooses to engage in repeated public justifications and excuses while an active investigation is underway.
Such conduct, while within one’s rights, risks undermining the integrity of the investigative process and can be seen as an attempt to influence public perception or deflect from the seriousness of the allegations.
This pattern of behavior—responding to serious findings with defensive rhetoric rather than measured silence—may be interpreted by the public as a sign of desperation or an attempt to cling to political legitimacy in the face of mounting scrutiny. Hope, when not grounded in truth or justice, quickly becomes a fragile shield.
The appropriate course of action for any leader under investigation is to respect the process, cooperate fully with the authorities, and allow the facts to speak for themselves. Integrity in public office is not only defined by one’s actions when in power, but also by how one responds to accountability.
Mr. Kamkamica should have recused himself from his position until the investigation was complete. We don’t expect anything better from Rabuka whose leadership fails to take action.
Gone are the good ole days when a public figure would step aside voluntarily when an accusation was leveled against them to allow a fair and transparent investigation to take place.
These days the bastards double down harder when they’re accused and do everything in their power to destroy or cover up the evidence. And they have the gall to flaunt their corrupt actions publicly.
I got to admire the passion Charlie Charters and his tunnel vision has shown to discredit the COI. All meritless accusations against COI, due to Charlie not being able to do proper or factual research. It’s depressing to see that cabal and those of influence going out of their way to discredit COI rather than asking for reforms or better from those in power. Does loyalty lie with the select few or with the nation?
There is nothing admirable about it at all. Charlie Charters is campaigning against the COI solely because his friends have been implicated in criminal or unethical conduct. He can do so elsewhere. He is no longer welcome in these columns.
‘I’m not a crook.’
– Richard Nixon, November 17th, 1973
“I did not have sex with that woman”
Bill Clinton
“Who? Me?”
Manoa Kamikamica.
It wasn’t me.
– Moaning Manoa.
The circus in Fiji continues as FICAC is now in the Fiji PM’s total control. His relative, another nepotism appointment, is the new Barbs. He needs to be investigated as Manoa is – no different to protecting Manoa’s clowns.
Today’s recharging of Riyaz and Sagar for the FBC car matter which was already withdrawn on a “no case to answer” explanation by the monkeys at FICAC shows the line Rabuka’s appointed stooge is taking. FICAC is weaponised for Rambo’s gain and revenge.
God needs and will come calling soon, Rambo.
What happened to Manoa’s crap talk about $3 billion investments? Maybe he needs to build a private prison like USA where he will be comfortable – Pure Fiji soap, Fiji Water, scented Punja’s toilet paper, Walesi TV, Asha Bhai’s sanitary pads, Motibhai’s free daily newspaper and no Ann in the cell (maybe Aseri).
Charlie Charters should use a time machine and transport himself to the 1500s. He would suited in a lovo with those thoughts.
lol lovo sounds good. Can I add that Charlie deserves his skull to be preserved at the Suva Museum- labelled a no brain Fijian.
He’s English, born and bred. But married to Vanessa, Mere Samisoni’s daughter. He thinks that makes him special. Which I supposed it does.
If this was Aust or NZ, the politician charged or facing charges would have stepped down to clear their name or face the law – Fiji is different. It’s run by Baboons and it is special for dim elites like Manoa.
Shame on the diplomats from Australia and NZ in Suva who continuously support governments. You don’t have to get into local politics but you can make your concerns known to your counterparts.
Got to give their PR person a shout out for the distraction today in court with the Khaiyums ( both in court ) and Bani. The media lions from all agencies clicking and writing stories every hour. Long live Stanley Simpson, the fat boy living the dream with the help of a govt grant and God’s people.
Graham – please stop writing about Manoa – Pramesh Sharma can’t handle his hero being tarnished – in fact, PS is calling Mr Sweets every minute to console his broken heart.
Isa Pramesh, maybe now you can sit in your garage, drink Johnny Walker with your mates while their wives sit in the kitchen, abuse those that read Grubsheet ( hypocrite who reads himself and tells others not to) and abuse ASK for being smarter than you.
Karma will get you – NZ’s most hated Indian from Pakuranga, Auckland.
Agree with FICAC comment – everyone is missing the main point – Rambo rolling his revenge and agenda through his appointment.
Manoa is the fall guy. End of the line for Ann Steele and company. No more Gucci bags at GPH and laughing like you own the place.
It’s sad that everyone in this govt is hell bent on returning to the past rather than moving forward.
Hello Pavan and Billie Kundan Singh, how are you plastic sardars feeling now? All those board appointments for you by Manoa when you are not even qualified in governance at any level.
In fact, if bootlegging and running a grocery shop is the criteria for Board appointments by Manoa, then i am overqualified as a peanut seller ( no disrespect to PS).
George Speight and Nancy sit at your coffee shop with Manoa and Ann, you all laugh and sip drinks while we Fijians suffer to put food on the table.
Manoa is a crook as GD says and deserves no respect. His mates deserve no respect. Boycott them all and make change happen in 2026.
This platform is the only voice of reason and I encourage people to participate. FICAC won’t get you. Vinaka GD
Charlie Charters knows that he and his lot cannot challenge the accusations per se, so what they are doing is to attack and bring into question the integrity of the Commissioner and his assistant and their work, and to try to throw the whole COI Report out.
Well…. not under the current Commander’s watch!. Dina, Dodonu, Savasava!
Manoa is a crook. His buddies – Barbs, Tanya, Lynda, Biman etc – are all crooks as well.
His Mata Hari wife Anna Steel is Fiji’s Pablo. They think they were hunters. Now they are being hunted and haunted.
Manoa : Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the dumbest of them all?
Mirror : only you Manoa.
Manoa : what about Ann.
Mirror ; you said dumbest, not numbskull, dim, brain dead, half wit, brain dead, window licker, dip shit, dense, vegetable, moron.
As you are the Minister for communications, let me explain in your language – Ann runs on dial up in the fibre active world. Does that make you feel better Manoa?
Manoa : yes, thank God nobody reads Grubsheet except a few million.
The guilty shout the loudest. And those who have the most to lose neigh and bray in tandem. Let’s face it. In the absence of proper leadership and a true democracy, not a scratched together preemptive version of only when it suits us the chosen lost tribe, we are complicit in this great farce of a nation in the South Pacific.
We are getting there…
Building a nation: Papua New Guinea’s 50 years of independence
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/07/png-independence-1975-50-years-anniversary-papua-new-guinea?CMP=share_btn_url