Grubsheet’s last article on Biman Prasad‘s travails being far from over despite being “cleared” by FICAC because of the impending Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry report has struck a raw nerve with his closest supporters, including the Chair of the Fiji Sugar Corporation, Nitya Reddy.
The NFP leader plucked the former politician and accountant from retirement in New Zealand to try to breathe life into an industry that still supports around 100,000 Fijians yet is suffering a long, slow death because of poor trading conditions and hopelessly outdated infrastructure.
Nitya Reddy wasn’t hired to be a Coalition cheerleader yet that is what he has become in an extraordinary comment on our last article that demonstrates not only a striking lack of judgment on his part but abject panic in the ranks of the NFP and its supporters.
Never mind the allegations of impropriety against Biman Prasad, who may have been “cleared” by FICAC but still faces a police investigation into a comprehensive series of allegations made against him by Victor Lal at Fijileaks. They are arguably the least of his worries as the economic outlook begins to deteriorate just as the NFP faces an existential threat at the next election.
Prasad and his supporters like Nitya Reddy know that he will carry the can if the Fijian people face serious economic hardship in the election lead-up. And never mind what the opposition political parties do. Sitiveni Rabuka and the People’s Alliance will make sure of it as they strive to shake off the NFP and get enough votes next time to govern in their own right.
So things are desperate as the feisty octogenarian, Labour’s Mahendra Chaudhry, turns the screws on Biman Prasad in the two daily newspapers today and especially on Nitya Reddy’s baby – the sugar industry. Those stories are accompanied by a major feature on the business pages of the Fiji Sun in which Chaudhry also presses home the advantage on the economy generally. He is on a roll and the NFP is on the run. And panic has set in.
How else to explain Nitya Reddy’s extraordinary attack on Grubsheet for its coverage of the Coalition, which includes the astonishing claim that it is doing “God’s work” and casting me as a journalistic devil getting in the way of “God’s work”?
Here it is again for anyone who didn’t get down to readers comment 27 of the last article:
And my response…
Qori. So why would Nitya Reddy break all the conventions about board chairs of government corporations staying out of politics? Not to mention all conventions of corporate PR not to make intemperate attacks on your critics?
One word. Or let’s make it two. Abject terror. The clock is ticking and not only is Biman Prasad under pressure, so is the economy over which he presides.
Those around him like Nitya Reddy know the game is getting away from them. And they are beginning to panic. Nothing to do with me and everything to do with today’s headlines. I’m just the cat getting kicked.
First from the Fiji Times, which highlights Mahendra Chaudhry’s criticism of Biman Prasad when it does everything to protect the position of the Prime Minister, presumably to damage the NFP and assist the PAP to get an overall majority next year.
And worse in the Fiji Sun...
Another NFP cheerleader, Pramesh Sharma, is also obsessed with Grubsheet, judging from the following account from someone who attended one of his parties at the weekend.
And the fallout continues from the withering critique of Biman Prasad and the rest of the Coalition by academic Sushil Sharma in Saturday’s Fiji Sun.
A reminder of what Dr Sharma had to say, which would have increased Nitya Reddy’s sense of impending doom.
See, Fiji? It isn’t just Grubsheet getting in the way of “God’s work”.
If they are this panicked 18 months out from the election, just imagine the terror to come.
God’s work.
Nitya Reddy making 4 overseas trips cost $111,000.
Taxpayer funded one of them to visit his son in UK.
One for medical treatment in New Zealand.
The other was to visit his daughter in Melbourne – that’s 3 trips for Nitya the Kala Kuta
Vinaka Vakalevu G.D for your efforts to make the truth known. I feed so sorry for the majority of the people in this country, being lied to by the corrupt criminals running our government. Please keep up your good work.
Bula Graham,
Some insight into sugar industry. I work closely with sugarcane farmers.
1) Majority of cane farmers are migrating to Canada
2) After operational cost deduction by FSC on loans and fertilizer, farmers are left with peanuts
3) Majority of farmers in Ba cane belt area have now turned to pineapple farming.
4) The soil is no longer productive due to high usage of inorganic fertilizers.
5) Younger generation in farming region do not want to toil in the farms.
6) Farmers know what they are going through and no politician can speak for them. You can ask the farmers of how hard sugarcane farming has become.
Pineapples and dwarf heavy-bearing Filipino mangos are a better cash crop than sugar cane.
No politics involved as well.
It keeps me going.
Biman has lost the plot and if Rabuka has any good sense he should replace him. But the problem is who does he replace him with, none of the Coalition lot have the wherewithal.
So Fiji has little option but to wallow through the emerging world recession the IMF is forecasting.
Biman has not created one new industry in his time. Neither has Manoa with all his big talk. He got his PAP government to issue a sole trading licence to a New Zealand company but was oblivious of the fact the company went bust, not even his High Commissioner in Wellington, Inoke Kubuabola was aware until a food machinery supplier visiting Fiji informed them.
This is just a useless bunch of idiots running the country, the sooner they go the better for all of us.
Reddy is living the dream – the one he dreamt that FijiFirst lived in style except FF performed and fought for equality. Nitya is hated by many in NZ now, another traitor – this black poopoo stain won’t go away for this failed wannabe authority. Shame on you Nitya and his entire family and friends who support him.
Nitya will probably now say that somebody wrote this for him like Richard Naidu, he was forced and shift the blame – the ship is sinking and it’s about saving your own black butt before lorry arrives to Naboro.
I am embarrassed to call myself Fijian. These people like Pramesh Sharma and Nitya Reddy are pure scum. They are self vested and will throw anybody including the people of Fiji under the bus.
Make Nitya, Pramesh and Biman walk naked in Nadi town. They deserve to be stoned. It’s games of throne in Fiji politics and these idiots can’t see that Rambo just set them up to take the fall. People need to decide their fate and 2026 is coming.
They deserve to be stoned ? I think after smoking the cane leaves, they already are stoned, hence the verbal diarrhoea.
Sex offending, Mr 15%, Pramesh Sharma is a cunning, conniving low life who has no loyalty. no morals, no ethics and no future!
He would put on a facade of good governance in board meetings only to reach out afterwards for backroom deals where he could benefit personally!
The guy is bad news and anyone who thinks that he is a friend will very quickly find out how quickly that the wind shifts when Mr 15% has nothing to gain!
Poor Nitya (Motormouth).
Can’t hold his drink (we have all seen the video) and now in his inebriated state, fumbled over the keyboard and typed in the rubbish he stated in the earlier post.
It’s a pity CJS isn’t coming clean that he’s been busy appointing his whiskey chugging band of drunkards to posh roles which are all paid for by the people of Fiji.
Either way, the rats are all coming out of the woodwork now with the hard truths coming out and exposing all these disgraceful individuals.
What does Nitya know about sugar? He should take his black butt and get lessons from the Master Chaudhry.
There’s a saying in hindi “jab tak hai reti, kar leo kheti” means similar to make hay while the sun is shining.
This is exactly what people like Nitya and other NFP chaploosas are doing.
A new era of unfiltered corruption is rife in fiji with Biman and Rabuka at the helm. As for the voters, please vote them in again in 2026 so that you feel good about yourself and people like Richard, Nirmal, Shamima and other leeches in our society feel good too.
Is it true that Nitya made Farmers sit on the floor while he sat alone on the chair telling them what great work he, his minister and Govt is doing? 3 weeks ago in Lautoka? Have respect.
Nitya Reddy was fscs accountant in Lautoka. He was terminated on the spot by the then GM. If anyone wants the proof, get it from fsc head office in Lautoka.
Nitya Reddy is a moron with dim intelligence- sitting in fiji, he thinks Charan will protect him. Wait till the tide turns Kuta – you might have to move from NZ to Russia.
Rambo : Tera ka Hoga Kaalia
Nitya : Mein Tera Namak Khaya Sardar
People of Fiji : Ab Goli Kha
Extract copyright dialogue from Famous Bollywood movie Sholay
Gods work ,too much whiskey that’s what it is .Busy sucking the tax payers money with no shame and is ready to suck anyone close to coalition government as he knows he has done nothing and could be kicked out any minute.
Let’s be brutally honest, is there any point at even trying to sort out a sugar industry when Fiji’s only successful industry being putting its precious water in plastic is being given away tax free?
Develop, don’t develop, have failed industries or successful ones, if decision making is so poor and has no good governance around it, it will make no difference to the people.
Unfortunately those who spoke most loudly about principles turned out to be the emptiest drums. Bad governance and bad decision making from day 1, what a total letdown.
Pramesh Sharma, how can a humble teller/banker/manager in fiji own $8m of assets over 20 years , his family had one income as father was prison officer and his wife’s family comes from extremely humble background – Can you please explain Mr Chor Sharma?
Pramesh – thank you for writing crap on your FB comments about reactions in this forum – you the biggest idiot, you reading this forum and giving it oxygen to our comments by reacting to your FB followers – not everybody likes you in your closed FB page but you don’t know who we are – ha ha, keep calling your close so called friends.
Nitiya Reddy, hope you see this. You are an old and outdated leader who got handpicked by your mate. You have no place in a modern governance. People like you are the exact issue of racial tensions in Fiji. Instead of fighting for equal rights and citizenship, you are praising Rabuka like he is one sort of god. He is the one creating divisions in Fiji. Are you stupid my guy?
GD – get after this waste of space person who hasn’t done anything good for sugar industry thus far.
Did Udit Singh, the CEO of FRCS work for Coopers & Lybrand in Lautoka in his early days and had a beard? I am just trying to work out if I think I know who he is.
Fiji had peak sugar production of 500000 tonnes (501k) tonnes in 1986 to be exact and sugar cane harvested was over 4 million tonnes.
It went south after that. That is what production and yield needs to be now, or even better for the industry to be viable.
500k tonnes of sugar will produce export earning of 500 million and 4 million tonnes of sugar cane will gross approximately 440 million to the farmers.
And then we might have a viable industry with 60 million (plus any (VAT) credit benefits coming from the 440 million.
Until this is achieved no amount of doing “God’s work” or overseas trips will fix that.
In fact it was after “God’s whisper” in 1987 that the industry demise began and now it probably is on the death bed with tax payer funded life support.
These are the indisputable facts.
God works in funny ways. But HE does seem to have a habit of talking to idiots and dealing with them even more.
Idiots have a direct line to HIM these days.
Next budget, Biman might start taxing sugar, kava, and wvwn cassava farmers so that he can make money for his friends.
The roads have potholes the size of lovo pits, hospitals have no beds or medications, people are surviving on noodles and tea but thankfully the close allies of Rabuka and Biman are printing money and taking huge salaries and allowances just for sitting in. Well done, Fiji.
This is quite a drama..the mole in East Auckland …the chosen fb friend(s) of Pramesh Sharma blowing the whistle. Great. Please don’t do anything to blow your cover and do keep on doing the work for the people in further exposing their deceit.
Pramesh Sharma – you are the most hated Fijian in NZ, are you not embarrassed, do you know that your photos and showing off with Act leader Seymour, Simon Bridges etc on your Facebook is your downfall – I am writing to all those people and exposing you by sending these article s – bit like how you tag fiji ministers in your post.
HohoHo – Nitya, Pramesh, Biman, Richard, Charan Jaat, Babu Bhamji, Hemant Lodhia, Ajay Amrit, Poo Poo Parkinson, Stanley the media Randi, Regi show me the money, list goes on…..tick tok gents
Does anybody know what’s the relationship between Sudha Karan and Susan Sharma – Sudha is Prameshs best mate – runs a retirement home in auckland and mates with Nitya Reddy as well – it’s like Shortland Street on Fiji TV 1
Pramesh Sharma is a self serving sex predator who has destroyed so many lives – he thinks he is untouchable and indestructible- news mate, you are now exposed and you can’t stop the truth coming out – great work GD.
Hello Kalia Reddy, your ignorance just got you exposed by GSheet – you must feel so stupid now.
Nitya you Chute, you claim to be doing God’s work- how dare you compare yourself as god sent – you imbecile, don’t insult religions – you will get judged in Heavan for this claim.
Scrawny black PooPoo Nitya Redddy – please apologise for what you wrote and how you insulted GD, you need to respect smarter people than you including people with integrity like GD, awaiting your response.
Thanks GD for the enlightening article but a deeply concerning future ahead for us – “Panic grips the NFP and its supporters as the economic outlook worsens”. It raises concerns about Fiji’s current political climate, highlighting issues of power struggles, governance failures, and the prioritization of political self-interest over national welfare.
A critique of the evolving political landscape as interpreted from the high quality GS articles is reflected and some suggestions worth considering if we are to put Fiji ‘back on track’!
Power Grabs and Political Instability – Fiji’s recent political history is marked by frequent power struggles, with parties such as FijiFirst previously dominating through autocratic means, and the current coalition government now accused of prioritizing political survival over the needs of the people.
The dissolution of FijiFirst and ongoing opposition splits have created a political vacuum and instability, undermining effective governance and long-term planning.
Leadership disputes, party infighting, and a focus on entrenching loyalists rather than reconciling differences have further eroded public trust in political institutions.
Failures in Good Governance and Transparency – Fiji has a documented history of weak political governance, characterized by limited media freedom, lack of genuine democratic bargaining, and insufficient transparency and accountability.
The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) has been criticized for lacking independence and transparency, with calls for more public reporting and annual disclosures that have not been met in recent years.
The government has not fully implemented key legislation, such as the Code of Conduct Bill and comprehensive Access to Information laws, both of which are essential for transparency and public oversight.
Entrenchment of Self-Interest and Profiteering – Both past and present governments have been accused of using their positions to entrench self-interest, marginalize opposition, and profit from their time in power-“making hay while the sun shines”.
Policy-making has often been a closed-door affair, with civil society and independent voices sidelined in favor of political insiders.
Economic and Social Consequences – While Fiji’s economy has shown some recovery post-pandemic, growth is projected to slow, and many sectors remain below pre-pandemic levels, increasing the risk of economic hardship if political dysfunction continues.
The IMF and other observers have called for urgent structural reforms, fiscal discipline, and investment in infrastructure and human capital to ensure long-term resilience.
Fiji’s Leaders urged to
1. Prioritize National Interest Over Political Survival
Leaders must put aside personal and party interests to focus on the needs of all Fijians, especially as economic pressures mount and social cohesion is tested.
2. Strengthen Good Governance and Transparency
Fully implement and enforce the Code of Conduct Bill and Access to Information legislation to ensure accountability at all levels of government.
Ensure FICAC operates with true independence, adequate funding, and regular public reporting, and establish a robust Accountability and Transparency Commission.
3. Foster Inclusive Policy-Making
Open up policy development to genuine engagement with civil society, NGOs, and independent experts, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered and public trust is restored.
4. Protect Media Freedom and Civil Liberties
Repeal or reform restrictive media laws to allow for a free press and open debate, which are essential for holding power to account and informing the public.
5. Address Economic Vulnerabilities – Implement structural reforms in utilities, transport, digital infrastructure, and workforce development as recommended by the IMF to boost resilience and sustainable growth.
Rebuild fiscal buffers and maintain prudent economic management to prepare for future shocks,
6. Build Multi-Stakeholder Oversight – Establish independent oversight mechanisms for anti-corruption agencies, involving not just politicians but also the business community and civil society, to ensure transparency and reduce the risk of politicization
Fiji certainly stands at a crossroads: continued political infighting and self-serving governance risk undermining the country’s economic recovery and social fabric. Leaders must act decisively to restore good governance, transparency, and inclusivity, or risk a slide into deeper disrepair. The time for “making hay while the sun shines” must end-Fiji’s future depends on principled, accountable leadership and a renewed commitment to the public good.
Pramesh Sharma – please stop you dribble on Facebook – you continuously write crap as you are an authority of Fiji – your opinion is like poo poo paper.
Nitya, my dog blackie has more intellect than you, you think writing to this forum will give you relevance, you are more stupid than I think, respect is earned, not grabbed or expected – get that in your jelly brain, apologise to Graham and his readers.
It’s a sad day for Fiji and our people when self serving monkeys portray themselves as doing God’s work – Nitya Reddy needs to visit St Giles for an overhaul. Also making bookings for your God Sent workers who earning fat $ at our tax payer $. – we will happily pay for their mental care.
Reading the reaction of people on this site for the last 2 stories, it’s obvious that the likes of Nitya Reddy, Pramesh Sharma, Ahmed Bhamji, Biman Prasad and Charan jeet singh are simply disliked with little respect – they need to hide in their rabbit hole till this storm blows away in 12 months – after that, they can just run as the consequences won’t be positive.
Nitya and Pramesh should open their own church as they are doing Gods Work – Pramesh would fit in as a priest with his history with vulnerable people ( not all priests are like him) and Nitya could be the local astrologer as he knows everything.
The time has come to shine a light on the questionable appointment and conduct of Nitya Reddy, a man long retired and disconnected from the realities of Fiji’s struggling sugar industry.
His return from obscurity to take up a key role in an already ailing sector raises serious questions: Was Reddy simply looking for relevance and a pay cheque? Or was he handpicked by Charan jeath Singh and Biman Prasad to be their puppet in a larger political game?
What qualified a retired individual—absent from the country and out of touch with the industry for years—to take charge of such a critical portfolio? Was his loyalty to Charan and Biman the only real “credential” he brought to the table? More importantly, was he promised a position of power or reward in return for his allegiance ahead of the 2022 elections?
The appointment reeks of political cronyism, and the results speak for themselves. Far from revitalising the sugar sector, the industry has sunk deeper into crisis. The bold promises made by Charan and Biman—higher cane production, a new mill, and a revived industry—have proven to be nothing more than empty rhetoric. Under this leadership, we have seen decline, disillusionment, and disappointment.
Reddy’s recent unprovoked attack on GD, clearly done to shield Biman, Charan, Richard, Pramesh, and the likes further exposes the extent to which he has become a mouthpiece for the Coalition Government’s failing narrative. His arrogant dismissal of criticism and his shameless defense of an underperforming leadership shows that he is out of depth, out of touch, and out of integrity.
The public is not fooled. The groundswell of support for GD and the growing condemnation of Reddy is a sign that people are waking up to this farce. His behavior has confirmed his unsuitability for the role and revealed a troubling pattern of self-interest over national interest. Overall, Rabuka’s overall leadership is another example of failure of his government.
Thank you, GD, for keeping all of us informed of such self-serving individuals. The media in Fiji has once again failed by not highlighting independently where Charan, Reddy, and Biman are leading us to – perhaps towards total disaster!!!!.
DEAR READERS,
BECAUSE OF A TECHNICAL DIFFICULTY, I AM UNABLE TO POST THIS MORNING ( TUESDAY).
I’D PLANNED A CURTAIN-RAISER FOR THE HANDOVER OF THE ASHTON-LEWIS COMMISSION OF INQUIRY REPORT BUT WORDPRESS – THE PUBLISHING PLATFORM HERE – IS PREVENTING ME FROM UPLOADING IT, TELLING ME THERE HAS BEEN AN UNSPECIFIED “ERROR” ON THE SITE.
STRANGELY COMMENTS ARE STILL GETTING THROUGH.
MY TECHNICAL SUPPORT PEOPLE IN BRISBANE ARE WORKING ON THE PROBLEM AND I HOPE TO BE UP AND RUNNING AGAIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.
MY APOLOGIES. VINAKA.
GD