The Defence Minister reveals his behind-the-scenes role in opposing the declaration of a state of emergency in Fiji in a candid interview with The Australian newspaper that points to tensions within the government over the extent of the RFMF’s participation in the drug fight.
In a lengthy article today by the paper’s Asia Pacific correspondent, Amanda Hodge, the NFP’s most senior member of the Coalition now that its leader, BIman Prasad, faces trial for corruption claims credit for keeping the military at bay.
QUOTE: “I got the army back to barracks. Why do you think I’m so resistant to bring them out again?”
The Defence Minister acknowledges the existential threat to Fiji of the drug trade but argues that a whole-of-society response is needed and the current joint military-police task force is sufficient “right now” to deal with the crisis.
Pio Tikoduadua‘s participation in The Australian‘s report is in sharp contrast to his NFP colleague – the Deputy Foreign Minister, Lenora Qereqeretabua – who the paper says declined multiple requests for interviews after her son-in-law, Jonathon Hill, was granted immunity by the ODPP to testify against some of the “big fish” of the drug trade.
With the NFP in disarray as the forthcoming trial of Biman Prasad poses an existential threat to its electoral standing, what are its iTaukei stars – Tikoduadua and Qereqeretabua – going to do? Will they defect to the People’s Alliance (or another party)? Or as Qereqeretabua has evidently indicated, leave politics altogether?
Decision time for both is fast approaching. But in the meantime, Pio Tikoduadua seems keen to emphasise his own role in keeping the military from having a wider role, which suggests a desire to establish a point of difference with his Coalition colleagues and fight on.
Fiji on the front pages in Australia again for all the wrong reasons:
Plus the whole of Page 12:
Fiji in the state of need for the Living God, Yahweh to save it from the drug evilness. I think the best option for the Parliament of Fiji is to form a National Unity Government for the next 4 years …get at least some politician from the opposition party & outside parliament to run the affairs of the our nation. Cut the Cabinet size to only 7-12 members only:
1. Mr. Savenaca Narube a qualified economist & former reserve bank of Fiji Governor to run the Ministry of finance of Fiji and interim PM
2. Dr. Warden Narsey as Minister of Education, & Youth Development, DPM
3. Major General Kalouniwai as Minister of Police & Defense
4. Richard Naidu as AG & Minister of Justice
5. Ms. Lenora Qereqeretabua as Minister for Women, Children, Poverty & Information
6. Ratu Tevita Mara as Minister for iTaukei Affairs & Multiethnic Affairs
7. Mr. Filimoni Vosarogo as Minister for Lands, Mineral Resources & Urban Housing Development
8. Mr. Filipe Tuisawau as Minister for Works, Urban development, Transport & Rural Development.
9. Mr. Kaliopate Tavola as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade
10. Mr. Alvick Maharaj as Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Waterways
11. Ms. Patricia Imrana Jalal as Minister Tourism, and Aviation Industry
These are some of our qualified & experience people that could take our country forward for the next 4 years before the next GE
Thanks Prominent Lawyer Richard Naidu
Not sure what Kaiviti- Not Happy is thinking or smoking, but there should be NO ONE from the current or any previous government any where near any new government of interim administartion. As for the judiciary, a totla clean out is needed. As for the president and other hangers on, like the GCC – theay all should be totally banned.
So what should really happen is independent foreigners should come in to fix the rot.
So what Alex Forwood said in her podcast almost 3 weeks ago was correct. It’s all starting to come out.
What did she say? I am not on Facebook to see it.
She said in her podcast that the Police Commissioner and govt MPs didn’t want the Army to be involved and declined the State of Emergency. This article just supports what she came out with 3 weeks ago. The Police commissioner was very quick to release a press statement stating it’s not true and that she virtually rubbished. But we are witnessing what Ms Alex is saying is true.
Patricia Imrana Jalal as Minister Tourism, and Avaiation Industry? That is a good one – may I have some what you are smoking?
Richard Naidu as AG? Is that so he can increase his bank balance even more? FFS the guy is a NZ citizen – do you seriously think he has Fiji’s interests at heart?
What has Tuisawau done in his 3 years in office? Ditoka would be a better bet.
And Warden Narsey? Warden Narsey? you definitely are smoking some serious shit.
They forgot to mention, to top all this the President is a well known pedophile and the prime minister is a racist donkey. That is necessary to mention to put the whole picture into clearer perspective
So there’s been rumours around Suva for at least a month now that there was indeed a successful break in at the QEB Armoury.
The biggest problem, apart from the extra judicial killing, is that the Commander RFMF continues to be deceitful about the events.
CRFMF has stated ‘attempted breaches’ meaning they were unsuccessful back in early April
https://fijisun.com.fj/news/nation/rfmf-reassures-public-after-attempted-armoury-breach
CRFMF has stated all their guns/inventory are accounted for.
Jone Vakarisi killed April 17
Armed soldiers in Mead Road housing 12/5
One person has now been charged with aggravated burglary rather than attempted burglary, meaning that the burglary was successful.
https://www.fijivillage.com/news/man-alleged-to-have-breached-qeb-armoury-to-appear-in-high-court-next-month-34632e/
Any logical person would conclude that weapons from the RFMF Armoury are in circulation and the RFMF is trying to recover them before they lose any more face, or worse, the weapons are used.
It will be interesting what the charge sheet says when the person is presented in court and what he is accused of stealing.
The attempted cover ups have a bad smell.
The drug problems besetting Fiji seem to coincide with the election of the PAP Government?
Looking at the media reports and newspapers from that time (2022) there is little in the reports of drug busts or increasing drug use. Yes, there were drugs and there were arrests, but the level was nowhere near what now is happening in Fiji.
So, the level of drugs and their distribution have climbed alarmingly in the last 3 and half years, why is that? Has Fiji become an easier place to distribute through? Have criminal gangs been established in Fiji to enable this or were they already here and have flourished in the same time frame?
Drugs are destroying Fiji and yet we hear more about election preparations, constitution inquiries and the fallout of the Commission of Inquiry.
PAP fundraising.
And that, GD, is not a pap smear. :o)
The last 4 years has seen a total governance collapse starting with tax holidays, and progressing to full scale fiscal failure. The drugs issue is a corruption issue. It’s death by a thousand cuts/bribes.
The latest on Fiji leaks about Biman seems very odd, another conflict of interest question is being asked.
We don’t know the truth of these allegations but we can see the evidence of bad governance because it is all around us in the hospital, the schools, the drugs.
Ms Alex Forwood has really gained traction on Facebook. Slowly but surely now becoming Alexandra the Great. After being mocked and dismissed for so long. Fans love the expose`that she is churning out faster than the Fiji immigration dept issuing passports or faster than the Fiji Police attending to a burglary. Some are even calling her revelations as prayers answered!
( And faster than the Chief Justice gives his judgement after a case is concluded!)
Now we’re getting warmer.
https://www.fbcnews.com.fj/news/ammunition-handed-over-in-nausori/
Bravo, Commander, however I don’t quite think this is what you are searching for.
The effort and transparency however goes a long way.