Precisely what role did the Munro Leys lawyer, NFP stalwart and Chair of the government’s Fiscal Review Committee, Richard “I have the means” Naidu, play in protecting the Deputy Prime Minister and NFP leader, Biman Prasad, from being charged by FICAC for allegedly making a false declaration to the Elections Office?
We know that Richard Naidu was a central figure in the extraordinary pantomime that unfolded at FICAC last September when Barbara Malimali was parachuted into the corruption watchdog and stopped the charge being laid. So was Naidu’s close friend and Fiji Law Society President, Wylie Clarke, who acted for Malimali and was present at a meeting with the former deputy FICAC Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai, during which Puleiwai was informed that no court in Fiji would hear any charge she laid.
What findings does the suppressed Ashton-Lewis Commission of Inquiry Report into the “rotten circumstances” of Barbara Malimali’s appointment make about the respective roles played by Richard Naidu and Wylie Clarke? They are a matter of legitimate public interest given the prominence of the two lawyers and the shadowy roles they have played behind the scenes in this saga. And we have as much right to know about them as we have about the politicians who might have been adversely mentioned in the Report.
In the case of Richard Naidu, the COI Report and what it might reveal isn’t his only headache. Because there is now another investigation into Biman Prasad being carried out by the Fiji Police. And wherever that might lead when the Coalition now has effective control of the prosecutors at the ODPP who will evaluate any police case, the pressure isn’t abating. On the contrary. It will steadily build momentum in the lead-up to next year’s election and scrutiny will be ramped up not just on Biman Prasad but the Coalition as a whole, compounded by its decision to suppress the Ashton-Lewis Report.
Victor Lal at Fijileaks – who at official urging has given evidence in his possession to the police – returns to the Prasad case with a fresh piece today that also highlights Richard Naidu’s role in the affair.
Again, you can read the full story at www.fijileaks.com but here’s an extract of the information you won’t get from the mainstream media in Fiji yet is unquestionably in the public interest and despite the efforts of Biman Prasad and Richard Naidu, isn’t going away.
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On another subject, Manoa Kamikamica might cast me as an alcoholic for eviscerating him in part for defending the indefensible (average) 138 per cent pay rise MPs awarded themselves last year but here’s a story that would drive anyone to drink.
There are so many sad stories in Fiji these days that it’s sometimes hard to know where to begin. But as the nation’s politicians gorge themselves on the public teat, this – for me – is the saddest.
Manoa Kamikamica, Lynda Tabuya and the rest of the miserable swine who supported the parliamentary emoluments increases should hang their heads in shame.
You have to give to Richard ‘I have the means’ Naidu for the shrewd and crafty player that he is, given the manner in which he sprung the Baimaan from a dicey situation, in the nick of time. The wealthy Naidu (who can afford lawsuits, as we are told) owed Baimaan a favor for appointing him chair of the fiscal review committee. It’s a position that the pompous Richard would have been eyeing to facilitate the notorious multimillion dollar Fiji Water tax holiday from behind the scenes, while simultaneously socking ordinary citizens with a 15% vat to make up for any revenue loss, including the lucrative pay increases for MPs and other benefits. Fiji Water, Tappoo, government ministers and MPs get generous financial benefits and tax breaks, such as duty free cars, while ordinary people who are struggling get a kick in the arse via 15% vat.
This is a clear demonstration of how power and authority in the wrong hands is abused and manipulated for self interest and how citizens are exploited and oppressed by a politically well connected cabal. As a country we are undergoing state capture given the erosion of democratic institutions and accountability mechanisms by Chief Justice Temo and Malimali, and the antics of the clowns at the DPP’s office, coupled with control over legislation, regulations, and key appointments, collusion between political elites and business interests. Now attempts to bury the COI report. All the elements of state capture are clearly evident. The pigs are at the trough, folks. At the expense of the taxpayer. The two biggest boars are Ritchie Rich and Dougla Baiman.
All the NFP thieves coming into light now. So much for the chest thumping and crying about accountability by this bunch of hypocrites.
How easily they duped the common Fijians into voting for them, and how quickly they are harvesting the fruits of that opportunity to enrich themselves and their buddies while a common household survives on chow noodles.
This is iTaukei land. The culture dictates that the elites should grow fat and ugly by gorging on cake at every opportunity as we see everyday. The lower class know their place in society. That is the accepted tradition and they will fight to defend that tradition. So I do not understand why they are all complaining. They voted to change things so that the lease money goes to the elite, the way God dictated.
Living in poverty has everything to do with culture and tradition. Guess what they have to change to make things better.
@ Idiots
You kai India will never understand.
The i’taukei are like the proverbial Irish.
They prefer to live a life as slaves under their chiefs, than live as free men under foreign domination.
Now go figure.
Yes I know Teapot. I have always said vulagi will never understand things iTaukei. You people are very special. We call mentally challenged people special in Australia.
If you choose to live like the Irish, why do you complain so much, then?
And I always thought you wished to live like the Israelis!
Before I forget, has pork come off the menu and halal and kosher foods come on? Or haven’t you Israelis of the Pacific come to that realisation yet?
It really angers me that some students come to school without lunch while Members of Parliament receive massive salary increases. Yes, everyone is responsible for their own families but the reality is that the cost of living is so high that many families simply can’t afford even the basics. Meanwhile those in charge of managing our economy are fattening their wallets and enjoying overseas trips over the past two years.
I don’t know if it’s just the nature of politicians to say one thing during election campaigns and then do the exact opposite once elected. Based on what I’ve seen, I don’t believe there’s a single politician (inside or outside of Parliament) who will truly bring meaningful change.
The best advice I can give, especially to those struggling to make ends meet, is this: don’t rely on the government or any politician to help you. Work hard, live below your means and focus on what truly benefits your family. Teach your kids the value of education, and also how to grow their own food even if it’s just in a small backyard. These are the skills and mindsets that will make a difference in the long run.
Don’t get your knickers in a knot.
Would you believe that many of us in our days went to school without lunches?
Some were lucky – they had a boiled vudi (plantain) wrapped in newspaper.
The Indian boys were best – they brought parcels of roti & curry that we could ‘mari-mari’ and offer them protection from the school bullies …that was the going price.
Welcome to Fiji folks.
It’s is very sad about poverty in Fiji and children are affected.
Anyone seeing the PM’S post about his children getting NZ citizenship will know where the money goes to…his children look like they have eaten all of Fiji’s GDP (and yes, I am fat shaming). He who projects to be all fit and healthy was not able to show/impart the same values to his children.
More charges should be brought against Baiman, that includes Electoral Fraud, lying to the nation about decreasing VAT when NFP came into Government
With each passing day, confidence fades that Prime Minister Rabuka will act on the findings of the Commission of Inquiry (COI) report—or implement its recommendations in any meaningful way.
The delay risks not only public disillusionment, but also the quiet burial of the report itself. The longer the silence, the greater the suspicion that the report is being swept under the carpet.
Rabuka’s so-called press release outlining how the government intends to respond to the COI recommendations has yet to materialize. That in itself is troubling.
Barbara Malimali remains in her position, Justice Temo continues to preside over the judiciary, and those once under the scrutiny of FICAC are likely watching this inaction with a sense of quiet relief—perhaps even with expectation that Rabuka will discard the report altogether.
To make matters worse, Biman Prasad and Manoa Kamikamica have already thrown their support behind Rabuka’s decision not to release the COI report publicly. This raises a critical question: why spend so much public money on a Commission of Inquiry if the report and its recommendations were never intended to see the light of day? Was the real purpose to give political cover for controversial appointments already made?
Biman Prasad, in particular, appears to be the real force behind Rabuka’s restraint. Just look at the flood of appointments made to boards, municipal councils, and diplomatic postings—all conveniently filled by NFP loyalists, failed candidates, and political cronies. Their only qualification, it seems, is allegiance.
And then there’s Richard Naidu, appointed Chair of the Fiscal Review Committee—a move that conveniently aligns with his personal and professional interests. Under his influence, we’ve seen policies that serve his clients while delivering higher VAT and corporate taxes, just so Biman can project revenue strength while protecting his own circle from accountability.
If Rabuka doesn’t come out clean on the COI report, the people of Fiji will have every reason to believe that COI was nothing more than an expensive smokescreen.
Come on Rabuka prove us wrong!!
Honestly Biman can do whatever he wants with his money. It’s not like he was using government funds or his position in government to commit any crime (which cannot be said for other Ministers under investigation… Kamikamica).
And Victor Lal is contradicting himself saying that Biman should be charged for false declarations in 2015 and 2016 when he can only legally be charged for his declarations made as a candidate in 2014, 2018 and 2022.
At the end of the day, all of this is a witch hunt to get Biman out of Government and collapse the Coalition. It has nothing to do with upholding the law. The most his charge will get him is a fine and being barred from competing in the next elections which is probably the end goal of this crusade.
That leaves Indo-Fijian votes up for grabs and Chaudhry will ultimately lap up. I have no negative or positive opinion of Biman, but Chaudhry with his own racial agenda that he is running with and has so for his whole political career is far more detrimental to Fiji than anything Biman has done. Chaudhry and his son by extension have already accused Indo-Fijian Coalition members of selling out on the issue of percentage of scholarships which just reflect the demographic of applicants and the population. Chaudhry’s agenda is not fixing anything and the i-Taukei community are already up in arms with his son’s comments on the high chiefs.
Mr and Mrs Kamikamica have been reaping the benefits of their position the most. Charge Biman after getting Kamikamica, Tabuya, Vosarogo, Turaga and others first. At least their crimes were committed in office as Ministers. Biman’s charge is small change compared to their actions. Seems like both sides of those in and out of Government are out to get rid of Biman for their own benefit. But Biman has the support of the only one who matters at the moment. Rabuka has got the back of Biman and by extension NFP from the onset when Kamikamica wanted to get sworn in as Finance Minister from day one and through all the other road bumps along the way.
A stop-departure order must be placed on Biman now — or it’ll be nearly impossible to bring him back later.
Fijians have gone through real hardship, while MPs gave themselves massive pay rises.
Eat chow and be happy.
Let the politicians enjoy a little bit. They only make 200K a year plus another 100k possibly in allowances.
Let yhem treat themselves and thier family to some goodness with the tax money. Remember its governments money. They can choose to use as they see fit.
The only thing I know for sure is that Fiji taxpayers have a right to full disclosure about how tax holidays are awarded.
Paying tax applies to all of us.
If there are such a thing as “tax holidays” then we have a right to know if people who recommend them wearing a public hat, are also being paid privately. If they are this is a glaring conflict of interest and should be fully disclosed along with relevant information regarding how much they are paid.
If faced with an active conflict then the person involved can recuse themselves from the committee decision.
If they omitted to do this then the next option in line with principles of good governance and transparency and accountability is to disclose everything to the public.
Did nothing wrong? Then there’s nothing to hide and full disclosure is not a problem.
Something to hide? Then no disclosure.
The accompanying photo of baiman next to dick in this piece is hilarious. Baiman looks stunned like he just wet himself.