What are we to make of Saturday’s address by the Prime Minister to the annual conference of the National Federation Party? One word sums it up: DESPERATION.
The NFP leader, Biman Prasad, is desperate to keep Sitiveni Rabuka on side so that the Prime Minister throws him a life-line in any inquiry into the circumstances in which a FICAC charge of abuse of office that was to be laid against him was dropped just before it was served.
And the Prime Minister – sensing Biman Prasad’s weakness – has used the opportunity of a speaking slot at the NFP convention to go over the leader’s head and, equally desperately, try to woo the NFP’s traditional Indo-Fijian support base.
Think that’s far fetched? Consider the following analysis from a long-time Grubsheet correspondent who wishes to remain anonymous but has had unrivalled access to the top of government.
“I suspect that Biman Prasad taking Sitiveni Rabuka to the NFP Convention may be a strategy to ensure the PM’s protection in relation to the FICAC saga ( to ensure that the charges against him do not proceed). While the PM, having announced that he ‘s standing again at the next elections, is already on the campaign trail to woo Indo-Fijian supporters. With FijiFirst gone, the PM would be working hard to bring Indo Fijians to the People’s Alliance and attract personal support for him as leader. He wants an overwhelming majority of votes next time – especially Indo-Fijian votes – so that he doesn’t have to depend on a coalition arrangement, with all the risks and challenges it brings.
The PM has largely left Biman Prasad to do as he wishes in relation to the economy. But it’s turning out that Biman has no idea how to grow the economy. He is resorting to increasing the tax burden on the people and relying on loans and grants, thereby escalating the debt burden.
The fact that economic migration in Fiji continues to increase as workers leave – which has for some time included the professional class of teachers, nurses, doctors etc – strongly indicates the failure of development policies in Fiji. And this Coalition, two years on, have shown their inability and incompetence to bring about the required economic and social policy that will reform, revamp and stimulate the economy, and thereby halt the flow of workers overseas.
Though, one must add, that this Coalition has shown a remarkable level of “competence” when it comes to their daylight robbery of the public treasury, with a massive unjustified increase in salary while a majority of the population suffers increasing poverty.“
Now to media reports on Saturday’s speech by the Prime Minister. If we were looking for indications of any reset of the government’s woeful political direction, forget it. It is the same old blah, blah, blah completely devoid of any connection with reality.
Once again, the camera doesn’t lie in capturing the strained atmosphere of this astonishing event. Talk about papering over the cracks.
Seriously. With perhaps the honourable exception of Lenora Qereqeretabua, who is going to vote for these monkeys after almost two years of dysfunction?
Self-delusion has well and truly set in.
UPDATE:
The sickest joke of all. The man most responsible for instilling fear in Fiji’s minorities – most recently countenancing the use of the term vulagi (visitor) to describe us – tells us we have nothing to fear.
Sitiveni Rabuka appears to have gone completely bonkers. It’s as if he has had no part in the racial politics that has plagued Fiji since his coups of 1987. “Nothing to do with me. Why am I being unfairly cast as a snake?”
This rewriting of history is genuinely Orwellian. And there is zero chance of Fiji’s minorities being stupid enough to fall for the notion of Rabuka as their protector. What incredible cheek!
“Trust me”, says the Snake in the Sunday Times. With your record of dividing the country, not a chance.
And the sooner you disappear into history, the better off we will all be. Unbelievable.
Biman Prasad is also completely bonkers. “The NFP is committed to the Coalition”, he says. So what?
Sitiveni Rabuka doesn’t need your five seats anymore to stay in government and could dump you tomorrow. So you’d better be more worried about whether he and the PAP are committed to you.
The only thing the Mad Professor gets right is that the “Coalition is far from perfect”. You can say that again. In fact, you’re an abysmal failure. The whole lot of you.
Biman Prasad is a dead man walking whatever happens with the FICAC charge against him. The Fijian people are waiting with baseball bats to destroy the NFP altogether for its corruption and betrayal of trust.
Fred Wesley is bonkers too. The Fiji Times Editor goes down to the market and pronounces that “there are no issues” among the different ethnic groups in Fiji.
Never mind the vulagi slur. Never mind the workplace ethnic cleansing in the civil service and offices of state. Never mind the ugly racial tenor of social media and the arrogance of ultra-nationalist iTaukei. Everything is hunky dory in Fred’s orbit so all is right with the world.
This guy is a complete dolt. A waste of space who has trashed the nation’s traditional newspaper of record and turned it into a temple of journalistic mediocrity.
We need laws to prevent trees from being felled for this rubbish. And no self respecting fish would ever be wrapped in the Pravda of the Coalition.
Read this and decide for yourself, Fiji. All the gravitas of a wet fart.
The contrast between this dross and the razor-sharp editorials of Naisa Koroi at the Fiji Sun couldn’t be more stark.
The Sun is now outgunning the Fiji Times on every journalistic measure that counts. Content, pace and relevance. Plus holding our elected representatives accountable.
Though having said that, neither paper is yet to publish the letter that should have sunk Lynda Tabuya‘s political career altogether. And they continue to run the Minister for Bonking and Weed’s preposterous “look at me” propaganda when she is unfit to make a pronouncement on anything.
The latest sighting of the drug-addled Minister for Bonking and Weed. At the appropriately named Opium Bar in Suva.
Your taxpayers dollars at work. All those extra drinks courtesy of the Emoluments Committee she chaired.
Get Up Fiji says
Not getting my vote. Great article and does make a lot of sense. However, once the public gets more of an insight through commonsense, PAP and NFP will be gone. The way that the coalition has dragged Fiji into the doldrums means they will have no future in Fijis politics. Once bitten, twice shy!
Shameless people says
If it looks and sounds desperate then it is desperate.
Look at that crowd. They are the hired nobody crowd.
Biman has already lost and so has NFP.
I have lost all my respect and trust in Lenora Q too.
They are all crooks.
Her and Tabuya were barking a lot while in opposition and now look at them. Lapping it up with the dogs, kutta, kuli, and the bitches.
This country is truly in dire moments of salvage and unfortunately it will not happen under this government.
Anonymous says
It is that crowd of nobodies that will keep them in Parliament at least and maybe in Government too. We must understand that whatever discourse occurs online is completely detached from the situation on the ground.
Most people just don’t care about the controversies, corruption and abuse. FijiFirst was able to get the most votes in every election since 2014 because of that. Even at their weakest and the opposition at their strongest, FijiFirst still won more seats than any other party. Incredibly, Khaiyum got 5000 more votes than he did in 2018.
This elections will shape the future of this country. The 2018 and 2022 election campaigns were centred around all the parties attacking FijiFirst and FijiFirst attacking Rabuka and Biman. Now there is no real opposition in Parliament and the alternatives of Chaudhry and Labour and Narube and Unity can at most double their 2022 vote tally and sneak into parliament. All Labour and Unity candidates apart from their leaders failed to get 1000 votes. The People’s Alliance had 33 candidates get more than 1000 votes, FijiFirst had 15 candidates, NFP had 8 candidates get over 1000 votes, and SODELPA had 5.
60% of People’s Alliance candidates got more than 1000 votes. That is why they have the best chance to form a majority government come next elections with FijiFirst no more. And Biman and NFP know that. That’s why they’re doing all they can to stick close to Rabuka and People’s Alliance so that they can carry on with their two party agreement to the 2026 polls.
Graham Davis says
Unless a new force emerges to upset this little plan. And I have it on impeccable authority that this is precisely what is going to happen. Watch this space.
Anonymous says
Rabuka is the golden ticket for People’s Alliance as he is the lone strongman remaining in the political landscape who is capable of pulling tens of thousands of votes. With the inevitable collapse of SODELPA their votes will most likely go the way of People’s Alliance. And I don’t really see any way for any other potential party to have a shot at forming government without a star candidate which does not exist at the moment. So removing Rabuka from the equation is the only way for any other party to win in 2026.
Graham Davis says
I think you are overestimating Rabuka’s pull in 2026. He got the votes he did in 2022 because people believed his BS that he had learnt his lesson and changed. What we have seen since is a government in utter chaos largely because of his woeful leadership.
I can assure you that the person envisaged to lead the new political force is far more charismatic than Rabuka. They are an absolute star, with the national interest as their primary concern, youth on their side and zero tolerance for wannabe poseurs.
Inshallah, we are in for a big shake-up and from what I understand, the PAP hierarchy are in for the mother of all shocks.
Tamaki Makaurau says stay out says
He will be in Auckland next week with his shameful plea to forgive and heal.
The bastard.
I have seen many already and openly boycott the Fiji Day celebrations in Auckland next week. Good on them for taking a stand.
Rabuka must be very careful in coming to Auckland as he is surely going to face lots of placards from the airport to the ceremony grounds. He might as well fake a fall like he did with China because I hear that Auckland will be embarrassing for him and Fiji.
No one wants to see anyone from the Fiji High Commission and the Fiji Government. Both coup swines must stay out.
Sad Observer Scared for Fiji says
He’s dreaming
Daniel Richards says
Rabuka is asking everyone to forgive those who have done wrong in the past. This has been his pitch at every public occasion, so at NFP convention, it will be no different.
In fact, he is asking forgiveness for himself at every opportunity now. He knows that he is the cause of all the ills in this country.
Can he and those who did wrong be forgiven?
He can be forgiven if he accepts that some of the decision his current government has taken is wrong; he ceases to make decisions based on who he knows and not only Itaukeis; he suspends all his ministers who are under investigation; he sacks his ministers such as Linda, Siromi and Graham; as COC chair, he takes action to terminate Acting Chief Justice and all appointments made through the JSC including Barbara Malimali”s appointment; Pryde gets his pay and his case is dismissed and he be reinstated; the Acting Chief Justice and all illegal appointments in Judiciary and DPP office are terminated; FICAC action to charge Biman is honored; he stops calling indo Fijians and other minorities ” vulagi” and regards them as Fijians with equal rights by virtue of them been born in Fiji; he introduces a neutral prayer in the Parliament and in all public work places instead of a prayer that favors one religious group; appointments on Boards and Committees, municipal councils and diplomatic positions are relooked at so that failed candidates and friends of PAP, SODELPA and NFP so far appointed are replaced based on merit and relevant experience and he can be forgiven on many other things that he and his followers have done wrong. He must honor equal citizenry to all citizens of Fiji and respect the rule of law.
If Rabuka genuinely does all of the above, he will get the support as a reformed leader.
He must not worry and fear about losing the support of his minor parties in Parliament just to remain in power.
He needs to be transparent, accountable, and decisive, and then only he will get the respect that he doesn’t have now.
He need not fear losing SODELPA and NFP because he has 9 former FFP MPs who now support him as independents. Their number is greater than the combined numbers of SODELPA and NFP.
Come on, Rabuka, get the bull by the horn and earn yourself some dignity and respect. At the end of the day, your Karma will be looked at in the kingdom of God for the final judgment.
So earn it over very little time you have.
Otherwise, you will remain disgraced and will only be remembered in history as a man who stopped Fiji from being a leader in the Pacific.
Truth and Reconciliation Commission is meaningless as it is led by an Assistant Minister from Indo Fijian dominated party. TRC is just a smoke screen for Coalition to show the world they are genuine, but they are not.
Rabuka’s presence at NFP convention this weekend shows that people like Biman can do anything to be in power.
For Rabuka, he will continue to do things that will hurt the majority of the people. He will never be able to correct his wrongdoings since 1987.
Failed at everything says
He is already going down as the most disgraced PM of this country. The actual fool.
And every government he ever formed has failed.
Get Up Fiji says
Good job there Tamaki. The more noise of discontent, especially overseas, our local populace won’t dare holding up a placard denouncing the government of the day, the better. They must know the very high level of discontentment of the diaspora as well. All the best
Fiji’s economy at the mercy of an incompetent fraud says
Rabuka must be stupid to think Baimaan and NFP can bring Indian votes. Baimaan is the most hated Indian leader in history. Rabuka would do well to dump him as he’s a liability to government and giving it a bad smell.
He was at best a mediocre academic, even if that. He got by through tagging his names to papers written by his junior academics. That this incompetent fraud is in charge of Fiji’s economy should scare the living daylight out of all Fijians. Rabuka, please do the right thing: dump Baimaan and save Fiji, for God’s sake.
Pathetic Rabuka says
Oh dear, did you see how Rabuka stood from his chair and walked to the lectern to give his speech at the NFP National Convention?
My 89 year old grandfather would beat him anytime in a 100m sprint.
All his Facebook photos training at his home gym is all a photo set up to lie to the people of Fiji that he is physically fit to continue to be in politics.
He’s currently the oldest PM in Fiji and he’s now trying again to set a national record in Fiji to be the oldest PM so no other person would come near his pathetic record.
He needs a mental assessment so we are satisfied that he has the mental capacity to still be the PM before the next election.
His brain power is as slow as his walk.
We the people of Fiji deserve better.
As for Lenora, we no longer have faith in that one. Once she became part of the Coalition government, her Facebook posts have been subtly demeaning and she thinks she has the moral high ground. She lectures us on how we should live our lives. Her latest post about parents going on kava barrel and not thinking of their children is very demeaning.
Who is she to lecture us on how we choose to live and manage our private family lives? The long arm of your loser government must know where it should end.
Stop creeping into our personal lives and at our homes Lenora.
One question for you. Have you, in your name sponsored a bill in parliament that was successfully voted in to become an act? Or are you just big talk in parliamentary debate with nothing to account for under your name? At least Lynda has come up with one bill and voted in to become an act under her name.
You wasted my vote. You’re all talk, no real substance.
Good bye Lenora says
Agree and the salwaar kameez is not cutting it either. Indians are not voting for NFP even with that kameez try hard mode.
All talk and no show.
Only me says
There was quite rent a crowd at the convention today. But the two rats should not get excited as the crowds were just curious to see the circus arrive in their town. I bet only some will vote for NFP. As for Leonora, isn’t she the one who had cursed the Indians and their future generations .
Spiralling hate speeches says
Check out how far the vile and misleading information goes about Fiji Indians in New Zealand today.
This is Destiny Church leader Brian Tāmaki who has been under lots of censorship in New Zealand for his hate speech. His speech sounds just like that of George Speight.
This is what is happening right now. A target abuse on Indians in New Zealand and also Fiji Indians and thrown hate messages about the Muslim in it.
https://www.facebook.com/BrianTamakiFNZ/videos/557211423432538/?app=fbl
AChand says
Rabuka’s rhetoric doesn’t cut it.
Even at international forums, he has become a laughing stock, backflipping on issues on which he had made knee-jerk responses. Now he is trying his luck with the ‘Peace crusade’ and apart from fancy words doing nothing to keep the Americans, Australians, Chinese, French, Indonesians and Japanese at bay.
Agree that whilst Lenora may be a very pleasant face for Fiji in meeting leaders and diplomats, her inability to make any substantive impact on Fiji’s foreign policy is concerning. I am not sure she is such a star domestically either.
Apart from ‘trust me’ cry from the lectern, there was nothing in Rabuka’s speech to offer confidence on substantive matters. Did he retract the ‘vulagi’ label? Did he address the expiring land leases of Indian tenant farmers? Does he not have the statistics on how many i-taukei and non i taukeis have been appointed to key positions such as Diplomats, PSs, Directors, Membership on Boards etc
We didn’t hear Agni Deo Singh on the PALM and seasonal worker schemes which is coming under increased criticism, or even on the status of the ferry wheel tragedy more than 12 months ago.
Sashi Kiran has a mountain to climb on the TRC. Would have been useful to get some clarity. And Pio seems to be conspicuous by his absence these days. Is he taking the attitude of most Coalition Ministers that they should just ignore the ‘barking dogs’ ( the people) and things will fizzle out with the passage of time.
NFP is doomed and most of us who invested in them in the last election feel let down and have learnt our lesson.
NFP - Not For Principles says
NFP may as well close up shop. Having a leader of another party deliver keynote speech at its own annual convention??!! Don’t they have enough leadership and strategy within themselves. Shameful. Or a strategic move by their leader to sell his party members and party ideology to the other team – so he can remain in power. And not as if with his position he is advancing the cause of the nation or party – just himself and his cronies.
Imagine the All Blacks inviting a Springbok captain into its changing room at half time to motivate the ABs! Or a State of Origin team having the opposition coach in it’s dressing room.
Yes the NFP and PAP are coalition partners. But it was only for the purpose of getting rid of Frank guarding the chicken coop…now that’s done they have little jn common. And Sashi Kiran may find she has no Friends left come next election.
The slippery snake has wiggled it’s way in. Thanks to someone leaving a door open for it to slither in.
Anonymous says
Fiji’s equivalent of blaming the usual Imperialists and the COLONISERS for everything wrong now is Frank and Aiyaz ie FF. For the jast 16 years ….
And we should be grateful at least the incompetent Coalition Govt has given the people the Freedom and Liberty to tell the govt repeatedly that they are incompetent and make mistake after mistake, after mistake , to say the least.
Daniel Richards says
At the NFP convention, Rabuka once again talks about his blab that there is nothing to fear while addressing mainly the Indo Fijians.
Why does he have to say such things when there is nothing to fear, or is it that there is something to fear?
By making such statements, he is making people fear from the unknown that a person like Rabuka can prompt.
He knows very well that he has created fear in the minds of many, particularly in the minds of the Indo Fijian since his coups of 1987 and in his involvement directly or indirectly in the 2000 coup and mutiny.
Rabuka himself is the creator of this fear in the minds of people.
NFP President and its leader were seen crawling up to Rabuka and boasting about how united they are. Actually,
NFP leader is trying his best to appease Rabuka for obvious reasons.
NFP leadership is boasting about how principled NFP is and comparing themselves with the NFP leaders of yester years.
In fact, the current leadership is a far cry from what past NFP stalwarts inculcated. At least they defended and protected indo -Fijians and stood their grounds.
Look at how NFP has deteriorated in its stature and image under Biman Prasad and his current team.
Just to be in power, he has supported Rabuka, who is the main reason for Indo Fijians’ plight in and exodus from Fiji.
At least Bainimarama, through 2013 constitution, gave equal citizenry and name to the Indo Fijians.
It is now time that people of Fiji must reject people like Rabuka and Biman before more damage is done to the country and ordinary people continue to suffer.
Save the best for last says
Those of us, the majority of voters who see through Rabuka, must not give him what his evil heart desires most, and that us to replace the 2013 Constitution.
Forget about the Vision 2050, forget about the Development Plan 2024-2027. All what we desire, the right to a job, a house, good health, the right to life and the protection of the law and a fair trial is already entrenched in the 2013 constitution.
So why would we want to change it? Certainly not by a person that we least trust.
We the minorities need to stand behind this 2013 Constitution until Rabuka is defeated in 2026, then we can begin to think about changing it.
What does Taniela see says
Grubsheet GD..you are dangling in front us with hope of a new Messiah / Leader. While we want to , please don’t get us too excited… Or should we be ready with our palm fronds and jackets. I personally don’t see much hope in anyone in Fiji. Can you blame me.. But I’d be absolutely thrilled if there were a group of real authentic patriots..and not the “anti Christ” clothed as the messiah.