GD writes: CommonMan – our grassroots columnist in the vanua – returns for election year with a thought-provoking, even incendiary, article that demolishes the carefully-crafted image of the Prime Minister as having empowered and unified the iTaukei.
Read on for the harsh pronouncement on Sitiveni Rabuka by a largely self-educated farmer and villager from Nadroga who is as close to genuine iTaukei opinion as it is possible to be.
While some may cast CommonMan’s views as reflecting mostly opinion in the West and among Rabuka’s political opponents, if enough voters in the country as a whole share his conclusions come election day, the Prime Minister isn’t the shoo-in that many expect. He is toast.
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Even as the Rabuka-led Coalition government stumbles from one tragedy into another and from one debacle to another, news has percolated from the Prime Minister’s end of the vanua that Rabuka may yet lead the Peoples Alliance Party into the 2026 General Elections.
It seems that the vanua-based political strategists behind the party had read the tea leaves in the bilo ni yaqona and surmised that the crossing over of eleven former FijiFirst MPs into the Coalition’s rank and file was an auspicious sign. That with the integration of nearly three-quarters of all MPs, the omens can only be good.
However, Rabuka’s political history is far more complex than what the mainstream imagery has constantly suggested. An image that has been carefully crafted over the years to portray him as the only person capable of unifying the iTaukei. A closer scrutiny of the books suggests otherwise. If anything, he has been the cause of division.
A critical re-examination of his four-decade political career suggests a startling conclusion: the man often framed as the “Great Unifier” of the iTaukei has historically been the primary architect of indigenous political fragmentation.
One of the most important historical facts about Rabuka is that he has never won any General Election by an outright majority. Not in 1992, 1994, 1999, 2018 or 2022. Never. That profound fact in and of itself exposes the fallacy that he is a unifier.
One of the biggest cons imposed on the national political psyche is that the clear majority of the iTaukei supported the 1987 coup. The way Rabuka himself continues to frame and justify his act of domestic terrorism on May 14 to this day always seems to suggest that.
But the elections of 1992 proved this not to be true, even though it was carried out under the provisions of an imposed 1990 Constitution, which was specifically designed to ensure and entrench iTaukei paramountcy and a majority in Parliament.
The SVT (Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei ) had to rely on a coalition with Labour and the General Voters Party to ensure SVT became the government of the day. And Rabuka has also done no better under the 1997 and the 2013 Constitutions.
Even in 2018, his presence as SODELPA party leader was insufficient to garner an outright majority. In fact, the result was a split in the party.
And in the election of 2022, he needed the support of both SODELPA and the NFP to make up the numbers.
Which subsequently brings to bear the second historical fact, a consequence of the first: Rabuka has always relied on Coalitions to govern; his style of (mis)management has always led to the disintegration of both the Coalition and his own party.
This is true in 1994, 1999, 2001 and 2018. In 1993, his fiscal malpractice led to divisions within his own party and the collapse of the coalition. It led to the formation of the Fijian Association Party, led by Josevata Kamikamica in 1994.
Even though he won the snap elections of 1994, he betrayed the FLP that had catapulted him to power in 1991 and sided with the NFP. His mismanagement of even this Coalition led to severe losses for both NFP and SVT in 1999 and their ejection from power.
The SVT subsequently further disintegrated into three more parties (Soqosoqo ni Taukei ni Vanua, Veitokani ni Lotu Vakarisito, and the Party of National Unity) by the 2001 elections.
In fact, where there were only two other indigenous parties in 1992, this number had proliferated to seven by 2001, less than a decade later.
Under Laisenia Qarase, most of these indigenous parties were later absorbed into SDL ( Social Democratic Liberal Party, the precursor to SODELPA) so that it was the only indigenous party contesting the general election of 2014. However, Rabuka’s entry in 2018 led to internal divisions.
By 2022, SODELPA had splintered into five political groupings – the Peoples Alliance Party, which Rabuka himself formed after promising he would not establish another party, Unity Fiji, We Unite Fiji, All People’s Party, and the New Generation Party.
It is perplexing how many indigenous people are so blind to the fact that discord and division seem to follow Rabuka wherever he goes. It’s as if a curse follows him; he brings division to indigenous unity.
There is every chance that PAP may further fragment into another offshoot led by Manoa Kamikamica, who has massive support within the Kubuna Confederacy.
The more the people of Kubuna see him stand before the courts, the more keenly they feel that Rabuka has betrayed and abandoned a true son of Tailevu.
They see Kamikamica as a victim of Rabuka’s gross mismanagement of the selection of the FICAC Commissioner’s position, a stark contrast from his initial campaign trail promise, where FICAC was supposed to have been phased out and absorbed into the Police Force.
Only this time the conclusion is far from being foregone because from all appearances, Rabuka seems to have neither learnt anything from history nor from his mistakes.
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NOTE:
A reminder that I will be out of commission for the time being for medical reasons.
Sota tale as soon as I am able. But please keep those comments coming.
Election year is already hotting up. And we especially look forward to more insights from CommonMan as the year unfolds.
Excellent article and outlining of Rabuka’s divisive history.
I think a powerful underlying dynamic that keeps the likes of Rabuka rolling is the culture of apologising and entitlement to forgiveness and a clean slate without any accountability.
The extremist Christian mindset of erasing past transgressions for another chance is so ingrained in the psyche of so many Fijians that it prevents people from remembering and analysing patterns of behaviour. It is patterns of behaviour that define the personality disorders that clearly need to be kept out of leadership. And let us also remember that these apologies are only self-serving: they only come when caught, and serve a purpose to absolve and save one’s ass. In decent democracies, there is an apology and resignation to take accountability.
I commend CommonMan for laying out Rabuka’s pattern of behaviour and can only hope that his writings can influence enough people to face this reality.
What I do not understand is that everyone in Fiji and their dog wants to move on and move forward. That is what they all keep saying everytime there is criticism of Rabuka and his crooking and thievery since 1987 and I quote “move on, that was in the past”.
But then these same people, mostly iTaukei, vote for Rabuka or want to go back to him and his racism. And that kind of ‘moving forward and moving on’, back to the same person, has been happening for the 40 years now – that is half a life time! What the f**k kind of moving forward and moving on is that when the same person is still around after 40 years? These people do not even realise that their kind of moving forward and moving on is sheer stupidity.
How many such people are there in Fiji who are totally oblivious and proud that they are stupid?
Ha ha ha we call that the Fiji ‘Two Step” – one step forward, two step backwards. And guess where you end up?
Don’t forget the most common one-the side step. Then there the dummy move—a favorite of the great council of coconuts.
It’ll go something like this- cha cha one step forward, cha cha two steps back, cha cha side step, cha cha side step right, cha cha dummy left, cha cha — hang on—cha pio!
Rabakau only supports elite and racist itaukei and that’s why he wants lease money to only go to chiefs. Common people continue to remain in poverty while grass continues to grow in the unused lands. The irony is that common people voted him in.
Fiji court appearance through Court corridors for elites be like:
1. Malimali carrying Big Coffee Mug
2. Kaiyum in Sun Glasses and a brown bag
3. Kamikamica in crutches with Rups Big Bear smile
4. Gul Fatima carrying more than required Bainimarama files and most papers about to fall off from those files
5. Tanya showing full 32 teeth Colgate smile while conversing with strangers
6. FICAC Acting Commissioner in serious walk of fame with big goggles
7. Nancy DPP flipping and tossing her course attire with serious eye contact
8. Sanim, Davnesh Sun Glasses but posing for media photo
9. Bai doing big but genuine jokes with strangers
10. Biman poses for camera to portray he won the case even though case not started yet
11. Fa enters from back door with a dubious confidential agreement
12. Qiliho cool, calm and collected.
Part 2 coming
Hahaha, that’s very observant. All these wannabes live the limelight. Looking forward to part 2 😂.
Cartoonist could have some fun with your observations and we as a nation can have a giggle.
Potential collaboration in the making?
Well verified 👏
3. Kamikamica in crutches with Rups Big Bear smile
Puzzling that. Is it a prop? To gain pity from the public and/or courts?
The crutches seem rather ill adjusted as they don’t seem to be supporting any weight. Perhaps the center is too heavy?
Saleshni Temo will not need much convincing checkered coat pecker is innocent.
During the campaign, Rolex Rabuka fooled us into believing he was a visionary statesman. In reality, he is an ethnonationalist in disguise—a wolf in sheep’s clothing. We hoped he would build a strong, united Fiji; instead, he has shown himself to be utterly incapable.
He is old, feeble, and out of touch. His idea of leadership seems to be prancing around in sulu suits, attending endless ceremonies, and taking frequent overseas trips to collect per diems. That, apparently, is his vision: self-aggrandizement and personal benefit.
He revels in pomp and ceremony, preoccupied with appeasing chiefs and protecting cronies—among them the Chief Justice.
This wannabe chief loves traditional welcome where his subjects bow to him while he is seated on a platform. The arrogant fool also has a weakness for Rolexes. He is too materialistic to be a good leader.
Rabuka is a relic. At this rate, he risks being remembered as one of the greatest mistakes Fiji has made—second time around.
It’s time the old fart was put out to pasture.
GD, CWM will keep you out of commission for only the time being?
Good luck with it.
Vinaka, Daniel. Fortunately it is a hospital in Sydney. Or maybe this is one of your jokes.
https://fijisun.com.fj/living/health/surgical-equipment-found-inside-woman-police-probe-death
No wonder we’re short of medical equipment! G’dam!
CWM will keep you out of commission. Period.
Malimali has now become “malamaal”.
“Malamaal” means super rich. Court just ruled she was wrongfully dismissed. So, $2m monetary compensation for her? This now also brings Lavi’s FICAC A/Commissioner appointment in limbo although the court has NOT declared Lavi’s appointment unlawful. Court wants JSC to recommend Lavi’s appointment to President.
Wow! I cannot imagine enough a bigh sigh of relief for Malimali but even a bigger one for Baimaan and Kamica!
So, let’s see next chess game move by Rolex Rambo. If JSC doesn’t formalize Lavi’s appointment, then will Rambo go after Saleshni???
I just hear the ignorant shouting with glee that her dismissal was not according to the constitution. The court hasn’t found that she SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN APPOINTED, OR SHOULDN’T HAVE BEEN DISMISSED. It’s just found that Rabuka (yet again) went about it the wrong the way. This man doesn’t have the intelligence to even read the Constitution, let alone have the morality to care about following it.
Sadly, you are confused, Sad Observer. Either way, Court said Malimali shouldn’t have been fired by Rabuka.
Be a happy Observer 😊
Unfortunately for people like you, this will eventually be decided on appeal – Dane Tuiqereqere, who once handled accident compensation claims cases in New Zealand contradicting Professor Philip Joseph KC, that country’s foremost constitutional expert.
If you were a betting man, who would you back?
always bet on the coconut GD
Yes, because (in the courts opinion) that wasn’t the procedure by which Malimali was supposed to have been fired.
Whether or not she was deserving of being fired is a separate question.
You are confusing two separate questions.
Yes Commonman, you’re right on the mark with this:
“One of the biggest cons imposed on the national political psyche is that the clear majority of the iTaukei supported the 1987 coup. The way Rabuka himself continues to frame and justify his act of domestic terrorism on May 14 to this day always seems to suggest that.”
This is why I urged caution on those endorsing him in coalition with NFP at the last election. The response was he was the lesser of evils compared to Khaiyum and Bainimarama again. With Richard Naidu and others by his side to keep him straight, things might work out.
But it hasn’t, and we can only hope that common sense prevails at the next election as people realise that the country’s greatest strength has always been multiculturalism which also allows communities do their own thing.
Your observation on Manoa Kamikamica’s support in Kubuna is interesting. He wouldn’t be the first politician with a less-than-squeaky clean record who has had to clear his name in the courts. So maybe he still has an opportunity and will learn from the experience to be totally dedicated in service of the people. Also, if the remnants of FijiFirst can get their act together, they must be in with a chance.
“…next election as people realise that the country’s greatest strength has always been multiculturalism..”
That ship sailed long out into the horizon in 1987, gathering speed in 2000.
Ethno-nationalists and ethnonationlism have sine been ingrained in the heartlands and hearts of native Fijians. The roots are now too deep and too spread to make a change.
Sad, yet true. The best we can hope for is for people to die — Sona Rolex, Pedo, and Saleshni could start the ball rolling.
Closely followed by all the uneducated and half educated (th)chiefs of the rhetorical repeating colonial relic, the great council of coconuts.
According to the chair, the council of coconuts is meeting again not to discuss anything new but to discuss why no progress was made from previous discussions.
Alas, there’s no need to spend another $300,000+ to find out the one true reason for zero progress: BECAUSE YOU FKWITS HAVE DONE NOTHING SINCE!
All these meetings to discuss meetings about zero achievement while having the finest meals, morning tea, afternoon tea, kava, and fine wines while the common people have noodles and tea.
Statement in Response to the Former Acting Prime Minister, Hon. Vosarogo
The former Acting Prime Minister’s public response raises more questions than it answers and, regrettably, reflects a troubling misunderstanding of ministerial boundaries and institutional propriety.
First, the central issue remains unanswered: why was a person implicated in the Commission of Inquiry considered appropriate to be involved, directly or indirectly, in examining the legal implications arising from that very inquiry? Whether described as a “legal review” or a “legal opinion,” the substance of the concern remains the same. Any process dealing with the consequences of the Commission of Inquiry must be clearly independent and free from conflicts of interest. This is not a political position; it is a fundamental rule-of-law principle.
Second, while Hon. Vosarogo speaks at length about his knowledge of the law, he overlooks a critical point: the prerogative to determine whether legal advice, legal opinions, or further legal review is required in matters affecting the State rests with the Attorney-General, not the Minister for Lands and not the Acting Prime Minister acting outside that portfolio.
Finally, and most importantly, Hon. Vosarogo should exercise restraint when lecturing the nation on legal propriety. It is a matter of public record that he has twice been the subject of adverse findings before the Independent Legal Services Commission, once for unsatisfactory professional misconduct and once following a plea of guilty to professional misconduct, arising from the improper handling of client trust funds. These are not political allegations; they are findings recorded by the statutory body responsible for regulating the legal profession.
In light of this record, Hon. Vosarogo is neither suited nor entitled to lecture the nation on legal ethics or the proper application of the law. He cannot and will never be the Attorney-General, and he should refrain from posturing as a legal authority.
Hon. Vosarogo should remain within the scope of his ministerial responsibilities and allow the Acting Attorney-General to deal with all legal matters arising from the Commission of Inquiry.
Hon. Premila Kumar
Member of the Opposition
But you forget that this is Fiji, this is iTaukei land, the iTaukei have more rights in their own land and they have their own laws. They are entitled to do as they wish in accordance with the circumatances at the time. They are immensely qualified for a position especially if they have a dodgy record from the past.
Just look at the acting AG, the Chief Registrar, the people in the ODPP and many other positions and offices, including the Minister of Lands and the CJ. Shall I mention the Minister of Disinformation? If you are a relative of the PM then there is added entitlements.
Basically, the vulagi should stay out of iTaukei affairs. It is just that they do not say it as openly and clearly as I do. The President, the PM and all his ministers and the chiefs should come out and say it like I do. But they all are f**king cowards, hiding behind their entitlements, their titles. Useless sons of b***hes, all of them.
Phew
Relax my friend, glad you got it off your chest though.
Let us accept this fact and move on with our lives and create a better future for the next generation wherever your contributions are appreciated.
Once we accept this and leave Fiji to the Itaukei, all your angst will vanish
Accept the fact they dont want IndoFijians in Fiji, your path forward will be a lot easier
Another one who wnats to “move on”, but with a dinosaur from 40 years ago. You do not even know that you are not moving on when you have the same dickhead from 40 years ago, understand idiot?
Even for the iTaukei, they can never “move on” when they have a fossil from 40 years ago. But they are simply oblivious, just like this idiot.
I am no Rabuka fan and in no way condone his actions and his unholy alliance with the NFP and Turncoats
Moving on and out of the country is perhaps a better option O’ mighty Clear & Concise
This daily frothing at the mouth is not good for anyone
If push came to shove be pragmatic, unless you can take on the entrenched Itaukei institutions like the Civil Service, Army, Police etc
Leave it all to them , Sir Concise
I do wish keyboard warriors would avoid name calling. It’s unbecoming
Have a great day.
The way people continue to support Rabuka even amidst his own sympathy seeking con to resign should he lose the appeal is mind boggling !
In fact all these male continuing to argue for the 78 year old Rabuka to lead Fiji again in the next General Elections speaks volumes for what kind of characters we have. Lamulamu and useless . Continuing to rely on Rabuka to lead Fiji again is so yesterdays news !!
On the much vaunted button o mighty enlightened one.
Particularly so as the ne’er do well natives loathe success and generational planning.
Charlie ‘Long Loaf’ Charters on the warpath on FB against on RNZI. He goes to great lengths against Janet Mason but does not apply the same standards to Barbara Malimali. No mention of the infamous ‘sex on the beach’ episode in Tuvalu, and all the other litany of findings in the COI. Fatboy masquerading as a balanced and fair minded analyst again.
“Margot Staunton’s reporting on the COI has brought considerable shame to RNZ throughout.
I have never come across anything so one-eyed on New Zealand’s public broadcaster since listening to Keith Quinn’s rugby commentary circa 1994.
If you are reading this Margot, please show us in the body of the article where the $3m figure derives from. You’re happy to create the clickbait but not one word or quote in the body of the article as currently presented supports the figure.
Shame on RNZ for such utter nonsense.
Perhaps while you are lionising Janet Mason you might mention that
– she was denied a solo practitioner law licence in 2015 by the NZLS after her previous company was put into administration by the IRD in 2014 for non-payment of already-collected GST and PAYE;
– that the same thing was threatened by the IRD last year for approx the same amount of already-collected GST and PAYE until lo-and-behold she was engaged by the Fiji Govt and was able to join the gravy train express that saw Suva pay off debts owed to Wellington;
– that Mason submitted to the NZLS a medical note to explain away why she had not participated in a NZLS-mandated seminar to address a disciplinary issue that the NZLS said was not real;
– that that medical note claimed her ill health meant she could not work until the end of December 2024 yet she started with the COI in October 2024;
– that Mason’s licence to practice was suspended for a month after the COI concluded for ‘willful or reckless’ disregard for her professional obligations, etc. etc.
Perhaps you may reflect on how bizarre and bitterly ironic it is for Fiji taxpayers to have paid a small fortune for Mason to sit in judgement professionally, ethically and morally on Barbara Malimali and her legal bonafides when if there’s someone who should not be throwing stones near glasshouses it’s definitely Mason.
Perhaps she’s not the ideal pearl-clutching innocent to be quoting as she gasps and swoons in shock.
And don’t get me started on the ‘Right Honourable’ ‘Sir’ David Ashton-Lewis ‘SC’ and his cosplay efforts at being a senior jurist.”
Charlie Charters is a mediocrity who employs his admittedly adequate writing skills to prop up the corrupt clique of friends and acquaintances who have degraded Fiji’s criminal justice system and is the enemy of anyone who wants integrity and transparency in our institutions of state.
But what can we expect from someone whose mother-in-law, Mere Samisoni, admitted to being part of a conspiracy to burn down Suva to promote the nationalist cause, escaped on a technicality and on whose behalf Charlie waged a decade long vendetta against Christopher Pryde for daring to pursue her.
Janet Mason is a Fiji citizen who is part iTaukei, locally educated and speaks fluent Fijian. Anyone who reads the CoI Report can tell immediately that she is a person of exceptional ability and whatever problems she might have had in her business in New Zealand are totally irrelevant. As is Charlie’s preposterous campaign against David Ashton-Lewis, whose penchant for English titles and coats of arms may be eccentric but isn’t criminal and is also totally irrelevant to his conduct of the CoI.
Charlie has targeted Margot Staunton for the same reason he targets Grubsheet. Because she hasn’t fallen for his snake-oil persona as a Yorkshireman transplanted to the South Seas – a latter-day beachcomber who dons a bula shirt and neck charm, marries into a local family and tries to be of service as the matanivanua for a shady and self-serving elite.
All the substance of a fart in a hurricane.
“One-eyed Cantabrian” is a colloquial New Zealand term for an extremely parochial or obsessed sports supporter from the Canterbury region, particularly regarding rugby. It describes a person whose, often blind, loyalty to Canterbury sports teams especially the Crusaders…..etc
What about the blind one eyed Yorkshireman (Charlie) on his crusade for his Fijian friends in high places !