Grubsheet’s story on Sunday about the Minister for Justice, the Deputy DPP and the Commissioner of FICAC fraternising socially amid official investigations involving all three has triggered a call by the Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, for their suspension.
Seruiratu says the same standard that applied to DPP Christopher Pryde when he was suspended for holding a conversation with Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum must apply to Siromi Turaga, John Rabuku and Barbara Malimali after they were photographed together at a function at the GPH on Friday.
The difference, of course, is that Christopher Pryde has always maintained that he wasn’t investigating the ousted Attorney General when Khaiyum approached him at a Japanese Embassy function in February 2023. Whereas Siromi Turaga is currently being investigated by Barbara Malimali for alleged abuse of office as a minister and John Rabuku is investigating Barbara Malimali for alleged abuse of office in her former role as Chair of the Electoral Commission.
That didn’t stop the three of them from socialising together in a breathtaking violation of official protocol that has again enveloped the Coalition in scandal and undermined pubic confidence in the criminal justice system.
You read it first here, Fiji, but it is now front page news locally- as it should be – with the Opposition Leader baying for the wayward trio’s blood.
Of course, let’s go shoot the messenger. Even as the Coalition boasts about a new era of “media freedom” in Fiji, Siromi Turaga has the temerity to brand the Fiji Sun‘s legitimate reporting of the FICAC scandal as an “obsession”.
Yes, Minister. Any responsible journalist is obsessed with you and your kai vata doing the right thing. Which is precisely the role of a genuinely independent media in any democracy.
But, of course, these people aren’t democrats and much prefer their slavering lapdogs over at the Fiji Times. Unbelievable.
How telling that these government Facebook images have now been taken down. They know what they did was wrong yet will never admit it.
Too late. But watch, Fiji, how nothing will happen to bring them to account, as Sitiveni Rabuka’s ship of fools and misfits sails merrily along.
In the same way that “media freedom” is a sham under the Coalition, its promise of Fijians being free to protest are also a sham.
After a pro-Palestinian protest was banned yesterday, the NGO Coalition asks what precisely has changed with the advent of the “freedom” lovers of the PAP, NFP and SODELPA.
The police say the protest was disallowed for “security reasons”. Yes, dangerous woman, that Shamima Ali.
And finally…
Fair play GD, The Ministry of Justice published this photo itself and the only possible reason is that this is their birthday present to you.
A better present would have been for them to be sacked. 😉
QD…my grog bowl take…
Scene 1
Location…Japanese Territory …intent dance with the wolves
Khaiyum…alleged perpetrator
Pryde…DPP Head of Prosecutors
Scene 2
Location…Fiji Territory…intent to resolve the impasse
Turaga…Minister of Justice
Rabuku…ADDPP…Acting Deputy Head of Prosecutors
Malimali…CFICAC…alleged perpetrator
Conclusion
Scene 1…If allowed, perpetrator would be a free man (not surprising since the DPP Head of Prosecutors came to Fiji under the former’s watch).
Scene 2…Minister for Justice …for both the Prosecutors and alleged perpetrator…result…a fair and balanced outcome.
And you’re on the same Kadavu Gold as the Minister for Bonking and Weed.
GD… It’s not about me but the issue, please.
The Khaiyum/Pryde picture case scenario and that of Turaga, Rabuku and Malimali picture case scenario are different and it is so sad that people are so obsessed with it and even using it to down trod a sovereign people like the iTaukei.
What has “The Kadavu Gold as the Minister for Bonking and Weed” got to do with … your take for “STAND THEM DOWN”. TURAGA, RABUKU AND MALIMALI AT THE CENTRE OF A FRESH COALITION SCANDAL…Don’t digress but stick to the issue, please.
Respectfully
Is Inia Seruiratu also trying to “down trod” the iTaukei? It isn’t about ethnicity but good governance. And the point that the Opposition leader makes – which is the same point I make – is that the Pryde and Turaga/Rabuku/Malimali cases are precisely the same. Except that Christopher Pryde wasn’t making a decision to prosecute Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and the others were party to active investigations into each other.
You are trying to defend the indefensible and excuse the inexcusable on the grounds of ethnic discrimination against the iTaukei. And it isn’t going to fly.
This period of the Coalition Government rule will go down in the history books of Fiji as one of the darkest periods of anarchy; racism; chaos and extremist views and ideologies . Ethically bankrupt lawyers are leading the charge- lawyers who would be upholding justice and flaunting their brazen attitude of “ we are leading today and can do anything we wanna do so suck it up”.
On the Israel issue- the Coalition government led by Bill Gavoka wants to champion the Israel genocide! Funnily his own party Sodelpa doesn’t hold his views on Israel.
Don’t hold your breaths guys. No one will be sacked. Just wait and see!
Is that the same Board of Inquiry that has been inviting stakeholders’ views on how to proceed on the Christopher Pride case! All appointments made by Turaga should be investigated I think…
These guys are Untouchable, they can do whatever they like.
Peruvian Dictator Oscar Benavidez once said , ” To my enemies the Law , To my friends everything”.
Our Constitutional rights allows for freedom of speech and freedom of association.
Why are we paying millions of dollars a year to both the Police and RFMF to protect our rights when they will not do so.
Commissioner of Police and Commander of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces, why are you not protecting our rights as you have sworn to do so.?
Thieves – take our money and don’t do your job.
Some of us want to support the indigenous inhabitants of Palestine that are being subject to theft, destruction, extermination, by a colonizing people.
Some of us want to support a colonizing mixed European people practicing a Talmudic cult with an ideology of Zionism, that has an ethos of lie, cheat, steal, sanction, siege, destroy, kill, exterminate, genocide, that also believes they are the chosen, especially the white ones, brown and black not so much, but really believe that all non cult members are animals worthy of extermination, but in any case the ethos applies.
So we spend $300 million dollars an year between our police and army and between them they cant co-ordinate security for a bunch of peaceful marchers.
How hard can it be;
One weekend for the those who want to save babies and children’s lives and the next for those who want to kill babies and children.
I am sure the PM and his cohort of “lawfare warriors” , his Cabinet and a bunch of Parliamentarians would love to lead the march. Do it for them.
Onward Christian soldiers.
GD
You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to witness that since this coalition came to power under Rabuka, the island nation has lost the basic concept of decency, transparency, accountability, integrity, openness in public life. The members of government are brazenly abusing their authority and power as though they are a law unto themselves. They seem to enjoy so much unfettered power and influence as government ministers as there is no tomorrow. A typical iTaukei mentality.
Meanwhile, it seems favouritism of their own kind amongst the iTaukei community is endemic. Poor Christopher Pryde is humiliated, denied his basic human rights and is kept in limbo. Not knowing his fate. Whilst the iTaukei Cabinet members who may have committed similar or far more serious offences are enjoying the life of Riley.
Sadly, this government has lost all credibility and decency to lead the nation.The only credible opposition seems to be you, Graham, and Mahendra Chaudhry, the ex-PM, and the contributors to Grubsheet.
Of course Siromi won’t do anything. He is a rabid ethno-nationalist who does not tolerate vulagis.
The Christians in Fiji are strongly pro Israel. A muslim led pro Palestinian rally in Fiji on the anniversary of the murderous Hamas attack against Israelis in 7 October 2023, will provoke a retaliatory response. The risk of violence against muslims in Fiji is very high. Community safety in Fiji overides democracy in this case. Its better to be safe than sorry.
Well we had them in Australia in support of both sides, with the police keeping a watchful eye. But that’s the difference between a genuine democracy and the fake Coalition version in Fiji.
The societal dynamics are different in Australia. Any fool with half a brain can tell you that.
Then don’t boast about “freedom to protest and demonstrate” unless you are prepared to deploy the police to protect demonstrators from the mob of self righteous bullies and bigots.
Yes, the “societal dynamics” in Australia are different alright. It is a genuinely free society and proper democracy as opposed to the pretend version under the Coalition in Fiji. Which is why tens of thousands of Fijians of all ethnicities have seen through the hypocrisy and are heading for the exit.
Sadly, walolo man has a point.
Freedom of expression and responsibility go together in proper, open, transparent democracises. Divergent view points and debates help develop and strengthen open democratic societies. People are better informed and may agree to disagree peacefully.
Sadly, none the above ideals are practiced equally here. What is good for the gander is not good for the goose. One cannot express an opposing opinion if the itaukei do not agree with the sentiment. The itaukei will bully, threaten violence and beat the crap out of you.
Democracy is good for me but not you. Democracy is a foreign flower.
Of course, there is a more agreeable way forward for pro-this and anti-that sides. Both sides get permits to march on different days to support thier cause, whatever side of the divide they fall in.
That would be better for democracy. Not threatening violence, intimidation, and fear mongering the other side into submission.
One more aspect has to be said: the NGOs here appear very selective in what they want to protest about.
Fiji has not heard a peep from these same people about the weed and bonking, sexual abuser ministers, scandalous behavour from the highest levels of the judiciary, immoral and unqualifed political appointees, ethnic cleansing of civil servic, repeated violations of constitutional norms, and so many more egregious goverment conduct None of these see to matter or of relevance to them.
People have expressed public support for the Palestinian cause around the world. The conflict is widely publicized, there is not shortage of support for both sides in that long running conflict.
So why do local NGOs insist on showing public support in a long running conflict pro-one side?
To justify their existence, for their own relevance and self gratifications, and the limelight. And for the appeasement of donor agencies.
The NGOs need to look in the mirror and find better things to do.
This is the tragic reality of life in this banana republic where the justice system is being run by people who don’t have a clue about what they are doing. Not being pessimistic just realistic, this is not going to get any better. No leadership and no genuine desire to do the right thing by the people. This coalition is doomed!
Sack the basta@rds.
We have had enough of this ongoing saga.
They have no integrity and ethnics left with them and they have ruined the law in Fiji.
The country is in absolute shambles and decline.
Sack them now.
Let the voters decide whether they go or stay.
The voters in 2026 will decide the ‘sacking’. Not the goons in green
GD, never has Orwell’s Animal Farm reflected the situation in Fiji so aptly.
The pigs were correct because Rabuka and his government are actively practising the phrase “all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others” clearly shows the book must be their bible during cabinet meetings.
With the pigs running the government in Fiji, the people of Fiji are being lied to on a daily basis to prevent them seeing the evils being done by the Rabuka government. There are still a few Benjamins around though and they know exactly whats happening. The question is whether there are any Snowballs left to restore order.
No they are not hypocrites. They are iTaukei and this is their land and they are special. Just ask them.
I think I can see them saying to us in the picture – “Hey all, just look at us, we are proud idiots”
Siromi turaga and all these bunch should be terminated and charged for obstruction of Justice. And they appointed this bush villager to wear suit and be a minister of Injustice. This man is nothing but a thick bribe taker and grog doped. He has cheated all his way to get a degree. Fijian scholarship and Fijian lecturers were giving free law degrees and other degrees to this kind otherwise they would all be back in the Koro eating pawpaw rice.
A failed AG masquerading as a Minister for Justice, the illegally appointed and failed DPP with the hopelessly compromised FICAC Commissioner!
Where is the supposed well qualified non-elected AG? Nowhere to be found! He was either not invited or chose not to attend this gathering of intellectual pygmies.
Another example of the lack of judgement by supposed smart people or alternatively a gathering of those who know they are wrong and meet to try and justify their deeds and actions. Which in any democratic society with a functioning justice and governance system would not happen! Because the Justice Minister would been removed before now, the former illegal DPP would not get appointed to a position in the ODPP and the failed FICAC Commissioner would never have been appointed.
Oh, but I forgot this is Fiji where the alleged elite (read iTaukei) believe that rules, conventions and governance do not apply to them.
It must be a Japanese conspiracy. Japan being the common denominator at both functions ie Pryde at the Japan house function and these brazen trio at the Japan delegation event at the GPH!
And the photos could not be attributed to AI…but more like NI (Natural Intelligence = No Intelligence).
Or they think they are untouchable hence behave so brazenly.
Very stupid of them. Hopefully we can get rid of these idiots. As independent constitutional office holders who are supposed to be independent, what the hell are they doing together. They should be independent and be seen to be independent. Get rid of all those buffoons as they clearly do not understand their job description. This is while there is an open case against the DPP for a similar photo op.