As Fiji’s minorities brace themselves for the historic betrayal that is threatened by Sitiveni Rabuka‘s attempt to change the Constitution to entrench indigenous rights, Indo-Fijians in particular are turning their attention to those within their ranks who are aiding and abetting the process.
First and foremost of these, of course, is the NFP leader, Biman Prasad, who sat mute as Rabuka endorsed the right of the iTaikei to refer to their fellow citizens as vulagi – visitors – and is remaining mute again and refusing to say whether the common and equal citizenry and the common identity provisions are at stake and whether he will fight for their retention.
And there are plenty of others – the latest being the four ex-FijiFirst MPs who without warning, betrayed their colleagues in the Group of 16 who still make up some semblance of an opposition and voted with the Coalition to pass the first stage of its Bill to change the 2013 Constitution.
It has earned them the tags of dogla (traitors) and naga (snakes) who are betraying their own people. And while they have doubled down for the moment, they and their families have yet to feel the full force of the backlash that is coming their way if they continue to enable the Bill’s passage.
For the moment, at least, the Gaggle of Four deserters from the Group of 16 have yet to formally join the ranks of Rabuka’s Toadies-in-Chief – those members of the Indo-Fijian elite who are not only defending the Prime Minister but using their money and influence to assist him to disenfranchise their fellow citizens and weaken their rights under the supreme law.
The paramount Toady-in-Chief is easily Mahendra “Mac” Patel – the first criminal in Fijian history never to have served his sentence after he received a presidential pardon on Sitiveni Rabuka’s recommendation last year without ever being brought to justice, having been convicted in absentia of abuse of office and breaking his bail to seek refuge in Australia.
“Mac” Patel has used his power as owner of the Fiji Times to insist on being given a Saturday column in which he has repeatedly flayed the 2013 Constitution as “wicked” and a “threat to the iTaukei” when it is nothing of the sort.
It has been the first constitution in Fijian history to level the playing field by providing for a common and equal citizenry (equal votes of equal value) and a common identity ( “Fijian”). Plus the first Bill of Rights in the nation’s history guaranteeing everyone access to such things as basic health. education and water, though that provision clearly isn’t guaranteed when even parts of the capital are regularly without a water supply. But at least the intention is there and enshrined in the supreme law.
As well as corruptly using his own newspaper to conduct a personal vendetta against the architects of the 2013 Constitution, Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, and falsely belittling and misrepresenting its contents, “Mac” Patel is suddenly in the spotlight again as the possible source of a solid gold Rolex watch that has recently come to light adorning the wrist of the Prime Minister.
The Labour Party leader and former Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, is now asking a series of explosive questions – first posed by Grubsheet – about where the $150,000 gold Rolex has come from. Because “Mac” Patel’s family company, the Motibhais of Ba, hold the concession for Rolex in Fiji. And back in 1987 after his two coups that upended democracy and brought Fiji to its knees,, “Mac” Patel gave Sitiveni Rabuka the same model gold Rolex he has recently sported that the then military commander turned into cash.
The silence on this issue has been deafening but the questions aren’t going away. Because the issue is whether “Mac” Patel or his family have gifted another gold Rolex to the Prime Minister for granting the “Chairman Emeritus” of the Motibhai Group a pardon that has enabled him to return from exile in Australia. If true, this is an issue of serious corruption warranting both men being referred to FICAC.
Enter another Toady and the subject of this article – the New Zealand based Indo-Fijian businessman, Pramesh Sharma – the former head of Oceania Hospitals who now holds senior advisory roles with two of Fiji’s biggest companies – Carpenters Fiji Limited and the Vinod Patel Group. Like “Mac” Patel, the oleaginous Sharma has also become one of the principal cheerleaders for the Prime Minister and the Coalition, waging war on Facebook on their behalf.
But he may just have made a big error of judgment by weighing into the debate about the provenance of Sitiveni Rabuka’s gold Rolex. Because it has drawn further attention to an issue that the Prime Minister and the government will be desperate to go away. Because the flames of potential scandal clearly have the potential to flair into a major conflagration in the lead-up to next year’s election and this is an “own goal” of epic proportions.
Pramesh Sharma – who has a reputation for being unable to keep his hands off his female staff – also seems unable to keep his hands off a story that no-one who genuinely cares about the Prime Minister should be touching with a proverbial 40-foot barge poll.
Yet here he is on Facebook poking the embers of scandal and giving this sordid story even more legs. Why? Because he makes the risible claim that someone who used to collect bottles to make ends meet can easily afford a $150,000 gold Rolex. And he completely glosses over the issue of whether the watch came from “Mac” Patel in exchange for his pardon, which turns an inappropriate display of wealth into a full-blown corruption scandal of history repeating itself and the Prime Minister being bought.
“Nothing to see here, Fiji”. “The Prime Minister can easily afford a $150,000 gold Rolex and the accompanying gold-coated Mont Blanc Fountain Pen”. “And look over there. What about the expensive toys accumulated by Frank Bainimarama?”
It is a breathtaking sidestep and one that is singularly inept. Because with his failure to address whether “Mac” Patel is the source of the watch, Pramesh Sharma has merely succeeded in giving this story the legs to run and run. And run it will all the way to Election Day.
You and your big mouth, Pramesh, have put your hero, the Prime Minister, deeper into hot water. And any doubt about that has been erased as Mahendra Chaudhry grabs the story by the bit and Grubsheet has started getting calls from media outlets in New Zealand seeking further information.
Yet all this is nothing to the bother that Pramesh Sharma is potentially in because of another Facebook posting in which he called for the Coalition to shut down the Barbara Malimali Commission of Inquiry before it hands over its findings.
He deleted the following when he evidently realised that he is in contempt of the Commission and you just can’t say such things about a properly-constituted judicial inquiry. But too late. Here’s what Pramesh Sharma wrote and it is a naked assault on the rule of law.
Yes, Fiji, it’s expensive, the money could be better spent, the COI has exceeded its terms of reference etc etc. Sharma also preempts the Inquiry’s findings by suggesting that Justice David Ashton Lewis could damage the reputation and integrity of the Judicial Services Commission. And he calls for the Judge’s removal. Amazing.
This Toady already can’t keep his hands off women. Yet he thinks he can put his grubby mitts all over the most important judicial inquiry in recent Fijian history and derail it before it reports.
The man is mad. Clearly emboldened by his relationship with Sitiveni Rabuka and Biman Prasad, he has launched an attack on the COI and in the process, undermined public confidence in the judiciary. And as someone has written in a Grubsheet comment, Pramesh Sharma now stands accused of attempting to pervert the course of justice.
Yes, it’s disturbing alright. And it isn’t the first time Pramesh Sharma has transgressed. Last September he launched an extraordinary attack on the Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa, accusing her of colluding with the former deputy FICAC Commissioner, Francis Puleiwai, to damage Barbara Malimali and improperly target a slew of politicians who Mataiciwa had referred to FICAC.
Could this attack perchance be related to Pramesh Sharma’s call now for the Malimali Commission of Inquiry to be terminated? You bet, Fiji. Read on and be horrified at the influence this man has. Or at least thinks he has. And the way he is overtly damaging confidence in our institutions of state and the rule of law.
Here’s the specific reference to our hero in the story above.
You be careful of a flying roof, Pramesh. Because impugning the integrity of the Malimali Commission of Inquiry and the reputation of a Supreme Court judge is at an entirely different level of gravity.
And count yourself lucky if this roof doesn’t sever your head, as well as destroy any remaining credibility you might have had with the other dogla and naga, let alone the community as a whole.
You’re all on notice that the whole country is watching.
——————-
FROM THE ARCHIVES:
Off on a technicality…
A Grubsheet correspondent writes:
Pramesh was lucky to escape this charge because the time frame for the complaint and charge fell outside of the required thresholds
His lawyer was Filimoni Vosarogo, hence his loyalty to PAP and, of course, an axe to grind.
So the guy got off on a legal technicality? Hardly an endorsement of innocence.
There was was no dispute of the submitted facts, just that the complaint and charges were outside the 12 month window.
Shameless opportunist.
This guy is a snake and should be taken to task for undermining the work of the COI.
He is a self-serving rascal. Everyone knows not to be fooled by his fake smile.
He’s been so vindictive to so many innocent people – karma is coming for you!
100% agreed mate, this guy thinks he is untouchable, SHAME ON YOU PRAMESH SHARMA, COI should charge him for contempt of court. Who are you to stop the COI, when it is doing a great job to expose corruption in the criminal justice system…SHAME ON YOU!
Thanks GD for highlighting the conduct of such a shameful person who is supporting corruption in the government.
KARMA is coming sooner or later to this PRAMESH SHARMA
Boom. Mr Sharma is finally nailed. From a humble background being a prison officers son to Mr 5% who took commission on loans to businesses from BSP to a sex predator, Mr Gecko ring a bell on those txts – Parmesh exposed fully by this site, wait for Fiji Transparency site to reply (run by Sharma and co).
Great work Graham, please dig more including somebody (maybe me) reporting Mr Sharma’s source of wealth in NZ to Inland Revenue NZ.
You did miss one board, Tanoa Group – note the breakfast and lunches with ministers including PM in Tanoa Group Hotels – see his Facebook. Shame on you Rohit Reddy – your father would have never entertained this behaviour from a board member.
Biman and Coalition’s ball greaser . Let the dog Parmesh bark till the results come out for the 2026 GE .
Two proud c**k suckers. It must make them feel real good.
Pramesh is also on Tanoa Group’s Board, so that’s three of the largest companies in the South Pacific.
He seems blinded to justify current misdoings by the past, as is a common theme amongst the coalition supporters. They have quickly forgotten that they were voted in for ‘change’ and equating current misdeeds to those of the past is not disproving the allegations, rather amplifying them.
Pramesh’s personal vendetta and self-interest is not unknown. He will burn the entire nation for his own benefit. At this stage, Pramesh (and similar lackies like Lolesh, Jai Dayal, Rajesh Singh, Ranjan Charan, Sivendra Dayal) are clutching at straws to justify their positions.
The Coalition government has rooted the country with corruption, scandals, racism and crime while the economy is headed down the drain. Basically everything they were alleging the FFP government was doing is now being seen right out in the open in this government.
Wow, and I admit that I had looked up to Mr Sharma for his leadership, knowledge, analyses, understanding of local contexts, networks, attire and contributions at many forums. So articulate and captivating to listen to. Then his name and character started to be questioned by some including on this platform. But now, sa sega (no more).
Another to be blow torched I think is Ms Waleen George, who cleared not only Mr Sharma but also Chief Registrar, Mr Tomasi Bainivalu, of his drink driving change. But isa, the grassroot wrongdoers are jailed. Anyway, that will be Grubsheet’s decision.
https://www.fijitimes.com.fj/non-conviction-sentence-for-chief-registrar/
Finally someone picks on the wannabe knows everything and everyone, he boasts about his connections in Col. govt, backs it with his FB pictures and phone contact list and then says he can resolve any issues through his connections – pay him fee or 10% – shame on Vinod Patel ( Praveen Patel) and Reddy Group ( Rohit and Kamini Reddy) – you have no moral compass by having him on your board – imagine if that was your daughter/wife/mother in 2009.
What about those people on his Facebook page like NZ PM, ACT Leader, All Blacks etc – do they know his sex history allegations, just because he got off on technicality doesn’t mean he isn’t a sex pest (no different to Epstein). GDs article destroys Mr Sharmas credibility with facts and exposes the self serving clueless individual, we need to share this article with all those dignitaries whom he likes to take photos with in NZ and Fiji – keep up the great work GD and keep exposing Parmesh regularly so this type of sex and power hungry leach is crushed.
Way to go GD! While you supported coalition coming into power in anticipation of a “good change”, you have done the right thing by calling them out at every opportunity where they’ve wrong and for that you have my respect.
On this guy, whilst fully agree with everything being mentioned here, comments included, he ought to take a long hard look at himself before daring to calling anyone out. In addition to his shenanigans, this guy has long been abusing his powers whilst in office in several positions he has held, such as:
1. Oceania Hospital – having doctors make house calls to attend to his family members at no charge/ cost
2. Property in NZ and his connection to Kartika construction
3. Sofitel – while a sitting director on board throwing tantrums on specific rooms he wants, premium parking at front of the hotel, special dishes to be prepared for him by the chef, etc
4. Desperately wanting to be on boards of entities so we can continue to throw his weight around.
5. Shenanigans while on Denarau board.
6. His association with Marama of Lulu Bar and Cafe in Denarau, the reason why his visitations to Denarau was so high.
List is non-exhaustive.
It is common knowledge that he is behind the Transparency page together with his mate Lolesh and co.
He is a jealous person and such people have a knack of being responsible for their own demise.
Not forgetting the Denarau Waters deal and his demands while being the chairman of DCFL and also associated with Land across Fiji Airways owned by BSP Life
Karma starting to hit him already – he just found about Rosy and Sudha Karan
Sharma is greasing the balls of Rabuka, the useless PM who has become a millionaire, thanks to another ball greaser, the dogla in chief Baiman Prasad, Fiji’s worst finance minister in history.
Socking the ordinary people 15% tax while MPs get a huge pay hike. Biman used to moan and complain the loudest about the $3000 travel allowance only to see it increase to $3,400 under the government that he is part of.
Biman is a traitor and a liar who must be kicked out as soon as possible. If the NFP doesn’t remove him, it will be removed with him. NFP should be prepared for the biggest humiliation in its history in the next poll. NFP’s day of reckoning is here: If NFP doesn’t finish Biman, then Biman will finish NFP.
“Since becoming Prime Minister in December 2022, Sitiveni Rabuka has been away overseas for a total of Fifty-Nine (59) days at the entitlement of FJD $3,000 per day.
Day’s overseas: 59
Rate: $3,000 per day *(gone up to $3400 now)
Total: $177,000
plus Salary: $328,750
Final Total: $505,750.00
Sitiveni Rabuka is already a half-millionaire ($505,750.00) and will become a full millionaire next year.
Whilst he is bathing in money, you the ordinary Fijian has to pay 15% value added tax (VAT) with an added 6% inflation lined-up for you just before Christmas.
Rabuka’s Road to Millionaire
■ January 2023
Visited Kiribati to read pre-prepared speeches at $3,000 per day
■ May, 2023
Visited Papua New Guinea to read pre-prepared speeches, at $3,000 per day
■ June, 2023
Visited New Zealand to read pre-prepared speeches, at $3,000 per day
■ September 2023
Visited America to read pre-prepared speeches at the United Nations (UN), at $3,000 per day
■ October 2023
Visited Australia to read pre-prepared speeches, at $3,400 per day
■ November 2023
Is visiting Cook Islands to read pre-prepared speeches, at $3,400 per day including some side-money at USD $100 per person consultation fees.
After the Pacific Island Leaders Forum in the Cook Islands he chose to fly directly to San Francisco though the entire Fiji group was bracing for a Category 3 Cyclone. (Mal)
If you want your children to be free, prepare now to vote out this millionaire because by year 2026, he will have chewed-up $4 million dollars just reading speeches.
Your children deserve dignity and entry into newly built classrooms now as 2026 will be too late !!!
He was at the prime of his career and he was charged. Hence the sour grapes against the previous Government. He is at a stage whereby he will do anything as long as ASK goes behind bars. Based on that is his strong support for PAP even if the decisions of the Coalition are against his own people. As long as ASK is behind bars.
Its just that the law is such that it was more than a year since the incident took please and he was acquitted. But the fact remains – He did what he did. That’s a reality.
Isa Parmesh, wasn’t he sued twice in NZ for defamation? Ouch. Lucky his pockets are deep from all the money he took! Always had a big mouth and could never control his hands around women. Now karma has come right back to slap some reality back into that thick head of his. Every dog has its day Parmesh 😘
Pramesh Sharma Mr 10%. Very dodgy and opportunist person. Wonder how is he on those advisory boards with so much incompetence, lack of education and financial interpretation know how.
Pramesh you Sona – good luck
Most hated Fiji Indian in NZ.
Pramesh is an opportunist with no morals and corrupt to the core, Mr 10% and definitely the most hated Fiji Indian in NZ – like Biman right?
Pramesh is a very sleazy person. Used his high position at BSP Life to get his way with women at BSP owned subsidiaries and then used his high position to silence the women….and also very vindictive.
Repulsive man and the most hated Indo Fijian in NZ…. known as Mr 10%!
Biman and Pramesh joint contenders for most hated indo Fijian 2024/25 award, both sex predators, abusing their positions of authority and one foot in NZ as back up run away plan.