There is a great deal misinformation being wilfully spread by the Coalition government and its supporters about its shameless attack on FICAC, the installation of one of its stooges, Barbara Malimali, as Commissioner and the resignation of the estimable Francis Puleiwai as Deputy Commissioner because she refused to serve someone under active FICAC investigation.
The facts are stark and unmistakable. The Coalition moved on FICAC and has destroyed its independence because a gaggle of Coalition ministers have also been under active FICAC investigation. By the end of May, an astonishing seven Coalition government ministers had been referred to FICAC by the Supervisor of Elections, Ana Mataiciwa, and Grubsheet understands two more have since been added to that list.
It hasn’t been the “witch-hunt” that the Attorney General, Graham Leung, has described it as. As Ana Mataiciwa explains in the media statement below, when a complaint is made to her about anyone, she is bound by law to refer that person to FICAC for investigation. She has no choice. And FICAC also has no choice but to investigate that complaint. So the notion that Ana Mataiciwa and Francis Puleiwai have conspired to destroy the reputations of those under investigation is a lie.
We know that in June, Barbara Malimali, as Chair of the Electoral Commission, instructed Ana Mataiciwa to inform her whenever she received a complaint (see document below). But the Supervisor of Elections was under no obligation to do so. She is independent, just as Francis Puleiwai and her team at FICAC are meant to be independent. It is the L-A-W. But that independence has now been destroyed as Barbara Malimali – a self-declared Coalition supporter – has been given the power to throttle any FICAC investigation at birth.
It is an unprecedented assault on the rule of law in Fiji by a government that has made a habit of assaulting the rule of law, whether it is illegal appointments to the offices of state as in the case of John Rabuku or its violation of the Constitution in keeping Christopher Pryde waiting for 17 months and counting for a tribunal hearing into the allegation of misbehaviour against the suspended DPP.
Now it has shot the corruption watchdog just as it was about to charge Biman Prasad – the Deputy Prime Minister and NFP leader – with abuse of office and was investigating Barbara Malimali herself for alleged abuse of office as Chair of the Electoral Commission. Make no mistake, Fiji. Imposing Malimali on FICAC is the end of its independence. And this was a blatant political move to bring the corruption watchdog to heel and protect the following government ministers who have been under FICAC investigation, as the law prescribes. These are the seven announced in May plus two more – Pio Tikoduadua and Filimoni Vosarogo – who are reported to have been referred since.
As Ana Mataiciwa explains below, there has never been any suggestion that these individuals or the others on her list – including H.E the President, the ousted prime minister and ousted attorney general – are guilty of wrongdoing. But a complaint has been lodged and the law must take its course.
It was the case all through the term of the FijiFirst government, that set up FICAC in the first place. But it has taken the Coalition – which promised to improve standards of governance – to effectively smash the most important tool we have to hold our public officials to account – to keep the bastards honest.
It is a catastrophe for good governance and for ensuring transparency and accountability on the part of those in public life. And an unforgivable betrayal of those who voted for the Coalition 21 months ago.
The fox is in the hen house. The poacher is running the estate. Whichever way you want to put it, the real conspiracy is on the part of this government and its stooges in the offices of state who can now rest easy that one of their own – not an independent referee – will be deciding who gets prosecuted and who doesn’t. And that is a disaster for Fiji.
Soon after this statement, Barbara Malimali demanded that Ana Mataiciwa inform her beforehand when she referred anyone to FICAC. It was a clear violation of the Supervisor of Election’s independence and a clear violation of the law. And now Barbara Malimali is at FICAC with a free hand to bring any investigation to an end.
That’s the Coalition’s idea of good governance, Fiji. Ain’t our democracy grand? The rule of the Mob in power. Yes, just like the Mafia.
Not surprisingly, Coalition weasels such as the businessman and chronic toady, Pramesh Sharma, have gone on the offensive on social media trying to justify the unjustifiable.
Sharma is a disgrace – a blatant co-conspirator undermining the rule of law and the national interest.
He has also seriously defamed Ana Mataiciwa and Francis Puleiwai by suggesting that they have unlawfully “collaborated”. They have cause with these two Facebook postings to sue him for a great deal of money. Sharma has the assets and they should be encouraged to go for him. Because he has severely damaged their impeccable reputations.
Perhaps for Pramesh Sharma there is one standard for defenceless iTaukei women serving the people in the offices of state and another for his rich mates like Richard Naidu, who Sharma urged publicly to sue Grubsheet last year over perfectly legitimate questions I posed to him as Chair of the government’s Fiscal Review Committee.
Ten months later, Richard Naidu’s writ has yet to arrive. Yet nothing would please me more than for Ana Mataiciwa and Francis Puleiwai to get new wardrobes, new Prados and Pramesh Sharma memorial swimming pools. Yes, the smear on their characters is that bad.
NOTE: My apologies for the formatting problem with this article in the middle section with the photos of government ministers. I have repeatedly tried to fix it but there is clearly a gremlin in the system and I keep getting the same result. Here’s hoping it doesn’t affect the narrative too much.
Here we are!
The celebrated Fijians exposed.
Perfectly forms a picture on the wall.
Scapegoating women once again who are just doing their jobs. No surprises but it has only put a spotlight on the number of possible candidates of corruption in Fiji Government.
Take note Fiji.
There is no confidence in past and present government.
This is another example of the never endind disgraceful mess, couples with many other scandalous, unlawful actions of the ‘government’ are the reason why a ‘one party state’ is a bad idea.
What we have now is a one party state. There is no opposition in parliament. Or outside parliament. There are no intitutional functioning guardrails.
The people are silent. The president, judiciary, courts, rfmf, ficac, police, and every one in government are compromised.
And we think one party rule the best way out of this quagmire.
The fundamentals, the foundations must be established first and foremost before we get too far into the weeds of how any particular type of government might work.
To reiterate, NOTHING will work here until and unless the natives decide what they really want that would better their lives.
The thuggery, dishonesty, stealing and looting from others labor of blood, sweat and tears, and relying on government handouts has to stop.
The natives have not ever quite fully accepted any government. Because they do not know what they really want. As the multiple coups and contorted constituions amply demonstrate.
As long as there is no respect for neighbor, no respect for the rule of law, no honesty, no integrity, no ethics, no morality, we are together all phucked.
And whatever remains not phucked, people like shameless sharma, boobleheads, and many other ‘freedom fighters’ living abroad comfortably supporting the racism and bigotry complete the task.
They shamelesslyhave shamelessly sold their souls to the devil to canvass for positions in government for 30 pieces of silver.
ANONYMOUS SAYS;
“What we have now is a one party state. There is no opposition in parliament. Or outside parliament. There are no institutional functioning guardrails.”
“ And we think one party rule the best way out of this quagmire.
The fundamentals, the foundations must be established first and foremost before we get too far into the weeds of how any particular type of government might work.”
IAN SIMPSON RESPONDS
There is no way on this planet that what we have in Parliament is a “ One Party State”.
What we have is the final end result of a failed, abomination of a Westminster Parliamentary System, that after 50 years, lays like a dead corpse, stinking up the chambers of Parliament.
Political systems are hard to change, history shows that nearly all change is achieved out of violent revolution. We are less that a million people, the vast majority are honest hard working people trying to survive day to day to put meals on the table, send children to school, paying off all manor of debt, to keep afloat, to get ahead.
A “One Party State”, built on biblical instruction of leaders of 10, 100, 1000,……
will put the vast majority of good and honest people of Fiji in control of their government, 24/7. Not the present 60 seconds in a voting booth every 4 years.
There are “guardrails” in place. The issue is, do they function.
I assure you, with Congress of the People in place and Section 121 made law, among other
law, there will be no tolerance of lawlessness.
There will be no politicians, there will be no unaccountable representatives, ONLY servants
willing to serve the people and administer policy according to the will of the people after careful scrutiny of policies and programs by professionals in their field. Discussion, dialogue, and setting of priorities by the leaders of the people, peacefully and in harmony.
Fijian people have the fundamentals, all they need is a “system” that will allow them to flower.
The Westminster system is a wretched swamp of greed and thirst of power, blackmail and corruption that only allows any governance on the basis of favours rendered and tendered.
The Biblical structure for governance is democratic, imagine the terror this must engender in the spines of the elite.
Unfortunately, the RFMF, guardians of the Welfare of the Fijian people, have lost their spine.
Crikey, Ian. Why are parliamentary democracies regarded so highly? Because there is a government that wins an election and an opposition keeping them honest until it can win an election.
In Fiji, this has broken down since the last election. But a one party state is not the answer. It is a fasttrack to dictatorship.
Why biblical? Why not Quran-ic, bhagvad gita? Buddhism? Other strains of Hinduism. Good golly Why piss off Judaism the lost rribe?
Who gets to pick biblical? What of our atheist and animist friends?
Secular. Secular. Secular.
ANONYMOUS
Have said absolutely nothing about a religious State.
Leaders of 10, 100, 1000……is Judaic.
If any of those other religions shed any pearls of wisdom on governance you are most welcome to share.
We are trapped in the most horrible system that just drags on and on like a bl**dy horror show.
We stumble along like drunk sailors, 4 years, to 4 years. Insanity !
If this system is so glorious, why is everything falling apart.
We are not a homogeneous country in regard to religion or race, yet our local communities live peacefully all over Fiji. The form of government I propose will strengthen and enhance what already works.
GD . Our system is winner takes all. We already have dictatorship. We can have cardboard cut-outs sitting in opposition for all it matters.
You, yourself list all the economic and social ills Fiji is suffering, yet you draw no correlation between the sick representative system that does not allow the best in our country from being part of government, having any say or agency in it.
If it is not our “representative system of government” at fault, then what is the cause of our dysfunction?
Real democracy as I describe it, it is terrifying.
That is why you design checks and balances.
That is why we have all those independent Commissions in the system.
The dumbs of Fiji are in full swing.
Sharma, no one needs to be in Fiji to give evidence. After all, it is the role of an INDEPENDENT agency like FICAC to investigate. They will present the case once they find someone guilty. That is what independent investigations and agencies do.
In the case for Biman, the evidence is clear. Biman has to face up and provide valid reasons why he did what he did. That is after he is charged. Same applies to everyone investigated under FICAC. There are no special treatment for anyone.
Ana is doing her job. Let her do that.
I guess the reason they have not appointed a Commissioner of Police is because they wish to find a person from within, who has all the prejuices that they have – in other words a lapdog. They must remember that the SOE was supposed to be a lapdog as well, but has not turned out to be such a person.
Also remember that the previous government appointed a lot of lapdogs in the highest places as well, and they did not turn out to be loyal lapdogs. I want to see if the appointment at FICAC will turnout as they expect, but I doubt it.
In the end, Fiji is full of lapdogs who do not turn out to be as loyal as one would expect. That is simply not workable and simply not possible in the longer term.
This is Fiji, no one can be trusted as has been the history. The most untrustworthy is the Top Banana in his republic.
Wonderful enlightenment, Graham!
Puleiwai shown the exit. Who is next? Mataiciwa could be having sleepless nights. Isa, Gender!
Fiji Law Society, Women’s Lawyers Association and Women’s Crisis Centre, where art thou?
UNDP doing well ticking the MPs’ Governance training output boxes but zero to destructive outcomes. So impactful and well spent donors’ saqamoli !!!
I am looking at this list of leaders referred to FICAC.
A simple thought.
I think we have come full circle of reaching a conclusion that no one in the past and present government can be trusted and worthy of any respect.
They must all go now.
Thank you for serving Fiji.
You have done your dash.
We don’t need Sodelpa, NFP, PAP, Unity Fiji, Labour Party. FFP is gone already.
Now, let us focus on better leaders of tomorrow.
Money will always blur the lines. This government is so good at this. They spent hard earned tax payers dollars, they gone for loan after loan, and they have sold the nation to the Chinese. Not forgetting the $8,000,000 they bathed themselves in. I sincerely hope that those who need to be investigated are done, and for the full run of the law to take its place.
Malimali will do exactly what she is paid to do, shield the Coalition from any further probes.
What this bunch of cronies fail to understand is the role of public office. And one of the roles is the expectation to be scrutinised and investigated by the media, citizenry, and an independent and truthful media. Can’t handle the blowtorch of the public spotlight? Go and sell BBQ or better still plant tavioka.
But don’t cry foul when investigators come knocking because of some undeclared business. FICAC has gone to the dogs of the Coalition.
I would agree with lost trajectory. The old have proved themselves very very unworthy of any high office of the land. The question; “Where is the new crop of leaders going to be found? Certainly not from the youth ranks of the current corrupt parties. All they will be doing is fine tuning the cons and money making skills of their elders.
The self proclaimed smartest lawyer in Fiji, Imrana Jalal who recently paid a visit to the AG’s office continues to keep her big mouth shut despite the rule of law being compromised in broad daylight.
Speak up Madam! Where are you?
Too hard to handle?
She not done weeping.
(Cue, loud gafaws from the peanut gallery)
Shamina Ali and Lynda Tabuya,
Do you pick and choose which women you support? What a shame to lose a women in an important role where so few women get opportunities!
Your silence and lack of support speaks volumes.
Remember Shamima you said it would be such a terrible shame to sack Tabuya because she’s a women? Even after all she did.
Tell me since that time what good she has done for Fiji other than raise wages for herself while people are starving? Oh and take the liberty to say we need the death penalty without consultation. Interesting as a so called human rights advocate no word on that from you. You are silent when it’s your friends.
Fiji has woken up to what you two really are.
You both are both greedy and self serving and do nothing to help the real women in Fiji.
Reflecting on the RFMF Commanders take on the 2022 transition of government I think he is looking only at one side of breadfruit.
He obviously has not heard of that old saying
“It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.” …
Pramesh Sharma has been quick to criminalise and defame anyone who seeks to criticize the coalition government but people should know a bit more about Pramesh Sharma…this guy narrowly escaped a sexual harassment charge and there is a litany of women who could testify to his lecherous predatory behaviour..he has always managed to suppress the women he was harassing..he is also well known in business circles of asking for a commission from anyone who was given a contract by his former employers ..in fact he is notoriously known as Mr 10%..he was very outspoken against Dr Nur Ali but when she took legal action against him in New Zealand he proved what a coward and turncoat he was ..apologizing profusely to Dr Ali and agreeing to pay her solicitors costs..so Pramesh Sharma should clean up his own behaviour before embarking on attacking others ..typical of a coward enjoying life in NZ but wanting to feel very important in Fiji..
Spot on Coalition Suck up. Cohorting is rife in Fiji and people like Parmesh Sharma use this to their advantage.
Furthermore, the interview numbers don’t add up. AG GL says 20 applicants for the post and 4 were interviewed whereas ACJ claimed 6 were interviewed. Things don’t add.
The irony is why AG GL is the referee of Barbara M. The FICAC Commissioner is appointed in consultation with AG GL so AG GL being a referee is a conflict of Interest. GL should do a refresher on Legal Ethics at USP Law School. Likewise, FV should also do a refresher on the Legal Ethics course. Again, FV being BM’s referee is absurd when FV is under investigation by FICAC. Conflict of Interest.
Any PM who follows the rule of law would stand down all his cabinet ministers who are referred to FICAC for investigation in the best interest of the principles of good governance. Interferences with independent bodies such as FICAC, DPP, Elections Office, Fiji Police and Judiciary are against the principles of good governance and a political suicide.
The integrity of the cabinet ministers is paramount when it comes to the survival of the government.
The cabinet ministers referred to the FICAC must without undue influence or interference prove their innocence in the court of law whereas FICAC must charge them and let the court decide their fate.
If these cabinet ministers prove their innocence, the PM must reinstate them as ministers and this way the rule of law and respect for democracy will flourish however Fiji is the last country on planet Earth where the rule of law and principles of good governance is practised with the current crop of politicians.
He remains the butt of jokes at Amy Street.
With an ego far too big for the emptiness between the ears.
So Munro Leys Richard Naidu gets face time with FICAC the day Biman is set to get charged. Why is it that Richard Naidu’s representations are considered?
Puleiwai had sanctioned charges.She had every right to do so. She was empowered by virtue of being Deputy Commissioner FACAC, a position where she was given an Acting contract for 3 and a half years! The Coalition was happy that she would sit in that office and make sure that no shenanigans took place. Various charges were laid under her leadership in FICAC. What changed when Barbara walked in?
For Temo to claim that Puleiwai’s actions were in breach of the FICAC Act is laughable. Temo knew Barbara is a suspect and will go into FICAC, without having any authority to halt investigations into anybody, let alone investigations into her own conduct as EC Chair. Barbara’s first order of business was to complain to Temo and Graham Leung that she was arrested by FICAC and caution interviewed. This led to FICAC ending the interview at 1pm, followed by Graham Leung’s press conference and at 2:30, Temo’s JSC meeting.
Temo himself confirmed to the media that Puleiwai AGREED to resign, which means she was ASKED TO RESIGN. This is what a constructive dismissal is, when you ask someone to resign.
When has the AG ever received a phone call about the arrest of some constitutional appointee? When has the AG ever revealed that he is aware of statements gathered for a FICAC investigation and what those statements say? When has the Minister for Justice ever been informed of FICAC’s actions by FICAC itself? FICAC is to provide regular updates to the Attorney-General – not the Minister for Justice! Again, why would FICAC tell anybody in Government who it has sanctioned charges against? Only in Rabuka’s Government where his AG rushes in to protect people like Barbara and Biman. I cringed when I saw one present and one past president of the Fiji Law Society turn up to sit in Barbara’s caution interview. Wylie and Laurel should be ashamed of themselves. Its one thing to act for a client, its another to see blatant breaches of the Constitution and be complicit in those breaches.
What Graham and Temo have done to Puleiwai is despicable. They have labeled her as some disgruntled worker who didn’t get the role she applied for – when in reality all she did was exercise her constitutional powers to proceed with investigations against a suspect – a suspect who THESE VERY PEOPLE appointed to her institution and made her boss. How can they live with themselves? How can Graham so flippantly give the example of police officers investigating their own officers when in Qiliho’s case, the moment there was an allegation laid against him, he was suspended.
Graham has always been part of the “elite” squad. If an ordinary Fijian was arrested, would Graham be calling for a press conference? Would Graham be bothered? No. In Barbara’s case, not only did he jump to speak to the media, but he also concealed the fact that he was Barbara’s referee, along with Fili and Pal Ahluwalia who are under investigation in FICAC. You would never see under the previous government anybody using Ministers or heads of any organisation as referees, even if they have worked for that individual.
This Government and all those associated with it engage in an orgy of sorts on a daily basis. The Coalition Shagfest must stop. People deserve better.
The CJ and Chair of the JSC has come out strongly stating the process and justifying Malimali’s appointment. (Today’s Fiji One news).
When will it dawn upon these highly qualified and highly decorated people that you cannot make the appointment while there is an active investigation on the appointee.
Basic Governance. Even common sense.
Malimali may be the best candidate. (Most of us disagree because she is very close to PAP therefore will lack impartiality). But they need to wait until she is cleared or otherwise.
Why the rush the appointment? Is it something to do with the current FICAC investigations into some current government people?
So what now on the current FICAC investigation on Malimali? Does it continue? Does she stand down from her new position while the investigation is completed?
Why couldn’t the current Acting incumbent continue to Act in that position until the Malimali investigation is completed.
Having said that, the arrest of Malimali last week by FICAC is a bit over the top. There was no need for that. Could have been handled better.
The thing about this debacle is years of pontificating of how things should be done by the people who are now responsible for doing the exact same things they said Aiyaz was doing.
Years of “good governance / rule of law / good roads come from good governance / free press and blah blah blah”
But look at their track record now: dodgy dealings / tax holidays / snouts in trough / cronyism / nepotism/ racism / corruption / failure to follow laws / illegal appointments / scandals / legal bullying of the free press / lying
But outside the elite bubble what can we see after 2 years:
– drugs out of control
– roads worse
– hospital worse
– schools worse
– food more expensive
– HIV epidemic
In the middle of this the collision big idea is appoint Barbara Malimali
What a joke!
Aiyaz cared more about Fiji and he is an idiot.
I was about to write on Pramesh’s escapades but someone has already done so. He escaped fiji on an evacuation flight feigning a heart attack. He was also a close friend of the late Qarase when they worked at Merchant Finance. This man should come back to fiji and then talk.
PM seems to have his thoughts in order when talking about Biman and what he will do if Biman is charged. Maybe the clarity is due to Biman being Indian. Because with others it has been otherwise.
Bhai Biman, chutiya kohjeh se bhi nahi mili tuma istyle. Aur Rabuka keh PM banao. Abh tumar term girmitya kateh keh.
Translation: Bro Biman there is no stupid like you. Unwise to have Rabuka as our PM. Now it’s your term for a go at special girmitya.
Time to go Biman.
Karma is a good b&itch.
Fiji’s biggest Masi Polo, Pramesh Chandra soldering on, on behalf of the Coalition government, in the hope of a bone being thrown his way. His selective ‘analysis’ is good for a laugh:
A roving reporter finally caught up with a wanted gangster. The interview was quite interesting:
R- so Mr **** the law has finally caught up with you.
G- Well depends on how you define the narrative.
R- And what’s that?
G- Well, I have actually been given the opportunity to investigate my own crimes.
R- You what?
G- Yeah, I pulled a few strings here and there and for my silence I was given the task to self investigate.
R- Who authorised such an illegal act?
G- The legal big wig in charge. I know a thing or two about him and his dealings so it worked out well.
Welcome to the fantasy world of Temo and Malimali Fiji!
Wouldn’t this be, or at least be bordering on, conflict of interest? Temo chairs Barbs’ interview panel where she scores highest, and then Temo recommends her appointment to JSC that he himself chairs. Then AG and HE are required by law to rubber stamp Barbs’ FICAC appointment. Yawa! Sounds like the old old story of LQ’s FDB loan application submitted to FDB MD LQ for approval. Sa through tu ga!
https://fijionenews.com.fj/allegation-suspect-says-temo/