Lynda Tabuya as victim? That’s the astonishing position being taken by a brace of prominent opinion leaders in Fiji who are arguing that she has been hard-done by. In doing so, they display a distinct lack of appreciation for the reality of modern-day politics and a very selective application of the facts. I hesitate to say that their moral compasses are also askew but how else does one describe it when normally intelligent people have such a striking suspension of judgment that they lose the ability to distinguish right from wrong.
The following are some of the people in question who have leapt to Lynda’s Tabuya’s defence – Shamima Ali, Roshika Deo, Nilesh Lal and Shailendra Singh – all of them with positions of influence in society. And all of them casting Tabuya as a victim who has suffered a gross invasion of privacy with the emergence of her nude video that has triggered her sacking as minister for women, children and social protection.
You can read their quotes in today’s media coverage below. But here, for instance, is what the Head of Journalism at USP, Dr Shailendra Singh, told the ABC’s Lice Movono in a story so selectively reported that it deserves its own critique because Lice Movono has clearly breached the requirement in the Australian Journalists Code of Ethics not to ignore “essential facts” in any story.
For someone whose job is to train the new generation of journalists in Fiji and the rest of the region to be more enquiring, Dr Singh has had an uncharacteristic lapse of judgment.
The point is that whatever Lynda Tabuya does in the “privacy and confines” of her bedroom may be her business. But what she did was videoed and leaked in circumstances that have gone way beyond the confines of her bedroom, are now the subject of a police investigation that she has initiated, has seen her removed from the cabinet and has triggered a potentially wider scandal about her marital status and whether she made a false declaration to the Elections Office.
It IS our business. As journalists – and I was a member of a national panel that reviewed and updated the Australian Journalists Code of Ethics in the late 1990s – we are fully entitled to investigate and report the circumstances of this affair and, indeed, it is our duty to do so.
Until the Prime Minister dumped her, Lynda Tabuya was the minister for women, children and social protection. She was also chair of parliament’s emoluments committee that awarded the nation’s politicians a 138 per cent pay rise in May. And even more pertinently in the case of the nude video clip designed to arouse, she has co-chaired the government’s Anti-Porn Task Force and is on the public record fulminating about the evils of pornography when she is making it herself.
So that when this video was leaked, these weren’t naked images of an ordinary citizen who would have been entitled to claim an egregious breach of privacy. They are of a public figure who already had a record of scandalous conduct in Room 233 that cost her the deputy leadership of the People’s Alliance back in March, when the party specifically found her guilty of a “sex and illicit drug scandal”. (see below)
In other words, she is a repeat offender and journalistic fair game. And it is clearly in the public interest that we get to the bottom of why Lynda Tabuya was frolicking provocatively stark naked to the soundtrack of a Manchester United football game, who she was with and why she has developed such a habit of exposing herself to scandal.
Lynda Tabuya says that the video was meant for her husband, Rob Semaan. This is of major public interest and a legitimate avenue for journalistic inquiry because she told the Elections Office and FICAC that they were divorced in 2016 so she didn’t have to declare his millions on her election income declaration. We have already seen the Opposition leader, Inia Seruiratu, call for an inquiry into FICAC’s decision to accept the “we’re no longer married” story when they are – by Tabuya’s latest admission – very much married. She specifically describes him as her husband.
Ergo, without the video being leaked, Lynda Tabuya wouldn’t have said it was meant for her husband. Without the video being leaked, we wouldn’t have (more) evidence of what appears to be a false income declaration by the ex-minister. Ergo, we wouldn’t be having the opposition calling for an inquiry. Ergo, it is legitimate journalism. Pure and simple.
A number of other questions are still to be answered. Lynda Tabuya says the video was for her husband. But who was the person in the room with her filming the co-chair of the government’s Anti-Porn Task Force making a pornographic video? Was it her husband? Was it someone else? Again, she is a public figure who is a legitimate subject of public scrutiny. Which makes all of this a legitimate subject of journalistic inquiry.
But the most significant aspect to this story is a document that no journalist in the mainstream media in Fiji has ever mentioned, including Lice Movono in either her previous reporting for the ABC or her latest highly selective story for Australia’s national broadcaster. And it has been ignored by all of Lynda Tabuya’s defenders.
What is it? It is the fact that the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, co-signed the following letter last March sacking Lynda Tabuya as deputy leader of the People’s Alliance for the “sex and illicit drug” scandal in Room 233 involving her fellow minister, Aseri Radrodro. But he kept her on as minister for women, children and social protection in spite of the evidence of drug-taking when drugs are one of the biggest threats to the protection and wellbeing of the nation’s young people.
I have repeatedly published this letter and it repeatedly gets ignored. But it is time for the Shamima Alis, Roshika Deos, Nilesh Lals and Shailendra Singhs of the world – plus the mainstream media including Lice Movono – to absorb its contents. And then repeat the absurd claim that the latest sex video is a private matter that is no-one else’s business.
Qori. The woman has form. She was stripped of the deputy leadership of the People’s Alliance in March but kept her cabinet portfolio despite being found guilty of drug taking. Now she’s been stripped of her cabinet portfolio as minister for women, children and social protection.
There’s been a lot of stripping one way or another. And it has nothing to do with Lynda Tabuya’s right to privacy but the right of the Fijian people to transparency, accountability and proper conduct from our politicians.
It is high time for some of the country’s “go to” commentators to get a grip. Because coming from such eminent people, their expressions of distaste for the treatment of Lynda Tabuya are inevitably capable of shutting down legitimate public debate. Which isn’t in the national interest at all.
—————
First Lice Movono’s report for ABC. Her failure to mention the Room 233 scandal and Lynda Tabuya’s removal as deputy leader of the main Coalition party deprives the Australian people – who pay for the ABC – of critical information in forming their own judgment about events in Fiji.
Now today’s media coverage. First the Fiji Times…
And the Fiji Sun...
Whatever the pundits say, the people appear to be solidly behind the PM’s decision to remove the Minister for Bonking and Weed.
What a difference a month can make. The strut has gone out of Lynda Tabuya. And the stress is written all over her face.
And what the Australian Journalists Code of Ethics says about selective reporting. Lice Movono works for ABC and is covered by its provisions.
“All essential facts”. Why does the latest ABC story not mention Lynda Tabuya’s dismissal as deputy leader of the People’s Alliance back in March for a “sex and illicit drug scandal”?
Surely it is an “essential fact” in understanding why the Prime Minister has now sacked her for exposing the government to a second scandal.
The current Head of ABC News, Justin Stevens, was once the office boy on the Nine Network television program on which I spent more than two decades. Maybe I should drop him a line. Because the ABC audience deserves better as it struggles to understand events in Fiji.
POSTSCRIPT:
Evidence of where Lice Movono stands. And it is not as a genuinely independent journalist simply doing her job.
Grubsheet understands from multiple sources that she is a close friend of both Lynda Tabuya and Barbara Malimali. Which may account for this…
ABC journalists not only suppressing essential facts but acting as police informers? Nice.
Lice is one of the most useless journalists in the Pacific. Her stories are always biased and she fails to relay facts. It is time GD called her out on her incompetence.
Then there is Singh at USP. Another dickhead producing incompetent journalists in the Pacific. Look at the calibre of USP graduate journalists. They make the everyday TikTokers decent. They have no flair for producing facts, reveal full facts, non biased reporting, and playing puppet.
WOW, how brave you must feel!
Your ad hominem attacks while sucking your thumb under the comfort blanket of anonymity are truly grub-like.
You may agree or disagree with the opinions but at least they put their names to the views expressed.
If you are going to impugn someone’s professional competence in as extravagant terms as you did, at least have the plums to do it in your own name.
Otherwise you’re no better a person than the anonymous military thugs who clubbed Sitiveni Moce so badly he died, but were safe in the knowledge they were amnestied.
The Deo’s and Ali’s are from the same closet. They will hail this woman because this is what the NGOs do in Fiji. They don’t see the distinction between bad and ugly. This is why Fiji has high rates of violence. They see the act by any MP of this nature as perfect role model behaviour. Instead of making this a gender issue they should talk about moral behaviour for all genders. They make other women feel like they can do bad shit and still have a job. Stop parading women as power people with naked videos trending online. That itself is a wrong thing for a woman to do. Teach women about basic manners, moral values, and to tell the truth. Period.
These so called feminists are a burden and dark stain on our society. This is what the donors fund them for. They either bark whole day on Twitter or write lengthy meaningless letters. Just useless. We women deserve better and we certainly don’t deserve Tabuya, Roshika, and Shamima.
https://fijisun.com.fj/2014/03/25/roshika-what-did-she-really-say/?amp=1
Roshika’s 15 minutes of fame and credibility and integrity long expired after she claimed taxis were unsafe to use in Fiji as women passengers feared being raped. And post 2006, women and girls were being pull off buses and beaten for wearing shorts.
Quote: She said in Fiji women and girls have been on their way to play sporting events and have been taken off buses and beaten because they are wearing shorts and added that most women are too afraid of being raped to take taxis in Fiji.” end. Kryst!
The lice and often mute toady singh know who butters their bread. They know too how generously the butter is spread depends on them blatant ignorance in taking sides in any narrative and by ignoring facts.
Shame-ima. Enough said!
Breach of public trust bestowed on a Minister and that includes sexual adventures in private. A big thanks to Grubsheet for persisting with this story and shame to those who supported the naughty Minister.
This odd quartert would have the people think and believe that their whataboutism and support absolves them and this drug and alcohol addicted sexual deviant predator from such shameless conduct. It doesn’t.
GD, get your prying, piercing and spying out of Lynda’s bedroom – it’s worrying behavior! The four individuals, who are being personally attacked, are simply expressing their own views as part of a national debate—not forcing anything down anyone’s throat.
Fijian society needs to grow up. Government ministers have their own private lives as well. There’s nothing wrong with making private sex videos. In fact, in today’s day and age, nearly everyone is sexting. It’s not illegal to film in your bedroom between consenting adults for private use.
The Fijian public is too judgmental and hypocritical especially when we have some of the highest porn viewership rates in the world. So shove the sanctimonious, holier than thou attitude.
The real crime here is that the video was leaked without the owner’s consent, not the making of the video itself. Once it became public, Lynda’s political position understandably became untenable. But the video wasn’t for public consumption. Still, Lynda was one of the more progressive voices in government. For all her faults, she was not a racist minister—unlike the remaining racist, Christian fundamentalist men.
Look at Rabuka and his double standards. He made a paedophile the president. Of course, Rabuka’s own exploits are legendary, including incidents at the Fiji Golf Club and his mastery of Kama Sutra which was on full public display. Now that was a crime – fornicating in public.
Simply put Fiji, PAP has lost all credibility to be able to govern Fiji definitively. Queen Tart Tabuya will be back. Rabuka has no morals nor have the prominent people who spoken out in her defence, and her right to make sexually explicit videos. All this while she is on the public purse.
For Rabuka, it’s all political. He will see what potential damage that his latest decision will do, he will then use the “sin bin” tactic and Bonking Tabuya will be back as a minister of a new portfolio.
The people of Fiji deserve better, and ordinary Joe Blog on the street can teach our stupid politicians a bit of common sense. The ordinary citizens agree that she was rightly sacked, Yet Shiver Shamima and warped Deo, among others, have come out firing in Bonker Tabuyas defence. Sa sivia na vuku!!!
Anyways, let the circus roll on and let’s see what Rabuka the clown masters next act is.
These are the so called people who have gotton us into this rotten pile of shit government in the first place.
I have no respect for these lot of people who’ll say anything to get a little political milage. They are basically ambulance chasers, they make the most of a pathetic situation.
I dont know how Lice holds her fingers in place typing her stories and snippets, she is more or less like Jyoti fto Sun, a mouth piece of the government but Lice is a racist as well.
It is surprising that NFP and Biman haven’t said anything yet, looks like they are as if not more muddled themselves than Lynda. Any person in government and several others having their take on Lynda ms situation is 1 of 2.
Its either the pot calling the kettle black or the kettle defending the black pot.
People should have their own take on the situation. What do you think is right. Would you want a minister who leaks her nude videos? What about the countless times shes gaslighten those that suffered the horror of the coups, or called on just showed none whatsoever regard to that fact that we are a multicultural country when discriminating people simply celebrating their festivals. Would you want a role model like her for people of fiji, our children?
Lynda is and always will be a piece of s**t and if these so called ethical brains of our society want to defend her, they can be her guest. They are the reason for this garbage in parliament in the first place.
You can’t be boss of Toyota Motor Company and have as your private vehicle of choice a Nissan Pathfinder. It would create a perception that this boss ( whether man or woman ) and Toyota Motors have gone off the Path and don’t build the best reliable cars anymore. If the boss was fired for bringing the company into disrepute I doubt any local journalists in that scenario would jump to the Toyota CEOs right to drive whatever vehicle they privately chose to! Let alone Toyota shareholders and Toyota fans !! Imagine the social media ridicule online. However there would be some overeducated academics living in la la land who might pompously stand up and defend the undefeatable…together with the blind and brainwashed “Naitas” of Tabuya.
A self correction in the last line of my above post – ” undefeatable “should have been Undefendable.
And I add the use of the phrase ‘blind’ is no affront to the visually impaired but rather a critique of those who have the the ability to see and think but by choice or influence prefer to jump into the polluted waters of Walu Bay for a dip while fully clothed in their Sunday best attire.
As a professional and well educated woman I am embarrassed by Shamima and Roshika.
They make this as a women’s issue and play the gender card.
If they think they can play the gender card then they need to tell Fiji where in the world have they seen any women MP in this kind of behaviour? And if that women MP retained her job. They can ask any of their donor partners if this happens in their countries with MPs flaunting naked in videos. Go on and then come and tell us what decency means.
I am disgusted by Roshika and Shamima parading this as a violation on Lynda. Lynda is a public figure, an MP, sitting in our parliament making decisions for the wellbeing of our children. What faith will
Fiji or any country have in this woman when she openly accepted her use of drugs and now a found husband out of the blue. Do these things create curiosity Roshika and Shamima or is this an everyday normal things in your lives too? Might just be but it is not for the decent women who are bringing up decent girls.
You women are a dhabba (tainted image) of our society. This is why Fiji has a broken record of violence on women because people like you have shifted from ethical and basic manners to justifying sexual abuse on women by women themselves and then lying about that abuse. This is the problem that we see with you feminists for so long. You have convinced the society and yourselves that a women’s ability to recognise risk factors is now to be used as a protective factor. That is, stay away from porn and harm in the first place. But instead of saying this and teaching our women and girls this you both choose to spin the narrative and teach Fiji that the woman at the centre of doing harm on herself is now the victim. She hasn’t done this for the first time. She has before too while on a taxpayer funded trip overseas.
Grow up or stand down. Both of you are barking dogs that Fiji doesn’t need. Shameless humans. You are our biggest problem for women and girls in Fiji.
Linda is rallying her troops in trying to salvage what little credibility she has. Sadly to say that she has none left.
As we say in Fijian ” Tobu tu Nona i Cici i Macawa” Caught with her bare ass in the air.
Roshika and Shamima bhool gaya when Lynda was demanding facts from Fiji Indians women who were raped and abused in the coups? You two forgot this so fast? The MP who gaslighted victims for her mileage and said Rabuka was the best leader for us. Rabuka, an abuser himself.
Did you two also forget her behavior as an MP during her trip to Australia?
Did you forget her admission to taking illicit drugs while on a public paid trip to Australia too and being in a sexual affair while married to another man. The latter should bother you given your own records.
Look here. Stop the nonsense women card. This is a joke. You both are surely as dumb as f**k and many Fijians know that. You both have come to Lynda’s aid many times and this time you two can do a little bit better. You can call out on all MPs equally. We didn’t see you calling out on the President while he was a speaker, Aseri, Rabuka, etc. Did you? No you didn’t. You choose to do so for political purposes and for looking relevant. You are both incapable or anything that will make any women safe.
As for Lice, just another irrelevant idiot in Fiji.
Lynda’s video shows her true character. According to Shamima and others, she has the true character to be the PM. I reckon based on that analysis, Malimali is even more qualified to be PM.
But then, this is Fiji. It is full of special people, because Fiji is a special place.
Wonder what the stance of these ‘bush’ bunnies was when Meli B’s famous video was leaked. The other party in the video is now an activist journalist in her own right.
Media is not ‘free’, media is biased and captured by those in power. Lice is just what her name means in English. The most biased and at times racist reporter one would see. And both ABC and RNZ are pathetic enough use her as a correspondent without vetting fully her stories. After all it’s about selling the news, not reporting fairly.
We expected one eyed not so educated, not fully informed supporters of Lynda to blindly defend her.
To have those 4 named people leaping to her defense is preposterous.
These four are intelligent people and have all information and facts about the matter. Worse, they hold position of significant influence.
This is how moral standards erodes in society. People of influence saying the wrong thing or accepting mediocre standards of morals.
The bar on morality in Fiji has definitely shifted in recent years. Thanks to people like these.
As for the ABC journalist, say no more. The most one- sided journalist to come out of Fiji ever. And a tad bit racist as well.
Hidden in the middle of the Fiji Sun article is the comment by Adi Sivia Qoro. The Current President of Unity Fiji Party.
Read that people and enlighten yourself. That should be the stand of all decent human beings with some grey matter in their cranium.
The mixed messaging, and the support from prominent people for LT is a clearly crafted PR and brand defence exercise
You will see her back as a minister in no time just like Aseri so that some ministers don’t feel over worked read files at night
No one knows who the PAP disciplinary chair is – but according to its constitution, if a member brings the party into disrepute then, expulsion is an option.
This time there will not be an expulsion – there will be tears, reconciliation and forgiveness- and the great temptress will be back
There is a reason why some coined the label “the great temptress”
@ Santa
Agree with you. Lynda will be back after a short period in the Sin Bin.
The pressure now being exerted by Shamima, Roshika and Shailendra et al, will have its desired effect.
All it takes for the PM to bring Lynda back into Cabinet is a ‘matanigasau’ from the chief and people of Nakasaleka, Kadavu…backed of course by the Kadavu Rugby Union… with all expenses paid for by the same Chinese source that donated $170k to Lynda for footpaths in her village.
All the signs are there pointing to Lynda’s redemption and resurrection. You dont have to read the tea leaves.
.
You raise a good point about the glaring gaps in Lice’s report, which obvs should have honed in on TB’s utter lack of judgement (repeatedly on display.) But why not also emphasise the fact it is an utter invasion of her privacy by whomever leaked the video? You mention, GD, your involvement in updating ethical guidelines for journalists back in the 90s- times have moved on since then and victim blaming doesn’t fly anymore. Nuance is required. Your writing about Tabuya has never reflected the changing times. Your lack of comment moderation also suggests a lack of ethical responsibility, considering the platform you have in Fiji. The breathtaking bigotry in the comments section is rampant.
Lynda can be reckless, stupid, a Minister and a hypocrite and still be victim of a gross invasion of privacy. If she herself didn’t leak it, then how is she not?
I care less about her making porn with people she consents to shag, than I do about her judgement and ability to recognise that taking drugs is an appalling thing for a woman in her role model position to do. I also can never forgive her silence and lack of comment on the significant domestic violence perpetrated by her ex whatever he is, Radrodro, against Rabuka’s daughter. Lynda should have been holding monstrous DV perpetrating thugs to account in the her (former) role.
None of these points I have made suggest she is fit to retain her job, and she should have been sacked a long time ago. But it lets have actual nuance from both the ABC and Grubsheet.
FYI I censor a great many comments that come in here on the grounds of racism, sexism or appalling bad taste. But if I was to adhere to a higher standard of expression, there would be a lot fewer comments. And in any event, it is a mirror on public attitudes in Fiji.
I’m sorry but I just don’t agree that an elected politician campaigning against pornography and saying she is going to ban 17 year olds from watching it because it demeans women should be allowed to get away with making pornography herself.
This is also a woman who invokes Jesus or God at the drop of a hat. So never mind your point about “victim blaming”. It is about hypocrisy, double standards, amoral conduct and illegal conduct in the case of the “weed”. Some things don’t go out of fashion. And expecting the highest standards of conduct from our elected representatives is one of them.
There is no place for this woman in public life. Because her record -including ripping off thousands of ordinary American investors and incurring more than $F100-million in debt – puts her completely beyond the pale.
Grace, I would rather have men and women speak the truth than push it under the carpet.
GD has done exactly that and where he has fallen he has done the right thing by apologising and correcting his comments and those of his readers.
Now if only Fiji journalists (who are independently employed and paid to do real journalism) could do exactly that.
RNZ and ABC, as someone rightly said, have failed to apply facts and fact checks from their Pacific correspondents. It is rather pathetic and shameful of these so called over slanged, racist, and inexperienced journalists, don’t you think. Lice is one of them.
Fiji Media Council and who ever next they are still don’t have their own proper standards. They are lost. Always waiting for another donor handout to uplift them while they report like puppets.
Journalists and broadcasters in Fiji have no proper training in enquiry and investigative journalism. And this is what USP produces for us. Look at Stanley, Lice, Narayan, FM96 crew, Navtarang, FBC! What do you see? Same lot of incompetent individuals. Puppet reading and storytelling at worst too.
In a Role model position:
Making Porn is ok.
Taking drugs is not ok.
The inconsistency is breathtaking !
To digress slightly, GD, Habibi, what do you think is the possibility of her long-suffering husband leaking the video. To pay he back for all her infidelities over the years and humiliation he suffered. The ultimate revenge. These Habibis are not to be messed with, as we know. They don’t forgive or forget. I won’t be surprised if he’s the one who ambushed Lynda and destroyed her when she least expected it.
This is plausible, but how about this.
Imagine more. Husband and wife agree that the drop is strategic. Distract from CJ confirmation, in fact the whole Justice system situation, as the jigsaw pieces are coming together in their favour.
Lawfare, requires all the pieces in place for the take down of the Constitution.
Once done, the couple will be welcomed back like a prodigal son.
Their cup will overflow in gratitude beyond their wildest dreams.
Am I a prophet?
Nope, just working on a movie story line.
Characters.
Script.
The people who are defending LT are the same people who will take the side of the rapist instead of the victim.
Why? Purely for their 5 minutes of media fame and to cause mischief.
Just as LT is now being slowly swept into the dustbin she deserves to live in, these people should be ignored. They relied on LT to give them a platform so they could enjoy the spotlight and know that those days are coming to an end.
Shamima Ali, Roshika Deo, Nilesh Lal and Shailendra Singh are insignificant in Fiji’s political landscape and failures in their own fields. The only reason no one sees their failures is because they tend to make lots of noises to distract people from seeing them for who and what they truly are.
The PAP party will probably announce her expulsion in the coming days as this latest hairy act may be the one that broke the camels back.
While none of this is acceptable, including the forever downfall of the happenings in general in the parliament and government of Fiji, it is impossible to not further elaborate on the fact that Tabuya would be a lingering leech if not removed now. She is indeed a parasite.
In the same breath I can also say that the whole government is sick.
Maybe that is what we all need to focus on and be wary of. We are in times of great leadership trouble overall in Fiji.
https://www.news.com.au/finance/work/at-work/minister-sacked-after-explicit-video-circulates/news-story/e76d7cb2a895f84d1c12825dd1591c4f
Has even made it to the Aussie news!!!!
To the sympathisers of Lynda Tubuya, lets not forget that every person in authority do have intimate sexual relationships whether with their partners or elsewhere, they do that privately and secretly. None of their intimate activities goes out to public because they take care to do so. Lynda Tubuya did not do that, there shall be no excuse coming out from Lynda because she received formal training on ethical behaviour when she became member of parliament. Further she holds top position in the country looking after the protection of women and children, there shall be no excuse for her crossing the boundaries. She was always surrounded by experts who guide her with informations on wrongs and rights. Lynda demonstrated and cross all boundaries that she was not the best person for the job and for this reason she must go. Now if Lynda has any morality left she must resign herself from parliament altogether.
I dont know what will she tell her children, her siblings, parents, and the people who voted for her. I personally feel that she should not get a second, or third chance, she is not a leadership person.
Lice Movono’s articles to ABC has always been biased. This is not the first one and there are others where she shows her true colour. Shamima Ali and the others are just trying to use this opportunity to get some airtime. I hope they are not sharing the weed from Lynda.
Fijian Vulagi, it is no brainer L Movono is full of lice (kutu) and lies. Her views are blatant ethno nationalist.
But my main point is what is your problem even if Shameema Ali and others are sharing weed from Linda. I concluded from her comment Shameema can take the drugs in privacy with her husband. It is her private life. If you guys leak the information on social media then it will be invasion of their privacy.
That said, it raises another question in my evil mind. Do these high profile people do all these in privacy of their husband (if they have one of their own, shared or pinched). I don’t know, just asking!
There is no problem as you said “she can take drugs in privacy with her husband”. since when was it legal to take drugs in Fiji?You see where the problem is ?
And by the way it is Shamima Ali and if it is her real name she can not take drugs if you know what I mean.If you think she can take drugs in privacy with her husband then all the women who shamima ali represents will be in real crisis.
Well summarized piece by GD, with all facts in front of us.
The person tasked with protecting women from gender violence and sexual abuse has shown more concern for her own image than addressing the issue at hand. If the video in question was private between Lynda and her husband, how did it end up in the public domain? Was there a theft or break-in? The real suspect are Linda herself and whoever filmed the video. The police must investigate them instead of blaming the public for sharing it on the social media.
As a MP and Minister, Lynda is a public figure whose conduct – both public and private- must be beyond reproach. Her failure to uphold these standards reflect poorly on her position and was the reason for her removal as Deputy Leader of PAP. Her distraction from her portfolio and focus on personal agendas have exposed her inefficiency as a minister.
The likes of Shailendra Singh, Shamima Ali, Nilesh Lal and Roshika Deo have surfaced to remain relevant but their silence on critical issues like unfair and illegal appointments undermines their credibility. Like the Fiji Media they have turned a blind eye to critical issues.
Shailendra, in particular, should focus on improving journalism standards and teaching at USP, given the subpar reporting by its graduates, rather than making baseless comments.
Shamima’s continued activism raises questions about her role at FWCC, funded by donors for core activities- not for her self-serving activism. Donors must demand accountability, especially regarding her hefty salary package compared to what she is doing. Where is same vigor for defending ordinary women as she now shows for Lynda?
As for Nilesh and Roshika, their comments lack objectivity and relevance, suggesting an attempt to support Lynda out of friendship rather than addressing the real issues at play.
Furthermore, as always, shallow reporting by Lice Mavono, ABC correspondent in Fiji, highlights a lack of journalistic independence, fairness and rigor. Her biased narratives fail to offer balanced insights, reflecting the broader issue of declining journalism standards in Fiji. Such reporting does a disservice to the public who deserve thorough and impartial coverage of critical issues. ABC Australia needs to look at this critically as suggested by GD.
Lice is a lice as noted above as she perseveres to deliberately add bias and convince the news presenters about her take on ‘news’. Basic standards of neutrality by a journalist is not in her dna. Take for example the totally one sided report she did on the scandal surrounding the last Miss Hibiscus. She deliberately spun the ‘news’ item to make it appear the young Vulagi Indo-Fijian lady was to be blamed for winning this out dated contest.
Never did she give the background of how the other professional celebrity contestant declared the winner post event was sponsored by the financial backer of the contest or that this new winner had entered the competition previously. A Fly In Fly Out Vulagi.
No depth or background to the story, facts which were widely known in Fiji so she couldn’t deny knowledge and good old ABC and presenter Rosemary were sucked in.
Shame ! Journos in Fiji, stand up and call her out but only if you yourself are not tainted by the brush of bias. A rarity in the case of FT.
Lice, her buddy Malimali, LT, Ali, etc are all pure entertainment, and long may they entertain. Never to be taken seriously.
The ABC is foolish to pick her as a journalist for them. The quality of journalism has really diminished in the last 20 years not only in Fiji but in Aust with people who could barely be employed at local papers in Aust running the show at the major mastheads. It’s the editor who should have told her to re write her piece with facts. But thats not really done these days. Why let facts ruin a story because it’s all measured on how many clicks on a story. As for the ex minister, I think she is going through mid life crisis and the drug/ alcohol use has messed her head that she is acting the way she does. She appears to be quite unhinged however I really do think it has to do with her stage in life & I guess her sense of entitlement. As for the others mentioned, so called feminists, their funding needs to be withdrawn and these bodies dismantled and new ones established that achieve what they were established to do.
Also why is this gender based violence?? Do they know what it means?
GD, your latest article was exactly what I was thinking this morning.
But here goes:
Rob Seeman is LT’s ‘pimp’.
Their marriage or whatever it is right now is more a business relationship than a traditional marriage.
He was later married to another woman for a number of years and has beautiful children with her after they separated (for tax evasion reasons) some years ago. The stolen millions from the US had to be laundered so a divorce settlement was a good option.
In GE2022, living separately, both expected her to get the DPM-ship, then later PM so he left that other woman and their children behind and moved back in with her.
But God, the universe, the highest power, had other plans and PAP did not get a clear majority and was forced to have a coalition with the very party that LT was belittling during the campaign period. She was sidetracked during the negotiations for obvious reasons. Sodelpa did not want her. But, lucky for him and his PBS, he’s reaping the rewards through more million dollar contracts from the government that his wife was a sitting minister. He still needs to keep her in there and they have hired a strong PR team to sway the social media in her favour. Think of that when you read the social media posts. Some so-called anti-LT posts are created from within the camp to keep her in the limelight and have people talking about her. PR101.
But the law of the universe says, enough is enough!
Under Fiji’s Family Law Act, whether or not you’re legally married, if you’re living together under one roof and/or have children together, have consenting sexual relations, you’re a de facto a married couple. The law recognizes the union. Hence, Rob Seeman’s income should be declared in LT’s dec form under the Electoral Act 2014.
No two ways about it. Just look at the date of signature.
When you become a public figure, the personal information above, as prickly as the details may be, becomes public interest. Don’t cry wolf and pretend to be a victim. We’re smarter than that. You walked knowingly into what we Fijians call, ‘na buturara ni politiki’ – the game of politics.
Because that’s just what it is for most (not all) of these politicians. It’s just a game. For those calling her Naita, Madam, etc, etc, we feel for you, not fair treatment, it’s your private affairs, etc, etc, etc – you’re just numbers! Sorry to disappoint you. Just potential votes in the next election. Don’t be fooled.
Here’s the real evidence: after the last election, while the people of Fiji were struggling to send their children to school and put food on the table, she chaired a sub committee and shamelessly recommended to raise MP salaries (including her own) by some 100+ %, while you pay 15% VAT at the supermarket counter. Tallying your total costs in your head, or on a piece of paper, before you front up to the cashier so they don’t exceed what you have in your wallet. These people take vacations and expensive recreational drugs at your expense. Wake up!
As for the so-called go-to opinion leaders, I am a Fijian woman and none of them represent my interests. But I’m pretty sure that they represent their donors’ interests. That’s a given. Don’t confuse the two.
Fiji is still very much a conservative society. Even in the urban centers. Most women in Fiji would not agree with LT’s sexual promiscuity and hubris (too proud for her own good). You’ll be surprised at the number of men that also agree with these women. We’re in our late 50s and my husband of 30 years is one of them. Not even church-goers (but we’re good people).
These men like their women respectable, demure, smart and classy. Not cheap. I teach my daughter the same. They don’t want their women’s naked bodies to be exposed and masturbated to by any Tomu, Dick and Hari Ram across the world. These women don’t have to be university graduates to have these qualities. But if they are, more power to them! These are the kind of women that real men will move mountains to provide and care for.
If you’re a young woman reading this, take note. Don’t believe that showing your body to the world will make you popular (well, may be for 3 mins).
It only makes you cheap.
Less is more.
The end.
Assuming that Linda is married to her husband -It would have been wiser for her husband to have made the public statement about the leaked video – to protect his wife’s dignity.
This leaked video is sufficient for any public official albeit male or female to warrant vacation of public office. Because in a position of authority and funded by taxpayers, this is just not acceptable. It has brought dishonor and disgrace to the Ministerial office she represent and embarrassment to the Fiji government and Fijian people. PERIOD.
As part of her pledge to us the people was to safeguard the dignity and preserve the credibility of office . She has not done this.
Regardless of the circumstances of how the video was leaked – it was . And as a result because of the public office she represents it has been compromised and she has negated on her oath of allegiance to Fiji and all Fijians.
As unfair as circumstances may be if she is indeed “a victim”. This is the preserving of public office and code of conduct standards realities .
And in her taking that Ministerial oath which we all witnessed and can be replayed from public records – it will mean ultimately that matters of public spectacle like this incident requires an exit – albeit it a resignation or sacking.
Perhaps the PM could have given her grace to resign effective immediately & if she did not take that option, then naturally a termination would be effective.
She can contest the leak of the video via a legal pathway if she wishes and allow the full legal process to take place to redeem herself.
However in the matter of oath of office. It is an indisputable fact that the leaked video has compromised her Ministerial Office, the Government of the day, her political party , her children, her Vanua and her voters.
And in doing so it has led the public breakdown of trust with her and with Government. Her position as a Minister as a result is no longer tenable.
Out of respect to the Fijian people and her nation , it would be advisable for Ms Tabuya to perhaps retreat into solitude for a while and leave the rest of us Fijians the head space and silence to recover from the shock and trauma of her “show it all” photos and images.
Ms Tabuya – it should be out of respect to your nation that you gracefully bow out please. Go reread your oath you took when you wore sworn in and thank you for your service.
It’s sad you had to go this way
Leave the bad and take the good
Life goes on
Best wishes for a prosperous 2025 !
May God grant you grace and strength for whatever is next .
What doesn’t break us makes us strong
Take the lesson – lean in and think about how you will redeem and restore the trust of fellow Fijians.
God bless Fiji
Some very clear-headed thinking here. Vinaka to you are some other clear-headed opinion leaders who’ve contributed their recent comments.
I don’t like character assassination any more than most people. But some stones cannot be left unturned. As you say, it is about our elected officials living up to the high standards they swore on oath to uphold.
And if they can’t, get out of the way. Because our democracy is extremely fragile and we need all men and women of goodwill to work together to the highest standards of propriety for our beloved Fiji to succeed. Right now, there is a moral crisis that has nothing to do with sex and everything to do with integrity in high office. Lynda Tabuya and Barbara Malimali have failed that test. And they must go.
A lot more on this story to come. Lies, lies and more lies that can no longer be tolerated. Ordinary people are starting to wake up to what is happening. And God willing, they inherently know what is right and wrong and will exercise the power of their vote in 2026 to save our tottering state.
Where were these 4 when Lynda:
1. Took a pay increase for herself and her Ministers while poverty in Fiji was rife?
2. Gaslighted victims of coups on the day of her maiden speech in parliament?
3. Shared a video of a child abuse online with over 100,000 viewers on line for her political mileage?
4. Was found bonking in Australia while on tax payer funded duties?
5. Took money from the Chinese to benefit her village?
6. Lied that she didn’t have a husband and now does?
7. Bullied a journalist openly online while she was late to the airport?
8. Was stood down as deputy party leader when found guilty of her acts in Australia?
Your 4 need and others singing praises for this whore of an MP must judge her records accordingly and not one off. You should do the same for all other MPs too and the President. Go light a candle and pray harder. Your vigils are all failing for now.
If it was a male Minister that had their nude video leaked like this instead of a female one would they have been dismissed? I think yes.
That thought is what nightmares are made of. Have you seen the current lot.
If Lynda and Shamima know that men have been getting away with the same sort of things, why didn’t they ever report them or why don’t they now???
To say it’s unfair but do nothing of the things they knew about is not really helping the nation progress. You can’t have it both ways. Just uphold higher standard for all, men or women. Stop calling gender when you are exposed.
Indeed, the fact that the current democratic situation in Fiji is very fragile goes a long way to explaining why the country needs leaders who are servants of the people and not their masters.
In this regard, Rabuka is an absolute conman and a political disaster.
He has conned the country from day one. Now he is singing praises about how the UN funded TRC is going to help the nation heal of the atrocities of the coups that he was very much involved in.
His credibility and integrity is shot. The naive reporting in the media that his decisive action has lifted confidence in his flailing government is stupidity to the highest degree. If he had acted after the brutal bonking session in Melbourne, we wouldn’t be where we are now. He’s a conman, definitely not a leader.
What will unfold over the coming days will be the acid test of his character and leadership.
Reading his latest statements /comments point to a more sinister plot. This man is going to do a lot more damage than he’s done. One thing is clear with Rabuka is that his morals are mixed up. It is this lack of integrity and a strong moral compass that spells disaster for Fiji. He must be removed in 2026 if not sooner.
Allowed the free rein he has now is not going to benefit the country going forward.
He has stacked the senior leadership of the country with his own kind so there will be no limit to his destructive influence on the country.
He is now going to complete his 1987 agenda. Indians and vulagi out, and the itaukei, more like his captains pick, will rule.
Applications for PAP membership are being accepted for the 2026 elections.
If you;
1. Have no suitable qualifications for government, and of a scandalous nature, you’re wanted
2. Have an addiction to drugs, alcohol, extra marital affairs, and expertise in pornography production, no problem.
3. Have a criminal record, a wife abuser, had sex with underage girls, all good.
4. Have special con abilities where you can lie with a straight face, we need you.
5. Have narcissistic tendencies, self serving, in other words, party and you first country later, you are top shelf material.
PAP is the party of 2nd and 3rd and 4th chances, so don’t worry, you’re in good company.
If you don’t possess the above skills and qualities, then don’t apply.
SLM Rabuka
PAP Leader and Visionary
This is what the current administration harbours and promotes.
Do we want the same come 2026?
I don’t!
There are a MINORITY of vocal confused LT supporters defending LT’s indefensible conduct. The simple fact is LT is not the VICTIM here. The real VICTIMS are the women and young girls who have been mislead and misprepresented by this person and her slatternly conduct.
I hope that she removes herself from political life as contrary to what some of her supporters believe, she has contributed zilch to improving and uplifting the role of women in Fiji.
“Slatternly?” Thank you, Anje Heffernan, for introducing me to a word I’d never heard before.
slatternly
UK /ˈslatnli/
adjective
(dated)
dirty and untidy (typically used of a woman or her appearance)
Take a bow for your “dated” but very apt description. I love learning new words and the wonderful thing about English is that it keeps giving even late in life!
nice word for “slut”, like genocide for ” extermination”.
GD do you remember when Meli Bainimarama’s sex video got leaked to social media as well? It was done by none other than his jilted lover Lynda Tabuya !! Least she forgets that karma is a bitch !
Now they say in Fijian- ka ga iko vakarautaka ena vakarautaki tale vei iko meaning whatever you do to others will be done to you!
There may be a bigger and more twisted story here. Was the video sent from Lynda to her husband, two consenting adults, as she claims? Why have we not heard anything from her husband?
According to Fiji Sun article above, the video was sent by Viber 1minute disappearing message from an account called “Harlequin”. This alias could be alluding to “ one of the principal stock characters of the Italian commedia dell’arte” or the contemporary Harley Quinn, sidekick and former lover of the Joker from the Batman comics and movies. Damaged and likely mentally ill purveyor of chaos and ruin.
I recall one of the Rm 233 messages from Lynda scheming about how Aseri could take over SODELPA mentioning people from Kadavu and Naitasiri being wildcards who are unpredictable and like to f*** things up, paraphrasing as cannot recall the exact wording. So “Harlequin” is likely a woman, who sent a 1 minute disappearing message nude video to someone (likely a man) via Viber.
That disappearing message safeguard was circumvented by the recipient recording the video with another phone before the 1 minute was over. A certain “Joe Ratu” on FB posted on Jiaoji Savou’s page that the video was sent by Lynda to Aseri this month during her birthday after he rejected her and blocked her. This is the same “Joe Ratu” alleged to be the alias of Aseri’s wife, Sainiana Radrodo, by Alexander Forwood.
Recalling it was Sainiana that leaked the Rm 233 messages to Victor Lal. Victor Lal, who allegedly sent this video to the PM and other Cabinet Ministers. According to Lice’s ABC report it is the women’s wing of PAP pushing to kick Lynda out of the Party, as they did during the Rm 233 saga. The same “Joe Ratu” has posted today that Lynda has filed a complaint against “the wife of the Cabinet Minister who she was involved with in the brutal Melbourne sex scandal for leaking her latest “bushy video”.
The video was made for Fiji Drua players in Kadavu and now she’s blaming it on her husband.
The fantastic 4 defending her, you guys are more pathetic than Lynda herself.
Roshika has nothing to do all day, just text n tweet. Shame..ima is the nastiest woman in Fiji. Lice, i dont know how she got through journalism school, no ethics and borderline racist.
Roshika is a joke. Who exactly cares about her? Nobody. So, she want to give her 2 bit comments so that she can make herself feel important and special.
And the plot thickens. Tabuya needs to make a quick exit from public life for her own sanity. If she considers the impact this is having on her close family and friends.
Did someone get called out “The Empress has no clothes!” These rouge types and devious followers should be expelled from parliament and run out of town as applicable.
The Fiji Police and Tabuya continue to state that two thirds of women face this sort of abuse in Fiji.
I have yet to understand two thirds of who, when, how, and what makes this percentage/fraction. It is repeated daily yet the Police, Fiji Women’s Crisis Centre and Tabuya cannot articulate where this information is coming from. Dow this mean for all women of Fiji? As expected RNZ fails to make sense too.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/537704/fiji-police-describe-leaked-explicit-video-of-mp-an-intrusion-of-privacy?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0dQqEkPwbkKJRVlryHTKxrSC-BMEWHHogdgg1DGcKWY-AWCtOc6o7otok_aem_HVtgLD2Yr2jQCqp16Qg1IQ
I’m pretty sure the pseudo name Joe Ratu must be laughing or enjoying being assigned to be Sainiana!
It’s long been suggested by Alexander Forwood that Sainiana is Joe Ratu. The irony of all these is if you were to ask AF Graham, she will tell you that it was Lynda Tabuya who informed her that Sainiana is Joe Ratu on Facebook. AF has then believed LT.
Sainiana is not Joe Ratu. JR are few members of the Fiji Labour Party one of them being Taina Rokotabua the wife of Ben Padarath. I know because she communicates a lot of things said by Joe Ratu to me and exclaims that she doesn’t understand why AF thinks Joe Ratu is Sainiana.
I’m proud of leaking the porn video of Lynda.
The known fact is LT will not resign from parliament. She has proven she is hardcore shameless and stubborn.
She got 11,965 votes for PAP in 2022, well done. But we know she will not be any help for PAP in 2026 election. She will be the biggest rival and cause damage. We all know she has a personal vendetta with PM.
We beg PM and PA disciplinary committe to nip it in the bud, now! Please get rid of her from the parliament now. She has been enough chance, but she has no remorse or shame. PA is our hope, it is our party. The vulagis are justifiably laughing at us. What are we waiting? PM has good support in the parliament now. FFP does not exist.
Linda is a disgrace for the party. Never ever in the history any political party had a such a lowdown parliamentarian. This is giving us adverse publicity all over the world, it is embarrasing.
Enough is enough, please!
Where does Roshika work?
She tweets whole day!
Someone lodge a police complaint on Linda distributing video of a child online without the child’s consent. That is abuse of the highest order. Get her charged and face the consequences of her crime.
That will be the end of her political career.
Get her done for child abuse and violation on the rights of a child.
Exactly Child Abuse.
My thoughts exactly. This would not fly in any normal nation.
PM should have sacked her right there. The fact that this was tolerated by the whole nation is sickening . Where were the human rights lawyers in Fiji to come out and speak out against it???
Most likely because they knew whatever they said would fall on deaf ears. Nobody in authority takes notice of anything that doesn’t fit the agenda thats in place to enrichen the ministers and their co conspirators.
People here have selective hearing when it comes to evidence, justice and the so called rule of law.
It’s one rule for the elected elite and one for the over 50% of people living in poverty and struggling from week to week to feed themselves and their children.
Those in power are a despicable bunch of self serving clowns that don’t deserve even a small portion of what they receive in money and perks and should be ashamed of themselves.
Living off the pigs back whilst half of the country suffers.
I personally made a formal complaint to Save The Children Fiji when Tabuya shared the child’s video in state care online with her followers. It was a complete breach of privacy for a child.
Save the Children Fiji did nothing with the complaint.
These are our guardians of Fijian children. Useless as.
All these women CEOs and politicians are just a show for conferences overseas.
They should all be sacked.
PM failed to act and has escalated this issue.
Both Tabuya and Rodrodro need to go.
How ironic they kick out Blue Bunny like Fiji is so virtuous. What a joke. Fiji will wish they had any tourists at the rate it’s going.
New Years Resolution;
On the first day of new year:
To forgive those who expose my private wrongdoings.
To forgive those who catch me out doing wrong in public.
For the rest of the year turn the tables on anyone who catches me doing anything wrong and make them the offending violators and me the victim.
PAP should sack her and the PM. Effective immediately he must go too. A vote of no condolence must be on the horizon for both of them.
The proud and immoral Jezebel still hasn’t apologized to the people of Fiji after several days. This woman has no class!
She feels no remorse that as a public figure.
Not the best either even with the Tiktok default filters, hihi!
My ex, bless her beautiful soul, lol, looks way better 😉
Whenever I hear her name or see her in the media, my mind automatically associates her with the Kalahari bush..sobo, should have at least kept it clean, we’re not in the 70s..ffs.
So is that thing going to be the People’s Alliance’s new logo in 2026?? Baadouki! lol…
Her desperate and failing PR team (keep trying folks!) in full swing trying to move the naive masses to support her. Not working, lol. You’re still a minority number and falling. Don’t believe the BS on social media.
Fiji will have approx. 800,000 voters and counting in 2026 and you’re all just a drop in the bucket – more so after this embarrassing development.
You’re now a liability, not an asset.
Bye, bye, Bonnie!
Moce mada.
PAPs new logo or party symbol should be a hedgehog.
Shame-mi-ma goes on about what a good woman expectations are in the parliament on Fiji One News today.
She again forgets that this is not a gender thing anymore. It is an about a Minister in public office and service lying more than once and found to be guilty of behaviour that is not honourable anymore. Does Tabuya have a husband now? Why is she making porn or sexualised video and sharing it in the first place knowing too well how insecure Fiji’s whole of cyber security is.
Tabuya should have known better.
Off course Shamima doesn’t see anything wrong with lying about a husband. She knows how that is done too.
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/15n1Rc9HeP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Shamima also states, “ She is clever, popular and has money, she’ll be back.”
Money? Yes, the same money and husband that she failed to declare too Shamima.
Where were you when she did this?
You women are shameless and make other women look cheap.
It is not about money and popularity when serving the people of Fiji. It is an honour to do so and with much humility and integrity. Unfortunately these women no longer have either of the above.
It’s one thing to have money that you EARNED.
It’s another story when it’s STOLEN.
Why do we have so many dumb women making headlines in Fiji??!!
Can this dumb ugly batch of dirty hairy women retire pls?
We need new faces.