Behind the current desperate attempt in the courts by lawyer Richard Naidu to derail FICAC’s prosecution of Biman Prasad is the sure knowledge that both of them face an existential threat if the NFP leader is convicted.
Why? Because if Biman Prasad goes down, his political career is over. And if Biman’s political career is over, Richard Naidu himself is deeply vulnerable.
He would not only lose the influence he has enjoyed because of his close ties to the sidelined deputy prime minister. Naidu faces a FICAC blowtorch himself down the track as questions persist about his glaring conflict of interest in the granting of a seven year corporate tax holiday to his client, Fiji Water, when he chairs the government’s Fiscal Review Committee.
There is a hell of a lot at stake for both of them. Yet a bigger story is the existential threat to the party Biman Prasad leads and Richard Naidu advises – the National Federation Party, Fiji’s oldest, which was founded by A.D Patel in 1968.
Many now believe the NFP – which has five seats in the current parliament – has so alienated its base that it will struggle to make the 5 per cent threshold needed to get any seats at all in the next, assuming we go to the polls under the current d’Hondt system in five month’s time.
Indeed, the NFP’s position is so dire that some have written it off altogether. Why? Because of an overwhelming sense of betrayal on the part of its traditional supporters that the party, under Biman Prasad, has failed to stand up to the iTaukei supremacist agenda of his Coalition partners – the People’s Alliance and SODELPA.
The NFP is paying for that betrayal with a reported Gadarene rush by Indo-Fijian voters towards Mahendra Chaudhry‘s Labour Party and the two parties that have emerged from the ashes of FijiFirst – Frank Bainimarama‘s One Nation (and don’t believe anyone who tells you Frank isn’t the main man there) and Inia Seruiratu‘s People First (though it is also bleeding support for Seruiratu’s perceived failure to stand up to Sitiveni Rabuka and his colleagues).
Even if Biman Prasad manages to beat the FICAC charges against him, many believe it is already too late to save the NFP. Anywhere else in the world this close to an election, a political leader facing serious charges would have stood aside voluntarily or been forced to stand aside to protect the party’s reputation as a whole.
Yet Biman Prasad decided to tough it out and incredibly, he has been allowed to tough it out by those who also call the shots behind the scenes – the NFP’s Vice President, Parmod Chand, and General Secretary, Kamal Iyer. If Biman Prasad is convicted, they too will be in the firing line for an extraordinary suspension of judgment.
The President of the NFP is now Pio Tikoduadua – the high profile Defence Minister – but the real power in the party is said to rest with Chand and Iyer. Tikoduadua – like any political operator with half a brain -has known all along that keeping Biman Prasad as leader while he is before the courts on corruption charges has been a monumental act of folly. In fact, Tikoduadua went public saying that he was prepared to step up and lead the party while the Prasad saga played out but that was rejected.
Why? The answer to that is disturbing in itself – that the strongmen of the NFP reportedly insisted that the party could never be led by an iTaukei. In other words, it was all very well for Tikoduadua to be a figurehead President but surrendering the substantive leadership simply wasn’t on. There are even well-sourced reports that Parmod Chand has made it clear that he intends to take over if Biman Prasad goes down.
Why has Tikoduadua been willing to subject himself to this kind of humiliation? Presumably because he is still a person of integrity despite the sacrifices he has had to make as a team player in the Rabuka-led sh*tshow that passes for government in Fiji. This includes remaining silent on why no-one in the RFMF has yet been charged for the torture and murder of Jone Vakarisi. But will he be standing for the NFP in the coming election? Not if he wants to continue to have a successful parliamentary career.
We already know that Sashi Kiran – the NFP’s Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection – has decided that one term in parliament is enough and isn’t planning to stand again. Is that an indication that even she sees certain defeat looming? Of course, she would deny it but she too isn’t stupid and presumably sees the writing on the wall.
And what of the NFP’s other iTaukei star candidate, Lenora Qereqeretabua? She is also casting doubt on whether she will stand again and who can blame her? The Qereqeretabua family’s stellar reputation for integrity has taken a severe battering with the immunity given by the ODPP to her drug-dealing son-in-law, Jonathan Hill, in exchange for him giving evidence in the $3-billion Vatia drug case. Hill is facing a separate trial for possession in November and rumours persist that police are in possession of a video of him having sex with senior government minister Lynda Tabuya. Tacky, tacky.
Yet even if Lenora were to stay in politics, she also knows that public confidence in the NFP has collapsed. And if she wants to have any hope of continuing in the prestigious role of Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, sheer logic dictates a defection to the People’s Alliance. Will that happen? We shall see. But anyone with a skerrick of political judgment can see that the NFP’s prospects are extremely bleak.
Yet there is a way out. It is a path that would destroy the NFP’s relationship with the People’s Alliance and SODELPA and trigger bitter recriminations. But it might just save Fiji’s oldest party. And that is to vote down any section of the revised constitution that will be presented to parliament in three week’s time – September 28 – which disadvantages the minorities.
That would mean no change to the 2013 Constitution’s provisions for a common and equal citizenry (the right to equal opportunity and equal votes of equal value), no change to the common identity (the right of everyone to call themselves “Fijian” – to fully belong) and no change to the secular state, which is already being mooted and would allow the state to favour Christians over Hindus and Muslims and end the state’s neutrality on religion, which has prevailed for the past decade.
If the NFP were to combine with the Opposition (or elements of the Opposition) who still think the votes of almost a third of the nation are worth courting, there’s a good chance the government won’t get the two-thirds of the parliament on side to make the changes it wants.
That means the attempt to alter those provisions that disadvantage the minorities fails – no change to the 2013 provisions on the common and equal citizenry, the common identity and the secular state. And if they don’t pass the two thirds majority in the parliament, they won’t be going to any referendum and won’t be passing into the supreme law. Rabuka’s attempt to assert indigenous supremacy would have failed.
We are going to know very soon what the grassroots of the NFP thinks (assuming there is enough grass still growing) at the Annual General Meeting of the party in Rakiraki in eleven day’s time (September 19) and its National Convention in Suva a week later (September 26). But it is already very clear what choice has to be made.
The party leadership has blundered by keeping Biman Prasad in place as he is tried for corruption this close to an election. If they had any sense of self-preservation, they would have required him to stand aside until his name is cleared. But there is still time to reverse the ignominy the NFP has suffered in the eyes of voters for Biman Prasad’s continual appeasement of Sitiveni Rabuka and his betrayal of the interests of the minorities.
Taking a stand to preserve those provisions of the 2013 Constitution that protect the rights of the minorities isn’t just the right thing to do. It is the ONLY thing to do to give the Party any chance of survival at the hands of an electorate intent on punishing it for its betrayal.
Who knows, it might even trigger a Gadarene rush back to the NFP by those who’ve already decided to abandon it? But doing nothing and allowing the indigenous supremacists to win isn’t an option. Because no Indo-Fijian or anyone else is stupid enough to vote to become a second class citizen under the supreme law. No Hindu or Muslim is going to vote for the abolition of the secular state, which means that the state would favour Christians and even pave the way for the declaration of a Christian state.
The choice for the NFP is as stark as it can possibly be. Take a principled stand now or die.
Some other recent NFP-related Grubsheet articles:
Great article Graham.
That’s the one thing we’ve not seen throughout this Coalition government’s term. All we have witnessed is behind the scenes manipulation, power games, smoke and mirrors.
We’ve not seen one out in the open intellectual debate where candidates own their position unambiguously, stand their ground with integrity, and present their arguments with evidence, logic and clarity.
I’m looking forward to this miracle, if it were to happen.
I’m pretty sure the directive has already been issued by NFP to all of its members of parliament that it should vote against any changes to common and equal citizenry, the common identity and the secular state which were in line with their recommendations to the CRC as well.
The advantage of NFP over other political parties, both past and present in Fiji, is that since the 1977 dove and flower debacle, it has avoided all infighting, thus managing to still be active today. Any other party would have died out after that monumental split in 1977, and even after their monumental defeat in 1999, but NFP managed to come out of them both.
So even if they fail to secure any seats this election, they are in a much better state than in 1999 and 1977 as a party to bounce back. Pio knows that NFP is the most stable option for him compared to the roller coasters that are the other major parties, which is probably why he is sticking it out.
Is it fair to say that the current government intend to demolish the secular state because they want Fiji to be a Christian State or is that just your assumption?
Why should Fijians change their name to Itaukei when it is a word that has been associated with their identity for over a hundred years?
Why do you make statements in your articles claiming that the revised constitution MUST not be changed?
The whole reason why they are submitting this report is because the constitution WILL change because it must reflect a document which makes the State authority the ultimate decider of how the country is run. Citizens don’t run a country. Government runs the country. By not allowing a secular State, that authority is undermined. Therefore control MUST be vested in the interests of the government NOT the interests of minorities by separating State from religion. It is totally unreasonable to assume that a government (not just this one) would favour any religion.
Think of a government as referee in a game where there are two teams. As it stands the two teams are Christian followers and non Christian followers. without a referee those two teams could escalate tensions and clash if their religions are left unchecked. If a government becomes the authority they can prevent one of either side from creating unnecessary evils either amongst themselves or towards one another. That can’t be a bad thing.
Now I could agree with you, IF the government released a statement claiming they wanted to change the constitution to make the country a Christian state. In that case the minorities would have reason to be fearful but that is clearly not the case here.
Just an observation.
For your info‘ I also note you seem to only favor those people who have been regular contributors here. I am not but I would expect you to respect the views of a wide rage of opinionated commentary. That is what fair journalism is all about. Call a spade a spade but let anyone make a call.
Abolishing the secular state would leave it open to the current government to favour Christians instead of being required by law to be neutral in its treatment of all religions.
I have chosen my words carefully to say that it would “pave the way towards the declaration of a Christian state” – in other words be a first step in fulfilling what we already know is the ambition of many of the government’s supporters – not the definitive establishment of a Christian state. But it legally opens to the door to that option. Please read what I have written more carefully.
I have a proven history of allowing contrary opinion in these columns, even from anonymous contributors. Those I have excised are newly-created accounts spewing pro-Coalition and anti-FijiFirst propaganda and I make no apology for excluding them in the election lead-up. Because this is no different to the phantoms created on Facebook by FijiFirst in the lead-up to 2022, which I strongly criticised in these columns and did not happen when I was working for Qorvis in Fiji.
Individuals who I am satisfied are authentic are welcome. Pro-government trolls are not. And especially when their writing style and subject matter point to their comments being authored by the same person.
Yes Graham I have read what you wrote carefully so please don’t patronize me on that note. As for the derogatory remark comparing me to other contributors , I would appreciate it if you didn’t do that! Everyone is entitled to their say and that should include not being pigeonholed with others just for the heck of it.
I would like to contribute further but I feel your hostile remarks are alienating certain individuals who don’t necessarily breach any rules here.
you sound like a spade.
overstaying getting too hot?
I see Mack or Lawry have snuck in guised as anonymous.
Oh really? They are far more likely to be “California Dreaming”, I’d have thought. Whatever.
I have spoken to several people living in Australia who were ardent NFP fans and went out of their way to support them during their last election campaign. I have also spoken to people who supported NFP and visited Australia recently.
The bitterness is apparent. The Fiji-Indians are all of the same opinion that Lamb Chops (AKA Mr. Loverboy) and the NFP president sold out all his supporter the moment he was appointed to a position of power and lots of money. Chops is “Judas” and his once ardent fans have vowed they will never go back to supporting the NFP as long as he and his lackeys run the party.
The people I have spoken to have been die-hard NFP fans all their lives and the fact that the NFP has never spoken out against the racial decisions made by the Rabuka government shows that the NFP has sold its soul to the devil.
Anyone living in Fiji who voted the NFP into power have realised that while Biman sits down to his lamb chops curry and expensive dinners every day, the average bloke is struggling to buy a bowl of tea with Lees breakfast crackers to feed his family and hungry children. I have heard stories firsthand from people who are down to two meals a day and some are parents with young kids. These parents sacrifice their meals to feed their children first and then eat what is left.
The NFP was expected to be the pillar of integrity and seen to be the perfect candidate to keep Rabuka and the racist bastards in check. Instead of keeping the government in check, it chose to engage in corruption and even firmly support the heavily racial decisions made by the government. Not a single minister has ever come out to question why the rights and views of other ethnic groups are being destroyed and why all substantial government appointments must be purely Fijians instead of being based on merit. Not once has the NFP stood up in parliament to question why other ethnic groups have been branded “vulagi” by Rabuka when they have all worked hard to add to Fiji’s prosperity.
With the chatter mainly now around a new constitution that will declare Fiji a Christian state and likely contain statements that heavily reduce (if not remove) the rights of every other ethnic group in Fiji, the NFP has not questioned these racial moves in any shape or form. When there were desecrations of Hindu temples, the NFP did very little to stand up for the impacted people. Instead, it put out weak statements but still ignored the psychological effects on the people affected by the desecrations.
The NFP has been destroyed from within by a group of people who have succumbed to the temptations of money, flesh, corruption and narcissism and they need to be booted out come the next elections.
Let us not hold our breath.
Biman Chand’s naked support for Rabuka over the last 3 years has all been to prop him up and keep his position as DPM. It has never been for his community, the NFP or even for the country. His selfish motives and agendas are there for all to see.
Initially he had some success in getting some of his favourite people appointed to senior positions like PSs, Ambassadors, Boards, Review Committees, Consultants etc But again this was about returning favors to individuals, akin to croynism and corruption. Guess it was in line with the Coalition and Rabuka’s modus operandi.
One can be sure that after the current case, if he wins, his bargaining chip with Rabuka will be the coveted prize, the DPM and Minister of Finance. Once this is given, don’t expect him to stand up for the country, the sugar cane farmers or even the NFP supporters. The second prizes of VCs of either UniFiji or USP will also shut him up forever.
The NFP is doomed. With the dissatisfaction shown by Lenora and Pio with the current leadership, departure of Sashi Kiran and the self centred Agni Deo always angling himself towards whichever side the bread is buttered, nincompoops like Pramod Chand and Iyer with see the elimination of a party once an epitome of national leadership.
Agree with your post Diane.
Biman was only interested in 3 things:
1. Becoming Deputy PM with all its perks – office, car, overseas travel, per diems etc. No prizes for guessing how he would have felt when he found out that he was only going to be 1/3 Deputy PM, with him having to share the title with 2 other equally unworthy politicians.
2. Bringing the ashes of his friend and fellow Labasian Dr Brij Lal back to Fiji. Brij Lal had surrendered his Fiji citizenship in exchange for US and Australian citizenships.
3 Getting the ban on his friend and his wife’s mentor, the unlamented Professor Pal revoked so he could come back to Fiji. Pal came back for a visit, and in a slap to the Fiji, decided that he would continue to work from Samoa.
Other matters probably not on his agenda included him getting his friends like Koya and Sami appointed as ambassadors.
As for bread and butter issues like cost of living, rights of Fiji citizens of Indian origin etc. his attitude is “Let them eat cake”.
NFP should buy a “Tabua” and present it to Premila Kumar and ask her to join NPF and lead the party.
The survival of the NFP is tied absolutely to the position they take on the CRC report recommendations.
The single identity and secular state are paramount to the minorities of Fiji, whether in Fiji or living abroad. Those from other countries, who are not Fijian, see those who are as only being Fijian, they do not see them as iTaukei or Indo-Fijian or anything else.
The removal of a Secular State provision could have wide ramifications for those who are not or seen to be not ‘Christian.’ It may lead to employment, education, health care and travel becoming affected by ‘Christian’ being a preferred position.
Could Government, when it comes to appointments and employment, make ‘Christian’ a selection criteria? Would education funding become tied to whether schools, colleges are seen as ‘Christian’? Will we see ‘Christian only’ signs in areas of Government offices, hospitals and facilities?
The very thought of that possibility could see a further exodus of skills, experience, knowledge from Fiji.
The question is if the single identity and secular state come to a point of Constitutional amendment will NFP stand up or will it fold.
The other political parties also need to state their positions clearly!
NFP will vote against amendment because Baiman got a kick on the arse by Rabuka. Ghaar pe laath. If Baiman was still DPM, NFP would vote in favor. Baiman and NFP have no principles. They lied to voters to their face. Now it’s the voters turn.
It’s now quite clear that Babasiga bastard Baiman is a selfish pig who only cares about himself. Because he did not resign NFP lost the deputy prime ministership. Otherwise Pio would have been DPM. Biman can’t see anyone else be the DPM.
Baiman’s shame greed and selfishness was evident during Coalition negotiations. Baiman was only interested in negotiating his DPM and minister of finance positions. That was the priority. Then came Agni and Pio’s portfolios.
The two female candidates Lenora and Sashi were of secondary importance. Baiman treated them like chattels to advance his own political agenda. Lenora and Sashi were used and discarded. They were relegated to assistant ministers. As we know Sashi only got a Minister post by default. It had nothing to do with Biman or NFP.
Look at SODELPA in contrast. All their 3 MP’s got full ministerial positions, even though they are the junior partner. This exposes NFP’s abysmal failure .
SODELPA cared about everyone in the team, whereas NFP cared only about Baiman. There is no party loyalty towards the two females . Full loyalty only to Baiman. Under Baiman, kamal and Pramod, NFP is a sexist party where the males rule the roost.
Now everyone is leaving the party and it is collapsing under Baiman and his artificial smile. Baiman is a pathetic leader. Even if NFP votes against constitution amendment, it can’t be saved. It’s too little too late
Baiman thought he would lie to the people in Election campaign, and that once in power, he could do whatever he wanted such as increase VAT and salaries OF MPs. Now Vat has come back to bite him and NFP on the arse.
Claims that NFP voted against the salary increase sounds hollow because NFP ministers benefited from it. They did not give away their salary to charity. While voting against the pay increase in public, they were happy in private.
NFP is finished and the three people responsible are Biman, Pramod and Kamal. For Pramod and Kamal, saving Baiman is more important than saving the NFP. Baiman comes first, NFP second. Voters will wipe the floor with NFP. That at least is the feedback that I get around the kava bowl and from frustrated NFP insiders.
Here’s my hypothetical 10 cents scenario:
the NFP scandal and Prasad’s court case will not break the coalition, driven purely by Fijian party-line voting logic:
Lets take the western division as a case point.
It is September 2026. The news is flooded with the ongoing court case against NFP leader Biman Prasad. Opposition media outlets are running headlines predicting a collapse of the coalition government. However, in the NFP strongholds of Lautoka, Nadi, and Ba, the ground reality tells a completely different story.
Let me take the example of Vijay, a 55-year-old sugarcane farmer and a lifelong NFP voter. His grandfather voted NFP, his father voted NFP, and Vijay has voted NFP in every election since 1999. He is deeply disappointed by the scandal. He is telling his friends that Prasad “should have known better” and that the case “brings shame” to the Indo-Fijian community.
Despite his disappointment, Vijay attends a community meeting at the local temple. A younger relative asks him, “Are you going to stay home or vote for another party this time?”
Vijay’s response is firm and direct:
Vijay explains that Fiji’s electoral system uses open-list proportional representation. He knows that even if Prasad is found guilty (or steps aside), the NFP party machine will simply parachute in a replacement candidate. Vijay is not voting for Prasad the man; he is voting for the NFP brand—the policies, the historical representation of Indo-Fijians, and the party’s local grassroots network that has helped his community for decades. This is certainly a factor in Fiji at grassroots level right across the board but more so in this cane belt zone. There will probably be similar sentiment in pockets to the Eastern division between Suv and Nausori
The “Wasted Vote” Fear: Vijay looks at his relative and says, “If I vote for an independent or a minor party, my vote is wasted. They won’t cross the 5% threshold.”
The Coalition is Better than Nothing Vijay then makes the pragmatic argument that saves the government and here is why I think this coalition will still win irrespective of the outcome of this case:
Option A (Stay home / Protest vote): The FijiFirst or SODELPA opposition gains a few percentage points. The coalition loses its bare majority. Parliament hangs in chaos. No one passes the sugarcane subsidy budget. Vijay loses his farming grants.
Option B (Vote NFP anyway): The NFP secures its 8–10 seats. They re-enter the coalition with Rabuka’s People’s Alliance. Even if Prasad is temporarily suspended, the NFP’s MPs join the cabinet. They secure ministerial portfolios that directly benefit the Western Division.
FFWD to election day (whenever that may be)!
On polling day, the NFP’s core base—numbering roughly 150,000 traditional voters—turns out in full force. They do not punish Prasad; they punish the opposition for trying to use the court case to destabilize their only pathway to power.
The NFP loses 2% of its vote share to independents (a negligible amount), but retains 95% of its base. The coalition retains its 29-seat majority. Prasad’s legal battle continues, but it is entirely separated from the parliamentary arithmetic. The coalition functions smoothly because NFP MPs follow the party whip, and the Prime Minister simply appoints an interim NFP minister to handle Prasad’s portfolios until the court case concludes.
I believe we have seen this playbook before.
For Fijian voters, tribal, communal, and historical party loyalties are far stronger than the personal reputation of any single leader. As long as the coalition guarantees them a seat at the cabinet table—and the opposition offers them zero representation—the scandal becomes background noise, and the coalition survives completely intact.
Doesn’t sound like a fair outcome considering the circumstances but then again, in life……la di da da.
Really interested to know your thoughts as far fetched mine may appear to be!
Far fetched? This is off the wall and not even worth a response. “Vijay the 55 year-old cane farmer”? A fictitious character conjured up to create a fictitious scenario favourable to the NFP?
Readers, do we think “Californiadreaming” is an authentic contributor? Suddenly coming out of nowhere after the other phantom trolls have been terminated? Sprouting nonsense like this? No, me either.
Send californiadreaming packing to another dreamland with his fantasies.
Done.
Maybe I will begin by suggesting that “Californiadreaming”, aka, Ranjeet Raju who rented a flat at Biman’s house in LBE. His business was propped up through media support to NFP meetings as well as Pacific Polytech’s events, thanks to Ganesh Chand. He is seen in social media posts providing unashamed support to his enablers.
So you see there is always a connection, after all we are all such a small family! Recently Raju moved to California after struggling in Fiji since BCP was relieved of his cushy portfolios. Or maybe even to escape closer scrutiny of his business.
To the substance of the scenarios, he is certainly dreaming and thinking wishfully. If these are a sign of the sophistication of the ‘models’ or scenarios NFP is using, there is hope for mankind!
It remains an extraordinary fact that one of the priorities of this government and one of its only decisions was to award a tax holiday.
Fiscal responsibility?
Other motives?
Fiji taxpayers deserve to understand why this happened.
I concur with GD. NFP has lost its mana. The ardent supporters have withdrawn their support. I voted for NFP since 1999 and now I have decided not to vote for Baiman and NFP ever again.