The stage is set for resignations from the People’s Alliance amid a furious backlash over the Prime Minister’s decision to ignore the Party’s damning report on Lynda Tabuya’s sex and drug scandal and keep her as Minister for Women, Children and Social Protection.
There’s an intense feeling of betrayal in the Executive Council of the Party – which stripped Lynda Tabuya of the deputy leadership – and the disciplinary committee that spent at least two weeks examining the evidence against her and found the allegations of sexual misconduct and drug-taking proven.
Unconfirmed reports say at least one senior official plans to leave the party altogether and others are considering their positions. These are some of the biggest names in the PAP who believe the Prime Minister has hung them out to dry to save a minister who they pronounced guilty yet have been overruled.
They are especially aggrieved that Sitiveni Rabuka has suggested publicly that there is not enough evidence to sack her as minister when there was clearly enough evidence to strip her of the deputy leadership.
According to one source, the disciplinary committee’s report is an explosive document with more than enough evidence for the Prime Minister to act. But he is turning a blind eye to that evidence in his determination to save Lynda Tabuya and has lied when he claimed that there had been no formal complaints against her. (see previous story).
Two of the disciplinary committee’s members are lawyers – the Chair, Alefina Vuki, and the Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources, Filimoni Vosarogo, who the Prime Minister tried to install as attorney general in his abortive cabinet reshuffle last October. They are both said to be particularly aggrieved, having brought their expertise to a report that was accepted without question by the PAP’s Executive Council yet rejected by the Prime Minister.
The anger in the PAP against Sitiveni Rabuka is such that Grubsheet was sent the following email by a senior party official. That person will remain nameless but it is a searing indictment of the Prime Minister and conclusive proof that he is already paying a very heavy price for not standing up to Lynda Tabuya, who many in the PAP now regard as a grave electoral liability.
QUOTE: “I am just utterly appalled at the character of the man currently occupying the office of the PM. I kind of suspected that he was going to do this from his evasive and delayed action on it. He was obviously looking for a justification to support his decision, and the confidence with which Lynda Tabuya was talking to the press, it seemed to me that she had his support and that they were communicating behind the scenes.
He chose her over and above public integrity and the national interest, for his (and hers as well) own ill-conceived and self-serving interests. Both SLR and Lynda Tabuya reinforce one another’s narcissism and they both lie with ease.
One would think that he would at least apologise to the nation for the lie he and Lynda Tabuya sold them in September last year ( in the PM’s public statement saying he accepted the denials of an affair). But like Lynda Tabuya, he cunningly blames the people for failing to come up with an official complaint. And even this reason and justification is another lie from him to the nation.
Nothing stops him now as the PM from conducting an official government investigation into both Lynda Tabuya and Aseri Radrodro, so he should quit lying to the nation that there was no official complaint. And who knows, there may be other official complaints. But true to his crafty nature, he is probably hiding them. I won’t be surprised if he will manufacture another lie”. UNQUOTE.
Ouch. That this has come from one of the most senior figures in the People’s Alliance is astonishing. But it reflects white-hot anger and a deep sense of betrayal that having promised to improve standards of governance, Sitiveni Rabuka is siding with someone who has failed the most basic tests of ministerial probity – illicit sex and illicit drug taking when she is Minister for Children meant to be setting an example and cheating on a woman by having “brutal” sex with her husband in a nearby hotel room when she is Minister for Women.
According to another source, the disciplinary committee was party to a “smoking gun” document that provides conclusive proof of Lynda Tabuya’s conduct – an emotional email from the Minister to Aseri Radrodro’s wife, Sainiana, admitting to the affair, apologising and begging for forgiveness.
While that email hasn’t been made public, it evidently formed part of the Committee’s deliberations. So according to this source, Sitiveni Rabuka’s claim that there was not enough evidence to sack Lynda Tabuya is nonsense and a deliberate lie that has destroyed the integrity of the Party’s disciplinary processes.
There is particular anger about the role of the Deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica, who insiders expected to take a hard line on Lynda Tabuya’s conduct, not least because she has been his chief rival to succeed Sitiveni Rabuka as leader. Instead Kamikamica is said to have sided with Sitiveni Rabuka, drawing withering criticism from some of his party colleagues.
It is in stark contrast with Manoa’s father, the late Josevata Kamikamica, when he and Sitiveni Rabuka were in government in the 1990s. Joe Kamikamica had a very public falling out with Rabuka in his first incarnation as Prime Minister and with the late Ratu Finau Mara, broke away to form their Fijian Association. “When it comes to integrity, Manoa is definitely not his father’s son”, remarked one of the Deputy PM’s critics.
Watch this space, Fiji. Because the PAP is now at war with itself and this scandal still has a long way to play out.
The Opposition FijiFirst has so far been strangely muted on Tabuya-gate but not Mahendra Chaudhry’s Labour Party, which has issued a lengthy statement saying the nation has been shocked by Sitiveni Rabuka’s decision to retain Lynda Tabuya as Minister. More broadly, it says that on the basis of its performance over the past 15 months, Labour “seriously doubts the Coalition’s ability and competence to move the nation forward”.
Read on…
POSTSCRIPT: The Fiji Sun has another editorial today saying that the Coalition stands at a crossroads in terms of its standing and trust with the electorate. It is clear that the journalists at Gorrie Street are going to be a serious thorn in the side of the government from now on. Which is as it should be if the supposed “new era of media freedom” in Fiji is to have any meaning at all.
I kind of understand the outcry but the Queen of PAP dominates all comers. She has won. End of. Anyone resigning knows they took their shot and missed. Best case scenario from here is a coalition of responsible Ministers with FFP and a deal that keeps ex AG out. Can it happen? Then hopefully the corruption that’s taken hold can be rooted out.
New blood at the top is the only way forward. Recycled goods are never of any good quality or value.
Why without former AG?
What is there to support his removal?
So we endured 16 years of FF thuggery and tyranny to now witness the moral bankruptcy of Rabuka and Tabuya and self serving politicians of this Coalition Government.
From previous comments, Fiji’s leaders from the President down are allegedly rotten, rutting and morally corrupt.
Rabuka, do you realise how disillusioned and weary we are?
It all started with you in 1987 and the morally bankrupt leaders you represented.
We’ve since witnessed the degradation of all standards and I weep for Fiji.
Protest Lynda Tabuya now and bring more international news coverage.
Who’s going to stand up for justice and everlasting change now? Being higher standards to Fiji for all future generations.
We must be seen and be heard.
We will let the whole world know demand rule of law and minsters with integrity and the government must remove Lynda Tabuya at once and remove her from Parliament. Australia, UK and US governments please assist us in FIji. We want rule of law and integrity. We need your help urgently.
SODELPA ‘s silence is deafening indeed. Suddenly, their “Kingmaker” bullshit is shoved away somewhere while they shamelessly protect their playboy. But this should not be surprising when their school dropout president and the looselip GS are both Radrodro puppets.
This was an opportunity for SODELPA to stand out but they’ve chosen to side with the imbecile, bipolar, pathological liar sitting in the PMs Office.
Please post all official complaints made about Tabuya here on Grubsheet for Fiji and the world to see how many complaints have been made and are being made while the PM denies it.
This could be letters to police, immigration, PM’s office, PAP, relevant parties, etc
Integrity and Truth will ultimately prevail over lies, curruption and evil. Once a narcissistic is caught they will topple but will put up a fight until they know they have been defeated and no way out.
Good job Grubsheet and Fijileaks. Your investigative journalism and professionalism is commended. Please keep up the pressure on Lynda sex and drug scandal and AG bigamy scandal. These law breakers should not be let off the hook and enjoy tax payers salary. Both should be dismissed and sent into political oblivion. As for Rabuka he continues to lie to the nation shielding Tabuya however all evidences are against them and out in the public. He is a weak leader and doesn’t have any moral conscience left to upload Ministerial code of conduct and discipline. Should be removed asap.
I have lost all faith in Rabuka, he lies and cannot be trusted. Tabuya should be in jail, a Minister using drugs.
The last thing on the coalition governments mind is….Fiji and her people.
They have proven to be a bunch of self serving liars. Does anyone remember how Rabuka promised on TV and Tictoc adds about having his shot at making things right and how he was sorry for what he did before?
He was and he is a snake after all. Nothing but a disappointment.
For the sake of our children and their future I hope someone has the balls to stand up to this circus.
We must fear for our country as the enemy certainly and surely and very safely lies within and within this government.
A very bad state of affairs. The whole PAP machinery is now a shambles because one Samson has sold his soul to Delilah. The only difference is that the Biblical Samson had the moral fibre to stand strong at the end. This Samson has lost all moral fibre and is hell bent on keeping those deep dark secrets, exactly what they are. Fiji. A secret!
The politicians in Fiji appear corrupt, incompetent and unprofessional. What can you expect though, democracy is only young and a new rebellious generation of young blood infiltrating the political system will change the game only for the better. The Rabuka’s, Bainimaranas, Chaudhry’s, Tabuyawa’s and Koya’s are wilting away.
Encouraging to see the army keeping within its lane. This also demonstrates the new generation of leadership in army who in this age of social media is starting to understand its role. Any govt changes need to come at the ballot or parliamentary floor.
And seriously who reads the statement from Labour Party. Their leader like Shamima Ali will never let go of being the permanent dictator at the helm. Furthermore He can’t build trust with the itaukei having wasted two golden opportunities to bring the country together as PM and FM. Both times removed because of his need to act alone in a mistrusting country where collaboration is key. Labour leader should also stop waiting for his anointed successor ‘ Ram’ to return from Vanwaas (exile) hidden away in the squatter settlement of Takanini in Auckland, keeping away from his govt chosen home of Naboro.
Fascinating time awaits for new blood in Fiji politics.
This is a watershed month in Fiji politics. The PAP that was voted in as a Centrist Party has shown itself to be nothing but a Right Wing party, whereas the Fiji First Party that was portrayed as right-wing has emerged as the centre party.
Its contributions in the current session of parliament have been outstanding, and I’ll be certainly voting for them next time round.
This Coalition Govt does not reflect the voice of the people. Tabuya, PM, Kamikamica, Tikoduadua, Biman and Shamina Ali can all go and jump as far as I’m concerned.
Their notion of integrity is akin to the flotsam you might find at Nabukalou Creek at low tide and that’s where they too belong.
Great statement by FLP. Of course Mahen Chaudhry and Asha Lakhan would know a thing or two about the subject matter. Anyone for tea? Jokes aside, FLP is doing a better job from outside Parliament than FF from inside those ‘hallowed’ halls.
SLR’s weakness from the beginning of his reign has always been women Shame on these so called leaders. The AG must be stood down.
Old McLynda had a farm, E-I-E-I-O!
And on her farm, she had a pig (Rabuka) and a rat (Aseri), E-I-E-I-O!
And a bonk, bonk here and a bonk, bonk there!
Here bonk, there bonk, everywhere bonk bonk!
This is the Fijian Government folks!
What a sad day for Fiji but who is surprised.
People, just keep your wife and daughters, as well as fathers and sons, away from Lynda, Rabuka and Shamima. These are your people and integrity vultures. They will do anything to stay in power, feed off each other, and make money.
I am calling on Ausaid and NZAID to stop all investments into family violence in Fiji. Because in Fiji the Parliament is a place for prostitutes now. Men and women who have sold their rotten souls. I am also calling on the donors to stop funding FWCC. The organisation no longer holds credibility. They are misusing their power.
Rabuka, you are a swine. A filthy bastard with no leadership skills. You are a disgrace to your wife and daughters.
Good luck on whomsoever that tries to bind things that are falling apart.
Given that Rabuka has already been heated up by Tabuya in other ways, I suspect the fire from within his own party ranks will fail to get him to wake up.
The party should do the honorable thing and expel Rabuka from the party. In fact, both Tabuya and Rabuka should be expelled.
They should then advise the president he has lost their confidence and as such, dissolve parliament with the aim to go for fresh elections.
The fire is certainly burning and it is becoming an inferno very quickly: this government is a walking timebomb, and it is only a matter of time before they crumble or are brought down by the people through democratic or alternative means.
This guy raped the country twice in 1987. That is right, he raped the country, and his cronies raped many women at the time. He and his cronies emptied the NBF. The iTaukei traditional way, loans do not need to be repaid. It is “our country and our bank” after all.
What amazes me is that the people of Fiji think that all that qualifies him to lead the country!!!! It is understandable that the iTaukei think that way, but I cannot fathom why a significant portion of the vulagi population of Fiji think that too. They must have their heads full of tatti. If not, what else are their heads full of, fresh air?
This is what happens when you have a population with a Third World mentality who wish to remain a proud Third World country. What else would they expect from this crackpot and despot – for him to improve their lives? This guy’s only purpose in life is to live in personal glory by scamming the people. And have they fallen for his scam in a big way. Can’t people see all the glory he basks in at the first opportunity? Too much useless praying and fasting and pretending by people. Live in the real world, I say. And then they teach our “churen” all this rubbish. The people of Fiji are stupid, no questions in my mind.
It would appear there is general consensus between Rabuka, Shamima, lovebird ministers, Fiji times and loyal social media support crew of the lovebirds that AI was involved. Nothing happened in room 233. Someone in Fiji has the time, technology and money to produce AI updates on just one person. They are asking where is the evidence?
So here is the request. Those who were present in room 233 watching the live action please send your written statements to credible news sources. Only 3 sources fit in this category. Don’t send videos or photos as that is classed as AI. Only ‘aankhon dekha haal’. Na kilakila mada.
The people asking for evidence are the same dodgy people who once were saying ‘ I support the cause not the actions’. Remember that.