In the latest grim instalment of Barbara-gate – the unrelenting and depressing assault on the integrity of the criminal justice system in Fiji – the newly installed FICAC Commissioner, Barbara Malimali, confirms that she and she alone will decide which cases already before the corruption watchdog will proceed and which she will terminate.
No-one in Fiji who is so politically biased and compromised has ever had the power that Malimali has now been given in the unprecedented abuse of process on an industrial scale that has been perpetrated by the Coalition government. Never mind the parallels with Dracula being put in charge of the blood bank or a paedophile being put in charge of a kindergarten, putting Barbara Malimali in charge of FICAC is the greatest assault on Fijian democracy since the coups of 1987, 2000 and 2006.
Why? Because she now has sole power in Fiji to determine who is corrupt and who is not , And that includes not only herself – because she was being investigated by FICAC for abuse of office as Chair of the Electoral Commission – but up to nine cabinet ministers including Biman Prasad, who was about to be charged last Thursday before the coup at Rev John Hunt House that saw the Deputy FICAC Commissioner suddenly removed and Nasty Barbie installed.
It is a disgrace and has been described as such by the likes of Inia Seruiratu, Mahendra Chaudhry and Savenaca Narube. Yet seemingly alone of the mainstream media, only the Fiji Sun is still covering the community outrage over Barbara Malimali’s appointment. And as we reported yesterday, there has been total silence from the Commander of the RFMF, Major General Ro Jone Kalouniwai, who has a constitutional duty to protect the Fijian people from such institutionalised corruption but has abandoned that duty.
The issue here is very simple. FICAC is meant to be the “Independent Commission Against Corruption” but is now the Coalition government’s commission against corruption. Why? Because Barbara Malimali isn’t independent in the least. She was a vocal PAP supporter before the last election, complained bitterly in its wake that government supporters were not being rewarded with official positions, was eventually given the sinecure of Chair of the Electoral Commission and has now been installed in a palace coup as Fiji’s Corruption Tsarina – with as much power as any Russian empress short of being able to execute people (though that might come in due course if her good mate, Lynda Tabuya, gets her way).
Don’t take my word for it, Fiji. The proof of the pudding will, as always, be in the eating. So let’s see what Nasty Barbie does with the files on her desk. Anyone want to place a bet on whether any of them will proceed? My own guess is that all the investigations of government ministers and their supporters will be junked and all the investigations against the former opposition will proceed.
Though what will happen to the file on Biman Prasad? Is this the chance the PAP has been waiting for to nail the NFP leader, use the charge against him as a pretext to rip up the PAP-NFP Coalition agreement, install Manoa Kamikamica as Finance Minister and govern without the support of the NFP but with the support of the Gang of Nine former FijiFirst MPs who have expressed support for the Prime Minister since the implosion of their own party? Time, as they say, will tell.
Victor Lal, for one, is keeping his options open that Barbara Malimali may well proceed with the FICAC charges against Biman Prasad. That’s why he’s being very careful over at Fijileaks not to burn his bridges with her after laying out the corruption case against the NFP leader in detail.
Grubsheet personally thinks that even Sitiveni Rabuka isn’t such a rat that he would abandon the man who brought him back to power in the first place. But then again, we’re mindful of the old saying that if you want a friend in politics, get a dog. In other words, there are no friends, just allies who can be burnt when they are no longer useful.
As for the corruption watchdog that FICAC is supposed to be but no longer isn’t, that has been taken out the back by the likes of Graham Leung and Salesi Temo and shot. And whenever there’s a whiff of corruption in its own ranks from now on, we can be sure that the Coalition has Barbara Malimali to take the file out the back to the FICAC incinerator and burn it.
Yep, the change you voted for, Fiji. Enjoy it.
NOTE: My apologies that this is late. The Fiji Sun was late putting up today’s e-edition.
Also noting that Victor Lal has called for investigation in the Fiscal Review committee recommending tax holidays. This could be the big test for FICAC and whether they are serious about corruption inquiries as now tax payer money is used doesn’t get bigger!
I don’t find all this happening at Ficac and government anything new
Same sh;^%it happened last 16 years ago and similar sh”%%it is happening now.
Only difference I see is the sh&%it is different color and cleaned by another brand of toilet paper.
You make a good point. But unfortunately if the rule of law and institutions are destroyed for political reasons the only thing left as a check on unfettered power is the media. Right now that’s only social media and GD and Fiji Leaks.
Some of the key people who are making decisions and $ used to be social media darlings and so they do care that their actions end up with people questioning. Speak truth to power.
If tax holidays are given or prosecutions are political people must ask difficult questions and if people making $ from bad governance we have to raise up our voices. Resist.
Dra. Please speak the truth. No one did to or in Ficac, what is happening until this government came in. Reddy was charged and other known supporters of the then government were charged and investigated.
So stop trying to justify what is happening now in ficac as normal.
Some of us were in ficac previously and knew exactly what happened then and what is happening now. So don’t insult us.
Those of us who are concerned about this country are sick and tired of this kind of bullshit comparison. Compare based on facts. This kind of bullshit analysis got us where we are today.
Some of us have woken up and at least we are seeing it and calling it as it is.
Malimali will be the coalition version of Josef Stalins secret police chief Laverentiy Beria, who said ” Show me the man and I will show you the crime”.
Do not worry, let nature run its course, and will run its course sooner than you think.
Fiji Independent Commission AGAINST PROSECUTION Of Corruption!
FICAPC
All we have to do wait and see what the evidence behind the charges are.
If FICAC decides not to charge it should release the evidence (or lack thereof in this case) that prevents them from doing so.
If FICAC decides to go ahead and charge Biman then the evidence will be available anyway and the public and court can judge the validity of the charges.
In my opinion, if there was even a sniff of doubt about Biman’s declarations and business dealings over the last 8 years of FijiFirst in government he would already be in jail.
I am surprised that no one has filed an injunction (court order) against her appointment at the FICAC or challenged that there were some serious allegations of malfeasance in public office made against her previously which could result in bringing into disrepute and undermine the independence of FICAC as well as violates the “principles of good governance” – openness, transparency, integrity, accountability et al.
Furthermore, her future judicial conduct and determination at the FICAC could well result in further challenges and scrutiny before the superior courts because her appointment was tainted by illegality.
GRUBSHEET, there’s speculations Malimali has placed Stopped Departure Order on Frances Puleiwai and raided her home?
Thanks, Sanjay? Confirmation anyone?
I believe Frances Puleiwai is now in Australia and stop departure was placed next day after her departure
If she is in Australia Grubsheet reach out to her, she should seek asylum and blow the lid on COALITION
It seems that Biman was requesting for an audit of all independent institutions including FICAC and the Elections Office by the Auditor General’s Office.
But according to section 72 of the Finance Instructions Act 2010: “Notwithstanding the provisions of this instruction, the Permanent Secretary responsible for Finance must not authorise the audit of an independent office under this instruction unless the audit has been requested in writing by the responsible authority for the independent office”.
Which basically means that unless an independent office like FICAC does not request an audit there is no way to know how budgeted money is being spent such as the salaries of officials in these independent institutions.
But Biman was trying to get the Act which was implemented as a decree in 2010 by the military regime changed so that audits of independent offices could be carried out.
So maybe the overarching reason for all of this has been because of money all along. Or maybe it had nothing to do with it and I’m just trying to make the shoe fit to justify all this nonsense.
This also applies to RFMF as well. But we all know what will happen if Biman requests for an audit of their accounts don’t we?
Great work there Puleiwai. Got out before they got you. She will be free to sing as loud and unthreatened in Australia. The realisation is setting in fast and thick. This government is definitely in deep deep trouble. The messages from different ministers are just a deflecting tactic to turn spot light away from the paralysing issues that have gripped this coalition rabble. RFMF Jone will not be of any help as he has his own agenda. Turaga is now backing Tart Tabuya in regards to death penalty and the list goes on. Couple of options available;
1. Protest marches outside government buildings
2. Continue the flow of whistle blowers material into public domain, (easier said than done)
3. Keep ramping up the pressure via outside sources such as Grubsheet and Fijileaks and others.
4. Just needs one to kick things off I guess
Could eventually cause some problems and push and then shove.
So, the PM has publicly stated that he has not, as of 12.9.24, received notification of Malimali having resigned from FEC. What a circus this government is. And Malimali when queried said, “No comment.” So what’s the real deal? Has she resigned? Or is Mr Santa Claus doing a dodgy? No transparency, and no accountability. This is what the voters were never told in 2022. That they were voting in a government that had an alternative plan.
Let’s show them the door quick and fast.
Bad barbie