A corrupt leadership, the trashing of our institutions of state, heightened racism and a pre-election budget yesterday that sends the nation’s debt soaring have combined to give Grubsheet a sense of despair this weekend about the nation’s future. But then I read some of the comments of my readers and realise that not all hope is lost.
I always say that the comments section here is as important as any article because it is the genuine vox populi – the voice of the people – as opposed to one man’s opinion. We get the occasional buffoon, of course, and sometimes anger and abuse. Racial taunts and typecasting are especially ugly and I make no excuse for censoring some of the more extreme of these.
But there are also occasional flashes of brilliance and insight from Grubsheet readers that are genuine “brain food” – comments that inform and enlighten and are extremely valuable contributions to the national debate. So here’s a salute to those people in particular and my thanks to you all for your comments.
Few people leave their genuine names and I personally have no problem with anonymity. We all know that the so-called “new era of free expression after 16 years of repression” – which the Prime Minister parrots again in today’s Fiji Times – is a hollow farce. A hammering and retribution is often swift for anyone who tells it like it really is and the record shows that public figures like Biman Prasad have no hesitation in using the defamation laws against their critics.
With the protection of anonymity, some very well-informed people use these columns to tell the rest of us what is really happening behind the facade of a compliant, and complicit, mainstream media. And I am especially gratified when someone emerges to add more flesh to an article I have written myself which may have only scratched the surface in disclosing what is really happening in Fiji.
Yesterday is a case in point with the following comment on my last article about the conduct of the corrupt triumvirate of the Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka, the President, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu and the Chief Justice, Salesi Temo. The CJ’s record speaks for itself.
We don’t know who this person is but he or she is spot on. And there were other comments yesterday that similarly had flashes of insight that illuminated a path for the rest of us.
Yes, on the subject of yesterday’s budget, it is “spend, spend, spend” in a naked and desperate attempt to buy back the favour of the electorate in the lead-up to next year’s election.
The Coalition’s cheerleaders in the mainstream media have dutifully fallen into line, as in this morning’s front page headline in the Fiji Times:
Yet even the Fiji Times can’t escape the truth in its main story – that Biman’s big spend-up to buy votes next year is coming at a terrible price.
With economic growth already weak and the global outlook fraught with uncertainty, loosening the national belt instead of tightening it is putting the country into more and more debt. And putting us more and more at risk.
Biman Prasad promised to be more economically responsible than his predecessor but has turned out to be worse when it comes to manipulating the nation’s finances for political advantage.
There’ll be no relief, Fiji, from the debt hangover the Coalition is passing on to our children and future generations from its reckless spend-athon to save its bacon today.
And once again, the people know it.
And finally, here’s the Prime Minister’s stock response to his critics like the Wise Man of Lautoka in his weekly Q&A session on reader’s letters with his handmaiden, Cherieann Wilson, in today’s Fiji Times.
Keep up the volume of your comments, Dear Readers. Because Rabuka’s claim to be “listening, learning and striving to serve with honesty and humility”, is the sickest joke of all.
The 4 L’s describing iTaukei, allegedly by Ratu Mara, via Alexandra Forwood, were-
Lasu, Leqa, Liumuri, Lotu.
My 4 K’s for the Rabuka Coalition-Kalavos, Kutus, Kerekere, Kilavata.
And may I add to the 4 K’s…Kalavata
Lol so makes it 5K’s then
Kalavos Kutus Kerekere Kilavata and Kalavata…
Oilei Adi…!!
In the televised Budget presentation yesterday, the Media Unit included Lynda Tabuya, when the focus should only have been Biman.
Oi, Rabuka, tell those dim wits never to include her in the background. It only reminds us of the KUTU she is and the moral bankruptcy of your Government. Kerekere va bibi Kalavo!
This fool of a PM is looking at this part of the world through Rose tinted glasses, whilst owning a flash home and a gold Rolex watch.
Draw your own conclusion.
Perhaps too much is unnecessarily made of Sona Rolex’s, well, sona rolex and his new flash mansion, the 3-piece suits and myriad more new wealth, effluence, and the extravagance.
Besides, S/Rolex has had gold rolexes, Mont Blanc gold pens, mansion, and luxury vehicles before.
Even so, the damage from 1987 onwards, including all the pain and misery, social upheaval raping and looting Sona Rolex brought on has proved to be near insurmountable.
However, to be fair, the man worked hard when not in power for well nigh 25 years. He was working hard and earned his million$ during his stint as a bottle collector.
Sona Rolex has since demonstrated immense empathy, compassion, and contriteness with his fake apologies many times over. We must believe him.
S/Rolex has no interest in anything but compassion and what is best for him. Screw everyone else.
That is why he must pursue justice for himself. As the book of Ezekiel says, someplace: I will carry out great vengeance on them and punish them in my wrath. Then they will know that I am Sona Rolex when I take vengeance on them.’
The book of Ezekiel also notes:
“The path of the righteous man is beset on all sides by the iniquities of the selfish and the tyranny of evil men.”
And we know well no one is as evil as S/Rolex.
POSTED IN THE PREVIOUS ARTICLE BUT WORTH REPEATING HERE:
Cheap imitation of Khaiyum budget
In reply to Baiman delivers a Khaiyum Budget.
Indeed! The Fiji media is already singing the praises of the budget without any proper analysis, which they are incapable of and also because in this budget Biman has showered them with taxpayer money to continue their propaganda work for the government.
It’s up to Grubsheet to show up the fallacies in this budget and how it’s just another Khaiyum budget – except more of it is operational costs and less on capital expenditure, which to his credit was the focus of the Khaiyum budgets. Biman has come up with a cheap imitation. Shame on him.
ASK once challenged BIMAN PRASAD to deliver an alternate Budget while Biman was opposition.
Biman Chickened out, like they say KHALI BAAT. (ALL TALK ONLY)
Growing up in Fiji, and then living overseas in a western country since my teenage years, I have noticed a few distinct differences in the way of living. In Fiji, a kick to the household pet would draw laughter from others. Picking up someone else’s dropped money even if you saw them drop it was generally ok to take to use as your own. Throwing rubbish on a bus or out of a bus is quite ok. There many many habits in Fiji that are not necessarily practiced overseas and you will be scolded to do the right thing.
People in Fiji grow up with these lies, deception, dishonesty as being normal. One day the same people with misguided beliefs stand for public office. Their instincts guide them to filling their own pockets first. Give their own family and friends jobs and the means to benefit from taxpayer money. The people they have been chosen to serve come last. Rabuka has enabled these dishonest corrupt practices to reach the top notch since 1987.
Successive governments have the same argument. The previous government did the same so why are you asking us and not them? This cycle can’t be broken in Fiji unless the upbringing of children is different and leaders lead the nation towards a higher standard of personal behaviour.
The best solution at this moment is to work hard to get out into a westernised civil society where you can give yourself a better chance to succeed.
Getting rid of the old farts especially Rabuka, the Pedophile President and vaka vanua politics is key to any kind of progress.
Unfortunately we’re a long way off from any change.
A recently graduated teacher in his early 20’s is now teaching high school students.
Raised in a rural area without newspapers or books in the home, what diverse general knowledge can we expect him to stimulate students with? Nil.
Be aware that ignorance, arrogance, deviant sexual behaviour and a veitalia attitude runs rampant behind the Bullshit Bula facade. Sad.
Khaiyum is a bush lawyer. Biman is a professor of Economics. So let’s not compare Biman’s budget with Kai.
Kai and Bai Billion dollar debt was created over the last 16 years marred with gross financial mismanagement and abuse.
Bai’s background was the navy and Kai had no knowledge in finance and yet they were running the country towards economic disaster.
It was like a taxi driver flying Air Bus A350 over the last 16 years.
And more importantly,they could not even manage their own party’s financial affairs let alone the country’s.
Well said. Not easy to shake the normalisation of deception born from a poverty from an entire culture.
From the bottom up (raising & educating children) and the top down (leaders that are mentors to our young) the problem is entrenched. I think this is why it takes generations or at least 100 years to see real democracy once the process is started.
The concerning part here is that whilst the 2013 constitution isn’t perfect & was implemented imperfectly, it was the start of this 100 year process & the Coalition are leading Fiji in the direction of having to start all over.
An intelligent government would have built on that 16 years rather than let emotions & vindictiveness smash it down and send Fiji backwards to the dark ages.
Take off your baised and prejudiced spectacles and see biman for what he is…a conman like buka who has zero practical experience and knowledge how run fijis unique economy.
Aiyaz borrowed heavily after a global economic disaster like covid and the then world’s biggest cyclone followed by another almost a dozen other cyclones. If he didn’t borrow then we as country would now be toast. He invested in planes for national airline while biman and his monkeys were trying to eat and sell the very planes that they now praise and rely on to keep our economy afloat.
Aiyaz borrowed for capital projects and kept operational expenses in check. Biman borrows mostly for operational wages etc and peanuts for capital projects…most of which won’t see the light of tbe day. Store being so blinkered and prejudiced. Just cos you don’t like ff you in the reverse are trying to plant biman buka and their monkeys as the best thing since sliced bread.
Biman and buka brainwashed the simpleton itaukei and uneducated indo fijians into thinking that fiji was on the verge of destruction and about to be sold the chinese. Now the nutty professor is borrowing more than ff and there’s no covid or cyclone to contend with or to use as a reason to borrow.
Biman never talked about how scores of countries borrow and owe billions and even trillions of dollars to help develop their economies….now he says others borrow and so must we. He criticized ff when they talked about world oil prices and increase in freight and manufacturing costs…now he talks about it all the time. You see biman, like buka the vuaka, is a conman who read from the same book of lasulasu and vesumona. They trick and fool people and you have also been ticked and fooled because you are an idiot.
As for 4 aptly descriptive words in a Fijian context beginning with the letter “U”, Alex Forwood’s somewhat regular (and necessary) usage of the term Ulukau to describe the characters she is pursuing to keep them honest, Ulukau is a favourite.
Other words that sprung to mind: Unconstitutional. U turns by the PM (multiple). And of course Umbrella – because while it could be raining cats and dogs, it has been raining Ulukaus for a while now.
Enjoying the hailstorm created by Alexandra the Great raining down on the Ulukaus!
Ummm. Forgot to add Undeclared assets / income.
Shambles galore across the board as this poor excuse for a government uses an obvious budget election to shore up their chances of retaining power.
Fijian elections have a way, regardless of constitution or electoral system, of showing up governments that fail the people. FF was just one among a long line of those who fell on the sword of their own making.
This is due to a small but game-changing electorate that votes on issues and governance delivery. This offsets the vast majority of voters voting on racial lines or holding on to unquestioning party loyalty.
The task ahead is to keep on appealing to these for a chance to have a unified democracy with equal rights including citizenry for all. Until then COI or PIO this lot will strangle Fiji in their thirst for power.
The flip-flop PM has again demonstrated his inability to tell the truth, when he says he is listening to the people, when he clearly does not. His statement on the CJ that he can’t do anything is also a bald-faced lie.
The Biman budget (read election spending) will at best give temporary relief to some, but not all. The income tax area is predicted to increase by $139,831.6 Million. Whilst the Capital Expenditure decreased by $272,734.3 Million. So, some people will be paying more tax and the investment in Infrastructure will go backwards!
Capital expenditure in things liking Housing, Health and Women, Children and Social protection have gone down!
At the same time the Operating Costs of Government has gone up by $671,104.2 Million.
It’s an election budget! My bet is this will be the last Budget prior to election and the Election will be in June 2026!
Sayed Khaiyum is a way better economic policy maker than Biman will ever be. Sayed-Khaiyum knows way more than Biman how a national economy works.
Look at the figures and then see for yourself. Look at the rate at which debt is growing under Biman while the country is suffering.
Khaiyum was a very competent person… a far cry from this guys who economic PhD is being questioned.
People won’t appreciate it but Khaiyum did way more for the country in terms of its economic development and improving the lives of the people than these jokers ever will be able to.
There are quite a few people cheering on for the budget. Nothing will change except for those getting great returns on their FNPF and the social welfare recipients. Just wait for allocated funds to be diverted to Ministries that are close to the corrupt PM and Baimans hearts and pockets. This will be in a few months time. Health and infrastructure have no hope in hell to improve. And there will be complete breakdown in law and order with court cases coming up, marches being organized and constitutional changes, records of crimes to be erased and so forth.
Welcome to Fiji
“Evil & corrupt leadership brings suffering, but God’s justice prevails. In the Old Testament, King Ahab’s idolatry led Israel to ruin—famine struck, and his house fell (1 Kings 16-22). Saul’s disobedience cost him his kingdom, causing chaos for Israel (1 Samuel 15). Corrupt leaders like the Pharisees in the New Testament burdened people with legalism, neglecting justice and mercy (Matthew 23). Their hypocrisy blinded them, leading to spiritual decay and judgment.
When leaders prioritize power over righteousness, nations falter. Jeremiah warned Judah’s kings of exile for oppressing the poor (Jer. 22:13-17). Injustice under their rule led to Babylon’s conquest. Similarly, Pilate’s cowardice in Jesus’ trial (John 19) shows how weak leadership bows to pressure, sacrificing truth for control.
The consequences? Communities face division, poverty, and spiritual drift. Yet, God’s response is clear: He humbles the proud and restores the faithful. Daniel thrived despite corrupt Babylonian rulers (Dan. 6). Jesus overcame the Pharisees’ schemes, offering hope (Luke 24). Righteous leadership, like David’s, brings blessing (2 Sam. 5:12).
Choose leaders who fear God and serve justly, for corrupt rule invites judgment, but godliness brings life
From the One Mind One Goal FB page.
🔥 Biman’s Budget doglapan — $6.9M for Indo-Fijians, $41M for iTaukei! Now He’ll Crawl to Temples Begging for Votes! 🔥
Traitor to his people “Biman Prasad has once again stabbed the Indo-Fijian community in the back — this time with cold, hard budget numbers. Out of a $4.8 billion budget, only a miserable $6.9 million is allocated for the entire Indo-Fijian population under Multi-Ethnic Affairs. Meanwhile, the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs has been gifted a staggering $41 million. That’s not just inequality — that’s pure, calculated betrayal by a man who built his career on the backs of Indo-Fijians.
No land allocation for displaced Indo-Fijian farmers. No resettlement or housing support. No boost for Indo-Fijian youth, small businesses, or scholarships. Absolutely nothing! While iTaukei institutions are showered with funds, Biman has thrown Indo-Fijians into the political dustbin, again proving he is more obsessed with protecting his seat than fighting for justice.
And watch — soon Biman will parade into temples, wearing garlands, murmuring fake prayers, begging for votes with folded hands and fake humility. He’ll speak of “unity” and “equality,” but his budget SCREAMS the opposite. Don’t let him hide behind religion or ribbon-cutting ceremonies. Throw his own figures in his face — $6.9M vs $41M — and ask him which part of that looks like fairness.
Indo-Fijians must not forget or forgive this insult. Biman has become what he once opposed — a sellout to the system, a coward afraid to speak truth to power, and a traitor to his own. Let this budget be his political obituary. No more votes for liars. No more garlands for backstabbers.”
Where on earth is the “i have the means” Fiscal Review Committee Chairperson? Sidelined? And guess what happened, VAT decreased! This is what happens when you put a guy who has zero clue on the middle to average income earners who drive the Fijian economy.
But at least he got a hefty commission from Fiji Water and his law firm has major government work from the likes of FNPF and its subsidiaries, FSC, and God knows what else.
There are no surprises in this budget ! It is an election preparation budget ! Ahead of next years General Election- Biman was going to try and save his ass from being booted out by voters. That’s a foregone conclusion. He is going and so is Rabuka and his PAP!
You see peope are well aware of the scandals that has been a hallmark of the Rabuka leadership! They’ve given a miserable 3% and 5% pay increase and social welfare increases to the people. But they have themselves around $30,000 increases in salary! To increase salary of ministers from $185,000 to $200,000 across the board and paid them $15,000 constituency allowances to help with their parliamentary duties!! Then they gave themselves duty free benefits for vehicle purchases!
They did that two years ago!! And they appointed their own relatives everywhere!
Rabuka now employs his own daughter Bulou Elena Rabuka as his salaried private secretary paid by government! He got Dr Unaisi Nabobo to appoint Rabuka’s other daughter Salaseini Ligamamada to become Director Training at FNU!
They’ve appointed Lavenia Rokoika who’s related to both Rabuka and Rt Naiqama to become the new Acting Head of FICAC!
The people know if they vote for them next year, they’ll face budget cuts again; pay increased vat until just before elections; then Boom we will see the same dramas and scandals happening whilst our people suffer and young people sucuumb to drugs use and die from untreated HIV!!
No-one is stupid anymore Biman!!
Conflict of interest flew under the radar once again. FICAC appealed against the Minister Kalaveti Ravu decision and the new Commissioner’s firm represents Mr. Ravu. I am sure the appointee would have alerted those responsible for electing her.
GD – you need to chill brother, this is Fijian maan, stupid but smart, suffer with resilience and live with fear and grieve in silence – be like my mate from NZ who just berated Shailen Raju in a FB post about ASK – Mr Pramesh Sharma lives like Biman and rest of fiji- in denial like Manoa CumCum – as grub says, 2026 coming
A wistful dream-Fiji does not need another populist or convenient coalition. It needs a leader born not of noise, but of quiet conviction—able to lead from the ruins, grounded in purpose, not power. This person will rise not with fanfare or tribal slogans, but through lived experience—marked by solitude, sacrifice, and service. They will know the silent burdens of the people, act with care, and begin with small, dignifying steps. Unafraid to stand alone, they must resist corruption, foreign influence, and elite manipulation—anchored instead in Indigenous wisdom and moral clarity. The real question now is: will we recognise such a leader when they rise?