There’s something decidedly pathetic about the latest Facebook posting by lawyer Richard “I have the Means” Naidu as he tries valiantly to polish the steaming turd that is his Coalition government. He says it’s ours as if it belongs to the rest of us as well. No mate, don’t try to drag us into this car-crash. It’s yours. And what a sh*tshow it has become, a government wallowing in escalating chaos and dysfunction.
Question: Am I the only one who detects the first signs of panic on the part of Richie Rich as the weeks tick down to the Coalition’s rendezvous with destiny at the ballot box sometime in the next eleven months?
Check out the following Facebook posting and decide for yourself. It reeks of defensiveness that the change of government three years ago has been such a bitter disappointment for all but the Coalition’s true believers.
Richard Naidu is supposed to be one of the principal brains behind the National Federation Party – personal lawyer and advisor to the NFP leader Biman Prasad and with Prasad’s patronage, Chair of the government’s Fiscal Review Committee (more on that later). But if this is the best he can do to sell the case for the NFP and the rest of the Coalition that they deserve a second term, they are already doomed.
Let’s just break down what Richie Rich is saying here:
1/ Things are “not fantastic”. No, they’re bloody awful.
2/ The knives are out and the government’s critics are blasting its performance. Yep, self evident.
3/ But the Coalition is taking this criticism without complaint. Well, what other option is there? And since when is copping a beating without complaining a political plus?
4/ And finally, at least they’re not doing what FijiFirst did and posting fake “likes” on the government’s Facebook page.
Crikey. if this is the best case Richard Naidu can make for the Coalition to be re-elected, it’s all over bar the shouting before the campaign begins.
And maybe he’d better start thinking about joining the current exodus from Fiji himself before a new government takes office because it’s a fair bet that it will go through Richard Naidu like a dose of salts.
Why? Because he still refuses to explain his gross conflict of interest in using his position as Chair of the Fiscal Review Committee to recommend that the Coalition give his Munro Leys client, Fiji Water, a seven year corporate tax holiday.
An incoming government is going to want to know whether either Richard Naidu or Munro Leys or both gained any financial benefit from the Coalition giving the billionaire owners of “earth’s finest water” a local tax break while at the time time raising VAT for ordinary Fijians on a host of items.
In short, Richie Rich faces the prospect of a blow-torch being applied to him in the event of a Coalition loss and maybe something just as grave – the NFP failing to make the 5 per cent threshold and the consequential sudden loss of whatever influence he currently enjoys.
Anywhere else where the laws of public probity and corporate conduct keep the bastards honest, that blowtorch would have already been applied .
There’s an old saying that there are two certainties in life – death and taxes. And a new government is going to want to know why Stewart and Faye Resnick of Beverly Hills – with an estimated fortune well in excess of $F20-billion – were able, courtesy of Richard Naidu, to escape a tax that is imposed on other business owners in Fiji.
Remember. The Resnicks are his clients at Munro Leys. They pay him a great deal of money. But he doesn’t think he has to explain his glaring conflict of interest in recommending they get a tax break while wearing his simultaneous hat of a public office holder in a position of public trust.
Would that keep you awake at night if you were Richie Rich and there was the possibility of a change of government, Fiji? The response to Naidu’s Facebook posting ought to be enough to tell him that the government’s interests and by extension, his own interests, are very much on the line. Because while some of his “followers” were sympathetic to what he had to say, many of them were not.
Look what happened when the sidelined deputy Prime Minister, Manoa Kamikamica posted a one-line response. Hot on the heels of urging the Judicial Services Commission to “grow some nuts” and bring its standoff with the President to a head when he is facing a serious criminal charge, Kamikamica compounded his foolishness by rearing his head again.
Ouch. Yet it wasn’t just Manoa Kamikamica who received a slap-down. If Richard Naidu thought he would elicit sympathy from others about the government’s position, that didn’t happen either.
And then someone in the form of Sunil Chand who, like our own “Fiji Watcher” at Grubsheet, wrote a veritable dissertation on the government’s failings.
Get that, Richard? You have a matter of months to develop anything like the kind of narrative needed for this government to have any chance of securing a second term. And three years into the Coalition’s tenure, it simply isn’t credible to keep saying “well at least we are better than FijiFirst” when a great many Fijians, perhaps a majority, have come to believe you are worse.
Here’s the thing, Richard. Time is catching up with the NFP. And it is catching up with you.
In October 2024, I asked you a number of questions that have gone unanswered about your role in the Fiji Water saga and other matters. And rest assured that they will be raised again and again in the election lead-up and beyond.
Plus a selection of other stories in the Grubsheet archives. There are many more. Just type “Richard Naidu” into the search engine on the right.
A supercilious Pharisee with all the charisma of a soggy towel.
As usual, Richard ‘I have the means’ Naidu is spewing garbage. It’s part of the NFP strategy to deceive voters. They are using freedom of expression to camouflage the VAT increase, which was used to fund the seven year tax holiday for Munro Leys, client, Fiji water, and the massive salary and benefits for MPs.
Munro Leys, Richie Rich and Biman set up a trip for a senile and stupid Rabuka to meet the billionaire owners of Fiji Water. It all went according to plan. Rolex Rabuka was totally bamboozled and sold out the rights of resource owners and the interests of Fiji.
Colonialism may be over but paying resource owners trinkets for their land and resources is still very much alive, and is aided and abetted by Richard Naidu and his NFP leader Baiman.
Richard would claim he declared his interest in the tax holiday decision, but as Chair of the Fiscal Review Committee, there are ways and means of influencing an outcome. Such as Baiman stacking the committee with his yes people, like Librarian Kirti Patel, without any qualification.
Biman’s fascination with having Kirti on boards is puzzling— he also put her on the Tertiary Scholarship and Loans Board and even tried to get her on the Unit Trust of Fiji Board, but she was kicked out from the latter as she was found to be unqualified.
This piece of sh*t Naidu should stop waving freedom of speech in our faces and using it to whitewash the ineptness of this useless government. Richard is clearly licking the government’s arse to secure the Munro Leys Aspen contracts.
….and do you think our biased and compromised media will ask Richard questions about the Fiji Water conflict of interest issue more than two years later? Don’t hold your breath. Stanley and Vijay who are Manoa and Biman’s bitches will continue to ignore this hot story. Fred will do the same and Felix at FBC is just too lost in his new newsroom and busy sucking Stanley’s tool (their recent nauseating episode together was proof of their eagerness to pleasure each other).
Stanley and Vijay know that they will only continue to get paid off with taxpayer’s dollars if Manoa and Biman come back. That’s why they have launched a pro Biman/Manoa and anti-Rambo campaign. They know if it’s up to Rabuka the dog/rabbit they’ve got no chance of getting PSB funds. It’s only Manoa and Biman who can continue to give them taxpayer’s money even though they are private commercial companies.
Imagine the Australian government slashing ABC money to give to private and commercial channels 7,9 and 10? There would be outrage and scandal that could bring down the govt. But not in good old Fiji…not as long as the media is run by sold out prostitutes who are also responsible for the chaos that Fiji is in because of their complicity.
Meanwhile Richard with his womanly hips will continue to control the Fiji Times from under Fred’s desk and try to push his agenda until the elections.(if we have one)
It does seem that even “I have the Means” is realising how silly it looks to sing praises too loudly about this government.
His post has a tone of solemn defeated defensiveness, wherein he knows it looks foolish not to accept the criticism, and that the government is no longer “fantastic.”
Surely the people of Fiji aren’t foolish enough to give this government a second chance to pillage the country. My greatest concern is how far backward they have taken Fiji and if this makes it near impossible for the next government to turn around such a heavy ship.
It’s quite simple. Never vote for a party that is backed by Richard “I have the means” Naidu.
4 years and nothing for ordinary Fijians to boast about. 2 NFP Ministers who had to step aside for investigations into their actions or lack of.
1. lenora who hasn’t really been able to have any impact on anything. Even her latest statement on Facebook about Iran is such a weak take on international issues.
2. Pio who is considering sending Fijians to a war. Why should Fijian lives suffer the burden of American greed?
3. Sashi was more effecting at FRIENDS. Now she just travels to sites to offer assistance. Can you imagine the cost factor of sending a top Minister to hand over small items. The salary and travel cost way more than the assistance provided. Such a waste.
4. Biman – lamb chops prices haven’t gone down. Cost of chicken is more than lamb was before he came into power. Why did he take Richard Naidu to discuss contract matters with Aspen and not government lawyers?
Biman shouted for months that he would reduce wages. Once he came into power the wages increased and so did other benefits. Then proceeded to waste half a million to celebrate girmit when our critical infrastructure needed to be worked on.
All this lot have shown us that no matter what, they are too far disconnected from ordinary Fijians to work for them.
Richard all talk against Bai and Kai but now lamu lamu with Rabuka?
Is this bitch of a man dumb, blind and stupid? We have a man facing prison because he offended Lynda Tabuya. Is this what Richard means by “taking a blast without a complaint?”
Richie Rich tries to come across as all wise and worldly but he really is a dumb f**k if he tried to threaten GD with defamation for asking legitimate questions. Or maybe this bitch thinks he’s special and feels entitled. Maybe he feels superior because of his accent. Which is why his blind and fawning supporters have put him on a pedestal he doesn’t deserve.
He is just another greedy lawyer, not a freedom fighter.
On a streak Nuniless Dickless Naidu with his hand wringing ad nauseum. Freedom march and boogie night 22 Dec crowd are dry shagging their throats hoarse with the 16 yr drivel and a government that keeps on NOT GIVING.
People in Fiji want to go backwards. A vast majority want corporal punishment back in schools so the teachers can abuse their kids. Ask them.
The country is f*cked because the people are f*cked, Indians included. Do I need to mention Baimaan, Dick Naidu and the list goes on.
Combined with the arrogance in the GCC the country is going up sh*it creek without a paddle. And that is exactly what the people want. Fijians are an amazing bunch, I cannot figure out what is wrong with them. I think it is simply prejudice and racism and the fact that they are the best Christians in the world. Unless someone has another explanation.
One of the defining problems this government has had is an inability to make a decision (the nature of coalitions).
Yet, a review of the bottled water industry that extracts resources and makes plastic was a national priority. It was a first 100 day priority. Many of us, pleased to see the back of Aiyaz’s approach were immediately curious and shared thoughts along the lines, is bottled water a top national priority? Not for us, but it clearly was for some.
Then, the fiscal review committee – what answers would it provide in its independence and public role?
As it turned out it seemed to rely on external experts and the decisions seemed strange and poorly thought out.
A hike in VAT – odd considering the membership of the committee included local “experts” on the poor. Apparently low VAT on daily essentials like butter encouraged “butter hoarding” by the rich? What a silly idea.
But then that mysterious 7 year tax holiday.
Any decision related to tax whether to increase or reduce it affects state coffers and every single Fijian citizen. If – and it’s a big if – any interest group or individual managed to secure or engineer a connected pay day or personal benefit is a very serious matter.
It is an ongoing matter and it is a matter that requires complete and full transparency from all concerned. It requires an accounting to the people so we understand what happened.
Do we think this has happened? Has a full and complete disclosure of all information been made?
Do we, or for that matter do all members of the fiscal review committee consider there’s been a full disclosure of all facts?
I may be wrong or missed if, but I am not sure anyone has commented on this question by providing their complete knowledge or understanding and they are all performing a public function.
When the committee was assembled what rules, powers and procedures governed it? Who set these? Were they followed?
Of course, nothing untoward may have happened and the decision to issue a tax holiday may be based on publicly available economic analysis and handled with all appropriate conflict procedures. The committee may be able to show detailed evidence of appropriate disclosure where all committee members were fully aware. Finally, there could be audited accounts provided detailing payments made to all local advisors showing nobody received a benefit.
All of this could be explained and those within the committee have the ability to do this.
As a taxpayer I would appreciate this level of disclosure and expect it, if it hasn’t happened. If it has, and someone can direct me to it then that’s great and this issue can go away. Is there as claimed a full footnote disclosing all of this?
But 7 years of no tax for a foreign owned company has left me feeling we are owed a full explanation. Nobody likes to be duped, and the persistent uneasy feeling is that there may have been personal benefit shared by some.
I suspect, just like the rest of us, brother Richard is busy filling up every tank and gallon in his house with petrol before the fuel hike hits Fiji.
Once the fuel prices rise in Fiji, goods and services will immediately hit the roof. From cabbies shouting for fare increases to shops increasing the prices of their goods to accomodate the change; the alternative being to layoff workers which will in turn push up unemployment rates.
It is interesting that in light of the global chaos that we’re all witnessing, Mr. “I wasn’t aware” is busy advising the people of Fiji that they should not lose sight of democracy.
He further adds the government is busy with civil service reforms; this being his way of saying “they’re busy getting rid of the Indians and other non-Fijians from every key/senior civil service role.” Another classic day in Fiji where the bure burns while the head of government is busy with his ethnic cleansing.
Besides Aspen, Munro Leys also holds the FNPF contract. There must be other government contracts as well, all thanks to Richard’s ties with Baiman and NFP.
Yes, Richard and Munro Leys, not to mention Fiji Water, and all MPs who received a big pay increase, are laughing all the way to the bank, while we, who voted for the coalition government, got shafted with the VAT increase.
Of course the Fiscal Review Committee was a set-up job. Baiman was determined from day one to tax the masses. The biggest lie was that the VAT would be increased to decrease national debt. In fact the national debt has actually increased. The only thing that had increased is the size of Baiman, Richard and Fiji Water’s wallets.
In our government circles, it is well known that the Ministry of Finance budget team advised Baiman against increasing VAT but he took Richard’s advice. Baiman, a so-called economics professor, listen to a lawyer about the budget. Any economics professor who listens to a lawyer about the economy or the budget is not fit to be called an economics professor. Thank God he was forced to resign before he could do further damage.
People like Richard and Biman will sell their parents to make a buck, forget poor Fijians.
Hopefully Fijians can wake from the slumber and uproot this tree full of leeches called the Coalition come election day, or is it too late to salvage anything.
Hey Graham, why do you have to keep giving us unsolicited Dick pics !?!?
🙂
GD, to even waste energy on this Kiwi half-caste who has always thought of himself as a gora.
Speaking with someone who fled Fiji to Auckland with Richard Dick when Dr Bavadra was deposed, Richard Dick never spoke Hindi and has always had his copious hooter up in the air looking down at everyone else.
Hence why he has helped Baimaan rape his own kind.
Hi GD. Please do a story on Langman, based on his testimony at Bai, Kai and Neil Sharma’s case yesterday. Clearest case of a ball greaser and lamusona. Not sure how he was a soldier. He wouldn’t be able to cock his rifle because he wouldn’t be able to find what to pull. What a pussy.
I can’t write anything more than is being reported in court by the mainstream media because it is a criminal trial and other aspects are sub judice.