The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which addresses serious or persistent violations of the Commonwealth’s fundamental political values met in London on 31 July 2009.
1. The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group on the Harare Declaration (CMAG) held an extraordinary meeting in London on 31 July 2009. The Meeting was chaired by Hon Datuk Anifah Aman, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia. It was also attended by H.E. Alhaji Muhammad Mumuni, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ghana; Hon Marco Hausiku, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Namibia; Hon Murray McCully, Minister of Foreign Affairs of New Zealand; Hon Samuel T. Abal, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Immigration of Papua New Guinea; Hon Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka; Hon Rufus George Bousquet, Minister of External Affairs of St Lucia; Hon Sam Kutesa, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uganda; and Mr Ivan Lewis, Minister of State in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, United Kingdom.
2. CMAG received a written communication from the Chair of the Pacific Islands Forum, Hon Toke Talagi, Premier of Niue.
3. The Group also received with appreciation a briefing from the High Commissioner of Fiji to the United Kingdom, H E Mr Pio Bosco Tikoisuva.
4. CMAG further received and took note of a Joint Statement dated 24 July 2009 made by two former Prime Ministers of Fiji, Mr Laisenia Qarase and Mr Mahendra Chaudhry, as well as a letter from Mr Mick Beddoes, Leader of the Opposition in the last parliament of Fiji.
5. CMAG recalled that, at its previous meeting on 4 March 2009, it had deplored the fact that Fiji remained in contravention of Commonwealth values and principles; that CMAG’s call for the Interim Government to adhere to its March 2009 deadline for holding elections had not been heeded; and that the Interim Government had not indicated an alternative date for elections. It further recalled that, at that meeting, CMAG had reaffirmed that the engagement of the Commonwealth in Fiji should continue to be directed at protecting and promoting the fundamental values and principles of the Commonwealth, in the interests of the people of Fiji.
6. The Group further recalled its decision in March that, should sufficient progress not be made by Fiji towards a return to democracy, Fiji would be fully suspended from the Commonwealth at the Group’s next regularly scheduled meeting in September 2009.
7. The Group noted that Fiji’s situation with regard to fundamental Commonwealth values had deteriorated strikingly since March. It deplored the President’s purported abrogation of the Constitution on 10 April 2009, the further entrenchment of authoritarian rule in Fiji outside the Constitution and the rule of law, the ongoing violation of human rights including freedom of speech and assembly, arbitrary detention of opponents of the military regime, and the undermining of the independence of the judiciary and legal system. CMAG also deplored the intention of the Fiji regime to further delay the return to democracy by more than five years.
8. In relation to Commonwealth engagement with Fiji, CMAG expressed its deep regret at the Fiji regime’s withdrawal of cooperation with the Commonwealth and UN on the proposed President’s Political Dialogue Forum (PPDF) and the effective abandonment of that process.
9. CMAG noted the decision by leaders of the Pacific Islands Forum to suspend Fiji from participation in the Forum as of 2 May 2009.
10. CMAG urged the Fiji regime to immediately reactivate the President’s Political Dialogue Forum process, facilitated by the Commonwealth and the United Nations. CMAG stressed that such a Dialogue must be independent, inclusive, time-bound and without any pre-determined outcome, and lead to credible elections in the country no later than October 2010.
11. CMAG urged the Fiji regime to state its firm commitment to reactivating the PPDF as indicated in the terms outlined in paragraph 10 above, by no later than 1 September 2009, in writing to the Commonwealth Secretary-General. In the absence of such confirmation, Fiji will be fully suspended on that date. CMAG authorised the Chair and the Secretary-General to consult on engagement with the Fiji regime should a positive response be received, and to furnish a report to CMAG’s next meeting in New York on 26 September 2009.
12. Consistent with the provisions of the Millbrook Action Programme and CMAG’s own earlier statements, the Group reaffirmed the importance of continued engagement by the Commonwealth with Fiji, in pursuit of its entrusted responsibility to support the restoration of constitutional democracy in that country and protecting and promoting human rights and the welfare of the people of Fiji.
London
31 July 2009
All Christian citizens must seek justice!
July 31, 2009
I would put on record here again what I previously posted when “Frank’s shifty position” was under consideration. It is not just one church, the Methodists, but it is a matter for all Christian citizens to seek justice. A church that forgets to encourage its members in that calling has not only forgotten what the mandate for the church is they have forgotten who Jesus Christ is.
If the Roman Catholics of Fiji follow Ro Teimumu’s Christian example and demand, as they should, that meetings of their own church be cancelled out of solidarity with the attempted abortion of the Methodist annual conference, then the situation takes on an much needed ecumenic dimension along the path of peace. Here again is my explanation of why this path is the one all Christians, including Fiji’Catholics, should consider now.
The principle is a simple one: to stand against abortion also means an in-principle stand against the dismemberment of parliamentary democracy.
Why do I say this? Christians and others seeking an answer to how they should stand in relation to the Junta’s attempts to ban the annual Methodist Conference, might find something valuable in the recent Papal Encyclical Caritas in Veritate.
Let me illustrate my point by adding a quote from the Encyclical that is an integral and foundational part of the argument Pope Benedict wants to put forward in this promulgation. He is developing his case by drawing a principle of universal consequence from the church’s (albeit in some places fiercely contested) views about the sacredness of life and the character of marriage as a God-given male-female institution.
Pope Benedict: “The Encyclical Humanae Vitae emphasizes both the unitive and the procreative meaning of sexuality, thereby locating at the foundation of society the married couple, man and woman, who accept one another mutually, in distinction and in complementarity: a couple, therefore, that is open to life[27]. This is not a question of purely individual morality: Humanae Vitae indicates the strong links between life ethics and social ethics, ushering in a new area of magisterial teaching that has gradually been articulated in a series of documents, most recently John Paul II’s Encyclical Evangelium Vitae[28].”
CW’s comment: So the Encyclical says that these matters of vital personal and “private” morality have a direct and decisive bearing upon social ethics. You can’t keep them separate. Life and social ethics are really the horse and carriage, you can’t have one without the other. That is what this document clearly affirms. It continues:
Pope Benedict: “The Church forcefully maintains this link between life ethics and social ethics, fully aware that “a society lacks solid foundations when, on the one hand, it asserts values such as the dignity of the person, justice and peace, but then, on the other hand, radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized.”[29]”
CW continues: Now, the question comes, what happens when a church “radically acts to the contrary by allowing or tolerating a variety of ways in which human life is devalued and violated, especially where it is weak or marginalized.” Will not the church itself find that it lacks solid foundations? Will not it have undermined its own social contribution by “allowing or tolerating” by “devaluing or violating”?
The question that arises, and which justice-seeking Fijians of all faiths will want answered, concerns the abortion of the weak and now marginalized institution of Fiji’s Parliamentary democracy. This is not just playing with words and tricking the Junta supporters by the ue of metaphors. The principle is that life ethics should NEVER be separated from social ethics, and vice versa. The teaching promulgated in Caritas in Veritate will lead those who now read these declarations not only to respect life in the womb, but it surely leads them on to critical questions about the way the Roman Catholic church (as well as other churches) has conducted itself in the wake of the December 5th 2006 coup and particularly after the Good Friday abrogation of the now weakened and marginalized Fijian constitution. We live in a common region and that is why the Roman Catholic church in Fiji must now ask itself whether it has departed from its own sacred teachings when it has appeared to allow and tolerate “… a devaluation and violation” of political life itself? Has not Fiji’s own Parliamentary Democracy been weak? Has not that weakness been exploited by ruthless men who would “swallow it alive”? (Psalm 124)
But that is surely not the end of the matter. There are strong and enduring God-given links, Caritas in Veritate declares, between “life ethics” and “social ethics”. So the questions non-Roman Catholic Christians in Fiji and others seeking justice need to ask of their Roman Catholic Christian brothers and sisters and fellow citizens are indeed difficult ones. The asking and the seeking of answers will require great care to avoid anything even slightly resembling the disastrous 16th and 17th century wars of religion.
In this respect the truly prophetic and diaconal service rendered so courageously by Ro Teimumu Vuikaba Kepa has been an indispensable contribution to help Christians of all denominations work together as servants of Jesus Christ in the political service they are called to give to all of their neighbours whatever faiths they might have. Her efforts, as a Catholic Christian leader of her people, in insisting upon the holding of the Methodist annual conference, should be interpreted as her declaration that says to the Junta: “You have tried to abort the weak and fragile institution of Fijian democracy; you shall not do the same to this Christian church, (or, by implication, any other).”
And in this way, her resolute stand affirms the teaching of her church on the God-given connection between life-ethics and social-ethics, and in so doing also lovingly makes amends for recent mistakes that seem to have been made by some of her church’s senior office-bearers. Indeed, such a sacrificial act endorses the underlying insistent approach of Caritas in Veritate while also giving expression to the fact that it is love – God’s love poured out for us in His Son – which alone can cover a multitude of sins (1 Peter 4:8)
charleswhyman
As a proud Fijian, I am incensed by the insult of my chief by these two racists.
It is a mark of Rasheed’s genetic opportunism and deeply ungrateful and backbiting character, that he has not hesitated to offend the Tui Nayau. This is the same Rasheed who in 1988 went and fell at Ratu Mara’s feet with a traditional sevusevu and begged and cried for his support to become the Chief Executive of FSC. This is the same man who had poisoned the mind of Mara against Ratu Viliame Dreunimisisi the eldest son of Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau. His ambitions realised , he wasted no time and started to backbite the very hand that fed him.
The Mara clan led by his children Adi Koila Mara, Finau and Ului have a filial duty to protect the honour and dignity of their father.
If they have even a modicum of dynastic pride and respect for their distinguished heritage , then they must demand a proper traditional and public apology by them to the people of FIji.
Anything less than that is to demean the stature and legacy of this great man.
Blogger
The Interim Government should be open for dialogue with the Methodist Church because that is the only way forward for Fiji. Those who are advising the PM are just doing it for their own gain and he will see who they really are when the going is tough for them. their heart is not for Fiji but for their personal gains.
He should get advise from the Church on the way forward because the law is being broken now from 5/12 till now and everything that is done now is illegal and he had been ill advised so hes only hope is what has been proposed by the Methodist Church. He has to take time and read it well and consult with the Church on the stand they had made and they will show him the way out from this mess.
The church is concerned about Fiji and its people and is not a political party but they worked by the principle of God and one of the pillars of their proposals is that to forgive and forget and build a good platform and move forward but dont forget that the 1997 constitution is still the Law where we will work from because it is still the legal document. All decrees gazetted by the President is illegal so we must follow the LAW.
Its not too late to do it now. The Church can do it for you PM, Just go to them and kere veivosoti and they will show you the way.
You will not be degraded, but if you feel degraded in the eyes of man, you looked up upon by our God because a saying goes “Down is the way up and Up is the way Down”
God bless you PM
Take heed and do the right thing.
The “PROMISE” made by two Fiji statemen
July 31, 2009
Doing my rounds on the blogs I came across some very interesting comments.
Fiji had two statesman, Ratu Sukuna and Ratu Mara and according to a blogger a “PROMISE” was made between these two. The keeper of this promise was Ratu Mara and he ended up keeping it twice, the first time in 1987 Rabuka coup and 2000 Speight coup. The “PROMISE” was simply about a village “never to allow its people at the helm of government, that is to be Prime Minister because once they got hold of it, it will always be theirs.”
Could this “PROMISE” be the beginning of Fiji’s coup culture even though Ratu Sukuna was long gone.
From what village did these two hail from? Bavadra and Momoedonu. We are familiar with the time Bavadra became Prime Minister but Momedonu I had to check him out on Wikipedia.
After checking out Momedonu on Wikipedia the puzzle began to fit. Momedonu was the only minister not present in the Parliament building when Speight stormed the complex. Ratu Mara as president wanted to assume emergency powers to deal with the situation but unable to do so because constitutionally the President didn’t have the power to do so. Prime Minister Chaudhry being in captivity was unable to give any advice so Ratu Mara dismissed Chaudhry and appointed Momoedonu as Interim PM so he could advise the President to assume emergency powers. Once he did what he was told to do Momoedonu resigned. The appointment although very brief entitled Momoedonu to a lifetime pension ordered by Ratu Mara. It was like Ratu Mara said you can have the pension but not be at the helm of government. Qarase was Ratu Mara’s choice and through Frank he become interim PM. The move backfired and 2 days later Mara himself was deposed by Frank.
After Ratu Sukuna, Ratu Mara and Ratu Penaia should have groomed leaders to take over and not think that they were indispensable- now we are left with these idiots.
After reading the above comments I remembered reading about Ratu Sukuna in Ratu Joni’s book, “A Personal Perspective” and I quote;
“Until his death in 1958, Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna was the seminal influence and voice on matters regarding the Fijian people. Sukuna had the right bloodlines. He was the best-educated Fijian in his time; he was a war hero; he was mannered in the way the English loved. The British colonial administration found him useful as an interlocutor for the Fijian people. Democracy was envisaged as a far distant destination. In the interim, Sukuna, together with others of like mind and chiefly background, would play guide. THE PARAMOUNTCY OF FIJIAN INTERESTS, REFLECTED IN THE PROTECTION OF LAND, CUSTOMS AND CULTURE, WAS THE CENTRAL TENET OF THIS VISION. THE PRIORITIES SET BY SUKUNA WOULD BE PURSUED BY HIS POLITICAL HEIRS.
The Fijian people trusted their leaders, and particularly the prominent chiefs of the time, to make the right decisions. The assumption was that Fijians, as a community, would always wield political power. It was believed, somewhat arrogantly, that this was almost immutable. The assumption was easily manipulated to ferment political unrest by opportunist elements. A mix of those factors occurred in 1987. What little understanding there was of the democratic process was overwhelmed by nationalist sentiment.
What is the basis for this unified sentiment? It is in a sense a circling of the wagons, a drawing together of the laager. This is the rationale: There are only four hundred thousand Fijians on this planet. Who will protect them if they cannot stand together? NO ONE. They will be divided, and all that they hold sacrosanct, forfeit. They land. Their culture and traditions. Their language. Their very soul. Only if Fijians held political power as an ethnic group could their rights and interests be secure. These perceptions continue to be held by a significant number of Fijians. They resonate more than any extant constitutional safeguards, and are continually reinforced by their chiefs, non-traditional leaders and the clergy, and endorsed in discourse among ordinary Fijians.”
We can now ask ourselves is this the vision that Frank’s military regime and Ratu Mara’s children believe that is taking shape? My candid opinion is “NO” and if we the “taukei” are not prepared to unite and do something about it our Indo brothers and sisters will be waiting on the sideline to pick up the crumbs and make good use of it and years down the track another coup looms.
We are our chiefly system, our culture, our traditions so a workable balance needs to be found in the 21st century and this balance should be made through proper legal channels. Certainly not through Frank’s illegal Military Regime!
Ratu Mara should have known how to work around the “PROMISE” for Ratu Sukuna’s vision of his people and should not have used the “PROMISE” as an excuse to endorse and support any coup.
Viti
Humble request to join the crusade of justice
July 31, 2009
Hundreds of ex FSC people scattered all around the world know too well about the rampant culture of corruption in the industry and the crooks who have benefitted from it.
Whilst the honest folks are still struggling to pay their first mortgages and still working without any financial retirement and security in sight, these crooks are living in luxury without any effort.
Please come out of your shells and support this crusade to expose injustice and thuggery that you have seen and have been victims of.
You have seen how containers have been shipped overseas with FSC owned furniture, chain saws, computers, office equipments , lawn mowers when former executives have shipped their assets overseas. you have also seen how the shipping costs of these containers have been paid for by the FSC instead of by the individuals. You have also seen how last minute garage sales have been held to dispose many of the FSC assets before they have left Fiji. Some of you may even have seen how their air tickets during migration, taxi fares and hotel accomodation and meals have been booked against FSC. Yet stll you may seen the last desperate acts of mad gifting of FSC owned asset(those that could not be taken overseas) to their own families and cronies. how about the aussie bound container that had 50 pairs of the roti ‘Chauki and belna” as well. and if that was not enough , how about stuffing in some 1000 rolls of FSC paid toilet paper in every nook and cranny of the container in a brisbane bound 40 ft container . this beats the previous best of squeezing 200 coconuts because somebody said the price of edible was too much in sydney. but the serious side to this is that it was all paid for by FSC.
please why dont you open your mouth . you cant be scared of these thugs even now. We know the degree of fear and control they used to excercise over you but you need not worry now.
Be honest to yourself and help make Fiji a better and more honest place it rightfully deserves to be.
Great to learn that FHL will get back its $25,002,979 deposit from BP Oil.
“$25million in FHL’s kitty” , screams Qoro’s statement to Fiji’s South Pacific Stock Exchange.
Awkay, fine!
Convincing and believable?
Maybe, if BP Oil admitted it or if they, FHL and BP Oil, delivered a joint press conference to give the 100% refund claim credibility!
Tell the truth Qoro!
Wasn’t BP Oil forced by your deputy chairman gun holder, Aziz Mohammed, to return the deposit?
Anyways, given Sereana Qoro’s deceitful and full of lies track record she’s been spewing out since their BP Oil buyout announcement, we think many people will always take Qoro’s full of air blurbs with a pinch of salt.
But the failed BP acquisition saga just doesn’t end there!
Perhaps Sereana Qoro, referring to herself as the “anointed” FHL head, can now confess to FHL public shareholders how many millions she and her board wasted in their failed BP bid.
Can she admit that almost $5million went down the drain with sunk costs associated with the flopped deal?
Ratu Mara -” If Rasheed & Ramswarup get a chance , they will kick me in my balls”. These are the exact words of a grievously insulted and visibly hurt, Fiji’s most respected son,leader and statesman, high chief and former Prime Minister and President which he shared with some 20 officials of the 4 sugar industry unions during a meeting to resolve the most cruel and inhuman layoff of some 1500 workers by FSC- the infamous 1983 Recess Programme.
When told about Ratu Mara’s comments (moments later in an adjacent room), to the profound horror and utter disbelief of others around , Rasheed and Ramswarup in their typical trademark arrogance, ego and insensitivity grinned and muttered ” what balls -he hasn’t any.”
Year : Late 1983
Venue: FTUC Board Room, Deveoux Rd, Suva
Present:
Government:Ratu Mara -Prime Minister
Dr.I.Q Lasaqa (Cabinet Secretary)
James Makasiale(P/S Agriculture)
Unions representatives :
Alex Fraser & Joe Rakaseta ( Fiji sugar Tradesmen Union)
Anand Reddy,Ratu Inia,Shiu Lingam( Fiji Sugar & General Workers Union)
Hardayal Singh & Ratu Inoke Yalimaiwai( Fiji Sugar Clerks Union)
Nitya Reddy,Diwan Shankar,Bua N Singh (Sugar Milling Staff Association)
On standby in the next Office :
Gerald Barrack ( Chairman -Sugar Commission)
Daryl Tarte ( Industrial commisssioner)
Lyle Cupit ( FSC Chairman)
Rasheed Ali & Gautam Ramswarup (FSC)
Ratu Inoke Yalimaiwai took such a serious exception to the insulting comments of the duo that he had to be restrained from getting physically violent and abusive.
Rasheed and Ramswarup always believed that they were cut above all others and could ride roughshod without any accountability to any body and not even to the Prime Minister Ratu Mara.
Mara was right when in absolute frustration he told the unions that if they considered themselves unaccountable even to him , then why would they worry about the 4000 workers and the industry unions.
‘They wouldn’t give a shit to anybody” he added. Confessions of Mara himself.
Yet they are now back to impose their next chapter of oppression, tyranny and exploitation of farmers, workers and the poor people of Fiji.
Wake up Fiji!
We’re glad to see dialogue and common sense at work between the Methodist Church and Frank Bainimarama’s military regime.
That’s the way go guys!
Show restraint, respect and humility when it comes to dealing with issues of faith.
The Methodist Church is an institution and must not be used as a political bouncing board for politicians.
Likewise, Frank should show some respect and allow the Methodist annual conference to go ahead.
His concerns of a possible uprising by Methodist Church members is far-fetched and totally contradicts their Christianhood principles.
Frank should show these mostly indigenous Fijian Methodists that he trust them by allowing them to celebrate, pray, sing, cry, laugh, eat, and what not at their annual conference – but please Frank, don’t deny these group of people their right to fellowhip with their other Methodist members.
We have a pretty good feeling that Frank will do the just thing!
Commonwealth ministers to consider Fiji
July 30, 2009
The Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group meets in London tonight to take stock of developments in Fiji since it last met in March.
Fiji has been suspended from the Councils of the Commonwealth since the 2006 coup.
Fiji’s leaders have been warned that it will face suspension measures under the Commonwealth’s Millbrook Declaration if it failed to heed calls, made by Pacific Island Forum leaders earlier this year, to make progress towards a return to democracy.
Chris Bryant, the British Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, says the both the Commonwealth and EU want to take strong, concerted action to ensure a return to democracy.
“That’s one of the things I think we need to talk about in the next few days. There’s the constant issue of how much should we engage directly with Bainimarama, how much should we be making sure that people from the government are able to travel, or not able to travel. These are issues that I want to be able to discuss with people from the region at the Pacific Islands Forum next week.”
Chris Bryant
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Telecom Fiji Limited rut – Part 4
July 30, 2009
This is the content of the letter written by Midland Engineering Limited Managing Director/owner to TFL detailing the scope of works to upgrade the Yaqara satellite station roofing (re-re-roofing) for a whooping $76,060.92 VIP.
You decide whether the $76,060.92 VIP paid to Midland Engineering is justifiable!
21st January, 2008
The General Manager
Co – Operate Service
Telecom Fiji
Level 7
Suva
Attn : Mr. Semi Tagicakibau
Dear Sir
RE : UPGRADING ROOF WORK AT YAQARA SATELLITE STATION (26MTR*14MTR)
We hereby submit our Lump Sum Cost to upgrade roof work at Yaqara Satellite Station as Seventy Six Thousand, Sixty Dollars and Ninety Two Cents Only ($76,060.92 VIP).
SCOPE OF WORKS: COMPLETION TIME TWO (2) WEEKS
- Site set up
- Remove existing damage Butynyl Membrane and damage 4mm ply board from whole roof surface.
- Place DPC to protect timber from dampness.
- Fabricate and install new 100*50mm, 75*50mm and 50*50mm timber framing from whole roof surface.
- lace DPC to protect timber from dampness.
- Fabricate and install new 100*50mm, 75*50mm and 50*50mm tmber framing to give the right fall.
- Supply and install new 12mm marine ply board as top panel and at all timber nodes.
- Fabricate and install new Butynyl Membrane to the top of marine ply board using waterproof glue.
- Apply 1st coat of 195 Duran Waterproofing Membrane and lay Waterproofing Fabric to seal all joints of roof surface.
- Apply 2nd coat of 195 Duram Waterproofing Membrane and allow 24 Hrs drying time.
- Apply 3rd coat of 195 Duram Waterproofing Membrane and allow 24 Hrs drying time.
- Apply 3rd coat of 195 Duram Waterproofing Membrane.
- Clean and clear site.
We are available should there be a need for further clarifications on our submission and Promise to produce best trade practice at all times during the execution of works.
Yours faithfully
Mr Rajesh Naidu
Managing Director
7070991/7070993
Sources report that FHL deputy chairman and Merchant Finance chairman, Colonel Aziz Mohammed, has handed in his resignation to the FHL board yesterday.
Why?
The falla wants to side-step from the rut he helped create!
Colonel Aziz wants to be out of the picture first before the wholesale sacking begins.
The chiefly thief Epeli Ganilau steals …. again!
July 30, 2009
Adapted from solivakasama.org
Apart from Frank and Nailatikau the other contender in the illegal power troika waiting in the wings dreaming of ascending the steps to government house is Epeli Ganilau- the $50 man. Well folks news just to hand of more illegal dealings Frank, Ganilau and the NLTB have been up to in trying to win hearts and minds.
In the Fiji Times of Saturday 03 January 2009 it was reported “Meanwhile,Ratu Epeli Ganilau on behalf of the interim regime has given Lamini (Somosomo Taveuni) landowners $100,000 to start the island’s first-ever mini hydro project to provide electricity to hundreds of families.Ratu Epeli handed the cheque to Tui Somosomo Viliame Mudu on Tuesday”. Little did the people of Lamini know this was money mis- appropriated from the Tui Cakau’s matagali lease money held with NLTB!
It has now been revealed that the $100, 000 was ‘authorized’ by Frank from the Tui Cakau matagali lease money held at the NLTB of which its head the Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu was unaware of. This dirty deal was leaked to Ratu Naiqama a former SDL Lands Minister and manager of NLTB. There were a few sackings of poor low employee scapegoats in the last months at NLTB because of this theft.
Members of the matagali Valelevu of Tui Cakau have been complaining of a huge reduction in lease money allocation per matagali member this year.Well folks you now know ,it all went to try and garner support from the Lamini and Somosomo villagers away from their rightful chief and Tui Cakau Ratu Naiqama.
The crooks are all one step away from Government House- but the Methodists are watching and waiting, 40 days! –Beware the Ides of Augustus.
Palace Diary
A blogger gdevreal commented:
This appears to be an old proposal:
Sector(s) Natural Resource Management and Rural Livelihoods
Agency Private client
Country Fiji
Region Pacific
Project Somosomo Mini-Hydro Project (Sinclair Knight Merz)
Information UniQuest’s consultant reviewed financial and economic content of a Sinclair Knight Merz Feasibility Study. This included calculation of economic internal rate of return, review of benefits/capital costs, sensitivity analysis, cost savings and the provision of financial analysis.
Dates 09-10/1994
Also, I seem to remember a micro hydro project in Somosomo back in the 80’s.
Confirmed that there has been a micro hydro scheme in Somosomo since the 80’s or 90’s funded originally by Chinese technical assistance.
So has $50 man pocketed the $100,000 he stole from his cousin who he tried and failed to steal the Tui Cakau title from?
Who is the real thief, Mara or Ganilau?
If they are stealing from landowners, that is quite a pot of gold over there at the NLTB. Seems that these Regime buggers have their snouts in every trough.
Alipate Qetaki, former Dux at QVS, if you are on line please post something on this. Grateful if you would stick it to your Minister for the good of all landowners and taxpayers in Fiji. This guy stole from the Regimental Fund, is well known for taking bribes, and now stealing from landowners for a “new” bogus project which has already been there for 30 years. How despicable! Put him up at Naboro along with his deceitful wife. These people are a disgrace to Fiji and the name of their parents.
Alec Chang & Epeli Ganilau timber shark scam – Part 2
July 30, 2009
One of SVT parliamentarian Jim Ah Koy’s boy, Alec Chang, otherwise known as Fiji’s timber shark, is a well known nasty and vindictive man hiding behind his own veneer of false niceness.
He is the CEO whose been kicked out of Tropikwood Ltd, after allegedly stealing millions of dollars of money and materials from Tropik and its sister companies over the years.
His shady dealing is beginning to be unearthed by Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption with their latest raid on Alec Chang’s criminal scheme to steal conveyor belt parts paid for by the Government of Fiji for the Bua Ports.
As reported by Fiji Times, three truck loads of conveyor belt parts were confiscated at Fiji Forest Industries compound in Labasa, a subsidiary company of Tropikwoods managed by Alec Chang, after FICAC was tipped off.
The raid exposed Alec Chang’s criminal activities where he reportedly stole the conveyor parts from the government owned Bua port and later moved it to his Fiji Forest mill in Malau.
And guess what Alec Chang’s excuse was to FICAC for being in possession of stolen items?
“The conveyor belt parts were not being used and rusting away in Bua so I decided to take it to my Fiji Forest mill.”
What the eff?
Is this guy for real?
Hello Mr Alec Chang, you are stealing taxpayers properties!
Meanwhile, the thieving Alec Chang is now warming up to Inoke Kubuabola for some old time SVT buddy buddy “arrangements” under the referral auspices of his long-time payroll nobody, Epeli Ganilau ( a close associate and relative of Inoke Kubuabola).
The Solomon Islands Prime Minister Derek Sikua has told parliament that Melanesian Spearhead Group leaders are not calling for Fiji’s reinstatement in the Pacific Islands Forum.
It’s been widely reported in regional media that following their summit in Port Vila this month, the MSG leaders were supporting a call for Fiji’s suspension from the Forum to be lifted.
However, the Solomon Star newspaper reports Dr Sikua as claiming what the MSG leaders are saying is that Fiji shouldn’t be totally isolated and that efforts must be made to re-engage with the interim regime.
He said that the MSG wants to assist Fiji in returning to democracy through encouraging open and genuine dialogue and reconciliation with all leaders and stakeholders at all levels of Fijian society.
MSG leaders have come under heavy criticism for their support for Fiji’s interim Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama after he briefed them in Vanuatu.
However, Dr Sikua said it was not the intention of the MSG leaders to deviate from the Forum position and undermine its credibility.
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Liar Sereana Qoro has lost peoples trust!
July 30, 2009
In a market announcement released to the South Pacific Stock Exhange this afternoon, FHL Managing Director, Sereana Qoro, is once again on a damage control position, trying so desperately to save hers and her FHL board’s face from their multi-million dollars BP Oil investment baloney.
But according to our Fiji contacts we spoke to, none of them spoke highly of Qoro and her FHL board.
They all think they have insulted not only FHL shareholders but other stakeholders involved with the company and the Fiji public at large for coming up with a bad BP acquisition lie.
They say Qoro and her board have lost the trust of almost everyone they are accountable to including various financial institutions they approached during their failed capital raising mission.
Losing peoples’ trust is the worst thing to happen to those in positions of leadership and in this case, we think Qoro and her board should be a cause of concern for FHL moving forward.
They themselves have proved that they are FHL’s worst enemy with their first investment venture that will be on record as Fiji’s biggest commercial buyout bluff!
Time to have an Indo-Fijian President in Fiji!
July 30, 2009
Now is the time for the dictator to show that his vision for a Fiji free of racial consciousness is genuine.
He can appoint an Indo-Fijian as our new President. Up to now we’ve only ever had Fijian heads of state. Appointing an Indo-Fijian would show that he’s ushering in a new era.
There is no doubt that there are many Indo-Fijians who are free of past political associations who could fill the role with great distinction.
If Professor Brij Lal is out of the question because of his role in the 1997 constitution (not to mention an intolerant attitude towards dumb dictators) how about Professor Rajesh Chandra? Professor Chandra was supported by the regime for his appointment to the high office of Vice Chancellor of the University of the South Pacific, so why not for the position of President?
Why not Mr Race Free Vision for Fiji Dictator?
The answer is obvious to all except those who don’t want to see. Frank has no vision for Fiji other than his own continued rule. Ask yourself why, after two and a half years at the helm the Army is 99 percent Fijian?
Navosavakadua
Sereana Qoro and her hopeless FHL board have laid blame on Frank Bainimarama for their recent stock exchange suspension.
In a statement released at end of working hours today, Qoro claimed that issues relating to corporate governance audit raised by the stock exchange could only be made by the Acting Minister for Indigenous Affairs which is Frank, eventhough it is her responsibility, as group Managing Director, to be responsive to such urgent demands.
We doubt it was Frank’s initiation to chase after the BP Oil deal but Sereana Qoro’s and her board, so why drag Frank in to be used as a convenient excuse for a stuff-up caused by these FHL board imbeciles?
To save Frank further embarrasement and to gain lost trust from local and business communities including FHL shareholders, he should fire the whole bang lot of them!
They’ve shat on his face and have created unnecessary discreditation to FHL and himself.
Fiji Sugar Corporation a template for corruption
July 30, 2009
Talk about corruption in the public sector and statutory organisations, we doubt if there is a more full proof, fail-safe and more detection-proof version than the FSC template that has been developed,fully tested and widely tried in the last 20 years. Insiders confirm that the template is so sophisticated that it has been patented and copyrighted and gurantees 100% succcess and is accessible just to a select few. The use of this template is widely considered to be the fastest route to financial nirvana.
Most major contracts and tenders include a cut for the bosses and sometimes this is further padded and fattened to provide a little for the compliant underlings also.
There are even cases where company employees have actually written the tenders and quotation for the tenderers using inside information. In one high profile case , a senior manager was actually alleged to have given some very valuable confidential price information of one tenderer to another for the suppply of fertiliser worth some $15 million international tender.
Despite industry wide disquiet , no formal investigations took place. The victims were the farmers.
In FSC, the purchasing departments have been the gold mine for many employees wherein contractors and suppliers would compete for big business on the back of huge commissions, ” khassi” , drinks, cash handouts, entertainment, golf clubs, complimentary overseas holidays , gifts and even overseas payments.
Go around Fiji and overseas and you will see the unaccounted wealth of these ex FSC managers and employees. There are some who have had no job for the last 20 years and yet they are worth millions and one has to ask how that is possible.
For example one ex Purchasing Manager of FSC lives in a $2 million house in NZ , travels around the world every year, drinks the finest single malt whiskies , drives the best car, and yet has not worked since he moved to NZ about 20 years ago with his wife and 4 children.There are similar stories of inexplicable wealth and excesses involving other ex FSC managers living in Sydney and Brisbane.
Why are these people not subjected to the scrutiny of the Anti Corruption authorities like FICAC even if it means extraditing them?
Anybody holding public office either in governmennt or state owned entities must be required to make a full disclosure of their consolidated world wide assets, liabilities and wealth including those of their spouses and immediate family members , companies and trusts.
Only then can we aspire to the required levels of good governance, fiduciary probity, transparency and confidence in our public organisations.
The cancer of corruption has been haemorraging Fiji interminably and the poor have been suffering without adequate food,health,education and housing.
We should put a stop to this white collar banditry before it destroys the country to irrepairable levels.
Pro-regime Fiji media personnel fail to dominate PINA
July 30, 2009
Fiji’s Public Emergency Regulation has brough to the fore plenty hidden political agendas among Fiji media personnel.
While we support all individuals to their freedom of choice when it comes to politics, religion and things like that, it bothers us though to see some Fiji media personnel publicly flaunting their support behind an illegal military regime like Frank & Co.
We’ve highlighted on this forum the true nature of certain “journalists” who have raped the very ethics of their journalism fraternity, choosing instead to act as propaganda machines for tyrant Frank by reporting his one-sided political statements that lack opposing comments from other members of the gagged Fijian communities.
For more on this group of media clowns, go here http://intelligentsiya.blogspot.com
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