PART 2: FIJI MEDICAL CARE - PROJECT BLESSED BY PAST 4 PRIME MINISTERS NOW DERAILED BY FIJI FIRST GOVERNMENT

 

PART 2: FIJI MEDICAL CARE- PROJECT BLESSED BY PAST 4 PRIME MINISTERS NOW DERAILED BY FIJI FIRST GOVERNMENT.

Thakur Ranjit Singh

Synopsis of PART 1

You already read: After 4 coups and approval of 4 Prime Ministers, the tertiary health project seems to be stuck with one person in Fiji – Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who seems to have gone into a PPP - a public, private partnership with an Australian company ASPEN, which is not suited to what is proposed by the two doctors. 

Agreements with them (Aspen) were signed over 3 years ago to run Ba and Lautoka hospitals, but for some mysterious reasons, they started very late. It appears this was a unilateral reason without wider expert consultation, just with an objective to keep this tertiary project out of Fiji, and showcase before the election.

Khaiyum, for somebody who has never been a respectable practising successful lawyer within his own profession cannot be granted authority to decide on what medical facilities are needed and deserved by people of Fiji.

The whole series of articles suggest and plead to people of Fiji to change the government if they wish to see changes to the trend of dying people in our sick and run-down hospitals, and where a 40-year project in hindered by just one person in Fiji - Khaiyum. Fiji’s Attorney General, who is its surrogate Prime Minister, has little and scant knowledge, pride and understanding of his own profession, let alone about world-class tertiary hospital facility for a Third World Fiji, with collapsed primary and secondary health services.

The tertiary hospital project that commenced in 1982 was  blessed by 4 former Fiji PMs: first blessed by Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, then Sitiveni Rabuka, then Mahendra Chaudhry and finally by Laisenia Qarase. But now it is derailed by the surrogate PM of Fiji, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum.

PART 2- the urgency and need for such a facility in Fiji- and the benefits

To get an appreciation of what Fiji needs, we will educate on the different levels of health care. This is for the benefit of the non-medical community (especially for an ignorant Khaiyum) so that there is very clear understanding of the differences. Basically, there are three levels of health care: 

1. Primary Health Care, 2. Secondary Health Care and 3. Tertiary Health Care.

 1)  PRIMARY HEALTH CARE.

 

Primary health care consists of care given to patients in the private GP offices, outpatient clinics and dispensaries and small community or rural hospitals staffed by general practitioners. An example in Fiji would be Savusavu, Navua, Tavua or the former Ba Mission Hospital, now Ba Aspen hospital staffed by general practitioners, nurses and medical assistants.

 

Analogy - a piper sigle-engined propellor airplane, good for local island-hopping only.

 2)  SECONDARY HEALTH CARE CENTERS.

 

These are regional hospitals with facilities for x-ray, labs etc. and have full time staff of specialists in general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology.

Examples of these in Fiji are the CWM Hospital, Lautoka Hospital and the Labasa Hospital. These centers get referrals from the primary care centers and are capable of handling general surgical procedures, internal medicine diagnosis and treatment and pediatrics and ob-gyn cases.

These centers would then refer complicated cases requiring super specialized diagnosis and treatment to tertiary institutions like presently being done in Fiji for cardiac, neurological and cancer cases to India, Australia and New Zealand.

 

Analogy-A Boeing 737 or Airbus a-320, suitable for domestic services only.

 

Lautoka Hospital is a secondary hospital, badly run down, hardly able to provide toilet papers, Panadol, clean sheets etc, is expected to commence heart surgery by Khaiyum-chosen medical outsourcing company, ASPEN. Agreement was signed over three years ago, but no show till strategically -timed just before the election. Such delipidated hospital cannot be renovated as a tertiary facility with second-hand equipment. No medical specialist worth his salt would wish to work in an ill-designed and ill-equipped neglected hospital, masquerading as a tertiary hospital.

   3) TERTIARY HEALTH CARE INSTITUTIONS.

 

These facilities are the most advanced and have full time specialists and subspecialists in all facets of medicine and surgery disciplines to offer comprehensive tertiary care to the patients. These centers have the full capabilities of handling cardiac, neurological, cancer, orthopedics, trauma and all the other subspecialty cases in medicine and surgical disciplines.

There is no tertiary hospital in Fiji and the surrounding South Pacific Island countries at this time. Examples of tertiary hospitals would be Auckland Public Hospital, Auckland Mercy Hospital, St. Vincent, St George Hospitals in Sydney, and Batra and the Apollo Hospital in India,. among others, where most of the Fiji people are going for this level of care. There are certain International Standards required of these hospitals in building designs and the complement of subspecialty physicians by different Accreditation Agencies for approval and recognition as world class facilities.

 

Analogy - a Boeing Jumbo 747, a Dreamliner, or an Airbus A 350 or A380 for going around the world, and world-class.

 

In order to provide world class tertiary care in Fiji, one virtually has to design and build a facility with all these capabilities; otherwise, it would be very difficult to recruit the specialist doctors and the staff which are in big demand worldwide. To upgrade and convert one of the existing secondary facilities to tertiary level would be a mountainous task and may not be feasible to accommodate the latest technologies.

As analogy has been given of converting a piper plane to a 737, or to a Jumbo plane. Therefore, Lautoka Hospital is not seen suitable to convert to a tertiary hospital, as its original design and purpose lacked the requirement of such sophisticated facilities.

 

Therefore, Fiji’s questionable deal with an outsourcing group from Australia, ASPEN, and their claim for a tertiary facility at Lautoka Hospital is highly debatable when placed under microscope of those who have decades of experience in such facilities. I have already written about the charade of a heart bypass in Lautoka hospital as an election gimmick

Suva Private Hospital remains a primary-care hospital

Before I proceed any further, I wish to clarify a misconception people have of Suva Private Hospital. It was started by some GPs and hence remains a primary - care hospital. It is not a secondary like CWM Hospital, as it locums the specialists from there on a part-time basis. Having few medical machines run by specialist outsourced from other facilities do not make them into a Secondary. Just because it charges more, is well kept, very clean, provides personalised services by mostly same doctors, GPs and specialists in secondary hospital or in private facilities, they do not become into a secondary facility.

This is the concept of custom and purpose designed and built tertiary hospital complex in Tavakubu, Lautoka, Fiji. It has been 40 years in planning with approval from 4 Prime Ministers but stuck now with the Fiji First Government. Te only chance of it going ahead is a change in government.

A Tertiary Hospital with perfect synergy and collaboration with Medical, economic and tourism development in Fiji.

The hospital project is very ambitious and long overdue - some forty years since initiated in 1982. There is a 40-acre land sitting atop Lautoka Golf Club in Tavakubu, Lautoka, ready for the project. This site is only 5 minutes from Lautoka Hospital, which could be renovated as a secondary service hospital, and can become a feeder hospital for Prime Health South Pacific (PHSP) to be a suitable site to support low-cost recuperation facility with abundance of beds. 

This would be for common citizens of Fiji, and others, who could have specialised treatment at the tertiary hospital and then transferred to Lautoka Hospital to recuperate at a reduced cost, but still have access to specialists from the nearby PHSP facility to provide necessary after-care consultation. With an in-house ambulance service, there would be no strain on this scarce public services.

Advantages from the Fiji Indian Diaspora

Fiji Indians who have migrated worldwide, mostly to Australia, NZ, Canada and USA have produced multitude of doctors and medical health specialists excelling around the world. Many are well-connected with their other colleagues in USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, who are prepared to help if Fiji has proper access to specialist facilities as proposed by Doctor Karam Singh and Doctor Chandra. They also have contacts with so many doctors who are more than happy to help, provided Fiji has world-class facilities, welcoming compassionate leaders and good democratic governance. 

No accredited medical practitioner would like to work in a run-down Lautoka Hospital with band-aid repairs and second-hand equipment which became obsolete in advanced countries. Fiji needs to be supported to stand on its feet and not be a dumping ground for used equipment, as it is a matter of life and death, and not merely used as a dump for laptops and computers to be used by accounts clerks.

Patients waiting at Tavua Health Centre in Tavua, Fiji. Most health services in Fiji are badly run-down , unable to afford  Panadol, toilet paper and basic facilities with acute underfunding and poor management by the medical services in Fiji, where many people are dying. All this while our leaders who neglect such hospitals get first -class treatment overseas.

Fiji Indians in the diaspora have multitudes of second and third-generation Fiji Indian doctors and other medical health specialists with their umbilical cord already linked to their motherland, or that of their parents. Many would be able to shift back, or even come for holidays, while providing services in the tourism hub of Nadi-Lautoka. These people, with links in Fiji have a soft-spot for Fiji and would be willing to provide health services if Fiji has facilities which can provide respect and validity to their international training.

Fiji has so many retired doctor sons and daughters, who would be more than willing to help as they visit Fiji regularly, if the country has a reputable respected compassionate government and a well-managed tertiary medical and health facilities, and of course visionary leaders and good governance. Many of these medical specialists see Fiji as an exotic holiday location, and they could be urged to come on work and balance with their holiday visits with free accommodation build on the site with magnificent sea views of Yasawas, and they would be happy to share their expertise.

Many in Fiji Indian Diaspora living worldwide, including me, have left Fiji to live longer in developed countries with better medical facilities, because of poor medical services in Fiji. If I was in Fiji, I would have died a decade ago. And if many of our dead relatives were in developed countries, they would still be alive today, including my parents, elder brother and many friends and relatives in Ba, and throughout Fiji. Like me, many people we meet in developed countries would tell they also would have died long time ago if they were in Fiji with myopic leaders and equally sick hospitals. 

With advanced tertiary facilities proposed by these two doctors, those who left Fiji would be prompted to return to help in economic development, and in other ways. Many of us still have farms and homes in Fiji and retired people would feel comfortable spending winter months in Fiji with a tertiary world-class medical facilities, covered by insurance, and many with ability to pay.

Newly built Ba Hospital which is supposed to have replaced the Ba Mission Hospital. Outsourcing and management agreement was signed with ASPEN over 3 years ago, but this white elephant remained so for some 3 years, and just commenced recently.

The present-run down facilities by successive governments is the reason for massive brain drain of qualified people as well as qualified doctors who cannot fly jet planes in piper propellor aircrafts, because of collapsing medical facilities.

One major problem of poor health services is misplaced priority by blinkered leaders to pour money on international golf -courses, aeroplanes and five star -hotels, ignoring health services. And these selfish unworthy and heartless leaders then fly overseas for their first-class medical treatment to Singapore or Australia, while our poor Ram Singh and Viliame die in faeces-stinking medical services in Fiji.

The case in question is recent overseas treatment for Khaiyum and Bainimarama. If the 40-year request had been made into a reality today, both Khaiyum and Bai could have been treated by world-class doctors, with world class facilities, services and care in Tavakubu, Lautoka. The FNPF funds commandeered by Khaiyum to buy Airbus planes cannot give lives - tertiary hospital can.

The only way Fiji can have these facilities is to change the government, and have more visionary, caring and compassionate leaders to lead Fiji.

A TIME TO VOTE FIJI FIRST OUT

Ba Methodist Mission Hospital where yours truly (Thakur) was born nearly seven decades ago. It has been providing magnificent services to the people of Ba over that time, with some Government support. Lack of vision and support by government has turned it into a morgue and a dying house, while the replacement Ba Hospital remains a white elephant for over 3 years. And Fiji First government is stopping a new tertiary institution in Lautoka. The only way to change the dying hospital services in Fiji is to change the Fiji First government.

TO BE CONTINUED:

PART 3: The tertiary hospital: Financial viability, regionalism, political support and why Lautoka Hospital is unsuitable for tertiary project.

PART 4: The international - standard medical facilities for Fiji to be provided by Prime Health South Pacific (PHSP) project, and why Fiji needs it.

 

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper. Thakur was fired and removed from positions by two diametrically opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth and being too frank and not mincing his words, as he is doing so here again. He is a media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. Thakur is a Post Graduate in Journalism (with honours) from Auckland University of Technology, (AUT), NZ.

E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]

 

 

 

PART 1: FIJI MEDICAL CARE -THE CONTINUING STRUGGLE TO BRING WORLD CLASS TERTIARY HOSPITAL HEALTH TO FIJI

 

PART 1: FIJI MEDICAL CARE - THE CONTINUING STRUGGLE TO BRING WORLD CLASS TERTIARY HOSPITAL HEALTH CARE TO FIJI

Thakur Ranjit Singh

         

A HISTORY          

The concept and the initial idea for a tertiary specialty hospital for Fiji was formed in 1982 when three prominent people from Fiji went for their cardiac care to heart cardiovascular physician/cardiologist, Dr Michael Sushil Chandra (originally from Yalalevu, Ba) to Iowa, USA.    

Dr Chandra visited Fiji in 1982 and met Dr. Karam Singh, who was the President of the Fiji Medical Association at that time and discussed with him the hospital concept. That developed into the now pending PRIME HEALTH SOUTH PACIFIC (PHSP) project.

Here are the excellent intellectual sons of Fiji, still having their hearts in Fiji, with their outstanding internationally-recognised credentials:

The image of how the brand-new tertiary hospital building would sit atop Lautoka Golf Course in Tavakubu, Lautoka, with modern state-of- the-art medical facilities and equipment.

Cardiologist Dr Michael Sushil Chandra:

Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and also Subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Diseases. Born in Ba, Fiji, graduated with distinction from Fiji School of Medicine, trained in India and USA, Internal Medicine at Creighton University School of Medicine, Omaha, Nebraska and National Institute of Health (NIH) Fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. 40 years of experience in cardiovascular medicine in the USA, academics and clinical practice. Instrumental in training many cardiovascular specialists in the USA. Pioneer and developed a comprehensive cardiovascular program including CV Surgery de novo (from scratch, initiator) in 1976 in a city of 90,000 population in Iowa. This has become one of the largest and very successful programs in the State of Iowa. Present focus to develop comprehensive tertiary health care in the South Pacific.

Cardiologist DR MICHAEL SUSHIL CHANDRA of Iowa, USA

 

Pathologist Dr Karam Singh

Born in Fiji, descendant of a retired First World War Indian soldier. Graduated as the dux of Fiji School of Medicine in 1969. Post-graduate training at Otago University, New Zealand. First graduate outside Australasia to obtain Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia. Extensive experience in Fiji, New Zealand and Australia. Established the first private pathology laboratory in Fiji which was burnt in arson attack during political instability in 1987. Moved to Australia in 1987. Founder of Medical Laboratory Australia which employs over 500 staff today. Always desired to establish a world class, high-tech, low-cost tertiary healthcare for the people of the South Pacific.

Pathologist, DR KARAM SINGH of Sydney, Australia.

Here are two celebrated sons of Fiji, who have been relentlessly trying for the last 40 years for somebody to hear them out and share their vision of a comprehensive tertiary health care in Fiji - and still doing so.

When approached by Dr Chandra in 1982, Dr Karam was thrilled with the idea and very quickly was able to organize a steering committee of prominent people in Fiji to drive the project. Dr Chandra was able to convince the Sisters of Mercy Health Corporation of Farmington Hills, Michigan, USA to partner with them in this project. A feasibility study indicated such a facility was needed and viable.

The then Prime Minister of Fiji, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara blessed the project and offered to donate 10 acres of land adjacent to the National Stadium called Pony Park for the Hospital site. (Now, reportedly, it has been given for children’s heart hospital project.)

HOW COUPS KILLED THE PROJECT

The project was first killed by the coup of 1987.

However, when Rabuka government came in, this project was revived in 1992. A Delaware corporation was formed in 1997, a 40-acre Crown land with 99-year lease in Tavakubu, Lautoka, adjacent to Lautoka Golf course was identified, bought and the project commenced. But Rabuka lost the election in 1999.

Ba Hospital, built some 4 years and now started after many stalled dates. There are many unanswered questions. Is it leaking? Is it poorly designed, and hence seen unsuitable by the chosen ASPEN group to be used as a hospital? Has government come our with any explanation? The agreement with ASPEN was signed over 3 years ago? And it seems it is operation now.

In the year 2000 Mahendra Chaudhry became the Prime Minister of Fiji and he endorsed the project. Dr Chandra, with the project manager from USA met Chaudhry in New York when he visited the United Nations and he promised to have FNPF finance the project and be a partner in it.

Lo and behold, another coup happened in May, 2000 and Mahendra Chaudhry was out and hence the project stopped

In early 2005, Mahendra Chaudhry approached Dr Chandra to revive the hospital project. He indicated the desperate need in Fiji for the tertiary specialty hospital in consultation with Dr Karam Singh. While discussion was taking place, they were drawn to a recent Wall Street Journal article, describing the Apollo Health Systems of India and how Dr. Pratap Reddy had developed this powerful world-class low-cost tertiary healthcare system in India and now recognized by the Americans.

Dr Reddy’s expertise, experience, dreams and achievements were very similar to what Doctors Karam and Chandra had desired for Fiji. They both possessed the expertise, courage and experience to develop a similar system for Fiji. Both of them were highly trained and established tertiary level physicians. Dr Karam had de novo (initiated and designed from the beginning), developed the Medlabs of Australia which is now the largest private pathology labs in that country whereas Dr Chandra had de novo (from scratch) and developed a comprehensive cardiovascular system in Sioux, a large city in Iowa, USA.

The plans were finalized to sign an agreement with Apollo, whose Dr Reddy consented to support the Fiji project. Both Dr Karam and Dr Chandra agreed to fold their projects in their respective countries and shift to Fiji. The feasibility study showed that a tertiary hospital in Fiji was needed and economically viable.

The 40 acre land already acquired for the project, lying on top of Lautoka Gold Course, sitting at a very strategic location in Tavakubu, Lautoka ,with stunning and breath-taking unhindered sea view.

Things started to move - land for the hospital was already acquired, and Mahendra Chaudhry got the blessings from PM Laisenia Qarase for the project. When two Doctors were in Delhi to sign to project, they received another bad news in 2006.

Lo and behold, another coup, Bainimarama coup of 2006 again halted the project. No agreement was signed and it was the end of the third attempt.

HOW THE PROJECT RECOMMENCED UNDER BAINIMARAMA’S RULE – BUT KHAIYUM USED FNPF FUNDS TO BUY AEROPLANES INSTEAD

Mahendra Chaudhry, who was the Finance Minister for a short while in the Military government, approached the doctors again to restart the project. This was especially around 2007-2009 when FNPF started thinking about health insurance plans for its members. Another feasibility study cost the two doctors personal funds for Apollo Health System, and the study again confirmed the need and viability of the facility.

However, FNPF backed out as reportedly the funds destined for the Hospital were used to finance the new Airbus planes. The Bainimarama Government, namely the surrogate PM, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum told them there was no money for the project in Fiji and that they had to get financing from abroad if they wanted to pursue further. Hence an international finance consultant was hired who advised that this was very difficult because Fiji did not have a democratic government but a military rule at that time.

Several business leaders and prominent people were approached to participate in the project, but without any success. The doctors were very disappointed because no one showed any interest citing that they had permanent residency to Australia and New Zealand and could easily get medical treatment in those countries.

Therefore, the project was dropped for the umpteenth time.

KHAIYUM THE BIGGEST OBSTACLE IN PROGRESS OF THE PROJECT

The two Doctors did not sit idle, and while in Fiji in 2013 to teach at the Fiji School of Medicine at the request of the Minister of Health, they had discussions with Solomon Island Provident Fund for a shared facility in Fiji and Honiara. They proceeded with discussion with the Solomon Islands National Provident Fund who became very interested to invest in the proposed tertiary hospital in Fiji and also building a sister secondary hospital in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Hence in 2015 they revisited discussion with the Medanta Group, Apollo Group and the Narayana Group in India. They chose Narayana which fizzled out once it became a public company and its new owners were not keen.

They never gave up, and Vamed was brought into the picture. Vamed is an Austrian company based in Vienna. It is the world’s largest builder and manager of hospitals and other health care facilities. It has built over 800 hospitals so far all over the world. Vamed is a division of the medical behemoth Fresenius, the world’s largest producer of kidney dialysis machines with the annual revenues of about 32 billion euros.

Vamed was ready to proceed with the project but got hindered by the announcement of the PPP (Private, Public Partnership) by the Fiji Government with Aspen Group to renovate and convert Lautoka Hospital to a tertiary health care facility. As we will show in later articles, this sounds unusual, as Aspen is not geared for PPP which is generally meant for Design/ Build facilities, while Aspen only specializes in outsourcing health and medical facilities in disasters.

Fijian Attorney-General and Minister for Economy Hon. Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum and Aspen Medical Group CEO Bruce Armstrong at PPP contract signing in Suva on 17 January, 2019 to renovate and run Ba and Lautoka hospitals. We have just passed 3 years of the signing, and Ba hospital was lying idle for 3 years, and there was no activity at Lautoka Hospital. What process was used in granting contract, was it transparent? Do the Minister of Health and the Permanebt Secretary know about this? Is this an exclusive arrangement, meant to prevent Prime Health South Pacific bid?

Agreed, Khaiyum may have Operation and Maintenance (O&M) arrangement to deter two intellectuals from entering Fiji with their project. O & M arrangement by Khaiyum with Aspen is like converting a one-engine piper propellor, used for island-hopping into an Airbus A 380 jet, flying to Los Angeles.

The whole PPP seems suspicious and will be raised in the coming articles, with details of the chosen one, Aspen, delays with Ba Hospital and why the project looks doomed and far from tertiary medical services, only providing primary care like Mission Hospital in Ba. Watch the space for more revelations on this.

DOES KHAIYUM HATE BRIGHT, EDUCATED INTELLECTUALS?

One word that best explains Fiji’s surrogate PM, Khaiyum is Narcissistic - somebody who seems deeply engrossed in self-love, self-importance, is egoistic and despises anybody else brighter than him.

His unceremonial deportation and treatment of greatest Fiji Historian, Professor Brij Lal, the midnight deportation and humiliation of regional Vice Chancellor, Professor Pal Ahluwalia, the unconstitutional dismissal of Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma, sexual framing of a business executive whose treatment by police and the prosecutions was rebuked by the magistrate, and bullying into resigning of former Lands Minister, Ashneel Sudhakar, (coming in future articles) are just some of the many misdemeanors of this person.

His continued mistreatment of the two of Fiji greatest international medical minds and extremely qualified doctors shows what Fiji is made to be deprived of and suffer under Fiji First which seems to be ignoring the health services, and tertiary medical teachings in Fiji. 

It seems Bainimarama is in the dark, while the prospective Prime Minister, Sitiveni Rabuka of Peoples Alliance Party seems to have a vision of better medical facilities in Fiji. Rabuka would be more accommodating once there is a change of government and vision for tertiary medical services in Fiji -not the primary care outsourced with Aspen.

This move by Khaiyum is myopic and smells of improper advice, as two of the most qualified medical practitioners have been trying and struggling to help Fiji for the last four decades. They are still waiting the outcome of the PPP Project and support of the Government of Fiji.

On December 10, 2020 they had written to the Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Civil Service and Communications for Licensing Approval. They are yet to receive a response in spite of sending reminders.

The proposed tertiary hospital had received approval from previous successive Fijian Governments, went through approval of four Fiji Prime Ministers, and is now stuck with the fifth one, Khaiyum, the surrogate PM. Despite this obstacle, the two medical warriors are continuing with the struggle that began four decades ago. Because of their love for the country of their birth, they have not given up hope.

TO BE CONTINUED:

PART 2: Why the need for a tertiary specialty hospital for Fiji built from scratch, the advantages and the benefits to Fiji.

PART 3: The international - standard medical facilities for Fiji to be provided by Prime Health South Pacific (PHSP) project.

PART 4: Concluding part and why Fiji needs this, and a change in government.

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper. Thakur was fired and removed from positions by two diametrically opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth and being too frank and not mincing his words, as he is doing so here again. He is a media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. Thakur is a Post Graduate in Journalism (with honours) from Auckland University of Technology, (AUT), NZ.

E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]

      

 

 

 

 

PART 4: THE FINAL CHOICE FOR FIJI - BETWEEN THE GOOD GODZILLA RABUKA OVER THE EVIL ONE

 

PART 4:THE FINAL CHOICE FOR FIJI – BETWEEN THE GOOD GODZILLA RABUKA OVER THE EVIL ONE

Thakur Ranjit Singh

A Synopsis of Parts 1-3:

I gave reasons as to why I changed camps after being disillusioned with Bainimarama (Bai) after he abdicated his position to Khaiyum who seems to have been running Fiji, and running it down.  Bai does not seem to be in control of Fiji - or himself, as he is manipulated by his Deputy.

In Part 3, you saw how the thugs in suits, both Bai and Khaiyum bullied their way, removed and punished people through hook or crook, abuse of powers, threats, blackmail and shaming what is supposed to be a democracy. It seems to have been degenerated into a two-men dictatorship.

 

We continue with the justification to rescue Fiji from this rot. And Sitiveni Rabuka seems to be the reformed man standing who is our only hope to rescue what is left of Fiji.

The final Part 4 concludes with details of raping of governments machineries and a terminally ill system our hospitals have become which the leaders avoid by escaping overseas from a dying medical system in Fiji they failed to fund and improve for the common citizens of Fiji. And I conclude with some quotes and comparison why Fiji needs to be rescued by a good Godzilla or dinosaur from Jurassic World, where only good monster can beat the bad ones of its type and species - two former coup-makers of Fiji, Commanders of Military and Government leaders.

And that is a battle between a good Rabuka and an evil-harboring Bainimarama, who in realty is Khaiyum in surrogate. 

 

And here is my concluding plea to people of Fiji.

Part 4

Rape of Government Machineries

 

Where are the investigative journalists of Fiji to report on such blatant, shameful and gross abuse of power as I detailed in my three previous articles? But I appreciate they have all been bullied, gagged and muzzled by passage of shady and questionable Media laws, and control over other government machineries to oppress and intimidate them to enable the regime to continue with clowning the nation. FIJI HAS NO MEDIA FREEDOM – LAPDOGS IN FIJI SUN AND FBC ARE REGIME PROPAGANDA MACHINES.

 

Sitiveni Rabuka is the hope Fiji is seeking to rescue it from the evils which have engulfed it under the Fiji First Government. According to the latest polls, Rabuka's Peoples Coalition Party (PAP) would get the largest number of votes in the next election. Fiji hopes to welcome a change for the better.

Under the AG, Fiji has been rendered as a dictatorial state, masquerading as a democracy. All this while Bainimarama naps. Government institutions are abused, misused and used cunningly to hurt the opponents. And in this process, this contaminates and adulterates the epitome and the majestic principles of democracy: the fairness, impartiality and neutrality of the three arms of the government: JUDICIARY, LEGISLATURE and EXECUTIVE.

 

They should not only be independent of each other, but most importantly, also seen to be such.

 

Sacking of Ashneel Sudhakar with threats of framed-up jailing, the shameful framed up case at Nadi Airport on a respected business executive, passage of special laws to benefit cronies of the regime, sacking of Solicitor General Sharvada Sharma, deportation of USP Vice Chancellor, continued banning of Professor Brij Lal and his innocent family to the country of their birth, and appointment of a politically-aligned President against the grain of the Constitution. These are only a few of the multitudes of misdemeanour and abuse of power by the Fiji First Government, supposedly under Bai, which would shame any respectable and civilised democracy.

 

Shockingly, now you can hardly say which arm of government is which, as they appear to have been compromised, and rendered as mistress of the Attorney General, while Bai doesn’t seem to know what is happening. Water seems to have been grossly muddied, while Bainimarama enjoys the benefits that come with the leadership, with his string of relatives in lucrative positions, together with the AG’s. Fiji has indeed gone so much down the tube since Bainimarama promised to clean it that his lies have now become very obvious now. Fiji seems to have become many times dirtier than when he removed SDL and Qarase in 2006 with the supposed objective of cleaning it. Government machineries and those tasked to be watchdog of democracy are now commandeered by the AG, who seems to have unabated control over them.

 

Do the good citizens of Fiji wish to see our beloved nation in this state? Do caring Fijians wish to leave such a Fiji to our next generation? They will question our inertia and impotence in time to come.

 

The two coup-makers who some refer to as "monsters" who have hopes of getting the largest number of seats. Fiji has been shamed as a democracy under the rule of Fiji First. People seek a change which seems very difficult. But the argument put forward is that like in the fantasy movie Godzilla and Jurassic World, people have to depend on the good one to defeat the evil one. Fiji is hoping for the same : Rabuka's Peoples Alliance Party (PAP) to defeat Bainimarama's Fiji First.

Medical and Health Facilities

 

The latest issue is with the health of Fiji hospitals. We have an acutely deteriorating health service in the country, while the top leaders (read Khaiyum and Bai) are flown to Australia or Singapore for first class medical treatment, as our common people are left to die in poorly - equipped and grossly-neglected medical services here. People are now questioning whether Fiji Airways is used as personal transport for some leaders. There are many people who are crying and grieving today because their loved ones met untimely deaths in pathetically neglected Fiji hospitals, which have gone to dogs, with lack of medicines, bed-sheets, basic equipment and care and general run-down of the infrastructure under Fiji First.

 

The two "monsters" of Jurassic World. In the end, the caged Good one was unleashed to fight over the evil one which was causing devastation and havoc for people. Same is the analogy in Fiji where we need the good one to defeat the evil one, and reclaim what is left of Fiji. Rabuka is compared with the good one. 

I have personally received complains from many Fiji people in Auckland, lamenting at numerous untimely deaths of their loved ones in grossly neglected Fiji hospitals, with me losing some relatives this way as well where facilities and services in hospitals are criminally pathetic, grossly underfunded and neglected while aid funds from overseas are misused or corruptly converted to other less-prioritised facilities.

 

I am told that CWM, once well-equipped and a pride of Fiji now stinks of sewer as one goes to visit sick relatives. Our common people die in neglected Fiji hospitals while the leaders get first class treatment overseas. Shamima Ali, the bold critic of the regime has slammed Aiyaz Khaiyum and Frank Bainimarama for getting their hearts fixed overseas while cardiac patients in FIJI are left to fend for themselves with cardiac equipment at CWM not working or inadequate.

  

And in many cases, relatives are denied viewing and access to the bodies because non-Covid deaths are suddenly classed as Covid deaths and the bodies sealed at the whim of medical offices and police. There are numerous cases like this, and it is a crying shame. Many people I meet in New Zealand are so pleased to be here as they would have died long time ago in Fiji because of their run-down health services.

 

While Fiji First has been sleeping for the last 15 years, Rabuka of Peoples Coalition Party (PAP) has pledged that they would set up a permanent cardiac service facility and look at National Health Scheme. They would ask Doctor Vijay Kapadia, who is a Fiji-born General and Intervention Cardiologist based at the Gold Coast University Hospital in Australia, to help with the setting up at the CWM Hospital a permanent, well-equipped cardiac service facility, staffed by top local professionals. There are other former Fiji medical experts wishing to lend a hand but the neglect by Fiji First, their corrupt practices  and overbearing attitudes have made them reluctant to help.

 

As has been revealed in the chain of articles, Bainimarama seems asleep while Khaiyum (left) is considered the real mover and shaker, and the PM of Fiji. A vote for Fiji First means a vote for Khaiyum, and the continuation of the rot and the same evil in Fiji for the next 5 years.

I have been told that presently the best medical facilities, and neat and clean hospital in Fiji is Wainibokasi Hospital, in a dusty, rustic, rural district of Rewa. This is because it is left in care of some private citizens and not dependent on services and management by a very wanting medical department and Ministry headed by Minister who may nor know the difference or similarity between Panadol, Tylenol and Paracetamol, despite a qualified doctor MP who could have been a better Minister of Health.

 

How long will our people keep on dying and blame their fate, rather than the undeserving, careless and heartless leaders who are flown overseas (by Fiji Airways?) for their heart treatment? Isn’t it time to honour the memories of those who were “murdered’, untimely died at dying hospital services and neglected health system, honour their memories and change the leaders - AND THE GOVERNMENT?

 

A call to good, caring people to change the Government

 

I have said a great deal - much of it unsaid by any Fijian journalist not because of their lack of guts, but because media in Fiji have also been rendered as lap dogs, or paltu kutta of Fiji First. Specially-designed draconian media laws and other institutions infiltrated with other pooch discourage any journalist to stand up to the regime. My heart is crying out for Fiji, my country, a country which my Girmitiya forebears worked to make into a paradise. But it seems to be a paradise lost - unless we do something positive to reclaim it.

 

CWM Hospital, once a pride of Fiji is now in a rotten state and smells of faeces and sewerage. The poor care, underfunding, neglect, incompetency of the Minister, the Health Ministry and Fiji First government's lack of priority on medical services have been causing untimely death of people without receiving basic  care and facilities. All these while the leaders fly overseas for medical care as common people die in sick hospitals.

With such a depressing state of Fiji, I am reminded of two well said quotations by great people:

 

FOR EVEIL TO TRIUPH, IT ONLY TAKES GOOD PEOPLE TO DO NOTHING. And the second one is:

 

THE HOTTEST PLACE IN HELL IS RESERVED FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN NEUTRAL IN TIMES OF GREAT MORAL CONFLICT.

 

I rest my case. But yours is still pending. Please choose wisely for the sake of our beloved Fiji - and do not remain neutral.

 

Therefore, for the sake of my birthplace and the country I love, I have to make a choice between two leaders, and for the sake of future generations in Fiji, I WILL VOTE FOR A CHANGE – I WILL VOTE FOR A REFORMED SITIVENI RABUKA.

 

The good GODZILLA against an evil one

 

People question why I am supporting Rabuka, another coup maker. My answer is that I am being pragmatic, realistic, logical and practical. What choice have we got? There is no hope for any “clean” newcomers, most hardly scraping above 5% threshold.  Is that enough to rid Fiji of the curse of Khaiyum and Fiji First? NO.

We will take refuge in recent fantasy movies on evils we had: GODZILLA -THE MONSTER KING, and JURASSIC WORLD. In them, there was a bigger threat from a bigger evil, but the help came from the same type, same species, but more loving, compassionate and likeable creature to win the day for humanity, in getting rid of that evil

Fiji needs the same. It has a manipulated evil monster leading Fiji First, which in reality is in the clutches of Khaiyum. As outlined in my series of articles, they are causing devastation, suffering and shame in Fiji. Our only hope lies in unleashing the kinder of that kind, a reformed “monster”, the original coup-maker who has reformed and repented, a compassionate leader, wishing to listen and redeem his sins of 1987, to rescue Fiji from the doldrums and the current crisis.

When two monsters are there, and it is beyond common people  to defeat them, it is best to depend on the good one of this creature to beat the evil one. This was the case in the movie Godzilla where the good one saves the day. Similar is the case in Fiji and we depend on the good one, Rabuka to come to our rescue.

 And that is Sitiveni Rabuka, the good one.

So, that is the choice, between the evil and the good. If you are unable to forgive, then keep on being sour, vindictive and unforgiving, while the same evil takes over Fiji for the next five years. Do you want that? Vindictiveness and being unforgiving is a lazy form of grieving for the wrongs done in the past. Wake up Fiji, especially Fiji Indians, be pragmatic, as seek refuge in the good Godzilla

The choice is yours.

 

Yes, once I thought Rabuka was evil, later lesser evil as most of unforgiving Fiji Indian community may think, but I now completely believe he is the best alternative to rescue Fiji from the gutters. So much that, if situation were different and I was able to fulfil the requirements, I would have applied for a seat in Rabuka’s Peoples Alliance Party (PAP) and fought the election. That may happen in the following election in 2027 when I would be the age Rabuka is now. Or help my beloved Fiji reclaim its lost glory in other ways - certainly as a better speech-writer than Khaiyum is to Bai.

 

I would urge my Fiji Indian voters to pragmatically look where we have gone. Do you wish your relatives to continue dying in rotting and ill-equipped Ba Mission Hospital, Lautoka, Sigatoka, Nadi, Labasa, Navua and other hospitals, most importantly at CWM, once the icon of service and quality, but now degraded to a morgue and sewer smelling ghetto? Please make your choice, and do not then blame others. Ignore the voices and ill-conceived support of Sanatan Pratinidhi Sabha, Muslim League, Arya Samaj and others to the evils in Fiji.

 

YOU DECIDE, IT IS FUTURE OF YOUR LOVED ONES.

 

I plead Fiji Indians and others supporting Fiji First to review their positions in light of the quotations above. It is no longer sensible to blame your fate. People of Fiji need to become angry - so angry that they replace undesirable leaders, and bring a change.

 

Rabuka is that change.

 

SITIVENI RABUKA  - the hope Fijians have to rescue them from the clutches of Fiji First which is run by Khaiyum, who is the surrogate PM of Fiji. A vote for Bainimarama is a vote for Khaiyum, and the continuing devastation of Fiji for the next 5 years.

A vote for Bainimarama or Fiji First is a vote for Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, and same hell for the next 5 years. Do you want that? You decide what the country deserves - and vote from your heart.

 

I will vote for Rabuka, for the sake of Fiji, and vote for the one who can give us democracy that delivers social justice and equality for all - and I honestly believe, Rabuka is that man standing now.

 

Go ahead, make my day – VOTE FOR A CHANGE – VOTE IN A MORE DESERVING AND CHANGED MAN- RABUKA.

 

Let the good GODZILLA or the good dinosaur from JURRASIC WORLD help us rescue and save what is left of Fiji.

 

[About the Author: Thakur Ranjit Singh is former Publisher of Fiji’s Daily Post newspaper, which Qarase and SDL regime ordered shut. Thakur was fired and removed from positions by two diametrically opposed Prime Ministers: Chaudhry and Qarase. This was for speaking the truth and being too frank and not mincing his words, as he is doing so here again. He is a media commentator, a journalist and runs his blog, FIJI PUNDIT. E-mail: thakurjifj@gmail.com]