20 Jun 2002

Fiji papers publish details of writ against Qarase interim cabinet

10:11 am on 20 June 2002

More details have been published of a writ alleging that Fiji prime minister, Laisenia Qarase, and his former interim cabinet were responsible for the 13 million US dollar farming assistance scam.

The writ has been filed by the suspended head of the agriculture ministry, Peniasi Kunatuba, who himself is facing 61 disciplinary offences in connection with the scam brought by the public service commission.

Newspaper reports say the writ claims that on July 8th last year Mr Qarase and three other ministers took 138 thousand US dollars worth of farming and fishing equipment for distribution on the island of Rotuma.

On their return, assistant minister, Harieta Rigamoto, herself a Rotuman, bought further supplies for distribution to the seven chiefs of Rotuma as well as the Rotuman community living in Viti Levu.

The writ says the tourism minister, who is from Kadavu, organised the distribution of agricultural equipment valued at 115 thousand dollars in the Kadavu Islands.

As well, the regional development minister, Ilaitia Tuisese, distributed 90 thousand dollars worth of supplies in his home province, Naitasiri.

The then lands minister, Mitieli Bulanauca, visited the agriculture ministry to secure support for several groups in his home province of Bua, while the agriculture minister, Apisai Tora, assisted in the taro planting programme in Sigatoka.

Mr Kunatuba claims that he and other agriculture ministry officials had to work hard and long to meet the demands of interim ministers in paying out money from the scheme.