George Shiu Raj
Encyclopedia
George Shiu Raj is a Indo-Fijian politician, who served as Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs from 2001 to 30 September 2004, when he resigned amid accusations of misuse of funds. At the time, he was the only Indo-Fijian minister in the Cabinet
of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
. On 8 September 2005, he was acquitted of charges of conspiracy to defraud the government and of obtaining money under false pretenses, and Prime Minister Qarase announced his decision to reappoint Raj to the Cabinet. He was duly sworn in by Vice-President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi
on 13 September.
Following the parliamentary election
held on 6-13 May 2006, in which Raj retained his seat with a large majority, Prime Minister Qarase appointed him Minister for Women, Social Welfare, and Poverty Alleviation. This appointment was harshly criticized by Fiji Labour Party
leader Mahendra Chaudhry
. In a parliamentary debate on 8 June 2006, Chaudhry called the appointment of a male to head the Ministry for Women an "act of violence" against women, and called on Raj to resign.
that Raj made early in 2004. According to a report from the Auditor-General, Raj had chosen not to fly business class, which the government had paid for, and had opted for the cheaper economy class. Raj had allegedly pocketed the difference, instead of refunding it to the government. He had also allegedly taken his official driver to India, and had taken excess per diem for his own extended stay there.
Raj told the Fiji Times
that he was innocent of the charges, and that he had chosen to resign in order to protect the government. "I have great respect for the Speaker of the House, the Parliament, Prime Minister and the nation," he said, "and don't want such allegations to tarnish their image. The only proper action is to resign voluntarily while the legal process and police investigations take place." He was sure that the ensuing police investigation would clear him.
Prime Minister Qarase accepted the resignation with regret, saying that Raj was one of his best-performing ministers. He announced that rather than replace Raj, he would take on responsibility for the Multi-Ethnic Affairs portfolio himself, pending the outcome of the police investigation. If exonerated by the inquiry, Raj might then be reinstated, Qarase said. He reiterated this position on 16 December 2004.
) by false pretenses. Raj and Pal pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The trial of Raj and Pal began on 5 September. Department of Public Prosecutions lawyer Daniel Gounder told the three trial assessors that Raj and Pal had defrauded the government not once, but twice. Between 30 December 2001 and January 2002, the Prime Minister's Office authorized Raj to travel to India on business class tickets, Gounder said. He alleged that rather than using the money (F$8363) to purchase a business class ticket for himself, he colluded with Pal to purchase three economy class tickets for himself, his wife Praveena Kumari, and one other man, Pundit Jayant Maharaj. On a second occasion, he alleged, Raj was again sponsored to fly business class, but opted for economy class, and pocketed the difference.
On 8 September 2005, Justice Gerard Winter declared that Raj and Pal had no case to answer and dismissed the charges. Winter ruled that there was no legal obligation for Cabinet Ministers to travel business class, and that payment for Raj's trips were paid by the Fijian government, through the Indian government; at no time had Raj himself obtained any money illegally or dishonestly. Winter said that Raj had acted transparently and had hidden nothing. The fact that he had voluntarily resigned from the Cabinet and paid back the money he allegedly owed showed him to be a man of honesty and integrity, Winter said.
An emotional Raj thanked God
, the Prime Minister, and his constituents for standing by him. He had always known that truth would prevail, he said. He encouraged other politicians to resign as he had, should they be accused of any kind of wrongdoing, and said he was glad to have cleared his name. "Now that I've cleared my name I can get my reputation back," he said. Prime Minister Qarase told the Fiji Village news service that he would begin the process of readmitting Raj to the Cabinet in mid-September. The Department of Prosecutions, however, said that it would study the ruling and consider an appeal.
Raj's acquittal generated criticism from a number of quarters. Opposition Leader
Mahendra Chaudhry said that he still believed that Raj had abused state funds. "Using State funds is a case of abuse. He should not have used it and nothing will change that fact. Abuse is abuse," Chaudhry said on 12 September. The same day, National Alliance Party
Secretary Filipe Bole
said the court's decision was improper. He endorsed the judgement of Auditor-General Eroni Vatuloka that state entitlements were for the purpose of fulfilling civil service duties, and were not transferable to others. He also shared Vatuloka's concerns that the judgement would adversely impact other court cases involving misappropriation of funds. Also on 12 September, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
announced that the ruling would be appeal
ed, as Opposition Leader Chaudhry had urged. The appeal was duly filed with the Court of Appeal
on 12 April 2006. Lawyer Hemendra Nagin announced that he would represent Raj at the appeal, expected to be held in July.
Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi
of the opposition Fiji Labour Party accused Raj of cheating farmers in Ra Province of their sugarcane
earnings by offering them loans. Raj denied the accusation, and invoked parliamentary standing orders. He said that most of the farmers he had helped were indigenous Fijians
, and that many had increased their production from 50 ton
s to 200 or 300 tons.
Open Constituency
in the House of Representatives as an independent candidate at the 1999 general election
. He was appointed Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs in the interim Cabinet that was formed in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000
, and retained his seat as a candidate of the newly formed United Fiji Party (SDL) in the election held to restore democracy
in September 2001. Raj generated outrage among his fellow Indo-Fijians in his Maiden speech
(the speech typically made by a newly elected parliamentarian in Commonwealth
countries). He said that Fiji had been given to the Fijian people by God and that they, not Indo-Fijians or others, were therefore entitled to govern the country. Many saw him as grovelling before the strongly pro-ethnic Fijian Qarase. On his trip to India in 2004, however, Raj said that he was proud of his Indian heritage. He lovingly collected some Indian soil and bottled some water from the Ganges River
to bring back to Fiji, as a gift for his aged parents.
Cabinet (Fiji)
Fiji has the Westminster system - executive authority is vested nominally in a President, but exercised in practice by a Cabinet of Ministers, presided over by the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister is formally appointed, but not chosen, by the President: the President must appoint as Prime...
of Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase
Laisenia Qarase is a Fijian political figure. He served as the sixth Prime Minister of Fiji from 2000 to 2006. After the military quashed the coup that led to the removal of Mahendra Chaudhry, Qarase joined the Interim Military Government as a financial adviser on 9 June 2000, until his appointment...
. On 8 September 2005, he was acquitted of charges of conspiracy to defraud the government and of obtaining money under false pretenses, and Prime Minister Qarase announced his decision to reappoint Raj to the Cabinet. He was duly sworn in by Vice-President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi
Joni Madraiwiwi
Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi is a Fijian lawyer, politician and was the Vice-President of Fiji from 2004 to 2006. He was sworn in on 10 January 2005, following his nomination by President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo and his subsequent approval by the Great Council of Chiefs on 15 December 2004...
on 13 September.
Following the parliamentary election
Fiji election of 2006
The Constitution of Fiji requires general elections for the House of Representatives to be held at least once every five years. The latest election was held on 6-13 May 2006. Acting President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi issued a proclamation on 2 March, effective from 27 March, dissolving Parliament...
held on 6-13 May 2006, in which Raj retained his seat with a large majority, Prime Minister Qarase appointed him Minister for Women, Social Welfare, and Poverty Alleviation. This appointment was harshly criticized by Fiji Labour Party
Fiji Labour Party
The Fiji Labour Party is a political party in Fiji, which holds observer status with the Socialist International. Most of its support at present comes from the Indo-Fijian community, although it is officially multiracial and its first leader was an indigenous Fijian, Dr. Timoci Bavadra. It is...
leader Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Chaudhry
Mahendra Pal Chaudhry is a Fijian politician and the leader of the Fiji Labour Party...
. In a parliamentary debate on 8 June 2006, Chaudhry called the appointment of a male to head the Ministry for Women an "act of violence" against women, and called on Raj to resign.
The misappropriation allegations and resignation
The allegations centred on a visit to IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
that Raj made early in 2004. According to a report from the Auditor-General, Raj had chosen not to fly business class, which the government had paid for, and had opted for the cheaper economy class. Raj had allegedly pocketed the difference, instead of refunding it to the government. He had also allegedly taken his official driver to India, and had taken excess per diem for his own extended stay there.
Raj told the Fiji Times
Fiji Times
The Fiji Times is a daily English-language newspaper published in Suva, Fiji. Established in Levuka on 4 September 1869, it is Fiji's oldest newspaper still operating....
that he was innocent of the charges, and that he had chosen to resign in order to protect the government. "I have great respect for the Speaker of the House, the Parliament, Prime Minister and the nation," he said, "and don't want such allegations to tarnish their image. The only proper action is to resign voluntarily while the legal process and police investigations take place." He was sure that the ensuing police investigation would clear him.
Prime Minister Qarase accepted the resignation with regret, saying that Raj was one of his best-performing ministers. He announced that rather than replace Raj, he would take on responsibility for the Multi-Ethnic Affairs portfolio himself, pending the outcome of the police investigation. If exonerated by the inquiry, Raj might then be reinstated, Qarase said. He reiterated this position on 16 December 2004.
Acquittal and reinstatement
On 23 August 2005, Raj appeared in court along with Sashi Sanjeev Pal, the managing director of Hunts Travel, on charges of conspiracy to defraud the government and of obtaining money (F$10,000Fijian dollar
The dollar has been the currency of Fiji since 1969 and was also the currency between 1867 and 1873. It is normally abbreviated with the dollar sign $, or alternatively FJ$ to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies...
) by false pretenses. Raj and Pal pleaded not guilty to both charges.
The trial of Raj and Pal began on 5 September. Department of Public Prosecutions lawyer Daniel Gounder told the three trial assessors that Raj and Pal had defrauded the government not once, but twice. Between 30 December 2001 and January 2002, the Prime Minister's Office authorized Raj to travel to India on business class tickets, Gounder said. He alleged that rather than using the money (F$8363) to purchase a business class ticket for himself, he colluded with Pal to purchase three economy class tickets for himself, his wife Praveena Kumari, and one other man, Pundit Jayant Maharaj. On a second occasion, he alleged, Raj was again sponsored to fly business class, but opted for economy class, and pocketed the difference.
On 8 September 2005, Justice Gerard Winter declared that Raj and Pal had no case to answer and dismissed the charges. Winter ruled that there was no legal obligation for Cabinet Ministers to travel business class, and that payment for Raj's trips were paid by the Fijian government, through the Indian government; at no time had Raj himself obtained any money illegally or dishonestly. Winter said that Raj had acted transparently and had hidden nothing. The fact that he had voluntarily resigned from the Cabinet and paid back the money he allegedly owed showed him to be a man of honesty and integrity, Winter said.
An emotional Raj thanked God
God
God is the English name given to a singular being in theistic and deistic religions who is either the sole deity in monotheism, or a single deity in polytheism....
, the Prime Minister, and his constituents for standing by him. He had always known that truth would prevail, he said. He encouraged other politicians to resign as he had, should they be accused of any kind of wrongdoing, and said he was glad to have cleared his name. "Now that I've cleared my name I can get my reputation back," he said. Prime Minister Qarase told the Fiji Village news service that he would begin the process of readmitting Raj to the Cabinet in mid-September. The Department of Prosecutions, however, said that it would study the ruling and consider an appeal.
Raj's acquittal generated criticism from a number of quarters. Opposition Leader
Leader of the Opposition (Fiji)
The post of Leader of the Opposition is a political office common in countries that are part of the Commonwealth of Nations. It did not originate in Fiji but has a long tradition; in British constitutional theory, the Leader of the Opposition must pose a formal alternative to the government, ready...
Mahendra Chaudhry said that he still believed that Raj had abused state funds. "Using State funds is a case of abuse. He should not have used it and nothing will change that fact. Abuse is abuse," Chaudhry said on 12 September. The same day, National Alliance Party
National Alliance Party of Fiji
The National Alliance Party of Fiji is a Fijian political party. It was formally registered on 18 January 2005 by Ratu Epeli Ganilau, as the claimed successor to the defunct Alliance Party, which ruled Fiji from 1967 to 1987 under the leadership of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, Ganilau's...
Secretary Filipe Bole
Filipe Bole
Filipe Nagera Bole is a Fijian politician who hails from the village of Mualevu on the island of Vanuabalavu in the Lau Group. He has long had a reputation as one of Fiji's few politicians untainted by scandal, and is noted for his moderate views...
said the court's decision was improper. He endorsed the judgement of Auditor-General Eroni Vatuloka that state entitlements were for the purpose of fulfilling civil service duties, and were not transferable to others. He also shared Vatuloka's concerns that the judgement would adversely impact other court cases involving misappropriation of funds. Also on 12 September, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
Director of Public Prosecutions (Fiji)
The Director of Public Prosecutions was created under the Fiji Independence Act of 1970 and came into being that year. In 1990 and subsequently in 1997, the powers of the Office of the DPP were provided for in the Fiji Constitution, an entrenched document and the supreme law of the nation...
announced that the ruling would be appeal
Appeal
An appeal is a petition for review of a case that has been decided by a court of law. The petition is made to a higher court for the purpose of overturning the lower court's decision....
ed, as Opposition Leader Chaudhry had urged. The appeal was duly filed with the Court of Appeal
Court of Appeal (Fiji)
The Court of Appeal of Fiji is one of three courts established by Chapter 9 of the Constitution, the others being the High Court and the Supreme Court. The Court of Appeal was a new institution established when the 1997 Constitution came into effect; the other two courts predated it...
on 12 April 2006. Lawyer Hemendra Nagin announced that he would represent Raj at the appeal, expected to be held in July.
Other controversies
On 10 August 2005, ParliamentarianHouse of Representatives (Fiji)
The House of Representatives is the lower chamber of Fiji's Parliament. It is the more powerful of the two chambers; it alone has the power to initiate legislation...
Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi
Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi
Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi, is a Fijian politician of Indian descent. He was one of the youngest members to be elected into Parliament in 1992. He has represented the Nadroga Indian Communal Constituency, which he won for the Fiji Labour Party in the parliamentary elections of 1992, 1994, 1999, 2001, and...
of the opposition Fiji Labour Party accused Raj of cheating farmers in Ra Province of their sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
earnings by offering them loans. Raj denied the accusation, and invoked parliamentary standing orders. He said that most of the farmers he had helped were indigenous Fijians
Fijian people
Fijian people are the major indigenous people of the Fiji Islands, and live in an area informally called Melanesia. The Fijian people are believed to have arrived in Fiji from western Melanesia approximately 3,500 years ago, though the exact origins of the Fijian people are unknown...
, and that many had increased their production from 50 ton
Ton
The ton is a unit of measure. It has a long history and has acquired a number of meanings and uses over the years. It is used principally as a unit of weight, and as a unit of volume. It can also be used as a measure of energy, for truck classification, or as a colloquial term.It is derived from...
s to 200 or 300 tons.
Background and career
Raj was first elected to represent the RaRa (Open Constituency, Fiji)
Ra Open is an electoral division of Fiji, one of 25 open constituencies elected by universal suffrage . Like the other open electorates, it came into being in 1999 and was used for the parliamentary elections of 1999, 2001, and 2006...
Open Constituency
Open constituencies (Fiji)
Open constituencies represent one of several electoral models employed in the past and present in the Fijian electoral system. They derive their name from the fact that they are "open": unlike the communal constituencies, the 25 members of the House of Representatives who represent open...
in the House of Representatives as an independent candidate at the 1999 general election
Fiji election of 1999
General elections were held in Fiji between 8 and 15 May 1999. They were the first election held under the revised Constitution of 1997, which instituted a new electoral system and resulted in Mahendra Chaudhry taking office as Fiji's first Indo-Fijian Prime Minister.-Electoral system:Previously,...
. He was appointed Minister for Multi-Ethnic Affairs in the interim Cabinet that was formed in the wake of the Fiji coup of 2000
Fiji coup of 2000
The Fiji coup of 2000 was a complicated affair involving a civilian putsch by hardline Fijian nationalists against the elected government of a non-native Prime Minister, Mahendra Chaudhry, on 19 May 2000, the attempt by President Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara to assert executive authority on 27 May, and...
, and retained his seat as a candidate of the newly formed United Fiji Party (SDL) in the election held to restore democracy
Fiji election of 2001
The Constitution of Fiji was restored by a High Court decision on 15 November 2000, following the failure of the political upheaval in which the government had been deposed and the constitution suspended in May that year. On 1 March 2001, the Appeal Court upheld the decision. An election to...
in September 2001. Raj generated outrage among his fellow Indo-Fijians in his Maiden speech
Maiden speech
A maiden speech is the first speech given by a newly elected or appointed member of a legislature or parliament.Traditions surrounding maiden speeches vary from country to country...
(the speech typically made by a newly elected parliamentarian in Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries). He said that Fiji had been given to the Fijian people by God and that they, not Indo-Fijians or others, were therefore entitled to govern the country. Many saw him as grovelling before the strongly pro-ethnic Fijian Qarase. On his trip to India in 2004, however, Raj said that he was proud of his Indian heritage. He lovingly collected some Indian soil and bottled some water from the Ganges River
Ganges River
The Ganges or Ganga, , is a trans-boundary river of India and Bangladesh. The river rises in the western Himalayas in the Indian state of Uttarakhand, and flows south and east through the Gangetic Plain of North India into Bangladesh, where it empties into the Bay of Bengal. By discharge it...
to bring back to Fiji, as a gift for his aged parents.