When it comes to self interest, manipulation,betrayal and backstabbing, nobody beats the pastmasters Rasheed and Ramswarup. Indeed, they have fine tuned this despicable trait of theirs to such an art form that it could easily be mistaken for benign innocence.
Examine Rasheed’s record of anti Fijian vendettas.
Backstabbing of Ratu mara
After deceitfully using Ratu Mara to get himself appointed as the first local C/E of FSC in 1978/79, he wastes no time to start plotting against him.
By 1983 he had undermined Mara so much that Mara felt compelled to share his hurt and pain with the sugar industry unions when he confessed with uncharacteristic frankness that” If Rasheed and Ramswarup get a chance they will hit me in my balls.” If this is not the admission of a man who feels grievously betrayed, insulted, humiliated and wronged , then what else is it?
Yet this is the same Rasheed who fearing that he will lose out on the top job to other more capable contenders , made a traditional sevusevu to Mara to seek his support and in the process also poisoned Mara against another frontrunner Ratu Dreunimimisi.
But wait the plot gets even thicker in this deadly and dirty pursuit of his ego and ambition. No price and principles are too high and means do not matter in this ruthless and cold blooded treachery as far as he is concerned.
What is not known by many is the viscious racial machinations he orchestrated during this saga.
Rasheed stands indicted of waging the dirtiest and ugliest racial campaign in the history of sugar industry. He lobbied extensively amongst all his Indian cronies and colleagues -employees, farmers , politicians , govt officials and trade union leaders. It was a campaign of smears , innuendos and lies against those that he saw as a barrier between himself and his ambition. In the process he destroyed many careers and professional dreams including that of many Indians. Ram Vilash (later first local KPMG partner) , Australin qualified accountants like Sanat Kumar and Prem chand and Industrial manager Uday Singh all had to resign because they were considered threats.
But this is not about the destruction of Indians. It is more about the way he used so many Indians to alienate and exterminate any Fijian he saw on his way to realising his mission.
At Abdul Yusuf’s house (FSC Mill Manager) , he is reported to have so badly lost his composure and sanity that he broke down almost in tears and warned his Indian managers that if he did not get the top job , then it will not only be the end of the promotion of Indian Staff but also the start of a wholesale victimisation of the Indian cane farmers by Mara.He argued that Mara would punish the Indians for not supporting the Alliance Party.
This was a campaign abnoxious not just for its racial overtones but also abnominable for its gross falsities and venom.
These are some of the high profile Fijian casualities of Rasheed Ali.
1. Ratu Viliame Dreunimismisi
NZ educated professionally qualified agriculturalist, ex London based Fiji diplomat. Eldest son of Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau and elder brother of Fiji Acting President Ratu Epeli Nailitakau and Ratu Cakaunauto. Highly respected in the industry for his relations with the workers and the farmers. Former minister of Agriculture.
Widely seen as a leading contender for the top FSC job.
Demoted by Rasheed from the position of General Manager of second largest mill Rarawai where he was responsible for some 6000 cane farmers and 1500 employees to the South pacific Distilleries Ltd with 30 employees , basically as a door to door salesman of Fji rum. Demoted for life and saw no further promotion. Now deceased.
2. Ratu Tomasi Korovakaturaga
Son ex Fiji President and high chief Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau. Lieutenant Colonel, Commander of the first contingent of Peacekeeping forces to Lebanon and Sainai in 1978.Qualified engineer, training officer and industrial relations expert, highly respected and regarded. A natural leader .
Demoted by Rasheed in 1983 from the position of Factory Manager and counselled for no fault of his. Never saw any significant promotion until after Rasheed left in 1987.
Now deceased.
3. Ratu Ovini Bokini
Tui Tavua, former chairman of Great Council of Chiefs and former Minister of Lands and Agriculture.
Demoted by Rasheed to Sigatoka. Never promoted since.Now deceased.
4. Ratu Jale Kuwe
Accounting,business and management qualifications. Younger brother of Ratu Ovini Bokini. Victimised and without any career advancement prospects,resigned to take up a senior executive job in Air Pacific.
5. Ratu Inia Seru
England educated with accounting qualifications. Career grounded because Rasheed and Ramswarup considered him too bright for their liking. Life made difficult and forced to resign.
6. Joveci Tuinamanuana
England educated Chartered Accountant, Chief Accountant of FSC. Most senior Fijian officer in the Finance divsion of FSC ever.
Rasheed and Ramswarup condidered him dangerously honest and principled. Had afierce reputation for questioning many of the contract and deals of the FSC. An uncompromising crusader of high standards, proper governance and transparency. Articulate and intelligent.
Career frozen and forced to resign for top jobs elsewhere.
7. Ratu Seru Buliruarua
University of Canterbury,NZ, educated with a first class science degree. Definite top management prospect but grounded in a midddle level factory job with no signs of promotion. Again too bright and honest for their liking.
Resigned to take job in Carpenters.
8. Ratu Jone Sovasova.
Tui Naviaqo. Highly experienced field and farm husbandry expert.
Promoted under CSR but grounded by Rasheed.
9. Others who were denied their just promotions were-Jone Varani, Jone Mika, Sefanaia Tabua, Mosese Tamata, Aropiame Cavalevu, Timothy Naivauwaqa and many others.
Most of them resigned for better careers outside FSC only because of Rasheed’s victimisation policies.
Yet he elevated many of his Indian cronies to glory and none more so than the sychopant ex CSR clerk Narayan Prasad and the highly colonial overrated ex primary school teacher Ram karan Singh.
The only two Fijians who saw any meaningful promotion under Rasheed were Jonetani Galaunadi and Domniko Valaibulu -both pliable and harmless and never considered even a remote threat to him.
How come that this menacing duo are back in control of the FSC ?
If anything they should be charged for the genocide of sugar industry professional careers.
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