GIRMIT WITH COALITION GOVERNMENT: Biman Prasad's wife RAJNI and Girmit Conference organiser GANESH CHAND founded Global Girmit Institute. Duo re-registered GGI in February after it was De-REGISTERED

Rajni Khausal Chand

Ganesh Chand

CONFLICT OF INTEREST: ​The re-registration of the GGI shortly after BIMAN PRASAD announced that the Cabinet had approved the inclusion of Girmit Day on 15 May raise many serious questions, and smacks of collusion: ​(1) Was his wife privy to the Coalition government's plans re- Girmit celebrations? (2) Why was one of the founders with Prasad's wife, GANESH CHAND, handed thousands of dollars (reportedly $300,000) to chair and organise the Girmit Conference at USP?

Lautoka businessman Hirdesh Sharma Biman Prasad

*The GGI was de-registered in February 2022 on account of non-submission of audited financial statements for the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021. The Registrar's purported letter, the Trustees cynically claimed, was not received by GGI Trustees on account of closure of their office after COVID. Hold on, the 'Office' is listed at an address, which looks like a residence: 14 Vesi Crescent, Lautoka, P. O. Box 7580, Lautoka.
*Excuse us, there was NO COVID in 2018, 2019?
*Meanwhile, Ganesh Chand's wife has been organising girmit celebrations in the western division, and Biman Prasad is chair, the National Committee for the Girmit Day celebrations.
*Why was Sugar and Multi-Ethnic Affairs Minister Charan Jeath Singh not delegated to chair the girmit celebrations? Why Biman Prasad? We are reminded of our late friend ROPATE QALO, who used to remark to us, 'Biman is nothing but a small boy in big trousers'.
*In February 2022, another outfit, the Fiji Institute of Applied Studies, linked to Biman Prasad and Ganesh Chand, was also de-registered.
*We call for a joint FICAC/POLICE investigation to establish if Prasad, his wife, and Ganesh Chand abused their positions in the girmit celebrations; Prasad in the allocation of the funds to the GGI to organise the Girmit Conference, and the GGI, run by Rajni Khausal Chand (Mrs Prasad) and Ganesh Chand, re-registering the GGI to partake in the events, including the organising of the two-day conference.
*Ganesh Chand is also on the National Committee on Girmit Events.
How much did Biman Prasad hand over to the GGI, and if he had informed Cabinet that his WIFE is one of Three TRUSTEES?
*On 14 February 2023, the Coalition Cabinet approved GIRMIT HOLIDAY.
​*Within one week of the announcement by Biman Prasad, his wife Rajni and Ganesh Chand re-registered the Global Girmit Institute on
​20 February 2023

Tuesday 4 APRIL 2023

Professor Anand Chand, USP

​The Two Trustees, Professor Anand Chand and Jagnath Sami, who resigned from the Global Girmit Institute

Jagnath Sami with Biman Prasad

"Some may be justified in feeling the financial support for a conference at a reported budget of $250,000 may be a payback for political support and Ganesh’s association with NFP. Perhaps revelation of the Board of GGI may reveal the reason as to why they were handed the bulk of Girmit budget."
Thakur Ranjit Singh

This is the cramped and crowded interior of the Library named after the greatest Fiji Historian, Professor Brij Lal and his wife, Dr Padma Lal. Professor Lal's books grace and honour the most magnificent libraries of the world, and here, in a tin-shack library, named after him, where the books, including Jahaji Bhai and Tulsi would be crying out to decorate the shelves where they get dignity, access and respect. And the library at Fiji Girmit Centre complex is the one where the boxes of books donated by Professor and Dr Padma Lal would get the dignity, respect and use they deserve. Thakur Ranjit Singh

A nolle prosequi was filed by FICAC’s senior prosecutor, Rashmi Aslam, who stated that the key witness in the case could not be located as he was overseas. Mr Chand trial was scheduled to begin next week, from December 3 to 14. Mr Aslam said FICAC was not concluding the matter, however, when the witness becomes available, they would then continue with the proceedings.

From: Ganesh Chand <ganeshfiji@gmail.com>
Date: 9 May 2023 at 5:54:57 PM IST
To: Girmit Conference <girmit.conference@gmail.com>
Subject: Conference Programme-Draft

Dear Colleagues,

Greetings.

Attached please find the draft conference programme.
As you may notice, we have given session times, and estimated total time allocation for each session. The Chairperson of each session shall do the actual order of presentation on the day the session commences; these would reflect subject matter similarities, and time zones.

Those who are unable to travel to Fiji will have the option of presentation by zoom. Link details will be sent to you by Thursday at the latest.

Looking forward to all your presentations.

Regards.
Ganesh Chand
Conference Convenor