Issue No: 1008; 10 August 2001

The revelations follow an exposure of the party's finances by this website in July (see: http://www.pcgov.org.fj/hot_press/no979.htm )

Yesterday the Fiji Times revealed the identity of the foreigner funding Baba as one Peter Foster who has convictions in the UK and Australia. Foster was jailed for a scam where he sold herbal tea and body cream claiming that they reduced weight. He made $6.27m out of this. Today the paper reveals that Foster is wanted in NZ for unpaid money.

Baba stated that Foster now wants to invest in a resort in Fiji. Earlier Baba had stated he will engage professionals to sell Fiji abroad. He told the media that he will not rest until he sees all the hotels are full. Today the Fiji Sun quotes Baba as saying that Foster is "a very clever marketing man who would bring good business to Fiji".

One party insider now reveals that Baba had promised to hire Foster as Fiji's marketing man to promote tourism and bring investments to Fiji. He said that he believes that this was the basis on which Foster funded Baba.

Earlier Baba had engaged an Australian (Queensland) lawyer to do an opinion poll in Fiji. The "poll" showed that Baba was the most preferred person for the PM's job. The poll was heavily criticised for being bogus.

It has now been revealed that the lawyer who did the poll was the same person who had defended Foster on the fraud charges. It is believed that Foster had financed the poll.

Baba meanwhile has defended the fraudster.