TISI Sangam Fiji co-chair and presidential candidate Damend Goundar has defended his actions during the organisation’s controversial September 27 annual general meeting, while Council of Management chairman Parveen Bala has urged members to refrain from public comments until the council meets.
In a statement reflecting on the events at the AGM, Mr Goundar said his actions were guided by the principles of fairness, transparency and institutional integrity rather than personal or political interests.
“The AGM was more than a procedural gathering. It tested the moral fiber, restraint, and leadership values of everyone present,” he said.
“My insistence on proper procedure, transparency, and respect for the collective voice of members came from this understanding.”
The AGM, held in Nadi, ended without the election of new office bearers following disagreements over nominations and meeting procedures.
An interim arrangement was subsequently agreed upon, with Mr Bala and Mr Goundar taking leadership roles pending further processes.
Mr Goundar said he had reflected on his conduct and that of others during the meeting, drawing inspiration from the book The Difficulty of Being Good by Gurcharan Das.
He said challenging what he considered an improper adjournment and insisting on members’ rights required moral courage.
“Speaking up when others hesitate is never easy. Challenging an improper adjournment, insisting that members’ rights be respected, and standing firm in the face of pressure meant being willing to bear discomfort,” he said.
He also acknowledged the actions of Sangam legal adviser Wasu Pillay, saying they reinforced his belief that remaining silent would have compromised the organisation’s integrity.
Mr Goundar maintained that he had exercised restraint despite the heated atmosphere.
“I stayed composed, avoided escalation, and kept the discussion on the procedural issues rather than personalities, to preserve the decorum and unity of the House.”
However, Mr Bala, in a separate statement, said there had been an understanding among those concerned that no public comments would be made until a fully constituted Council of Management had met to deliberate on the AGM’s outcome.
“I have been receiving numerous calls from Sangam members requesting me to comment on statements made by a few individuals regarding the TISI Sangam AGM,” Mr Bala said.
“At the outset, let me make it very clear that there was an understanding among all concerned that no comments would be made until a fully constituted Council of Management meets and deliberates on the outcome of the AGM and the way forward for Sangam.”
Mr Bala said he would honour that understanding and issue an official statement only after the council had considered the concerns raised by members.
“I stand by that understanding and will release an official statement once the Council of Management has deliberated on the issues raised by members at the AGM.”
He appealed for patience while the organisation worked through the issues.
“I seek the understanding and patience of all our members and well-wishers as we allow the dust to settle.”
Meanwhile, Mr Goundar said further updates on the processes arising from the September 27 meeting would be provided in the coming weeks.
He maintained that leadership should be measured not by victory or popularity but by the willingness to uphold fairness, proper procedures and institutional integrity.
