Snippets: Travel Ban, Police Christian Crusade, Supposed Bainimarama-Teleni Clash,Melanesian Spearhead Group, Scarr Book Launch on Ratu Mara

(o) Reddy's Orbital Transit
Coupfourpointfive reports that according to its sources Reserve Bank Governor Sada Reddy, who had intended to transit through Auckland on his way to the IMF meeting in Instanbul, was denied access to NZ because his PR (permanent resident) status had been revoked.  I'd always thought a transit lounge had a different status than normal entries through immigration and customs.  No matter, Reddy got to Instanbul via South Korea. Photo: Reserve Bank building, Suva.


(+) Reddy's Economic Initiatives
NZ's Indian News Link reports on Sada Reddy's plans for the Fiji economy.

(-+)Teleni's Police Christian Crusade
RawFijiNews claims it had "been reliably informed that the reasons behind the 24 hr change by the Fiji Police Force to switch its proposed, planned and confirmed Police Crusade to a Police Roadshow was because Police Chief Teleni was ordered by Bainimarama to do so otherwise he has to find himself another job." The blog saw this as evidence of deep-seated and ominous conflict between Esala Teleni and the PM that would one day come to a head.  I was hoping the cancellation was due to the PM (or Teleni) reading my blog! However, Coupfourpointfive said Police spokeswoman Ema Mua told The Fiji Times the cancellation was because "the majority of police officers did not support it" but later she said she was misquoted. So much for reliable information!


Rugby 7s and Golf
The 2016 Olympic Games will include the new sports of Rugby 7s and golf.   This is good news for Fiji with its Rugby 7s record and Vijay Singh a top golfer.

(o) Melanesian Spearhead Group PMs
PM Bainimarama updated Melanesian PM's Sir Michael Somare (PNG), Edward Nutapei (Vanuatu) and Dr Derek Sikua (Solomon Islands) on the current Fiji situation at a breakfast meeting yesterday.

(o-) Reading Between Whose Lines
Click here for PacificScoop's full and balanced coverage of the launch of Deryk Scarr's book on Ratu Mara and Mara's contribution to Fiji and the Pacific. The antiGovernment blog RawFijiNews sees more sinister implications in who did --and who did not-- attend the launch.  Take your pick!