(oB) Namosi House: What Goes Around Comes Around

POWERFUL NEW FEATURE: TRY OUT "SEARCH THE BLOG"

Money raised from ordinary Fijians by the country's 14 provincial councils, together with loans obtained from the Development Bank or another quasi-government entity, has often been invested in building multi-storey office blocks in Suva. Government sometimes guarantees these loans and the buildings once completed are often rented out to Government departments. What is left from the gross rentals goes towards provincial scholarships and similar "development" projects. For the most part it's been a "cosy" arrangement by which ethnic Fijian governments have fed money back to the Fijian "establishment."Those at the business-end of the arrangement benefit but few benefits trickle back to the villages where the initial money was raised. Only too often those entrusted with the money are accused of dishonest, corrupt, or at least questionable, behaviour. Whether this is the case with Namosi House* is unclear, but FijiLive thinks there is something a little strange. To read the whole article, click here. Read more...
The sheer number of overlapping ethnic Fijian and quasi-government public institutions (often with relatively inexperienced people handling large sums of money, and with too few checks and balances) creates untold opportunities for malpractice. What started as a means to increase the number of Fijians in business and assist rural development, has too often ended with a small number of people "milking the system" for personal gain. On wonders whether the business model needs revisiting.

* Namosi, some 40 or so kilometers west of Suva, is Fiji's smallest province, with limited natural resources. Under the 1997 Constitution, however, it had one Fijian Communal seat in Parliament for its 3,340 registered voters, the same number as Nadroga/Navosa with 19,044 registered voters (Walsh Fiji: an Encyclopaedic Atlas. See advert by scrolling down the left column.)Photo: Fiji Live.

(o) Fiji Holdings Ltd

Coupfourpointfive sees something sinister in the "dismissal" last week and today's "surprise reinstatement" of three FHL Board members. Government said they were asked to go on leave while an audit was conducted. For some solid background on the FHL -- and inherent dangers with quasi-government boards -- see my "Snippets" post on June 6th. News "events" usually need to be seen within broader settings to make anything more than superficial sense. Scroll down the left column to ARCHIVES and click on the week that included June 6th. Or use the powerful new "Search the Blog" feature. Just type FHL.

(o+) Why the Rush with PACER? Why Was Fiji Excluded From PACER? Why Was Roman Grynberg's Contract Not Renewed?

PLEASE VOTE IN THE MEDIA POLL TO THE LEFT

It may all seem like the ramblings of several conspiracy theorists -- or a bunch of anti-free trade lobbyists -- but there are too many unanswered questions not to be concerned about Australia's (and New Zealand's) apparent role in the questions raised in the title to this post. The questions raised are at least as much about the the perception of patronising, bullying and very unequal relations between sovereign states as they are about trade. About what even Sir Don McKinnon, New Zealander and former Commonwealth Secretary-General, once called neo-colonialism.

Serious students of the influence of Australia and New Zealand on Pacific Island countries cannot avoid but look closely at the the hows and whys of last month's PACER-Plus (Pacific Agreement on Closer Relations) in Apia, from which Fiji, probably illegally, was excluded on the basis of its suspension from the PI Forum, arguably a different organization. It has also been excluded from the PACER follow-up meeting in Cairns next month.

It must be asked why the rush with PACER when earlier the Pacific Island leaders' "Pacific Plan" wanted a 5-year build-up? Why were Pacific Island officials (with trade expertise) separated from their politicians for an "informal" part of the Apia meeting when important decisions were made, without their advice? Is it true that many officials were furious, and that one flew home almost immediately?

Why was Fiji excluded from the PACER meetings? Knowing its reservations about free trade and outside dominance, did Australia and New Zealand connive its (possibly illegal) exclusion?

Why was Dr Roman Gynberg's Forum contract not renewed? He was the Economic Governance Director. Did some countries not welcome the advice he gave? Was he too much on the Pacific Islands' side? Grynberg is no fly-by-night expatriate adviser. He's been around the Pacific for years and has also been a senior economic adviser to the Commonwealth Secretariat. He worked under McKinnon. Soon after his "dismissal" he wrote "Who Owns the Pacific Islands Forum?" which pointed two fingers south and westward. Is it true he will be replaced with an Australian? It is not forgotten how Australia pressured Pacific Island governments to appoint Australian Greg Urwin as the Forum Secretary-General.

• To read more on these questions, start with this damning overview in the Samoan Observer.
• Follow this up with Adam Wolfenden's persuasive and disturbing article republished in the blog Stuck in Fiji M.U.D.
  
• The blog site includes earlier postings on the same topic, including an earlier NZ Herald report.
• To read why Grynberg's contract was not renewed again visit the Samoan Observer
• Then read what Islands Business had to say

Our (Australia and NZ) policies on the present Fiji political situation are predicated by our perceptions of ourselves and what we perceive to be proper relations between "us" and "them." This is why the PACER issue is especially important at this time. It may help us, as the poet Robbie Burns observed in his poem To a Louse, to see ourselves as others see us.

O would some Power the gift to give us
To see ourselves as others see us!
It would from many a blunder free us,
And foolish notion.....

For the full poem, in Scots dialect, click here.

Photo: PI Forum flags. Acknowledgement: Forum Secretariat, Suva
Disclosure: Roman Grynberg and I were once colleagues at the University of the South Pacific in Suva.

14 Reactions to the PM's 'Road Map' -- Take Your Pick

9 Newspaper or Radio Accounts, 4 "Inside Sources", 1 Comment

(-) Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement, NGO, Sydney
Waiting until 2012 to debate a new constitution is "a charade to ensure the military regime prolongs its hold on power" said spokesperson Usaia Waqatairewa, who wouldn’t be surprised if the election date was put back further.

(-) Prof. Brij Lal, ANU
"The new roadmap will prolong the suffering of the people unnecessarily ... it is an irony that on the day the Commodore has announced his road map, he has also extended the emergency regulations."

(-) Coupfourpointfive, Auckland
"Bainimarama tried to fool Fiji and the world when he delivered his strategic framework for change national address today ...it is basically to pull wool over people's eyes"[referring back to his failure to hold elections by March 2009, and then in 2010. Delaying work on the new Constitution until September 2012]"confirms that elections are the last thing on the mind's of Bainimarama's, the military council and the coup leader’s closest ally and adviser, interim Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum."

(-) Australia and New Zealand
Both governments have reacted negatively to the address, and called again for immediate elections.

(+) Fiji Police Commissioner Cde Esala Teleni
"The strategic framework ... is the best way for forward for Fiji. “The government’s priority now is the socio-economic life of people and it is important for me as commissioner of police to provide a conducive environment for that in terms of stability and security." [The police force will be strengthened with upgraded communications, transport and forensic tools.]

(+) Fiji Chamber of Commerce
President Swani Maharaj said the FCC was impressed with the new Fiji vision. "Bainimarama has been very committed especially on non-racial politics....I’ve always thought that the 1997 Constitution no matter what people say was a racist constitution.”

(+) Fiji Retailers Association
President Himmat Lodhia urged the business sector to throw their full support behind Government, now that it has indicated the direction it would take. “This is the first time the message from the government is clear in which direction they are moving, that is the most important thing ...As a business community we will support it,” he reiterated.

(+) Suva Chamber of Commerce
President Nur Bano Ali echoed similar sentiments. “Government has indicated the road they have chosen and all I can say is that these are very positive things so the private sector will have to play its part.”

But Perhaps Much Depends on Who is Asking the Question

A small research exercise I conducted at USP in the late 1990s sought to see whether the ethnicity of the interviewer affected answers . It did, and the results were statistically significant. Those interviewed by a person of the same ethnicity were more forthright in their answers; with people of a different ethnicity they more cautious, often I suspect answering in a way to please the interviewer. Thus, on the question "Should the military be more ethnically balanced", Fijians to Fijians said 'no', and to Indo-Fijians 'yes.' while Indo-Fijian to IF said 'yes' and to Fijians said 'no' or 'perhaps.'

I suspect something of this sort has influenced the 'business' responses cited above. One of my "inside sources", normally a government supporter, wrote:

Source 1. (-) "I was at the speech yesterday, it was very strange indeed in all honesty it lacked substance and was a waste of money. All [the business and other people] I have spoken to have very similar feelings, they have lost support for the government and feel the situation is now hopeless...They have all but walked away from the government, again citing the same reasons, nothing will be done, the wrong people are running the country, etc."

Source 2, who also attended the meeting.
(+) "The thing that amazed me was that the ... Centre was packed - absolutely packed with no seats left. ... I was surprised that it was rather short but, on reflection, I guess he just wanted to paint the big broad strokes for the future. All the comments I heard (mainly from the business people) were positive. There was a feeling that he was addressing the big issues that have not been addressed in the past. If anything the speech gave people a lost of assurance of a certain time frame. Some businessmen said the speech could well encourage investment because the processes were defined."

Source 3, who was not at the meeting but who earlier had some support for Bainimarama:
(-) "I am afraid I am very cynical about FB's promises and claims after what has transpired this far [restrictions on the media, the Emergency Regulations, alleged favouritism and nepotism in the senior public service, arbitrary imposition of the 55 year retirement age. As for...]"democracy will be given to the people in 2014 on a silver platter....Only naive people would believe this nonsense. Participatory democracy cannot emerge out of 8 years of military and 'coercive' rule ... I don't see any reason for the on-going imposition of PER."

"We should and can move more quickly to constitution-making and to the general election - the electoral provisions should be in the form of a separate law outside the constitution. Unfortunately ...FB and his cronies have their own personal agenda."

Source 4, who always opposed the coup but who originally thought Bainimama well intended:
(o-) "It all depends on the good faith and commitment of the regime. Neither is much in evidence ... electoral reform and a new Constitution are low on its priorities ....it is not apparent that the regime is ready to engage as yet." (June 18)

"The situation here continues to drift ... The road map announced today by the Commander is a beginning. Dialogue and engagement need to be commenced as soon as possible as the regime rules by decree. If one has elections by September 2014, and that is not a given, it will have governed for nearly eight years. Meanwhile institutions such as the courts, the public service, police, health services and the like are being weakened as arbitrariness and whim replace process and autonomy. The country will survive but at what cost?" (July 3)

My own comment

This mix of responses is a clear demonstration of the adverse effect of restricting media freedom, and freedom of association. Too few people are saying what they really think. Indeed some, publicly, seem to be saying the opposite. There is no opportunity to debate, consider alternatives, or dispute rumours and false allegations. The so-called Pacific "talanoa" way of decision-making and resolving disputes is inoperable.

Such a state of affairs constitutes a very serious threat to Government.

• It is denied good advice. It is only able to appoint non-critical people to its offices and boards.
  
• It is in danger of irretrievably "losing the middle ground" as more of its former supporters (and those willing to give it the benefit of the doubt) become disillusioned.
  
• With the "wrong people" running the country, the economy could falter, and all the Government's intended infrastructural and social reforms need money.

If Bainimarama has an eye on tomorrow's history books, he should know that unless his reforms succeed -- and are made permanent -- his grandchildren will be reading of his "failed coup" (and the backlash his opponents will exact). Good intentions are not enough. He must engage the middle ground. And the first, and most important step along this path is the full (or at least partial and progressive) relaxation of media controls.

(G) The "Road Map" and Events to 2014

Made your views known. To see Realfijinews poll on the speech, click here.

The PM's Address at the Tradewinds Convention Centre on Fiji’s Strategic Framework for Change, July 1 2009.

Click here to read in full from the official government website.

I know some readers will be disappointed at the lack of detail. It certainly wouldn't do as a military map, and it does seem to take a long time to get from A (now) to B (constitution, elections), but with the destination logged in and set on auto-pilot, the address suffices to show Government is serious about reform and elections in September 2014.

One might hope the international community, having given up on earlier elections, might sometime between now and then respond to Bainimarama's appeal for assistance. “I invite our international partners and relevant development agencies who are interested in facilitating the practicalities of the rule of law, creating transparency, facilitating access to justice and removing systematic corruption, to work with our Chief Justice, the Independent Legal Services Commission, the Legal Aid Commission and the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) respectively.”

Bainimarama said the "Government is committed on the need to facilitate the practicalities of the rule of law, creating transparency, facilitating access to justice and removing systematic corruption.”

Government is also concerned with law and order. PER (the public emergency regulations) are extended to the end of this year. "Some people with dirty political motives are awaiting the removal of the emergency regulations to organise a protest march against some government decisions."

My Summary of the Road Map (quotes from Bainimarama)

The first 3 years (2009-2012): a "period of immense change."

1. More efficient government (Government has already cut $190m from government expenditure from January-May this year). "Workers and civil servants of the country that they will be treated fairly" but Bainimarama said that "they have to become more efficient and productive."

• Divestment of Government shares and closure or amalgamation of non-performing department
• More outsourcing to the private sector
• Rewriting of town and country planning laws that impede development

2. Focus on implementing social and infrastructural needs:

• Strengthen "infrastructure and assist in building capacities within the judiciary."($500,000 extra already allocated)
• Continuing work on reducing corruption
• Upgrading police infrastructure: communications, transport, forensic tools
• "Seek to empower the marginalized and address areas of neglect."
• Develop "pro-growth and pro-poor" policies in co-operation with financial institutions and the private sector
• Laws on underage marriage and domestic violence

3. Tourism. Laucala Island Resort and Natadola Bay resorts completed. Ongoing work on Naisoro Island project. Hopeful sale of

2010. Implementation of Land Reforms. This will result in:

• Attractive rental returns to ordinary Fijian landowners (the present system skims off most rental money before it reaches the "grassroots" owners)
• More secure tenure for tenants; increased productive land use.
• The ownership of traditional Fijian land to remain unchanged.

“We cannot realise our potential in agriculture, improve the living conditions of the taukei (indigenous Fijians), if land is not made available on a long term, sustainable basis.”

2011. Nadarivatu hydroelectric power project (41.76mW) completed. Road improvements continue.

2012. Consultations with stakeholders on the Constitution.

"The impetus [will]from People's Charter recommendations" [but there will be further inputs] "Consultations shall be extensive and will not just be limited to political parties. It shall include civil society including non- governmental organizations and citizens of our country." Topics to be discussed with include:

• “Common and equal citizenship"
• New (racial-free) voting system
• Proposed new voting age at 18
• Size of parliament and terms of office
• Checks and balances on parliament
• A bi-cameral system (the old Senate)

"The new constitution must include provisions that will entrench common and equal citizenry, it must not have ethnic based voting; the voting age shall be 18; and it must have systems that hold elected governments accountable with more checks and balances."

2013. Constitution completed by September to "allow all Fijians and parliamentary candidates ample time to familiarise themselves with the new constitution."

• Constitution to be translated into the vernacular, and with a concise "pocket-size" version available.

2014. September. Elections.

Bainimrama concluded:

"My fellow citizens, your Excellencies what I am saying is that I and my Government have a vision to make Fiji realize its true potential – a potential that can be realized through building a strong nation state, by empowering all our citizens, by fixing up the decades of neglected infrastructure, by providing actual adherence to the principles of the rule of law, by putting in place sustainable institutions and laws that will create accountability, transparency, justice, fair play and modernity; by improving living standards and alleviating poverty; by putting in place a liberalized and level playing field economy."

(+) No Turning Back, PM Tells the World

Fijilive

I'm waiting for the dust to settle -- and there's quite a bit of it -- before commenting on the PM's "road map," launched yesterday at Tradewinds just out of Suva. I'm hoping I'll be better equipped to comment after I've read what others have to say but this, of course, will depend on the quality of the comments. Later today I'll publish a "chronology of events" leading to the 2014 elections from official Government sources. Meanwhile, read the FijLive account of what Bainimarama had to say by clicking the embedded link above.

(o) Tasteless Blog Posting on Swine 'Flu in Fiji

UPDATE July 1. 7pm. There are now 19 confirmed cases. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Secretariat of the South Pacific (SPC) , with financial help from AUSAid and NZAid and manufacturers Roche, have donated 167,000 capsules of Tamiflu, enough to protect 2% of the population, and surgical masks and other protective apparatus to Fiji. Tamiflu is only used for severe cases. Fiji Sun.

Coupfourpointfive is one of the few rational anti-government blogs. Its particular strength is that it publishes information from "insiders" that is not, and at present cannot, be published by the Fiji media. Its comments (and presumably posts) are vetted by an Auckland-based panel before publishing. I have no problem with its anti-government stance; its insider information (necessarily anonymous and for the most part unverifiable) or its vetting of material submitted for publication. I do, however, think too many racist comments and unreasoned postings pass its censors. Freedom of the press is not compromised by censoring scurrilous and misleading reports.

Monday's post (June 29) that blames the Government for the spread of swine 'flu is a case in point. It seems to have escaped the writer's reasoning that if Government is responsible for swine 'flu (and all the "bad" things that happen in Fiji) it is, by the same logic, also responsible for the rugby wins over Samoa and Tonga! How silly can we be!

Here's the posting:

"Regime's anti-proof plan for swine flu fails. Fiji has now got ten cases of the swine flu virus. Six of them are employees of mobile company Digicel.The workers contracted the virus via a PNG national who can't be traced. Two weeks ago the interim regime said their contingency plans for the virus was foolproof. [There are] concerns over whether people will be able to afford a packet of Tamiflu to treat the virus. A packet of Tamiflu in Fiji costs $90."

Comment Late June 30 there were 11 confirmed cases. Tamiflu is issued free after check-ups at health centres. NZ's "population clock"at 11pm last night (Monday) gives NZ a population of 4,313,604 people, a little over four times Fiji's estimated population. As of today we have 587 confirmed cases of swine flu, up 64 since yesterday. Fiji, on a per capita comparison basis, should therefore have about 120 cases -- not ten! The later arrival of the virus probably accounts for the lower figure but at this stage the figure is neither a failure or a cause for alarm. Fiji should endeavour to contain the number of cases as long as possible, but there could come a point, as it did in NZ two weeks' ago, that health authorities switch from containment to management.

Rather than gloating that the Government's health plans were not "foolproof" (and only a fool would made such a claim. I doubt that "foolproof" was the actual word used) everyone with friends and relations in Fiji should be worried that the 'flu may reach pandemic proportions.

New Zealand has a far better endowed health system than Fiji, but even here authorities predict the numbers affected will run into thousands, with more than a few deaths. The 'flu will also have a major economic impact due to absenteeism, loss of production, fewer travellers, and a slump in demand. The NZ Treasury estimates a worst case scenario will result in a 75% reduction in business for accommodation, restaurants and bars, and 25% drops in retail and transport business. Economists predict our GDP would fall by 1.4% in a "mild" pandemic, and 5 to 18% in a worst case scenario (NZ Listener June 27-July 7). Let us hope and pray this does not happen in NZ - or Fiji. World-wide, laboratories are working in a race against the virus to produce a vaccine to replace Tamiflu.

Footnote (not to alarm but as an historical record). The 1918 Spanish 'flu pandemic is the worse recorded. It killed nearly 9,000 NZers, with Maori dying at seven times the rate of Pakeha. Nearly one-quarter of the population of Tonga and Samoa died. In Nuku'alofa the dead were buried in several mass graves by sailors from a visiting warship. There were too few healthy Tongans to perform this task.

As for Fiji, about 14% of Fiji's population died within the first two weeks (further records were not kept!), and an estimated 85-90% of those living in Suva town and district were thought by authorities to have been infected.

Unless the virus mutates, 2009 should not be another 1918 but it is faulty logic and exceedingly poor taste to exaggerate and put blame where it does not belong. Political capital should not be made out of a serious health situation. Fiji's health services are not perfect now, nor were they before 2006. Photo:Fiji Live.

Snippets: Micro-Credit, FICAC, Methodist Church Warned, Minimum Wages, Overseas Indo-Fijians Help Poor

Bainimarama to address nation. The PM is expected to address the nation on Wednesday with a new "road map." According to State media, the address at the Trade Winds Convention Centre in Lami on Wednesday morning will focus on Fiji’s “strategic framework for change”.

Micro-Credit. The Reserve Bank is encouraging local banks to provide micro-financingthat would help small business, old and new. Fiji Live. Click here.

Tax evasion? Documents were seized from the supermarket chain RB Patel last week by Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption, with its widened powers, to check on possible tax evasion. Fiji Times.Click here.

The PM has warned Methodist Church leaders to stop misleading the people by saying its conference will go ahead in August. He also cautioned parents against their children being used in an August march. FijiVillage. Click here.

Minimum wages non-compliance only $100.The new minimum wage awards start today but Government still needs to fix a provision that sets the fine for failing to comply at a mere $100! Fiji Master Builders Association President and owner of Raghwan Construction, Vijay Raghwan said the increases are long overdue. He said most construction companies will not have a problem since they are already paying above the wage rate. Fiji Village. Click here.

Educational help for poor Indo-Fijians. Help for The Auckland-based International Congress of Fiji Indians has collected $F100,000 for distribution to poor children in Fiji to pursue their education.The organisation, comprising Indo-Fijians in Auckland, Brisbane and Sydney, was established in 2000 after the George Speight-led coup to look after the growing generation to achieve educational standards and look after themselves and their families. Daily Post. Click here.

Trade with New Zealand. Pacific Island Trade Commissioner to NZ Chris Cocker, told a Nadi workshop on Pacific Island Agricultural Trade Opportunities with NZ, the Pacific was worth $1.2 billion to NZ, and Fiji represented 90 per cent of the Pacific share in the NZ market. Most exports to NZ were fruit and vegetables targeted at NZ's large Pacific island population. For the record, NZ exports to Fiji are worth four times more than Fiji's exports to NZ. There are no sanctions on trade. Fiji Sun. Click here.