Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)

Tuesday 12 January 2010

(o) McCully and Kubuabola Agree to "Climb Everest"



NZ and Fiji's Foreign Ministers, Murray McCully and Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, meeting in Nadi on Friday and Saturday discussed "a number of issues of bilateral interest to both countries ... in a positive and constructive atmosphere, and have agreed to keep working at improving relations between the two countries."

One immediate outcome will be the appointment of new counsellors in Suva and Wellington (and later deputy heads of mission, and perhaps later still Heads of Mission.) Currently Fiji has only one official in Wellington while NZ has a policy adviser, two administration officials and immigration staff in Suva.

McCully said, "I think it got to the point in both cases where the viability of our operations were under threat. . .this is going to get us into a better space. It's only by maintaining the ability to communicate that you are able to move forward. Even if we strongly disagree, some good will come from ongoing communications."  The face-to-face (Maori: kanohi ki kanohi) meeting followed  ongoing communications between the two Ministers over recent months.

This good news prompted one reader to ask "do you reckon we are almost on the top of Everest?" to which I replied, "No, but they have agreed to establish a base camp." She followed this up with, "What’s the saying – “slowly slowly catch a monkey”- we will get up Everest yet, or is it the Sleeping Giant** and we are in the valley?

I'm afraid we are still in the valley. McCully went on to say "None of this signals a change to New Zealand's substantive policy with regard to the regime in Fiji, nor does it signal any change in the sanctions regime currently in place. But it does signal a determination to improve the relationship, and in particular to be able to agree to disagree about some things." McCully, not "wanting to get ahead of Australia [Why not!] said "the Australian government was fully aware of the decisions announced today, and supported them."

Labour Party Response Pathetic
I can see why Australia had to be informed if NZ-Australia relationship is truly one of equals, but I found Labour Foreign Affairs spokesman Chris Carter's reaction rather pathetic. He welcomed the move,reminded us how Labour had "tried to commit Commodore Bainimarama to an election date" and said "the Labour Party will do all it can to assist the Government, including using its extensive contacts amongst the Indo-Fijian community in New Zealand."  He's still in a time-warp. Our insistence on elections (and no dialogue) and the assumption that this is all about race is what caused us to make the situation worse in the first place.

I'm sure there are many Indo-Fijians in NZ who are unhappy or undecided about the Fiji situation, and not a few ethnic Fijians who were unhappy about the Qarase administration and are prepared to give Bainimarama the benefit of the doubt. And all other former Fiji citizens (Part-Europeans, Europeans, Chinese, Rotumans, Kai Solomoni, and so on) will be similarly divided. Chris, this is about taking steps towards a Fiji with less corruption and better and fairer governance for all, not race and early elections. Would someone knowing Chris please suggest he  -- and other parliamentarians -- visit this blogsite?

The meeting was reported in the Fiji media but Ratu Kuboubola had not yet commented when this post was published.
** Sleeping Giant, a mountain ten kilometres north of Nadi.
Sources: NZHerald, Scoop.

Email from White Frangipani: "It was pretty good that Murray actually went to Fiji- that is a gesture of good will. That is progress. Definition of progress – two steps forward – one step back (or more!).I had a laugh though – Murray wasn’t banned from Fiji like others are [hoping to come] from Fiji to NZ!"

8 comments:

Red Dragon said...

The most immediate way in which Fiji might benefit from improved relations with New Zealand would be to have some skilled prosecutors come up with proven track records of success to assist in pending abuse of office and corruption cases. These cases must be seen to be properly conducted and they MUST result in convictions of all who have ripped honest, hard-working Fijians off for years. This is the most beneficial outcome to be hoped for now. It is vital that corrupt persons beavering away at laundering money, escaping Fiji taxes, aided and abetted by lawyers and accountants and crooked police officers/town and country planners who have facilitated their efforts (surely for tidy sums?)be brought to account. Too much time has been wasted. Prepared to lie in court even in front of witnesses, these vultures continue to bring us all down. New Zealand and Interpol need to get their skates on. Their interests are at stake just as much as Fiji's are. We are all in this battle against corruption together.

joe said...

@Red Dragon
Hopefully not someone like AFP man Andrew Hughes. Frank was 100% correct in his assessment of Andrew, now that the AFP conspiracy in the Julian Moti case is unfolding. I agree with you Red Dragon. Perhaps Peter Ridgeway should come back and continue from where he left, by force of course. Can any right thinking person imagine where we would be today had the mutineers of Nov 2000 succeeded? Go figure. NZ & OZ, look outside of the democracy mental block for a change.

TheMax said...

The Julian Moti saga should open the eyes of all Pacific island country leaders. If they choose to ignore, they should forget their sovereignty over their islands and forget Pacific solidarity in the future.

Anonymous said...

@ Joe

Is there any good reason why Peter Ridgeway would not be able to return? He could surely be immensely helpful? This is not to undermine those now at the helm but surely they require as much help as is available? Each and every citizen of Fiji would welcome this were it to be carefully explained. Every beneficiary of a corrupt 'deal' knows that is what they are. Many are colluders - they have failed to report on substantial crimes. No patience or compassion is due to such persons. They have defrauded each and everyone of us. Yet, many try to adopt a cover of: Human Rights Defender, Ecological Advocate, Up-standing Corporate leader when they have actually defrauded a public company. Come on. Time to end these subterfuges. Most knew exactly what they were up to: stealing. What is more, their lawyers and accountants were stealing alongside them. Some of us have seen the evidence and there is no mistake. By the way: does Transparency International in Fiji have access to evidence? Why the silence? Why do they not speak out? All NGOs must now come forward with evidence, swear affidavits and tell their funders that this is their public duty. Who are they protecting? Show some spine!

Liu Muri said...

I agree with Joe that Peter Ridgeway should be brought back to continue from where the Qarase "boys" manipulated the judicial system, for which he is paying a heavy price now.
What we need is INDEPENDENT and politically and racially neutral and impartial people who are prepared to put culprits behind the bar WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOUR. That is missing in Fiji now.
What we also find unbelievable is that the media, especially the Fiji Times remained criminally silent when Peter Ridgeway, who was on close scent of the coup-makers of 2000, was sent packing by a corrupt Qarase regime, advised by disbarred Attorney General, Q Bale.

Anonymous said...

@ Liu Muri

Quite agree with the 'criminally silent' position of the Fiji Times. Eventually, they must be held fully accountable for their posture (that is what is was) which was purchased through contributions to a political slush fund. The Fiji Times along with other media organisations undermined and aided and abetted grand corruption. It also undermined the rights of citizens and investors in Fiji. What kind of corporate governance was operating? No accountability, no ethics, no transparency. And TI Fiji said nothing?

snoopy said...

I would urge all ex Fijians not to support the Labour Party in NZ. I know a lot of the NZ residents were(are) supporters of the Labour Party in Fiji.

The Labour Party in NZ has not done anything to help Fiji, does not listen to the view of the ex Fiji residents in NZ and takes their vote for granted.

Croz - i hope you can highlight this issue in your blog

joe said...

@snoopy
I agree with you. Dont support Keys either. Vote independents and minor parties not affiliated to Phil and Keys.