MCGANN AGAIN. There seems to be some confusion about the US Ambassador's recent location and his present status in Fiji. The Fiji media reported that he had be called in to see Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola but a reader said he was already in Washington. Then we had a statement from the Ambassador (presumable from Washington) saying that he was updating people there about Fiji and looked forward to discussing things with PM Bainimarama when he returned to Fiji. On top of which came two statements, both presumably from the PM; one asking the people to let him know what he should "do" with the Ambassador; the other saying he looked forward to hearing from him. All this just about sums up my dilemma on Fiji: which story do I report: one, both or neither? The only thing that's sure is that whatever I decide, the usual anti-government critics will put the least complimentary interpretation on my decision.
Here's the most credible report:
"It is reassuring that the American Ambassador Steve McGann is currently in talks with Washington and briefing them on the issues that the Fiji Government have raised over the past few weeks,’ said Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama.
"In a press statement released by the US Embassy it states ‘that the Ambassador has been working on these issues since the 5th December in order to expedite visa applications, he will also be briefing the Prime Minister upon his return to Fiji. ‘Given the Ambassador is currently in talk with Washington regarding Fiji, it puts a positive light on our diplomatic relations’ the Prime Minister said. -- 2010, No:2157/MOI.
TUI CAKAU TO MEET PM. Cakaudrove Provincial Council chairman Emetai Boladuadua has confirmed that the Tui Cakau will meet the PM next Monday. Both leaders have expressed their willingness to meet to resolve issues and help move the country forward.
METHODIST RESTRICTIONS PARTLY LIFTED. Two years ago Government, not without cause, banned the traditional annual meeting of the Methodist Church on the grounds that it would be used by extremist Church leaders for political purposes. Permission has now been given to hold next year's annual conference or Bose ko Viti but must be held on one day. Permission was also given to hold the annual meetings of each division or Bose Vakayabaki, and the quarterly meetings or Bose Vula Tolu. Church leaders have decided the quarterly meetings will be held in March; the divisional meetings in May and the Conference in AusgustThe Bose ko Viti usually features choir competitions and other fundraising activities.
The decision was welcomed by acting general secretary Rev.Tevita Nawadra who called the decision God-inspired and "a stepping stone of getting things right with the Government." the Church would ensure the meetings were conducted according to the conditions set.
Rev. Nawadra did, however, request that government allow the church to hold its annual bazaar next year as this was a major source of funding, typically some $800,000.
QARASE INVITED TO GIVE SERMON. Speaking after the announcement, the PM said government almost reversed its decision to allow the Methodist Church to hold its annual conference next year when it learnt that a politician, the former PM Laisenia Qarase, gave the sermon at Suva's Centenary Church last Sunday. Bainimarama again warned the church to stay away from politics. Inviting the man largely responsible for the problems the country is now in to deliver a sermon in Suva's largest Methodist Church was not the way to mend relations with government. Approval had been given so the church could do its spiritual work better among the people, not to allow itself to be used as an instrument for political influence.
NZ LAW SOCIETY MEETING POSITIVE. Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary for Justice Christopher Pryde met NZ Law Society President Jonathan Temm in Wellington last week. This was after Mr Temm indicated he would be unable to attend the Attorney-General’s Conference in Denarau that was attended by 360 people.
The Solicitor General described he meeting as "very positive. We discussed various issues concerning the legal profession in Fiji and Mr Temm has agreed to look at assisting the Fiji legal profession in providing continuing legal education courses in the New Year.”
16 comments:
If democracy was returned to Fiji and there were free elections tomorrow Qarase would overwhelmingly again be elected as our leader.
And it is certainly not up to palagis like you, gates, pryde or smith johns to tell us who we will have as our leaders.
White rule colonialism is over croz - its over...
Croz, Fiji Village is reporting that not only did Laisenia Qarase give the sermon at Centenary Church on Sunday but that he shared the pulpit with that old racist warhorse, the Reverend Tomasi Kanailagi. What this proves is that nothing has changed in the Methodist Church. It is the SDL at prayer and however much it tries to pretend otherwise, this provocation exposes the church's true nature. What was the hierarchy thinking allowing the most prominent indigenous extremists in the country to peddle their message of hate. The Prime Minister should immediately reverse his decision to grant the church a permit for any meeting next year. He gave them an inch and they took a mile, spitting in his face and giving the two fingered salute to the rest of the country. Shame on them. It's also time for the church's overseas supporters to finally accept the truth now staring everyone in the face. That It is a bastion of the indigenous cause and will never accept a truly multiracial Fiji. It needs to be confronted at every turn and driven to the margins of national life. And if these provocations continue, the likes of Kanailagi and Lasaro should be detained indefinitely as a threat to public order. In my book, they're as dangerous as the Islamic cleric, Abu Bakar Bashir. They may not openly advocate terrorism but they manipulate ordinary i'taukei with their message of a divine stamp of approval on the indigenous cause. The choice for them is simple. Shut up or be locked up.
The Prime Minister and the American ambassador need to bury the hatchet once and for all. A lot of this is personal and arises from a fundamental misunderstanding about the need to keep diplomacy and personal relationships separate. A lot of people have witnessed these two people engaging in friendly Fiji-style banter at various social occasions. That may be OK so long as that banter doesn't descend into barbs but unfortunately there's some anecdotal evidence that this has happened. The PM seems to be blaming McCann for the recent "delays" in granting visas to members of the regime. So he's engaged in some pretty undiplomatic behaviour, like his astonishing invitation to the public to advise him on whether McCann has outstayed his welcome in Fiji. This is not about Frank Bainimarama and Steve McCann but about Fiji and the United States. And the relationship is too important to be derailed under any circumstances. The PM might be feeling emboldened by the support of his new tau in China but this is a folly that will only damage us, not the US. It's time to back off and build bridges.
Oh, for the love of Jesus, here comes the hoary old white colonist line. How bizarre that these people are so racist that they're willing to argue publicly that a white man doesn't have the right to comment on events in Fiji. Imagine their outrage if a white man were to say that they are so backward in terms of being stuck in the politics of race that they have no right to be heard. Don't they realise the irony of their indefensible position and how pathetic they sound? How much further does the white man have to carry the intellectual burden for these people because they're so unevolved? You got your political independence but you can't run a country without it descending into chaos and racial division. Qori. How did you like that? Continue with this kind of rubbish and the white man you hate so much has an easy retort. When we governed you, you were better off and that's an indisputable fact. Better infrastructure, better health care, better standards of governance. And idiots like you cutting the grass, not strutting around dishing out gratuitous insults. But, of course, we're not "real Fijians" are we. Just smarter ones.
"You got your political independence but you can't run a country without it descending into chaos and racial division. Qori."
So a military dictatorship is a valid solution? Fijian's cannot decide anything for themselves because they are "unevolved" or somehow against "multiracial" harmony?
To say this stuff over and over again is ridiculous and patronising. Noone can argue that the right to self-determination should be withheld on the basis that an entire PEOPLE is somehow inherently incapable of self-government. This has been used as an excuse to take power from the people and vest it in the threat of violence.
The ONLY chaos and division in Fiji at the moment is perpetrated by the treasonous cretins and their sycophants in power. It is obvious that this continued flogging of the racism horse and the repression of social discourse about Fiji's future can only have one result - and that won't be happy for anyone.
@ the intellectually and democratically-challenged......but it is MORE than that!
Unfortunately, if it were only just the above but it is much worse. Many of these challenged individuals are also criminal. They are criminal in intent and criminal in action and the lives of many women and children in Fiji are virtually beseiged by such people. Circumvented by superstition, archaic and fettered religious beliefs which were nothing to do with John Wesley, they are a "Blot on the Landscape" of civilisation. And that civilised world encompasses democratic thought for which these people are totally unprepared and will require years of preparation and education. The governance of Fiji cannot wait this long: the world moves on without Fiji submerged in primeval machination. Now what will Ambassador McGann have to say about that one wonders? And where is Ambassador Richard Holbrooke who undoubtedly had a grasp and a grip on the nature of true evil (in Bosnia and Kosovo) and the complexity of feudal, primeval politics (in Pakistant and Afghanistan). May he rest in peace eternal.
@ Methodist Good Faith.....
The Methodist Church in Fiji should be willing to divulge to the entire country what was preached in Church in Suva last Sunday. Given the prominent reputations of the two persons invited to speak it is surely of public interest and....taxpayers' interest...as to what was the subject matter addressed. Reparation and restitution?
@ no more 'palangi' colonialists...
What you appear to have overlooked is that the age of the taxpayer has arrived. Oh yes! Good Governance requires that the power and the say of the taxpayers rule. This means in effect that whoever is most efficient, has the greatest measure of integrity in the spending of public money will hold sway. It is inconceivable that either Qarase or the Rev Kanailagi would have a show in this contest. Eventually, the taxpayers will prevail and in the Methodist Church the smart worshippers must decide where to put their money: educate their children and educate themselves (through soon to arrive Adult Education Courses) or throw their collection 'soli' after what was misused before. Not a smart decision!
Radio Who.
Yes Fijians are "unevolved" infact they cannot arrange a screw in a brothel let alone government.
Democracy for the majority is an equal share and not skewed to those who perpetrate and advance their pernicious ideals.
Fiji cannot survive if cretins like yourself are only interested in their advancement and not of their fellowmen.
The greed that permeated the halls of Qararse's government has left the nation gasping for air.
Invictus.
@ invictis
You and croz can sprout all the racial vindictiveness you want (although as soon as something is said back you all squeal like mongoose with their heads cut off.) Fijians are patient people. We can wait for the right moment to act. The Methodist Church will NOT be suppressed by dictators and Qarase will be back in his rightful place as leader of our nation. Nothing will change this roadmap - hopoe this helps your confusion and bitterness?
@ the Piper
You are of course absolutely correct - taxpayers should vote the fittest government to power because they spend our money. Too bad we cannot vote out or even complain about the military - the only things they seem to want to do recently is blame foreign governments for their own mismanagement and incompetance. If there was a vote tomorrow, sure as anything noone would vote these clowns in.
The question to be asked is: Can pacific island countries really govern themselves or would they be better off under foreign administrations such as New Caledonia, American Samoa and French Polynesia? I am fully aware that it is politically incorrect to even ask such a question but after 10 years in the islands I have serious doubts. For democracy to work, a population needs to be well educated and ready to stand up for their rights.
@No more p....
It is you who is shown to be the racist beacuse you are making accusations based on race. People like you are the reason the SDL should never return to power
@ Invictus...
One was just about to add "could not manage a piss up in a brewery" but you put it better! A Happy Christmas and New Year to you, Invictus!
@ No more P..
People like you try to push an agenda complaining about "white racism", but spout policies that are racist against other races in Fiji. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.
You are just hypocrites trying to push anything that will serve your own selfish needs.
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