Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Weekend Reading  • Allen Lockington Column • What to Do with the Military by Peter Firkins  • New Lawyers' Admisssion Ceremony Address • The Julian Moti Saga •  The Last Few Weeks by Crosbie Walsh (possibly Sunday; probably next week).
A Suggestion. Don't forget to read Comments. You may have missed some "good ones" some time last week —or even earlier.

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.

Empowering Our Nurses

It was reported (FT 21/4) ‘unfit’ nurses were required to undergo diet and training programs.  Public health workers were required to undergo compulsory medical screening when renewing their contracts. And those who were obese, suffer from risks of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension and cancer would be required to adopt the diet and training programmes offered by the Ministry of Health. It was also reported by the Fiji Nursing Association that 50% of deaths amongst nurses were from work- related stress.

Now we read (FT 26/7) nurses will be audited to ensure they meet the competency lever required by the Ministry of Health. It will be an annual event. This is good. Most nurses already work under stress, how many of them live with abusive husbands.  I the recent past many of our nurses left for overseas because they were offered better deals. Now that we are asking our nurses (whose job is always taken for granted) could we pay them a little bit better, became they can almost do what a doctor can do. Or am I wrong?

With the new Health administration, I know our nurses will be getting a better deal. Here is a suggestion: We have a shortage of doctors. Could our nurses who have served more than nine to ten years sit an exam to qualify them to administer  some of the work now left only for doctors to do? The nurses work right beside a doctor and must have learnt much from their observation and participation. Often nurses have to wait for a doctor when a patient or victim is under severe stress because her code of ethics prevents her from doing what she already knows the doctor would do. Let's open up our nursing system a little more to assist where they do not have to wait for a doctor.

I know Florence Nightingale would agree with me and so would the hundreds of people who wait for hours at the GOPD and special clinics because the doctor has not arrived, or had to pull a 24 hour shift. Doctors are human beings also and I’m sure they can do with a little assistance.

By the way, could the whole of the Civil Service be tested for competency every 12 months, for obvious reasons and also undergo the health regime the nurses undergo? Why only nurses eh!

'Peter Firkins's Ideas on What to Do with the Military

Dreaming about a stable Fiji without the military albatross around our neck. fijitoday | August 4, 2011 at 2:05 pm | Tags: Bainimarama, Debt, economy, election, Fiji, military, police | Categories: Censorship, Coup, Economy, Elections, fiji coup, Military/Police | URL: http://wp.me/pp6qP-1WX

 By 2020 the Fiji Military should be a ceremonial force only.

An opinion piece by Peter Firkin
In the future no immunities.
Let’s look into the future when Fiji has a new constitution and new democratically elected government and concentrate on how we stop a recurrence of the repeated cycle of military coups.
There will be no elections without handing out immunities to all those who have committed crimes in the process of removing an elected government.  Why would you give up control if you were then arrested and jailed?
These immunities have become accepted as part of the “normal method” of ending a coup and would have been factored into the thinking of all the various coup perpetrators.  Apologising and seeking forgiveness is built into our heritage and is accepted in Fiji as a normal part of daily living.
 This must end in relation to coups.  A stable democracy requires a subservient obedient military under the direction of an elected government.
The new constitution must specifically ban the issuing of any immunity for any activity that undermines the democratic government.
 How does a civilian government protect itself from its military?
The current coup will not be the last unless there is a radical change in attitudes towards the democratic “rights” of Fiji’s citizens by the military.
Unless action is taken the new constitution will be no more secure than the old one from military whim and abrogation.
As the military has been involved in all the previous coups then how do we protect ourselves from those with military authority and weapons?
 How do we bring the military back to its correct position as subservient to the government of the day?
Do we need the military?
Do we need a military and what size army does a country of 800,000 people need?
Fiji has a larger army than Papua New Guinea that has a population of 7,000,000.
 Fiji is unlikely to be attacked from an external country and our wide geographic area and 330 islands make it indefensible to our traditional infantry type ill equipped army.  We have neither the air force nor the type of navy required to take on any of our major neighbours.  There is no current or potential threat to the nation of Fiji
 Why does it exist?
Peacekeeping is often cited as a reason with remittances from overseas soldiers a significant foreign exchange earner for the country.   The remittances however do not compare well with the overall cost of maintaining a standing army of 3,500 active soldiers and 6,000 reservists.   The drain on the countries budget cannot be justified by remittances.
So why does it exist?   Border protection could be handled by a ready reaction force of less than 100 military trained officers operating under the jurisdiction of the Police Commissioner.
Any new constitution must not enshrine the Fiji Military Forces as the defender of the people.  With no external threat the only potential use of this force is against the civilian population.
 The recent activities by the armies of Syria. Egypt and Libya against their civilian population and the reaction of the international community show this is not an acceptable use of military force.
So what do we do with a force of 3500 trained soldiers?
I suggest we wind them down. 
Stop recruiting and retrain those with other skills.
 Offer a paid redundancy to all soldiers. Our standing army cost us in excess of $35,000 per soldier per annum to maintain.  Offering all soldiers a year’s salary as a redundancy payment should be a start.
 The military engineers should be made into a State Owned Enterprise or a Shareholding Cooperative to contract road and civil engineering projects.  If necessary these projects should be subsidized by the government until the commercial skills are developed.  By 2020 all subsidies should be removed with a fully commercial unit remaining.
The navy should be converted into a Coast Guard with emphasis on protecting our fisheries and our Exclusive Economic Zone as this becomes more important with the development of undersea mining.
Private companies in Fiji should be given a subsidy to recruit active soldiers into the workforce.
 The Australian, New Zealand and British armed forces should be encouraged to select from the current standing army in our country.
There should be a plan in place to reduce our military to a ceremonial status by a suggested date of 2020.
Al of the above should release the majority of the estimated $129 million dollars currently drained each year from the economy by the military.
This is sufficient to service all of our current overseas debt.

New Lawyers' Admissions Ceremony Address 5.8.2011

I thought some readers would find this interesting.

Address by the Presiding Judge Mr Justice Anthony Gates,

Chief Justice, at the Admissions Ceremony for the newly admitted Legal Practitioners for Fiji, at Suva, Fiji, 5th August 2011

The Julian Moti Saga

I haven't published anything about the Moti saga before because it is not directly relevant to Fiji, but he is Fiji-born and the case does ask serious questions about Australia's rather heavy hand in Pacific affairs.  
      O'Connor's article was published on a socialist website which would immediately make it suspect for some readers, though why it should be more suspect than an opinion piece from another perspective, I really do not know.  
     But then, I've lost a lot of faith in the so-called independent and balanced media since I started this blog three years ago. Happy reading. Croz

Minister McCully on Fiji, the Forum and the World Cup

The Minister in Samoa

Pacific talks won't dwell on Fiji: McCully

Tamara McLean, AAP South Pacific Correspondent
August 4, 2011 - 3:54PM . AAP
 
Upcoming Pacific regional talks won't dwell on the problematic issue of Fiji's military regime and its lack of progress towards democratic elections, New Zealand's foreign minister says.
Pacific leaders will converge on Auckland next month to celebrate 40 years of what Murray McCully called "regional unity and togetherness".

Missing from that united front, however, is the largest and most powerful South Pacific island nation, Fiji,

News and Editor's Comments Friday 5.8.11

Peter Thomson and UN SecGen Ban Ki-Moon

Weekend Reading  • Allen Lockington Column • What to Do with the Military by Peter Firkins   • The Julian Moti Saga •  The Last Few Weeks by Crosbie Walsh (probably later Saturday/Sunday)

 Friday 5.8.11
FIJI AMBASSADOR A UN VP.Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Peter Thomson has been elected as one of 21 elected vice-presidents for the 66th session of the UN General Assembly that will run for one year from 13 September. The vice-presidents are members of the UN’s general committee, chaired by the President of the General Assembly, that deals with procedural and organisational matters of the assembly’s session. -- Based on No.1562/MOFA.
UNIONISTS CHARGED with breaking PER.  Daniel Urai and Dinesh Gounder were charged yesterday for conducting a union meeting without a permit as required in the Public Emergency Regulations (PER). And so the Government-Union standoff escalates.  
MORE ON THE METHODIST ANNUAL CONFERENCE. Yesterday, I applauded Government's move to permit a three-day conference this year. It showed good faith and good sense. And then Military spokesman, Col. Neumi Leweni spoilt it all by  proceeded to warn the Church about not jeopardising future meetings, followed by a reiteration of the Church's past political activities and a prompting to engage in spiritual matters. The Church leaders would already be aware of all this.
      Following these gratuitous comments, he urged the Church to "align itself to the Charter and the Roadmap because they are aimed at providing a lasting solution to Fiji’s socio-political and economic problems which have plagued the nation in the years between 1987 and 2006.”
     Pressing the message home in this way detracted from what some would otherwise have seen as a welcome gesture by Government.
LEWENI ON THE MILITARY. Col. Leweni went on to talk about the role of the military in Government. The Church, he said, needs to recognize the involvement of the Military in Government, especially in charting a way towards peaceful co-existence of all the different races in the country ...The Government and the Military vision is absolutely clear – everyone must all work towards peaceful co-existence. The Church is no exception.”  Many people recognize the military's positive role since 2006  but there are two big concerns: First and immediately, the military needs to recognize that other sections of the population also want a role in shaping Fiji's future. Secondly and further down the road, the future role of the RFMF must be decided by popular dialogue on the new Constitution.
[Note: Read Peter Firkins ideas on the military in this Weekend Reading.]

STRENGTHENING TIES WITH CHINA. In welcoming the new Chinese Ambassador on Wednesday, the PM  expressed the hope that bilateral relations between the two countries would be further strengthened.
EXPOSING CORRUPTION.The PM claims that systematic corruption, especially when involving people in high positions, is being rooted out by Government's reforms.  He noted also that Fiji's work on corruption has been recognized by the United Nations, and that this year alone, the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption has closed 38 cases in court in which 30 were convicted.
MORE INFO WANTED? If you want more information on Government events and decisions, visit the official  Government portal, or if you are in Fiji check out Fiji Today News at 7pm on MAI TV and read Fiji  Focus is published every fortnight in the Fiji Sun.

FNPF: A Disappointed Reader

peter said...
Croz
It is disappointing to read your views on FNPF.
You also appear to unaware of the Fund’s current revised proposal to phase in the cuts over time and shelter the lower pension sum recipients? Please see

News and Editor's Comments Thursday 4.8.11

 Thursday 4.8.11
METHODIST ANNUAL CONFERENCE. When Methodist-Government relations were at an all time low, it was expected permission would not be granted to hold the usual three day Annual Conference until 2014. The Church asked this year that the one day time be extended to 24 hours. Approval was given for the conference to be held in Suva from August 23-25, with eight hour sessions each day to total the 24 hours requested. The choir and soli competitions, however, are still on hold this year.
STOP UNDERMINING PROGRESS. The PM says that government efforts to make opportunities available for all citizens are being undermined by a few individuals. He said  "misinformation and factually incorrect information about Government is mischievous and is being promoted by a disgruntled few who have a lot to lose when the ordinary citizens benefit the most." And  he again urged people to contact his office or a Government Department if they have any "issues."
    This is fine, but it should be in addition to —and not instead of— more normal channels.  There is no substitute for a free, responsible and open media. PER has served its purpose and should be lifted well before the Constitutional dialogue starts next year.
PENSION CUTS. Attorney-General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told Radio Australia that the proposed FNPF reforms are necessary for its long-term sustainability. I have no doubt this is true, and I respect the A-G's efforts to improve FNPF transparency and governance.  But there is no way pension cuts of 64% can be justified on moral, and probably, legal grounds. Past governments entered into a contact with FNPF members which this government inherited. If cuts must be made (and it seems likely they cannot be avoided), it would be fairer for them to be phased in over time, and for those on the smallest pensions to receive the smallest cuts. Prof Wadan Narsey has more, much more, to say on the issue in Pacific Scoop. Here's the link to his article.
     In present circumstances, short to medium-term political sustainability is far more important for the future of Fiji than the long-term sustainability of the FNPF. The present proposal will cause Government to lose many friends it cannot afford to lose.  
NEW HYDRO. China will fund a new hydro station on Taveuni with government picking up only site development costs. Local labour will be used in the Chinese work.
MARA ARREST WARRANT  extended.

Essential National Industries Employment Decree gazetted

No strikes, job actions, sick outs, slowdowns or other financially or operationally harmful activities shall be permitted at any time for any reason for designated corporations under the new Essential National Industries Employment Decree.

News and Editor's Comments Wednesday 3.8.11

Wednesday 3.8.11
RAMADAN STARTS. With the appearance of the new moon, Muslims around the world are observing Ramadan, the holiest month on the Islamic calendar when they are expected to fast and abstain from smoking and sex from dawn until sunset. They also adhere to a broader definition of self-restraint that includes focusing on a re-evaluation of their lives. Ramadan commemorates the time more than 1400 years ago when the words of the Quran were revealed to the Prophet Mohammed. Ramadan ends with the celebration called Eid al-Fitr.
KFC COULD CLOSE. KFC says their temporary closure is due to certain ingredients which they are not allowed to import because of bans placed by Biosecurity Authority of Fiji (BAF), but  BAF said KFC’s closure is not due to any bans imposed by them but through their own admission to rising costs and deteriorating sales.
UNION WARY OF AIR PACIFIC OFFER. The Transport Workers Union says a profit-sharing programme proposal for Air Pacific employees is vague, unlikely to produce benefits for many years (the company made a loss of over US$50m last year)and was "not a good enough incentive for workers." The union’s general secretary Kamlesh Kumar complained the union had been kept in the dark about the proposal and had only heard about it through the media.
MORE SEWING MACHINES. China has donated another thousand sewing machines to help rural women lift their household incomes. All rural villages and settlements  with a women organization are entitled to receive two household sewing machines as a form of assistance from the Ministry for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation that has received this support from China's women organizations. The assistance started last year following the visit of the All China Women's Federation Vice President Meng Xiaosi in April. Since then 1,900 machines have been distributed. This is an excellent initiative for the "grassroots" if sufficient spare parts and regular servicing are also made available.
NAMOSI MINING OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS.More than 100 tertiary level scholarships worth $170,000 have been awarded by the Namosi Joint Venture mining companies this year.
POLICEMAN IN COURT for allegedly accepting a bribe

Press Release by FTUC on Allegations re. FNPF

FIJI TRADES UNION CONGRESS 32 DES VOUEX ROAD, P.O. BOX 1418, SUVA, FIJI
PRESIDENT: Daniel Urai YOUR REF: …………………..
NATIONAL SECRETARY: Felix Anthony OUR REF: PUB/01 DATE: 22/07/11 

PRESS RELEASE ON ALLEGATIONS RE FNPF
The Regime continues to make personal allegations on Mr. Daniel Urai and myself. These
allegations appear on all media outlets in Fiji and in the Fiji Sun, FM96, Fijilive, Fiji Village and
FBCL with much vigor. Yet our media releases are not allowed to be published or aired on the
radio. We ask what is there to hide from the public by disallowing our FTUC media releases. If
the regime is honest in its conduct, then there should be nothing to hide from the public. We
now urge the Regime to allow free media so that we can have a constructive and open debate
on all issues. The citizens of Fiji should be allowed to make a free and fair judgment on these
issues.

News and Editor's Comments Tuesday 2.8.11

Tuesday 2.8.11

QOLIQOLI DOES NOT BELONG TO CHIEFS. Traditional rights to the foreshore and seabed belong equally to all members of the the yavusa (tribe)and not the paramount chiefs, says Kisoko Cagituevei of the PM's Office.He says according to the I-taukei Land and Fisheries Commission the  qoliqoli is owned by the Yavusa and every member has a right to it.
     He made the  clarification following complaints of chiefs giving approval for development work to be carried out - and receiving the goodwill payments without the consent from Yavusa members, adding that chiefs should stop being greedy but instead care about the welfare of their people."

CIVIL SERVANTS PROTECTED. The Attorney-General has assured civil servants that amendments to the Public Service Act to be gazetted next week will protect civil servants from discrimination. While 80% of grievances brought before the Labour Tribunal are handled through mediation, the amendment will enable employees to take their grievances to the PSC and the judiciary if need be.Civil servants are not covered by the proposed Employment Regulations Promulgation.“ There are certain parts of the ERP that are beneficial. Currently the PSC Act has some wide gene able to take their grievances to the PSC and the judiciary if need be.

UNION FEES. The Attorney-General  argues that with the amendments to the Public Service Act and the protection of workers' right in law, government sees no further need to collect the $2 million a year in union fees in on behalf of the unions. Asked whether this was an  attempt to make unions defunct, he replied,“If you look at the balance sheet of some of these FPSA and some of these other unions, they’re actually quite rich – financially well off. They own quite a few assets – Sports City comes to mind. If I’m an ardent union  member, I will pay my dues. This in no way stops a person from joining a union.”

Opinion.   I am not convinced. Unions play advocacy and wexfare roles as well as addressing grievances, and many people would argue that all of those who benefit from this advocacy should help pay for it, not just those who voluntarily pay their fees. The move seems motivated partly by a wish to diminish the influence of the union leaders, and partly by the right-wing (neo-liberal) philosophy evident in a number of government actions.  I consider the move inopportune (Government needs to win support, not lose it) and wrong.

PRICES UP. Petrol will  increase by eight cents tomorrow. In the main towns, this will see unleaded petrol increase to $2.62.Taxi Union general secretary Rishi Ram said, "the increase in fuel prices was a slap across the face of all motorists, not just taxi drivers".

Bread has also gone up in price today.Urban households will now pay $1.40 for a long loaf wrapped or unwrapped, wholemeal medium wrapped or sliced bread.Prices vary in different areas due to differences in transport costs. Both increases, approved by the Commerce Commission,are due to the increased costs of imports.
FIJIAN WOMAN'S DEATH IN AUSTRALIA: MAN CHARGED It is to be hoped this will not affect their tourism industry, as Fiji critics claimed about the recent murder of a NZ national in Fiji.

New $4m Chinese Ship for Fisheries

A fishing vessel that will link maritime islanders to markets on the mainland is undergoing sea trials in China before it sails for Fiji next month.

The multi cargo vessel is testament of Government’s commitment to further develop rural dwellers by opening up access to economic opportunities and fits in well with the rural and outer islands development programs.
 

News and Editor's Comments Monday 1.8.11

Check out Weekend Reading and comments. 
Want to check on items in earlier  postings?  Use the Search facility in the right sidebar.

 News and Editor's Comments Monday 1.8.11
OPEN LIST PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION. It's good to see this sort of informative, reasoned article on the anti-Bainimarama blog Fiji Today. Follow this link.

FIJI'S GREY POWER.This is a link to a new blog presenting the views of some pensioners on the proposed FNPF changes.

HISTORY REVISITED: FIJI'S COOPERATIVES.  Back in the 1950s and 1960s cooperatives, based on traditional itaukei social structures and "Western" business organization, were all the go. They were to bring rural ethnic Fijians into the economic mainstream.  Unfortunately, many failed, as did similar support for galala (independent farmers), and I have not seen any substantial research on the possible reasons for failure.There were notable exception, of course, and one is still seen on the streets of Suva: the Cautata Bus Company based in Cautata village Government 35 km away. But in general those that survived did so only with heavy subsidies from government.
     Government, or more specifically, the Department of Cooperatives is now revising its roles to increase cooperative viability.  It intends to do so by relinquishing its audit function to concentrate on capacity building, marketing, training, and image building. At present, auditing uses nearly two-thirds of the Department's $1.2m budget. As from next year, auditing will be the responsibility of a new private sector body, Cooperatives APEX; Department staff numbers will be cut from 110 to 36, and the money saved will be spent on direct assistance to the cooperatives. It is expected that APEX will be able to access technical support from the International Alliance of Cooperatives.
     The aim is clear but the outcome is no more certain than the work in the 1960s. Earlier hopes were based on modernisation theory; today's on neo-liberalism with heavy private sector involvement. Whether it will succeed or not cannot be foretold but all theory needs to be tested in practice. In the cooperative case, detailed micro research (with no theoretical underpinning) is needed on the causes of economic success and failure. -- Based on No:1531/MOI.

FORMER FLP MP Lekh Ram Vayeshnoi has been prevented from selling his residential property and vehicle, and cannot touch his savings in the Fiji National Provident Fund and cannot withdraw any money he has in banks in Fiji. The court order was a result of a civil case from non-payment of IOU's totalling $100,000 to Sigatoka jewellers.

TEVITA MARA SAYS ... "The illegal Attorney-General announced recently that his plan was to use Voting Machines in the next elections. It is another sinister plan. Machines, as you all know, are subject to breakdowns1. We all know that computer-generated machines can be rigged or hacked into2.  And as you all know, the majority of the population of Fiji live in the rural areas3  where electricity is severely limited. There is also no guarantee that the machines will leave a paper trail, that is, with every vote, issue a numbered paper slip to the voter proving that he or she voted and who he/she voted for"4.

     Comments 1. So do planes and cars; 2. Yes but not easily; precautions can be taken. Electronic voting is used in several overseas countries, and the paper voting used in 2006 did not stop interference with results; 3. Actually no, unless he is again talking as if only ethnic Fijians live in Fiji. In 2007 49.3% of the total population lived in rural areas, and 55.5% of itaukei, down -4.3% and -3.5% from 1996. 4. It's possible, if someone has the technical skill, resources and interest, but unlikely because the costs would far outweigh the "benefits.".
     There are problems with electronic voting (as there was with paper voting) but if it means voting and counting can be completed in one day, it will cut down the time to manipulate the results. Boxes of 2006 ballot papers have still not turned up!  This site considers the pros and cons.