News and Comments Monday 7 November 2011

7.11.11 
IMF CONFIRMS FIJI ECONOMY ON THE MEND. The International Monetary Fund, previously doubtful of Fiji's chances of economic recovery, now thinks the economy is on an "upward trend." Visiting official Dr Koshy Mathai spoke highly of government reforms, tourism sector performance and the "recovery of sugar cane production."

“The data we have this year has given us a totally different picture of the situation. The last time the team came was in November 2010 and the sugar industry was at one of its lowest but this year we were fortunate enough to be in the west and talk to some of the farmers and the sugar stakeholders and everyone is so positive,” he said.

“We are very pleased to hear some of the reforms that the Fijian Government is doing and we have met with a lot of people over the last two weeks and they have given us a lot of positive feedbacks on what the government has done in respect to the land policies, infrastructure, civil service reforms, public enterprise reforms and other policies,” Dr Mathai said. -- Based on Nos:2018 and 2019/MOI.

CONSTITUTION TALKS SOON.The A-G says discussion on the Constitution will start in nine months.

NIK NAIDU CALLS 'FLIP FLOPPERS' HYPOCRITES. And that includes church leaders like Rev
Josateki Koroi and the trade unionists. Read the text or listen to his interview by ABC's Bruce Hill.

SECOND UNIONIST DETAINED. Felix Anthony has joined Daniel Urai in custody. Does that leave only Attar Singh to go?  Since Government knows exactly who is opposing its policies, why doesn't it keep the suspects under close observation and prevent them from leaving the country where they foment anti-government feelings, and threats to the country's tourism industry? I wouldn't approve such a tactic but it would cause less damage to Fiji and its trade union movement than passing potentially crippling legislation like the Emergency Industries Decree — and then arresting its opponents — after the horses have bolted. Police have not yet charged Anthony but Fiji law allows detention without charge for up to ten days.

TOURISM NOW 34% OF GDP. Speaking at the ground-breaking ceremony of the $49 million  Worldmark Resort Denarau Island Stage 3 Development on Sunday, the PM said Fiji will continue to provide and improve the industry environment for the benefit of all, whether it is the developers, the land owners, the hotel operators, the employees or those that provide ancillary services.

KING'S ROAD. This in Facebook: " Billy Nadakuitavuki -- Just been to Ba and back on a one day trip from Suva . . . the Kings road is almost complete and fantastic [way better than the Queens road] . . . thanks to uncle Frankie. Previous governments failed to give us this basic need . . . glad they're lost forever!"

COOPERATIVE EFFORT BY SQUATTERS. Some  164 residents of Lagilagi settlement in Jittu Estate will soon own a house of their own thanks to cooperative work between the Ministry of Local Government, Urban Development, Housing and Environment, the People’s Community Network (PCN) which will construct single or two bedroom houses for the residents, and the 164 families in the settlement who are required to pay only $12,000 over a period of 12-14 years for the construction of their own homes.

This is the first time communities of a settlement have taken a lead role in building their homes at Jittu Estate. Youths from the settlement will be trained to assist with construction works. The project has received $1.5 million from Miseror, a German Catholic Bishops’ Organisation for Development Cooperation, and Government will provide $1 million for civic works and $400,000 will be injected for construction of other buildings during the next three years. The Fiji National University has been contracted to begin the work.--  Based on No:2017/MOI.

 WEEKEND READING. If you have not already done so, read what UN Ambassador Winston Thompson has to say about Fiji's  new international linkages;  what Wadan Narsey has to say about FNPF loans, and what a Lowy Institute writer has to say about "Bainimarama's shadow."

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

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.

Management

Here is a suggestion for the Fiji Rugby Union. Please find a CEO who has excellent management skills, is good with finances, and a joy to work with in Human Resources. He must have legendary customer service and know nothing about rugby and cannot be conned.

Fiji Explores its Options: an Interview with UN Ambassador Winston Thompson

Interviewer Eddie Walsh in The Diplomat.

Over the next few months, The Diplomat will be running a series of interviews with Washington DC-based ambassadors on defence, diplomacy, and trade in the Asia-Pacific region. In the second of these interviews, conducted by Washington correspondent Eddie Walsh, Ambassador Winston Thompson of the Republic of Fiji discusses the opportunities and challenges facing his government following the 2006 military coup.October 26, 2011

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Wadan Narsey Criticised FNPF Loans to Air Pacific and Natadola but ...

 ... he doesn't say where else the loan money could or should have come from. A valuable article marred only by Wadan's political agenda.

 
FNPF Bakes Air Pacific Pie-in-the-Sky

October 27, 2011

Pacific Scoop:Analysis – By Dr Wadan Narsey

Two recent media releases indicate that the Fiji National Provident Fund board and management (at the instigation of the military regime) are digging the hole deeper for FNPF, with no accountability to the owners of FNPF and media censorship blocking all public discussion.

Bainimarama's shadow darkens Fiji's economy: a Lowy Institute Assessment

by Danielle Romanes - 27 October 2011

  An informative and useful article. My only question is shouldn't Australiaa take some of the blame for Fiji's economic problems? Ed. 

 

Danielle Romanes is an intern with the Lowy Institute's Myer Foundation Melanesia Program.

Since taking power in 2006 Commodore Frank Bainimarama has made much of his plan to eschew 'neo-colonial' development partners and to adopt a Look North foreign policy premised on engaging emerging economies in the region. While the new relationships are undoubtedly good for Fiji, it's clear that emerging interest in Fiji is too limited to fully rescue its flailing economy.

News and Comments Friday 4 November 2011

WEEKEND READING.  • Allen Lockington Column  • Fiji Explores its Options: UN Ambassador Winston Thompson • Wadan Narsey Criticises FNPF Loans to Air Pacific and Natadola  • Bainimarama's Shadow Darkens Fiji Economy: a Lowy Institute Opinion.

4.11.1  GIVE UNTO CAESAR. The remarks of former Methodist Church President and RFMF Chaplain the 80-year old Rev. Josataki Koroi to ABC Pacific Beat's Bruce Hill are cause for concern on several accounts. The Broadcaster's heading "Fiji Churchman Urges Soldiers Not to Obey Government" was not too far off the mark but why Josateki was now recalling a letter he wrote to Bainimarama five years ago, and what he was actually urging soldiers to do (or not to do) was not altogether clear. His answers to Hill were often a few points off true north.

This is what I think he was saying: The Bainimarama government is illegal. Therefore soldiers are not obliged to follow its orders. Roman rule in Palestine 2000 years ago was legal because Jesus said so.   Soldiers have a duty as Christians to question an order where they may be ordered to shoot at the people. Did he expect this order to be given?  Yes, well, sort of, though Bruce Hill did not pursue this point.

What is the underlying message? The hierarchy of the Methodist Church do not engage in politics. Well, only sort of. The effects of his message?  An even more blurred landscape.

My interpretation of the "Give unto Caesar" retort is that Jesus was cleverly avoiding a trick question by his enemies. His reply was not an endorsement of Rome, or any other unjust "legal" government.

DAVID ROBIE'S OVERDUE AND WELL DESERVED PROMOTION to full professor. The accolades pour in.

AIR PACIFIC AND UNION AGREE. Air Pacific has reached an agreement today announcing a new five year union contract covering the airline’s 254 flight attendants.

The new five year contract to come into effect from December 1, 2011 will avoid redundancies, increase flight attendant base salaries, realign allowances and work rules to increase efficiency and productivity. The union contract will also see flight attendants eligible to earn a premium pay of 125 per cent of their new base pay for any flying over 70 hours per month.

KOREAN INVESTMENT. A Korean company will invest US$5 billion in Fiji mining over the next six  years.  Meanwhile,another Korean company is expected to invest US$32 million in exploring for hydrothermal deposits particularly sea floor massive sulphides in deep seas over a similar period.

SQUATTER UPGADE PROJECT.The Minister for Local Government Col. Samuela Saumatua and his wife will launch the Lagilagi, Jittu. project today. Jittu in Raiwaqa is one of Suva's oldest squatter settlements.

FOREIGN RESERVES. The Reserve Bank describes the $1.5 billion in foreign reserves as adequate.  There has been an improvement in sugar revenue, and while gold production decreased high world prices kept revenue steady. Tourist revenue continues to underpin the economy. (P.S. Thanks to the reader who picked up my error on the size of the reserve. $5 million would be described  as indedequate!)

FIJI HAS WORLD'S LARGEST MAHOGANY PLANTATION. And Public Enterprise Ministry Permanent Secretary Elizabeth Powell says it needs to be protected for future generations.

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION. The Dept of Energy expects an increase it its budgetary allocation when the 20123 Budget is announced next Friday. This year's $3.7m has been spent on stand-alone and FEA projects affecting 1500 households. It hopes to provide 1500 rural homes with solar energy next year.-- Based on No.2013/MOI.

SIX PACIFIC NATIONS (FSM, Nauru, Palau, PNG, Solomons and Fiji) met with US AssSec for East Asian and Pacific Affairs last week to consider ways to "enhance cooperation." Particular attention was given to sustainable fisheries and global warming. -- Based on No.2009/MOI.

REWA MATANIGASAU. The vanua of Narocake, Rewa, will present its matanisagau (apology, for opposing Government) to the PM at Narocake tomorrow. Meanwhile, the High Chief of Rewa Provice Ro Teimumu continues to oppose the Bainimarama Government.

DREAM ON. I think Minister for Works and Transport Col. Timoci Lesi Natuva got a little carried away at the National Transportation Consultative Forum last  Wednesday. Talk about electric-powered taxis and a mono rail from Suva to Lautoka seems rather much for a nation that has not yet provided pothole-free . major highways.

But his suggestion of  ‘cluster system where "Lakeba Island for instance could be a cluster point where all services such as supermarkets, business center, and communication linkage, health services, banks and others made available”seems more immediately practical. And no one could argue with his remarks on the need for more efficient, environmentally friendly transport. -- Based on No. 2011/MOI.

Reserve Bank Survey of Financial Competency in Low Income Households

A national survey on the financial competencies of low income households will be conducted on Viti Levu and Vanua Levu during the month of November 2011. Financial competency comprises the knowledge and skills people have with regard to money and money related activities and the behaviour people adopt.

Commemorating the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty: Government Actions

(Tuesday 1st November 2011, No:1996/PMO)GOVERNMENT SERIOUS IN FIGHT AGAINST POVERTY
In a bid to achieve its goal of reducing poverty to negligible level by 2015 Government has continued to increase its budget allocation for poverty alleviation programs .
 

News and Comments Tuesday November 1, 2011

It's now November!

1.11.11

Welcome to a new month.
Many thanks to my well wishers, and even to the one who, tongue in cheek, said don't worry, we get all the news we want from Sharon and the Fiji Sun, and the other one who said I'd be sorely missed because I was the only person who could make a brutal dictatorship look reasonable.

URAI ARRESTED. There are unconfirmed reports that Daniel Urai has been arrested, rekindled fears of trade union repression.  Here is the ACTU comment. A reader comments: "Hi there Croz,It appears that the military backed regime is at it again –in fact my suspicion is that there has been an on-going undercurrent of threats and intimidation of dissenters together with the detention of those who courageously stand up to the bullying and intimidation.The arrest of the FTUC President is totally unacceptable in this day and age; and should be widely condemned." 

My opinion? Government should not have passed the Essential Industries Decree. It was quite unnecessary and has stirred up a hornet's nest. But Urai and other several other trade unionists took an anti-government stance from the start and have done nothing to improve their relations with Government (or Government, for that matter, with the unions.) The Public Emergency Regulations should be lifted, and perhaps they would have been but for the ongoing actions of people like Urai, but Urai's comments in Australia were clearly in breach of PER. But he has been muzzled in Fiji. What else could he do?  His arrest was an inevitable outcome of these events. And so the story continues with no end in sight unless both parties sit down and talk over their differences. But ...

POSTSCRIPT. Police have finally confirmed (No.MOI 1991) that Urai has been "taken in for questioning" as part of "ongoing criminal investigations" and charges will be laid soon. There will be no further announcements until the investigation is complete.

CONSULTATIONS WITH BUSINESS. Last week's consultation took place between the Commerce Commission and business people. They were held primarily to listen to the business sector on how the Commission could work with them to not only comply with the Commerce Commission Decree 2010, but also to ensure business activity was promoted for the broader good of the country.The forum discussed the apparently "major increase in cases of unfair trading practices" and the ultimate lifting of price controls.Further consultations will take place soon in the West and North. Great! The Commission is setting an example to other branches of government that should be holding more consultations, with the trade union movement and NGOs, for example.

UNIVERSAL PENSIONS NEEDED. Senior citizens are calling for immediate introduction of Universal Social Pension Scheme.This was recommended during the talks on the Draft National Policy Framework on Ageing and Elderly at the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing discussions. FCOSS director Hasan Khan says a social pension scheme would be in line with the National Framework on Elderly and Ageing, and help elderly people who do not have FNPF or receive any other forms of assistance.

UN AMBASSADOR WINSTON THOMPSON  discusses the opportunities and challenges facing the county. I will publish the interview in full in next Weekend Readings.

QANTAS PLANES GROUNDED. Air Pacific  has not been affected.
 
MASSIVE JOB LOSSES IF MECHANIZATION GOES AHEAD. The moderate anti-government blog  FijiToday says it "has been reliably informed that FSC has a plan in place for fully mechanised harvesting of sugar cane from next season. This will make redundant 80% of the present cane-cutting crews. A fleet of 4WD 30 tonne bin trucks will be purchased to transport the cane to the mills. This will replace the current truck and train system.

Fiji Sugar Marketing Company Limited (FSM), Sugar Cane Grower Council (SCGC) and the Fiji Sugar Commission (FSC) has been dissolved as part of the restructure."

They further speculate that "The sugar unions will be included under the essential industries decree immediately after the end of this sugar season and before these announcements are made."

Note: Cane-cutting crews are recruited over a large area, mainly from inland Fijian villages. The loss of these jobs will be a major blow to precarious inland economies where, contra wise, Government has been trying to improve basic infrastructure. The FSC plans, if true, should synchronize and not compete with Government initiatives.  But most of all, consultations are needed with those most affected.

A LAW SOCIETY CONVENTION planned for later this month has been forbidden under the PER regulations. Surely PER, if it really is needed, can be implemented less clumsily. Why not let the convention proceed, with whatever restrictions are deemed essential, and monitor its proceedings. In the first few years after the 2006 the Law Society, with a far from "clean" record itself,  was outspoken in its opposition to Government.  It's now time for both parties to move on.

TUVALU WATER. A Fiji ship, holding 450,000 litres of fresh water, has arrived in Funafuti. To date NZ desalination plants have built up a reserve of 1½ million litres of water stored in Tuvalu government and council water tanks on Funafuti and a Red Cross desalination units on Nukulaelae are producing just over 3,000 litres of water a day.