Postings
Monday 9th.
"Who Owns the (PI) Forum?" A background paper the Forum by its former Director of Economic Governance, Dr Roman Grynberg, in which he discusses the debate on whether or not Australia and New Zealand should be members, and their near "ownership" today.
"Un-Pacific Neighbours". Extracts from Thakur Ranjit Singh's article in the Fiji Times in which he answers statements attacking Bainimarama by Samoan PM Tuilaepa.
"What, Exactly, Did the Ambassador Say?" in which I expressed doubts that US Ambassador McGann's speech to a Prophet Mohammed's Birthday meeting had been accurately reported. The press reported that he'd urged Fijians to put pressure on the Interim Government.
Thursday 12th.
"PM's Unwise Decision on PPDF Meeting" in which I gave reasons why the PM's decision not to invite the SDL party was unwise. [It later transpired the media had got this wrong. The SDL was invited.]
"Media Did Distort What Ambassador McGann Said." I read the speech. Most of it was on American-Muslim relations and religion generally. Only passing refererence was made to Fiji. The Ambassador urged people to put pressure on all leaders, not just the Interim Government.
Friday 13th.
"How to Stir the Pot by Pramod Rae" in which I traced day-to-day reporting on the leak to the media of UN/Commonwealth letters adressed to the PM. Pramod Rae took over two days to admit he had leaked the letters, during which time "everyone" condemned the police for searching the Fiji Times offices. I thought Rae this a political stunt by Rae.
"Fiji Leaders Agree on PPDF Agenda" reported the agreement and, citing the media, the appointment of former PNG PM Sir Rabbie Namalui as chairman.
Saturday 14th.
"At Last Some Good News." The leaders comments about their meeting, and a correction that the meeting had not appointed Sir Rabbie as chairman.
Sunday 15th.
"You Can't Please Everybody: Reactions to the Pre-PPDF Meeting" focussed on Fiji Daily Post negative reporting and Prof Brij Lal's concern that the question of the military had been deliberately left off the agenda. I thought the military would have been included under anther heading. [It is under the People's Charter"]
"Statement on Pramod Rae Leak by Jone Dakuvula." The PPDF Coordinator said publishing the confidential letters could lead to the UN and Commonwealth opting out of their PPDF role.
Compulsory Retirement Age
The Court upheld the Public Service Association's determination to change the compulsory retirement age for civil servants back to 55. It had briefly been lifted to 60. The action will not win friends among older civil servants and their trade unions but it will open doors for promotion and recruitment. Several thousand school leavers and hundreds of graduates are unemployment. Exemptions to this ruling will include professionals whose skills and experience are in high demand.
Related New Zealand News
NZ Axes Pacific Programmes
Labour Party spokesman Phil Twyford has criticized Foreign Affairs Minister Murray McCully's decision to axe $1.95m from the Fiji-based NGO, Foundation for the Peoples of the South Pacific, that operates in seven Pacific Island nations.
Twyford claimed "This is an example of McCully meddling in the aid programme ... It shows the minister's hostility to the kind of high quality grassroots development work that NZAid is doing around the Pacific and ... demonstrates his willingness to medal and intervene." McCully countered by saying most of money funded FPSP salaries and overheads that did not meet his criteria of funding projects which made a "tangible" difference to people's lives. NZAid to the Foundation's youth and mental health ($1.6m) and disaster risk reduction ($1.5m) programmes will continue.
McCully awaits the results of two reviews into the future of NZAid, one on its structure and possible re-integraton into MFAT; the other on its policy on poverty elimination. NZAid has an annual budget of $480m.
It also looks likely that the Pacific Divison of NZ's Immigration Department will be scraped following a report showing leadership, financial and strategic problems. The report found service and compliance problems to be most pronounced in the Auckland office, and the Apia, Suva, and Nuku'alofa branch offices. The Division had worked well in filling access quotas but there were major backlogs and questions about the quality of decisions. It was common for applicants to queue all day for a form in Apia. In Suva, one applicant referred to the line of up to 100 people as the "queue of shame". Queues formed at 4am in Tonga. Despite these shortcomings, the report said the division should remain a separate body. [Condensed from Martin Kay, Dominion Post.]
Concern Over NZ Government's Move to Change Focus of NZ Aid
Click here for full report.
The United Nations Development Fund for Women has expressed concern over signals fromNZ Minister of Foreign Affairs Murray McCully that NZ aid's focus will change from poverty elimination to economic development. The UNDFW is joined by the Council for International Development representing 91 aid-related NGOs in opposing this sharp shift in focus. Click here to access the new NGO website on this matter.
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