“Much of the time that I was there was spent working (and) discussions with many people, suffice to say it confirmed firmly my belief that Australia and New Zealand have approached Fiji
Click "Comments" below to read similar remarks from another visitor who's just returned from a 3-week holiday.
Click "Comments" below to read similar remarks from another visitor who's just returned from a 3-week holiday.
4 comments:
I have just come back from a holiday in Fiji. I spent 3 weeks in total there, with 1 week in Suva and 2 weeks in Nadi. I visited a number of people from Lami to Nausori and from Sigatoka to Rakiraki and I can tell you for a fact that:
- 95% of the kainida and kaivalagi population see substantal benefits from the fundamental changes that the new Govt is making. . From my experince 30% to 50% of the Fijians are supportive,40% to 50% are netral and 10% to 20% are anti Govt ( of this a small % is very anti Govt) The main reasons i heard of in support of the Govt include:
The culture of corruption is being pushed out - like a Fijian friend said some of the people brought in intially were not much better but at least this Govt was willing to push them out as well. At all levels of Fijian society we are seeing less corruption with the military directly involved in a number of areas
the quality of civil service is being improved. Although we would find the service to be very poor by Western Standards there are huge improvments according to the people of Fiji. The retirement age being brought down to 55 has pushed out many people who were just sitting there waiting for their time. Many Govt departments are now open during lunch time when they were closed previously. These may seem like small steps but the point is that the Civil Service is trying to improve its service
The Govt is trying to make decisions for the betterment of the country rather than out of racial and political reasons. The Govt is buying with agreement land which used to be farmed but was not released but now lies idel. If you drive from Nadi to Lautoke you will see a lot of this land. The Govt will pay the landowners who agree and will allow the farmers to restart farming with both sides happy for once.
Economic decisions are being made which are helping growth. The dual citizenship has attracted invetsments from ex citizens including a buyFiji.com business which is doing well. Allowing Jetstar and v Australia to start flights to Fiji will see an increased number of flights to Fiji which may help tourisim if people take up the cheap flights. The Govt is spending money a lot more wisely.
If you visit Fiji you will realise that the Anti Govt blogs are now a minority although they can be deangerous if they get up to violence. I suggest your blog forgets about the anti Govt blogs as they are alomost irrelevant in Fiji.
Fiji's economy is still struggling as all investments esp construction froze after April 2009. Things are really picking up now and 2010 will show the good work that the INterim Govt is doing.
Croz - Thank you from the people of Fiji as you are a small voice in getting the true story of Fij out. Vinaka and pls keep it up!! I think we can get the real story of Fiji out!!
This is exactly what I have been saying all along, ie, Frank has the support of the majority. Now, this is a true definition of democracy. A tick on the ballot paper is meaningless to say the least. All previous elections and subsequent govts should be declared null and void and illegal because proper procedures were not followed as required by respective constitutions, eg, census and redistribution of boundaries before a general election.
"Political stupidity". Some of us have been too polite to put it so bluntly: the approach of both New Zealand and Australia towards a nation sunk in the deepest mire of malfeasance for more than two decades (with brief respite). We have been polite and often silent in the face of great adversity. But no seasoned or mature diplomat was there to pay heed. Shame on both countries for this! Shame on Amnesty International for failing Fiji this time around. In the 2000 debacle they were more polished.
your comments column is pretty accurate as most of us in Fiji do support the government even if we do noy always agree with the way they do things but is this not ther same everywhere. Suggest the ABC intervirew with Peter Thomson pretty well says it all
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