Snippets: Media, Economy, Corruption

Photo: Polar bears, warning on global warming.

  (o) Poles Apart. The Fiji Times and Fiji TV have been excluded from discussions on the Media decree because they have "not been working for Government." FT's managing director Anne Fussell, reiterating the paper's commitment to "access to as much information and as many viewpoints as possible," a provocative -- or at least a non-compromising statement in the circumstances --  says the paper is "happy to meet anyone from the Ministry of Information, or any group tasked with looking at the future of the media in Fiji, for discussions."

No meeting will take place until Government and the Fiji Times both take one step back and realize they have more to gain by dialogue than diatribes. That time may not have arrived, but it must arrive one day.The sooner the better.
 
(o) Fiji Journalists, Bloggers and Censorship.A balanced appraisal of the current situation by USP's Shailendra Singh. Click here.

(+) Economic Recovery Imminent. The Reserve Bank remains confident the Fiji economy will recover this year. The final quarter last year finished strongly,the global economy is recovering, and the effect of capital controls, devaluation of the dollar, the special drawing rights from the International Monetary Funds, and the 2010 Budget investment stimulus policies-- especially in the underdeveloped regions-- are starting to be felt.

(+) Rental Freeze Extended. The Prices and Incomes Board has confirmed that the rental freeze on all residential and ground rent will be extended and will remain in force until March 31, 2010.

(+) Fifteen Suva City Council Workers, from the Engineering, Business Licence, and Parking Metre sections, Town and Planning and Enforcement Section, were sent home on Thursday, pending investions. Corruption?  Full story. Update. The Fiji Times reports their computers have been uploaded because they are thought to have been writing for anti-government websites, an illegal act under PER and not, as civic government employees, what they are being paid for.

(o) Medicines Too Expensive.The Consumer Council, responding to customer complaints, has just completed a survey on the cost of medicines. The Council attributes lack of fair play and true competition in the pharmaceutical industry for the 100 – 180 percent price increase in prescription drugs and other medicines since  2007. They believe “better price control, changes to the pharmaceutical ownership/licensing laws, and other reforms can help bring a more just market for consumers.” Full story.

(o) Continuing Misuse of Government Vehicles. "Bula Croz,   Information from reliable source - Yellow PWD vehicle seen in Nasoso Nadi looking for fish. Couldn't get the vehicle number. They had gone to Nasoso at around 10:25am Sunday January 10 to look for fish. And it pissed this resident off to see the blatant disregard for instructions from the government. Despite Frank Bainimarama's good efforts to minimize or eradicate abuse of government vehicles, people from the Roads Department are still doing it."

(o) Kalabo's Rolling New Year 
(Something cheerful to end on.) As they have done for several years, villagers at Kalabo, just out of Suva. will continue their New Year celebration for yet another week, taking to the streets, beating drums and throwing water at people, the men usually dressed as women and the women as men. Full story.