Snippets: Microcredit, School Buses, Blogs Blocked, National Dialogue Forum, Civil Service Housing, Driti Attacks Shamima

(+) Banks Required to Assist Microfinance: Part of the Roadmap.The Reserve Bank has issued microfinance guidelines for all commercial banks that require them to establish internal microfinance divisions and units in existing branches.  The banks are expected to "innovatively and effectively" extend sustainable banking services to Fiji’s marginalized, poor communities and individuals, and to small and micro enterprises, that will "empower them to participate in economy building and in the development of their welfare." Source:  Focus Jan.2 2010.

(o-) Blogs Blocked Again. Email from Fiji 4th January. "Looks like the anti-govt blogs have been blocked. I just can't log into any. Been trying for two days now. It's sad because many of them had noble causes when they started. Then things remained relatively calm in Fiji and life carried on and progress was on the way. And they started to stray and became angry and envious and started to be spiteful maybe even jealous because they are being left behind.  Your Blog is OK....No problems so far ... "

(o) Free School Buses. About 71,554 children, whose parents jointly earn less than $15,000 a year,  will qualify for the free school bus fare scheme this year. The scheme will only operate for children within 18km of destinations to encourage parents to send their children to schools close to home. PM Permanent secretary Col.Tikoduadua said the funding is in place and "it's going to cost a fair bit."

The scheme is expected to benefit children attending 490 schools on Viti Levu, Vanua Levu, Levuka, Taveuni and Rotuma. Full story. Fr Barr's concern that students living in heavily populated rural areas who have to travel further than 18km  could lose out -- and all his other comments were positive -- produced a typical Fiji Times headline "Some will lose out, says priest." Yet another display of how the media works!

(+) National Dialogue Forum. An encouraging number of new names, from overseas and a wide cross-section of the community, have been put forward to chair February's National Dialogue Forum. Government takes this as an indication that people want to share their views of the way forward in terms of what government has planned to move Fiji forward. The February talks are expected to lay the groundwork for a constitutional forum in September 2012.  Full story.

(-) AUCKLAND (Café Pacific/Pacific Scoop/Pacific Media Watch): Café Pacific has issued its New Year honours, awarding the Newspaper of the Year handle to The Fiji Times. Café Pacific writes: “As a crusading newspaper under the helm of battling Netani Rika, it is hard to go past this Australian-owned publication – the strongest daily newspaper in Fiji in spite of its past political baggage and track record that goes right back to its colonial days in Levuka.” Comment: The underlined words tell all.

(o) Housing for Civil Servants. FMA President Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete hopes "good sense" will prevail in the termination of government rented quarters for doctors in the outer islands. I agree, but surely government does not intent to apply this decision as Dr Waqainabete suggests.

Government's general reasoning for exiting rental quarters for civil servants -- and dropping the retirement age back to 55 --are sound enough. Many "sit" on the accommodation provided when they can afford to purchase their own homes, just as many 55+ people "sat" on their jobs, but the implementation of these decisions must be flexible, not mandatory. Government or subsidized private rental housing must be provided for contracted expatriates and employees on short-term and remote postings. Better pay and working conditions, as mentioned by Min.Health Perm.Sec.Dr Sala Saketa, will help to attract and retain staff but they still need a roof over their heads.

I can't imagine any doctor, nurse or teacher buying or building a house in Tavuki (Kadavu), Matuku or Ono (Lau) or Itutiu (Rotuma) unless they were born there. And I doubt they'd get a housing loan even if they did. Perhaps we should just wait and see. We shouldn't have to. How decrees are to be implemented should be clear from the time of their pronouncement. That they are so often not creates uncertainty and  plays into the hands of Government's opponents.

(-) Diriti Threatens Shamima Ali.  This is Ridiculous. Government passes a decree extending the operating hours for nightclubs and liquor licence outlets. Fiji Women's Crisis Centre Coordinator Shamima Ali  criticized the decision in a general radio interview on violence against women and children saying it would result in more alcohol-related social problems. And Land Force Commander, Brig.Gen.Pita Driti  warns Shamima Ali  " "to think very carefully about what she says before making a public statement" -- and a lot more besides. He says the extended hours will discourage bootlegging and rowdy house parties, and lessen binge drinking. How does he know? He doesn't, and neither does Shamima know the decision will increase alcohol-related problems.

But that's besides the point. It is central to Shamima's job, for which she is well qualified and experienced, to comment on these matters and (while her anti-Government position in other respects seems to affect Government's ability to listen to her warning), it certainly should not invoke Driti or anyone else to threaten her in this manner. This is not the first time Driti has made similar threatening remarks. They do his cause no good. Click  here also.

(o) Fiji Consumer Council welcomes next month's merger between the Prices and Incomes Board and the Commerce Commission saying it will benefit consumers.