Bainimarama's Northern Tour, China Unsettles Oz, Aid, Tourism Dollar

BAINIMARAMA'S NORTHERN TOUR. It's interesting what the PM's provincial tours reveal other than necessary but huge rural infrastructure spending. For the North, this included roads, small loans access, phone coverage and bauxite mining in Bua as reported on Friday. And in Cakaudrove new and upgraded roads, rural electrification and upgraded Savusavu and Taveuni hospitals.

But from Macuata we also again learn of concerns about illegal logging that seems to be linked to bribes and corruption. Nothing seems to have been done to rout it out since the PM's last visit. And from Cakaudrove we learn about rumblings and animosity among the vanua, though what exactly the media did not report. Commissioner Northern LtCol Inia Seruiratu did, however, tell the people to sort out their own problems, saying that Government will only step in only when needed.

“Government respects chiefly decisions that holds the people together,” he said. Government interference could add to animosity. “We don’t want to spoil the relationship that exists between the people and their vanua. Development should bring about improved living standards and not animosity." So the Government is not against chiefs per se, afterall Bainimarama is also a chief, just chiefs who  abuse their people's trust.


CHINA TIES WILL UNSETTLE AUSTRALIA. ANU's Prof.John Warhurst says China's efforts to be more influential in the South Pacific will unsettle Australia.He says, "What has happened in Fiji over the last 10 or 15 years now with the number of coups probably leads Australian policy-makers and the general community to throw their hands up and say 'look, this is beyond our doing anything about it'. The question of a superpower like China injecting itself into the Pacific I think would have long-term worries for Australia," Warhurst said. He thinks China could undermine a region that is already destabilized, while a greater role for Beijing in the South Pacific might overshadow Australia's role as the biggest power in the neighborhood.

The remarks were made in light of Bainimarama's comment while visiting China last week that he is prepared to abandon his country's traditional political ties in the region in favor of China. He stressed, however, that Fiji will continue to trade with New Zealand and Australia.

OZ AID. Australia has donated a $40,000 fibreglass boat, the “Vuniwai ni Beqa,” and three vehicles to the Health Department. The boat will be used for medical purposes serving the islands of Beqa and Yanuca, of the Navua-Pacific Harbour coast, and the vehicles for use by the typhoid campaign in the Northern, Western and Eastern Divisions.  The handing over ceremony last week at the Health Headquarters included the donation of three vehicles to help in the Ministry of Health typhoid campaign.--  Based on 2010 No:1285/MOI.

ADB/GOVERNMENT HELP WATER AUTHORITY.The Fiji government and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) have assisted the Water Authority of Fiji with a $23 million loan to revamp the Waila water treatment plant.

HOTEL OCCUPANCY RATES have returned to the normal 60%, up from 40% over the past two years, and Reserve Bank Governor, Sada Reddy is calling on the hotel industry to invest now to ensure a good mix of rooms as tourism increases further over the next two to three years.

LESS THAN A HALF OF A TOURIST DOLLAR. Sada Reddy  also expressed dissatisfaction that Fiji retains only about 44 cents of tourism dollar compared with developing countries, 50-60 cents, and advanced countries, between 80-90 cents. Fiji's low rate is largely due to leakages through loss of VAT from packaged tours, borrowings from foreign banks and foreign ownership of the large hotels.

"Almost all service provided to packaged tours are of a domestic nature, excluding Air Pacific. Therefore VAT should be payable on all domestic services. Unfortunately, Fiji has been losing out on the VAT revenue for packaged tours. Government should study this issue and see how they can plug this leakage."