WHEN ONE IS AS BAD AS TWO. Methodist church Deputy GenSec Rev Tevita Banivanua says two political figures will no longer be able to preach together. He was reacting to Government's concern about the recent sermon given by former PM Laisenia Qarase and former Senator and church GenSec Tomasi Kanailagi. He thought Government was not against former politicians preaching, so long as they avoided political comment and did not preach together.
"The fact that they stand together as former political figures to preach does not augur well for the church because people would be of the perception that they are promoting politics at the pulpit...This is what we have careful about." The church would request prominent political figures to "wait" while the church worked on improving its relation with government.
My view is that people like Qarase and Kanailagi should never be invited to give a sermon in any church, and I am amazed some church leaders apparently think they should. The former bears much responsibility for events between 2000 and 2006 and the latter supported the Speight coup and is a well known racist. The time for them to speak out is when they seek entry at the Pearly Gates. Sorry if my sentiments are not be in tune with the Christmas spirit but Christianity is about more than turning the other cheek.
TOURIST NUMBERS UP AGAIN. Last year 54,981 tourists arrived in September. In September this year there were 58,193, an increase of 5.8%. Changes were: Australia 28.6%, NZ and USA 7.9%, “Australia has grown by 28.6 per cent, South Korea 38.9%, India 28.3%, Taiwan 26.7%, New Zealand and USA 7.9%, EU 1.6%. Decreases were Japan -18.2%, Canada -2% (both down due to the removal of direct air services), Pacific Islands -0.7%. Some 30,000 came from Australia. Compared with last year overall numbers were up 16.3%. close to the target of 600,000 by the end of the year.
Minister of Tourism Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was pleased with the increases but stressed the need to continue working hard to build on the numbers, target new markets, improve marketing, and ensure that more of the tourist dollar is spent in Fiji, so that more people benefit, including people selling food by the roadside and organizing lovo visits to villages.
The Minister said Oprah (Winfrey) and other celebrities choose Fiji because they know they will not be hounded by the paparazzi. Celebrities are a special market segment for Fiji. Others include adventure tourism, wedding tourism and environmental tourism.
He thought the country would pass its target of 600,000 tourists by the end of the year. -- Based on 2010, No: 2218/MOI.
NEW GOVT NUMBER PLATES. To assist monitoring of their proper use, all government vehicles will soon have new GN number plates with white numbers and the letters GN on blue backgrounds. -- Based on 2010, No: 2221/MOI.
PUBLIC SERVICE REVIEW. The General Orders that define the conditions of service for the country's 27,000 civil servants, is under review, the first time since 1993. The review is necessary because of the many changes since 1993 that relate, among other things, to housing, relocation and mileage allowances, leave entitlement, work orientation, reporting mechanisms and procedures, and the code of conduct. -- Based on 2010, No: 2227/MOI.
UPNG. Scott MacWilliam paints a sorry picture of PNG's national university.
4 comments:
Crosbie
I won’t mention the MoI’s belief that having white GN numbers on a blue background (rather than the present blue letters on a white background) will better assist monitoring the use all government vehicles, since some things are just too inane to become exercised about. Instead, something non-Fijian…
You referred to Scott MacWilliam’s article on PNG’s national university by writing that it painted a ‘sorry picture’ of that institution.
His article seemed to be well balanced – scathing about the lack of reasonable internet access, accommodation and library facilities but full of praise for the commitment shown by the academic staff, the students and their parents in the face of such adversity.
One of his opening paragraphs sums it up
“Sadly, if some of the cynics were to visit UPNG today and selectively read some of the evidence available in various reports, they would find support for their bigotry [however] there is an important credit side of the institution, which is discussed below, but for now, the debits…”
I don’t believe you’re one of the bigoted cynics he refers to, so I’m interested to know why, after rightly castigating various media for their biased opinions on a variety of issues in Fiji in the past, you elected to give a one sided remark of your own in reference to Mr Macwilliam’s well balanced article.
Merry Christmas.
@ Jon ... I worked at the UPNG in 1979, and 1982-83. My too hasty judgment was a result of my disappointment and the knee jerk reaction that "someone must be responsible." I was quite out of order and have removed the offending opinion. My apologies to all.
@ Croz
Seeking admission at The Pearly Gates by Kanailagi, Qarase and et al will be a highly contentious affair. Will they have the requisite card and a PIN? The fact that they might even consider speaking from a pulpit in any Church should relegate them immediately to the Other Place. They will find many like-minded persons languishing there. Ignorance of the law is no excuse even in the after-life.
@ Christmas cheers ... Threats don't go well with Christmas greeetings.
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