NAMOSI GIVES PM 'CHRISTMAS PRESENT'. Some 200 Namosi people led by former SDL politician the Turaga na Tui Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanotobua, visited the QEB yesterday to express support for Government and the military.
Receiving them, PM Bainimarama likened their visit to an early Christmas and New Year’s blessings. He thanked the vanua of Namosi for its continued support and took the opportunity to stress the importance of choosing the right people to lead the country after 2014.
“Everyone need to know the People’s Charter for Change Peace and Progress which entails government’s commitment towards a truly democratic government and elections process,” he said. “We do not want a corrupt Government coming in. We want every citizen of this nation to get the fruits of their labour in every little way they contribute.”
The PM also apologized to the vanua for government services that had been slow in reaching them. “We also would like to seek your patience if government services have not been to your expectations. He said government was people-focused and its intensions were directed at improving the living standards of ordinary citizens. -- Based on 2010, Nos:2184 and 2182/MOI.
TAVEUNI, FIJI'S GARDEN ISLAND: INFRASTRUCTURE MUST PAY OFF. Government has been investing heavily in roading and other infrasture developments in the expectation that it will result in increased agricultural produce, especially from remote rural areas, and so bring jobs and regular income for the producers, increase marketable foodstuff, and make Fiji less dependent on many food imports. The success of the plan rests on farmer outputs.
In opening the new $900,000 Ura–Soqulu Road on Taveuni island, Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Cde Timoci Natuva appealed to farmers to raise their efforts beyond subsistence level. The Minister said Government was playing its part. It was now up to farmers to perform their part by contributing more to boost the economy through greater farming efforts. To be commercial, attitudes on proper time management need to change. “You need to use time better and that would mean that you will need to treat farming like any other job where you need to clock in on time. If urban workers leave for work at 6am or 7am farmers will need to behave similarly.”
Taveuni accounts for around 90% of Fiji's dalo exports worth about $21m last year, and the new road links communities in the main dalo growing area. It is hoped that huge container trucks can load dalo directly from farms in these areas for export. This should significantly reduce travelling costs and thereby farmer’s cost of production. -- Based on 2010, No:2177/MOI.
PENALTIES FOR EXCHANGE BREACHES.Government has approved changes to the Exchange Control Act that will see see fines and penalties that have not been changed for "more than three decades." The new fines of up to $500,000 and a maximum prison term of up to 10 years are expected to improve compliance, and will assist the Reserve Bank in reconciling export receipts. Exporters are urged to contact the Bank if they have any questions. -- Reserve Bank Press Release.
CHILD LABOUR: GOVERNMENT'S EDUCATION AND POVERTY EFFORTS. Government's aim is to eradicate child labour, said Ministry of Labour Permanent Secretary Taito Waqa speaking at the official launch of the Child Labour Research and Actions Programmes in Suva yesterday. He listed government initiaties taken towards this goal which included fee free education, the abolishment of external examinations in primary and lower secondary schools, free transport to students who qualify under a means test, provisions of education facilities to non-government schools and the creation of the parallel skill board for Technical Vocational Education Training in schools.
Child labour is often related to poverty and in this area government had several poverty alleviation policies in place. The Budget allocation for assistance towards poverty alleviation in 2011 had been increased to $70 million compared to $54m in 2010. The allocations of free bus fare and food voucher programmes are $12 and $11m respectively with a cash grant of $40 to $60 per child per month will be paid in respect of orphans.
This was in addition to Family Assistance Allowance of $60 to $100 per month, electricity subsidy of $3.5m, housing assistance of $10m and a tax threshold of $15,000 with Government’s commitment to establish a minimum wage for the first time by 2012.
“These poverty alleviation policies and programmes are aimed at providing social protection and security for all categories of the poor, including children,” he said.-- Based on 2010, No:2192/MOI.
BUILDINGS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. The value of building permits issued is an often used indicator of economic growth. Figures released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics indicate that economic recovery could be on the way. For the first six months of this year the value of permits issued was $61,804 compared with $48,754 for similar periods in 2009 and $13,114 in 2008.-- Based on 2010, No:2168/MOI.
POLICE AND NURSES have been given a nice Christmas present with increases in salary backdated to January 2009 for police and a 3% increase backdated to January 2010 for nurses. Increases for other civil servants will be considered later.-- Based on 2010, No:2188/PSC.
WEEKEND READING. ♦ Allen Lockington Column ♦ 'Eakalafi Moala and Baroness Onora O'Neill on Media Freedom ♦ Graham Reid's third and final article on his Fiji visit ♦ Fr Barr on NZ Aid and Neo-Liberalism ♦ The intended article on the Budget will probably be again deferred due to an extra game of golf this week — and the celebration of my first hole-in-one!
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