SCROLL DOWN TO WEEKEND READING. QUOTE FOR THE WEEK
Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.-- Mark Twain (1835-1910). See right sidebar.
IF I HAD A THOUSAND TONGUES. It may be boring to town dwellers who've never had to walk ten k lugging a 30kg basket of dalo but the opening of the new 10km Lagi Nukusere road that branches off from the main Dogotuki highway to link isolated districts of Udu in Macuata and Tawake in Cakaudrove is a big event for those concerned. It will save them a ten kilometre walk to the nearest bus and a boat trip to the Labasa market and hospital that could cost up to $400. Government is hoping its $850,000 investment will increase productivity and the marketing of farm produce.
Lorosio Qiriyamo, the 84-year old leader of the Yavusa Lagi, said for a long time he’d seen the struggles of his people. “If I have a thousand tongues they will all just thank the investment the Government has made here.” -- Based on 2010, No:2205/MOI
ANOTHER VANUA LEVU DEVELOPMENT. The $10m Navau water project that opened this week has resolved long standing water problems for people living in the high areas of Labasa, the main town in Vanua Levu. An additional five mega litres of water is now being pumped via 23km of piping into the Benau Reservoir, raising the typical water level from 0.34m to its maximum 4.6m capacity. Previously, people living in higher areas received only intermittent water supply. The project was first mooted in 1998 but has been delayed by lack of funding . -- Based on 2010, No:2206/MOI. The project serves as another example of work on the Government's Roadmap and the use to which funds and loan money are being used.AUSTRALIA'S LEAKED POLICY. The Sydney Morning Herald has an interesting article by Phillip Dorling, based on Wikileaks, about the opinions of former parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs Duncan Kerr. Kerr was deeply frustrated with the failure of Australia's policy to isolate Fiji and topple the Bainimarama government but could see no policy alternative. Kerr privately encouraged the US to seek re-engagement with Fiji, and so break the impasse.
He thought Australia's hardline policies [were] driving Fiji's economy towards collapse while failing in their objective of bringing an end to the country's military rule." And he was deeply concerned at what he saw as a severe deterioration in Fiji's political, economic, and social conditions, and the potential costs for
Australia in the event of economic collapse. The US embassy reported that Kerr, who had "considerable experience of South Pacific politics," believed "Bainimarama cannot give up power as he would end up at the mercy of his enemies, and suggested that the international community should find a safe way for him to step down. [Bainimarama was] the only military man who believes in a return to civilian rule, as less senior officers are getting the taste of being in power".
Well, here we are a year later. Australia had an opportunity to modify its policies after the election of a new government, but failed to do so. The US could still be contemplating some new approach. And in Fiji, Bainimarama seems to be steadily improving his position, work on infrastructural and institutional reform continues, and the economy survives with some signs of recovery.
For me, the article was of interest because of Kerr's limited understanding of Fiji's internal political dynamics; the assumption that Australia alone holds the key to "make or break" in the Pacific region; and its admission that Australian policies had adversely affecting the Fiji economy. Someone should tell Prof Narsey who seems to think it's all Bainimarama's fault.
WIKILEAKS COULD DERAIL PACIFIC FORUM. This is what the NZ Herald had to say.
ECONOMY SURVIVING. Fiji's economic recovery is still some way off but recently released Reserve Bank figures indicate that it is holding its own, with improvements in some areas. Compared with the same period last year:
- New lending for consumption purposes increased by 1.4% to $85.5 million, mainly supported by buoyant tourism activity and higher inward remittances. Imports of consumption goods declined by 1.6%.
- Investment, however, continued to remain weak.Imports of investment goods declined by 4.8% and new investment lending declined by 1.1% from $45.7 million.
- Rather better news was that the merchandise trade deficit narrowed by around 6.2% to $920.6 million. This was due to higher domestic export earnings, up by 10.1%, led by mineral water, fish, timber, sweet biscuits, gold, garments and flour which more than offset the decline in earnings from sugar, molasses and coconut oil.
- Total export earnings, including re-exports, rose by 15.9%, up from a 18.2% decline in the same period last year.
- Import payments (excluding aircraft) rose by 2.4%, up from a decline of 16.4% mainly due to higher prices for mineral fuels, chemicals and manufactured miscellaneous articles, but the increases were largely offset by declines in payments for machinery, transport and equipment, and foodstuff. -- Based partly on Fiji Times.
NZ 'NYET' (NO COMMENT) ON SPYING. Following up on Wikileaks, FijiVillage news sent questions to MFAT asking Foreign Minister McCully whether NZ has been still spying on the Fiji military and government since 2006, and whether it was still listening to Fiji mobile phones. NZ replied that it was a longstanding practice not to comment on intelligence matters.
FIJI-SOLOMON MOU. The Memorandum of Understanding signed in Honiara last week will see greater co-operation on bilateral trade and investments, education, labour mobility, immigration, commerce, retail and taxation, fisheries cooperation, air and sea transportation, health and pharmaceuticals and climate change, environment, and security and energy. The MOU will enable Solomon Islands students to enjoy tuition fees concessions in most tertiary learning institutions in Fiji. -- Based on 2010, No:2194/MFA.
OPRAH IN FIJI. "Oprah Winfrey and her partner chose Fiji as a holiday destination because they were told it was safe and a fantastic time out from their hectic schedule as public figures. When she leaves I wonder what she could tell the world. I wonder if she'll tell those who say Fiji is dangerous that they are wrong."-- Allen Lockington.
3 comments:
Croz,
How can you be so sure this all relates to a roadmap when none of us and I assume you have never seen such a document.
Sounds more like a government tag line...part of our roadmap to be added to every press release.
@ Kim Bowden on Pacific Scoop: Investigative Journalism in Fiji and the wider Pacific - How billions of aid went astray in the Pacific Islands
There is no excuse whatsoever for the failure of investigative journalists in Fiji to do what is essentially their national and regional professional duty. In Fiji, journalists who are invariably young and fairly inexperienced (to allow them at least this) have failed to follow up even when evidence has been placed under their very noses. Evidence of corrupton, where, when and how. This has been done to ensure that the failure of the Police to investigate, to take seriously complaints made to them over substantial periods of time, were more than proof as signs of serious dysfunction in various institutions or workplaces. Even murder on the street has not been followed through. In two murders in Nadi in the past five years, investigative journalism has failed the citizens, taxpayers and ratepayers of Nadi by not even coming into the Courts. There is no excuse for this conduct - not by any measure you might care to apply. It is a failure of citizenship and professionalism. Worse, it is a failure of curiosity and imagination and when criminal intimidation is involved, it is cowardice. This appears to stem from failures within the education system and in moral formation (Familial and within religious training). Whatever, it is a profound impediment to development and it fosters criminal conduct in all areas of Pacific life. It needs to be immediately addressed just as the abysmal lack of professional police method and general conduct does: beginning with their total disregard of punctuality. These Great Gaps in the development of Pacific Islands countries must be plugged without further delay before corruption and organised crime take over and lead us inexorably towards Jamaica with its inherent ills of Drug Dons running the streets, gangs and general disorder. Investigative journalism has a basic role to play in Nation Building. Fearless and dogged, intelligent and professional they must be trained to get on with the work and refuse to yield in the face of organised criminal enterprise. There is no future that is worth having if this cannot be inculcated and no outsider can do this job. It takes years of cultural immersion. Corruption itself is a Culture. When are we going to admit it?
@ Investigative Journalists in Fiji and how they were failed by their Editors/Publishers:
The failure of Editors and Publishers at the the three major newspapers to mentor, encourage and to provide facilities for investigative journalists to flourish and to do their work impartially requires study and analysis of the most thorough kind. All failed at various times in the past decade particularly. Neither can the radio and television stations escape mention. For they too allowed the political climate of fear and bias to cloud their judgement of what was taking place under their very noses and which led, in several instances, to the death of civilians at their own gates. All shall be be brought eventually to an accounting for their failure to act and to properly encourage and to train those working for them to act professionally and pre-emptively. One notable young journalist who broke the mould was hounded into illness and hiding by a known editor/publisher. Personal antagonism amounted to a vendetta and this has been noted. Indeed, it would now be covered by relevant sections of the Crimes Decree 2009 which stipulates and describe Crimes Against Humanity. In this instance, the crime was not only against a person wishing to do and to write the 'Right Thing' but also against each and every citizen of this country as a consequence of gross political bias. Journalists Without Borders can vouch for the truth of this matter and they came to the rescue. The reluctant Director of Public Prosecutions and all who were associated should consider their past inaction carefully. Let us state now that if they fail to do so, it shall be considered and re-visited for them. Crimes against Humanity know no borders. Let all who inhabit the realms of the Fourth Estate remember this daily as they go about their work. Theirs is a sacred trust. When they fall short, humanity is diminished. But our recall and our memory of events are fresh and the evidence is overwhelming.
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