IMPORTANT NEW ANNOUNCEMENTS 10 Jan.2011
New Posting days and times. From this week there will be no postings on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays unless there is very important breaking news. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, there will be two posting, the first at noon, the second late in the afternoon. Weekend Readings will be posted at noon on Saturdays.
New article identification. From today, each item in every posting will have a unique number. This will enable readers to refer to individual items when commenting and access these items using the Search facility in the left sidebar.
New map feature. Click on Zoom Map/Air Photo Fiji tab under the main heading, and zoom in to a map or satellite photo anywhere in Fiji or zoom out to see the world courtesy of Google Maps.
New Quotation for the Week. Posted every weekend in the right sidebar.
SCROLL DOWN TO SEE WEEKEND READING.New article identification. From today, each item in every posting will have a unique number. This will enable readers to refer to individual items when commenting and access these items using the Search facility in the left sidebar.
New map feature. Click on Zoom Map/Air Photo Fiji tab under the main heading, and zoom in to a map or satellite photo anywhere in Fiji or zoom out to see the world courtesy of Google Maps.
New Quotation for the Week. Posted every weekend in the right sidebar.
N0001. CAFE PACIFIC USES READERS' COMMENTS. It's great to see recognition for the quality of comments to this blog acknowledged on David Robie's blog. Many deserve far wider readership they they have here tucked in at the bottom of posts. Click here.
N0002. BAINIMARAMA: ONE THING AT A TIME. Something of PM Bainimarama's thinking is revealed incidentally in his admonishment of government departments that have not used their allocated funds, especially in rural areas.He said the main reason for increasing the budgetary allocation for capital works in the 2011 national budget was to speed up and complete development work to meet the time frame set in the national corporate plan. He said each ministry has now only one year to reach their required target before government focuses on establishing the new constitution and holding the general elections.
This is a further affirmation that he sees the successful completion of infrastructural developments as essential to winning grassrooots support prior to focusing on political developments. I see the logic behind this , but I see no good reason why consultation and dialogue has to wait until 2012. Indeed, Government would win over more people in the educated, urban "middle ground" if they were included in the political process well before to 2012. Government needs their support at least as much as the support of the largely i'taukei rural grassroots.
N0003. WIN-WIN DECISION ON BUS FARES. Government and bus operators have agreed that bus fares will the excluded from VAT, saving bus operators 15% of the fares, and the fares will not be increase for the next three years unless world price of crude oil exceeds US$145 a barrel. All previous fuel concessions granted by Government will cease from 1 January.
It was also agreed that bus operators will provide 50% discounted services to the elderly (60 years and over) with IDs and provide a free service for disabled persons. E-ticketing will be introduced this year to improve the bus fare voucher system for school children. These measures are consistent with the People's Charter.-- Based on 2011, No:0027 /MOI.
N0004. CHECKING CORPORATE PERFORMANCE AND TARGETS. All government ministries, departments and agencies now have corporate plans that are aligned to People's Charter objectives. The plans are submitted annually to the Strategic Framework for Change Coordinating Office (SFCCO), which is part of the Prime Minister’s Office.
The SFCCO's job, beside coordinating and monitoring all government development projects and programmes, is to provide an independent advisory service to the PM. The Office has so far received 16 of the 23 2011 Annual Corporate Plan of government agencies, and their prompt return means that the SFCCO will have ample time to consult ministries finalising specific outputs, time lines for delivery and budgetary costs. -- Based on 2011, No:0013 /SFCCO.
3 comments:
Reaching out to the 'middle ground'...
All governments anywhere in the world but especially in the developed world must harness the consent and considerable influence of the 'Middle Ground": those who are educated, who pay taxes often on a number of levels VAT, corporate and personal, and who create (the MAGIC WORD) JOBS. without this, there will be no future to project towards. Employment is the single greatest challenge not only for Fiji but also for the formerly/questionably "Almighty US of A". Job creation in the US remains stagnant around 9% plus (slightly less than 10%). Insufficient for GDP to fund and create more jobs and simultaneouly pay down debt. It is a most delicate balancing act and any stumble will affect the Fiji economy and those of our immediate neighbours. Gold powers ahead: last week it reached US$1,400 plus. While now dropping back, is it poised for another hike? This may sound good for Vatukoula and its Mine but it is also a sign of a rapidly declining US dollar. China holds the cards on this scenario: boosting gold mining to 314 tonnes again and importing five-fold while simultaneously investing in US Bonds. This all pressages great fragility and volatility for us while China hedges all its bets. Jobs must be preserved before they can be created. And a rapidly rising population growth rate must be curbed. It is also inflationary and an ongoing risk to economic stability. Whatever happened to the UN message on Family Planning out and about in 1970:
"TWO WILL DO"? At the time of Fiji's Independence from GB, it was sported as the smartest car sticker of the year. Time for a re-visit?
The latest DOHA DEBATE (BBC World Service Television):
A fascinating debate repeated today Sunday on BBC World Service TV: "Does education have value without freedom of expression?"
Bearing in mind where this debate is held: Qatar in the UAE, the audience was remarkably liberal with its responses and questions. They clearly saw and voted for education which teaches people to think: to be critical, analytical and to question at every turn. Knowledge in a vacuum is of limited application and there is no progress without constant questioning and querying: the Aristotelian method. Thinking about Thinking - back to that again! Or what Sir Karl Popper thought about in World War Two New Zealand: "The Open Society and its enemies".
Croz, these new arrangements of yours beg the question as to why you've cut back on the time you're spending on the website. You are, of course, entitled to do as you damn well please but I do hope it's not for medical reasons or because of some recent unkind suggestions that you "retire" or butt out of the nation's affairs. This is purely a minority view and you must keep up the good work for the sake of the rest of us.
I'm hoping it's because you want to spend more time with your wife ( is there a Mrs Walsh? ) or other family members. Perhaps you've taken a new lover and have even less time to meet your existing commitments ( these things do happen at your age). Or maybe you've just decided to play more golf, put your feet up and enjoy your retirement without the niggling criticism of the ignorant and ungrateful.
I'd like to think it's a combination of all of the above, though two women on the go may be stretching things a little. Whatever the reason, I hope all is well with you and that 2011 proves a vintage year for both you and the country we love. Vinaka vakalevu, Croz, and may God protect and preserve you and yours, along with your golf handicap. You deserve it.
Post a Comment