N0005. ONGOING RURAL DEVELOPMENT. Work on the Somosomo Hydro plant in Taveuni should begin in earnest this year with the completion of the dam and site designs by Chinese investors.The $20m Chinese aid funded project was a solution to power problems on the island that was heavily reliant on diesel powered generators. --Based on 2011, No:0005 /MOI.
Another small project is the micro hydro project in Buca, eastern Cakaudrove, that will be commissioned this month. The total cost of the project is $945,000 shared about equally between Turkish International Cooperation and the Department of Energy. It is expected that electricity will help raise local living standards, fish refrigeration, small businesses among women and better study facilities for children. -- Based on 2010, No:2268 /MOI.
And on the "big island" some 300 villagers in remote Taulevu, Naitasiri, will now have safe drinking water thanks to eight 10,000 litre tanks provided by government at a cost of $22,000. -- Based on 2011, No:0016/MOI.
And so the little things continue to add up all over rural Fiji.
N0006. AVERTED STRIKE; ABUSED REDUNDANCIES. A strike that threatened the Sheraton/Westin resort at the peak of the holiday season was averted thanks to mediation by the Ministry of Labour, Industrial Relations and Employment.
The agreement reached saw the employer agree to pay wages increments and the Union to not activate the strike mandate. Minister Filipe Bole thanked both parties for acting in good faith to resolve the dispute, adding:" In this new year, we urge all employers and workers to act in good faith, 'come to the table', talk about their differences and resolve them amicably.” -- Based on 2011, No:0020 /LABOUR.
The Minister was less pleased with the increased reporting of probable employer abuses of the law's redundancy provisions. Under Part 12 of the Employment Relations Promulgation (ERP) 2007 on unfair employment terminations, he reminded employers that they "must provide the workers, their representatives and the Permanent Secretary not less than 30 days before carrying out the terminations, with relevant information including the reasons for the termination contemplated, the number and categories of workers likely to be affected and the period of which the terminations are intended to be carried out."
The law also requires employers to give workers or their representatives an early opportunity for consultation on measures to be taken to avert or to minimize the terminations, and on measures to mitigate the adverse effects of any terminations on the workers concerned such as action to attempt to find alternative employment or re-training." The Minister warned that employers not following the social responsibility requirements under Part 12 of the ERP will be taken to task.-- Based on 2011, No:0021 /LABOUR.
N0007. FIJI SOON TO BE NAM MEMBER. Fiji expects soon to be endorsed as a member of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that aims to represent the political, economic and cultural interests of the developing world. The purpose of the organisation, that comprises 118 developing countries, as stated in the Havana Declaration of 1979 is to ensure “the national independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of non-aligned countries” in their “struggle against imperialism, colonialism, neo-colonialism, racism, and all forms of foreign aggression, occupation, domination, interference or hegemony as well as against great power and bloc politics”. NAM members represent nearly two-thirds of the United Nations’ members and 55 per cent of the world population.
N0008. FIJI TO IMPORT NZ CATTLE. Two shipments of 350 Friesian Cross cattle whose big feet make them well suited to warmer climates will be imported from New Zealand from February. The shipments included 150 impregnated heifers, followed by about 180 heifers and 20 breeding bulls.
The cattle are one of the rehabilitation strategies employed by the Ministry of Agriculture after the devastation wreaked by brucellosis. Government will spend $1.3m on the project that also includes the renovation and upgrade of the the Koronivia Research Station between Suva and Nausori that will initially receive the livestock. -- Based on 2011, No:0008/MOI.
N0009. FARMER OUTRAGED AT MILL BREAKDOWNS. Fiji Times.
Unless there is urgent breaking news, the next posting will be on Wednesday at noon.
10 comments:
The Fiji Rugby Union runs true to past form........
Why are we not surprised? Why have the phone lines run hot all day? It was just a matter of time and a Search Warrant ably granted by a Suva Magistrate. Just today, the new 2011 handsome FICAC Calendar had been hung on the wall: SEE CORRUPTION? HEAR OF CORRUPTION? SPEAK OF CORRUPTION? Three monkeys all pointing to: REPORT CORRUPTION.
Well, someone has and 'Good for them! Good for the Commerce Commission with the 'cojones' to act. For where we are now, having a 'Wishbone' simply will not do. Watch this story unfold and learn from it. It is full of the March of Folly and of the downfall of those who 'aught to have known better'. On the Playing Fields of Eton - where rugby is NOT played - it is customary to remind the foolish: "When in doubt....ASK". But what of those who are so certain they are right that they bat on and on regardless? What's to do about them? They must learn their lessons 'the hard way', the only way for rhinoceros hide.
@ Batting on regardless....
The Patron of Scottish Rugby is HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne. Yet, we are informed that a rugby union official allegedly used funds from the FRU Lottery bank account to pay for airfares and accommodation to visit not only Scotland but also London? How can this be? The young rugby players of Fiji are the 'flower of Fiji' - not unlike those we sing about in 'Flower of Scotland'. Do the board members of the Fiji Rugby Union know the words of Flower of Scotland? Have most of them ever played a game of rugby? Put their necks on the line for Fiji?
It seems the Fiji Rugby Union had its wishbone where its backbone aught to have been.
Hi Croz
Would you mind explaining why you just re-post the MOI releases without a comment? It makes your blog appear to be just a mirror of the governments propaganda.
Thanks
@ Anare ... This posting is rather heavy in government releases because nothing more important was reported in the mainstream media. I use all available sources of information, sometimes including the anti-government blogs and their "propaganda." Sometimes I comment (on all sources of information) and other times I don't. Do you think I should not report government news? I'll add a little more on this topic in Friday's posting. Cheers, Croz
Nothing more important and independent is 'permitted' to be reported, it is still the media's fault after five years or will Croz be waiting fir the next generation of journalists to be born and still work within the PER? As heaven knows we can't have journo's reporting the facts or investigating can we. Oh and the FRU, and the alleged corruption that has taken place has been under the watchful all knowing eyes of this regime as well ? Again for the past five years.
@ sara'ssista...
The RFU has been under many watchful eyes. Do not doubt that! But the 'journos' were part of the problem and not any solution. What investigative reporter got onto the RFU Lottery mish-mash? NOT ONE! However, there is now, one might suggest, more than sufficient evidence to act? They have apparently shot themselves in their own proverbial feet? Sometimes, it is more useful to be patient. If the observed are foolish enough to run on with the ball and allow themselves to fall in a ruck, it's time to move in. Just how do you suppose this might have been handled earlier? You would have been one of the first to cry "foul"! The administration of many sports in Fiji has been nothing short of scandalous for years. Sports of all varieties have been used as 'milch cows' and to hell with their players' real interests. Many sports administrators have nothing "sporting" about them. They know all know who they are. Transparency Fiji might have had something useful to say here. Their silence on the entire issue of sports maladministration does not sit well with their stated aims and ethics.
@ Some Unsung Fiji Heroes....
There are one or two unsung heroes in Fiji just now and they are all in government. For one, there is the Minister for Health Dr Neil Sharma and the huge improvements he has and is bringing about in Preventive Healthcare. Along with Dr Sharma one might name Drs Jiko Luveni and Sala Saketa who are also driving forward with sensible, implementable improvements. Dr Saketa talks of responsible Family Planning which is 'male-friendly'. With deliveries at the CWM running into huge almost unmanageable thousands a year, Family Planning Outreach is now urgent. The impact of the high birthrate in Fiji is unsustainable economically. Yet this is a very sensitive area and it is high time Gender Equality moved into the entire field of Family Planning for an equitable and accessible service. We would not wish to emulate the Chinese prohibition on more than one child per family if it can be avoided. But the family in Fiji must shrink in size. Where are the jobs to accommodate all these children when they leave school? GDP would need to be at Chinese rates of growth (8% plus annually) to employ them? Are we prepared to raise our productivity that high? How do we propose to do this?
Others worthy of mention are: Parmesh Chand - at pains always to explain what the PSC is aiming to achieve with clarity.
Col Mason Smith who is now looking to have the Animal Welfare Act and the Dog Act amended: this is overdue. Animals suffer daily in Fiji unnecessarily and cruelly. This should be addressed by the Crimes Decree which has provision now for those who neglect and hurt them to be charged. The manner in which we treat children and animals is a reflection of ourselves and of our values. All are living creatures. We need veterinarians in every Division of Fiji to cater to the needs of animals just as we need a Family Health Service to cater to the serious matter of strategically planning our rate of population growth.
Given the power this regime wields my point is that where were ficac etc for the past five years? Where were the audits for the past five years. I have no sympathy for the corrupt but the irony is that this all happens under this regime, please spare me 'this has been happening for years' rubbish, and btw , journo's being part of the problem...exactly who do they ask for permission to investigate anything these days...this regime ad it's supporters have neutered the media and still have the gall to keep blaming them for not reporting the way they wish.
@ sara'ssista's "neutered media",,,
Oh come on! There is absolutely no reason or excuse for anyone to act 'neutered' either in the Fiji media or out of it. What is your problem? Corruption is corruption! The converting of public money for private gain has been the oldest trick in town in Fiji for a long time. It is going on now right under our noses. Yet, how many bother to do anything to stem it? Report it? Bust it? The dogs and cats of Fiji need neutering and there are no Vets on hand to help them. Why? Corruption is the key to why. Corrupt minds breed corrupt actions. The Fiji Media not only turned the other way but was a party to it. Now they attempt to 'reinvent' themselves. "But God is not mocked" (as the old saying goes). Gavoka and Gang were 'at it' until suddenly caught short. Now how did Shangri-La Hotels and the Fiji Visitors Bureau justify paying these cosy Creme Puffs? Did anyone bother to ask?
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