Small Animals Suffering, US-Fiji Relations, North Developments, The B Roadmap, Simple Stats

PHOTO OF SICK DOG REMOVED. I AGREE IT IS TOO DISTURBING.

N0028. SAINT FRANCIS WOULD NOT LIKE THIS.  I'm unsure whether the shortage of veterinarians in the West  is due in any way to Fiji's political situation or its poor relations with Australia and the UK, but a concerned reader says there are now no trained vets and a severe shortage of drugs for small animals in the West Division than includes the provinces of Ba, Ra, and Nadroga and Navosa.  In the past, assistance came from UK and Australian visiting Vets to the SPCA West - which is served exclusively by voluntary help. All local vets left long ago.

Large animals fare a little better though assistance from the Dept of Agriculture in Lautoka but again the service is haphazard due to shortage of trained staff. Any developments in Tropical Agriculture and Animal husbandry require full and reliable veterinary services 24/7 365 days of the year. 

The reader says "the SPCA in the West would welcome a visit from diplomats who wish to support the good work being done on a shoe-string, out of sheer love for dumb creatures. They deserve recognition and support."

N0029. US-FIJI RELATIONS. At a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, US Ambassador C. Steven McGann  said America would continue to look for opportunities to strengthen cooperation with Fiji in areas such as humanitarian assistance, disaster response, public health, law enforcement, border controls and port security.  He welcomed Fiji’s strong voting record at the UN on issues affecting both nations.  And both parties agreed on a mutually acceptable framework to facilitate appropriate visas for Fijian officials seeking to attend meetings at the United Nations and other multilateral fora. -- Based on 2011, No:0064 /MOI.

N0030. L0OK NORTH REVISITED.  For many years Fiji's second largest island, Vanua Levu, has lost population and its economy has stagnated. 

Contributing factors to out-migration have been education, employment and the non-renewal of land leases that resulted in many Indo-Fijian tenant farmers leaving for Viti Levu, some joining other refugees in the Lautoka area. To counter the decline the Qarase Government launched the 'Look North' policy in 2002 which has been revived and extended by the present government.

Commissioner Northern LtCol. Inia Seruiratu says that things are changing and urges people to stay to help build the economy. He says a special alloction to Vanua Levu was made in the 2011 Budget that will see further developments.  “Priority one is infrastructure – in infrastructure development we will see a lot of changes in the conditions of our roads, the creation of new roads, in the buildings of wharves and jetties, extension of  FEA grids, water, health services and education.” -- Based on 2011, No:0058 /MOI.

But change takes time and not everything is going to plan.  It has just been announced that the Nabouwalu-Dreketi $30-million road upgrade project has been delayed as government is forced to put more money in the troubled sugar industry. The Commissioner pointed positively to the bauxite mine and pine chip mill in Bua. But the former is unlikely to be in production anytime soon and there are further delays at the chip mill that should have been completed last November. The PM  visited the mill yesterday to find that construction of the 16,000m² bed area was held up by delays in the arrival of ready mix concrete.The first shipment of pine chips weighing about 23,000 tonnes and valued at about $4m is due to leave the country in April for the Japanese market. The contractors say the mill will be ready in time.


N0031. WHERE IS THE BL---Y ROADMAP?  It's probably the most frustrating issue raised by readers, and Doubting Thomas's don't think it exists.  They say it's another hoax by Government to keep the public hoping for favourable outcomes.

I know the Roadmap exists, all be it in draft form, and there's ample indirect evidence of its existence.

Witness the numerous departmental corporate plans that say they aim to comply with its directions (so someone must have seen it), and the constant references from all and sundry in government to the descending organizational pyramid of the Peoples's Charter, the Strategic Framework for Change, and — the Roadmap. The Charter and most corporate plans have been published but not the Roadmap.

If I can think of just one thing that could so easily put a feather in Government's cap, and a prick in its detractors' backsides, it is the publication of the Roadmap.  It need not even be in its final form.  The draft copy will do. The public of Fiji deserve its publication.

N0032. SIMPLE STATS ON FIJI.  If you want a quick reference to Fiji's population, climate, economy, trade, employment, tourism, health, education and much more, click on the Bureau of Statistics  website and then click on  Quick Reference>2010 Facts and Figures.

The latest information is actually for 2009 but some useful comparisions are made with earlier dates.  My only gripe is that while ethnic Fijians are now i'taukei, the Bureau still persists in calling Indo-Fijians Indians.  We have shown in earlier postings this week just how offensive and inaccurate this label is.

WEEKEND READING ♦ Allen Lockington column ♦ Women in Fiji by Nazhat Shameem ♦ Who's Who in Government