N0128.
Photo: Denarau Marina.
The typical FijiToday article contains its political message in the title; the article itself is usually published unedited and the source acknowledged. My typical article relies less on the heading for its political message which is embedded in a precis of the original article, with source acknowledged. Both approaches are honest in that they are clearly opinions and not news. This was my gripe with a recent Michael Field article on the FRU crisis (see N0116). Opinion masqueraded as news, and was therefore dishonest.
Typhoid Outbreak — Remember Michael Field
A recent article by FijiToday complained about the delayed information on a typhoid outbreak in Upper Naitasiri. I find nothing unusual about this. There are typhoid cases and minor localised outbreaks every year in Fiji and I do not recall much prominence being given to them when I lived in Fiji in the 1970s and 1990s. But if things have changed FijiToday has a point. FijiToday's political point was the delay in confirming the rumour. But the blog hastened to add: "FijiToday wishes to point out that the reported outbreak is well outside the normal tourist area and unless it spreads is no threat to tourists." Compare this with Michael Field and Barbara Dreavers' coverage of last year's outbreak in inland Navosa where they had tourists believing the outbreak was in the main tourist area and it was unsafe to visit Fiji. Who says blogs are less reliable than the mainstream media!
The Denarau Decree
However, FijiToday is not quite as honest in an article on the The Denarau (Nadi River) Development Decree 2011. But it erred with a sin of omission, not commission. It was not what they said, but what they left out.
Denarau is without doubt the most developed of the tourist attractions in the West. Built on a large area of reclaimed and channelised mangrove swamp, it is close to Nadi International Airport, has a mix of luxurious to not quite so luxurious accommodation (Hilton, Westin, Sheraton,Sofitel, and more), swimming pools galore, a world class golf course, massage facilities and spas, and an extensive shopping complex. But the area that is the concern of the Decree involve the marina, that provides services to visiting yachtsmen and transfers to tourist island in the Mamanuca and Yawasa Islands to the north of Nadi.
FijiToday reported that one company, Ports Denarau Marina Limited, had been given a 20 year exclusive licence in 2000 of about 26 hectares for an annual rental of $400 "in return for extensive dredging and development of what was then a swamp. The licence was cancelled without warning or compensation. No legal challenge was allowed. Announced today but came into force yesterday. The Decree vests absolutely in the Director of Lands any existing interest in the channel. Any person who obstructs or prevents any person from accessing or using the channel, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine and/or imprisonment.
What FijiToday did not report, that was also in the Government release was that the purpose of the decree was "to liberalise access to and use of the Nadi River channel for the public of Fiji for the purposes of tourism, recreation or personal as well as commercial use," and that the Company had been demanding that all persons, including all owners and operators of vessels, payment for access and use of the channel. Complaints from other users and the importance of the channel for the tourism industry were the reasons for the Decree. I presume the fees collected by the company since 2000 was considered sufficient compensation.
Foreshore for All
Readers will remember Bainimarama's opposition to the Qoliqoli Bill that would have given individual vanua exclusive rights over the foreshore was a major reason for the Coup. Free access to the Denarau Channel is entirely consistent with opposition to the Qoliqoli Bill and the liberalisation of all surfing areas by the Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree last year. FijiToday focused on the loss to the Company and gave no reason for Government's action.
-- Crosbie Walsh
3 comments:
Croz
The only dishonest blog is your pro coup - pro military regime blog. Calling a military regime run by a dictator a 'government' sums you up. Are you deceitful or delusional?
Dear Croz,
While not directly related to todays psoting I wanted to comment on you banner quote. I troubles me everytime i read it.
OK with the first part but the last part says..."Let's unite and show the world that we are still the way the world should be". Clearly Fiji was not the way the world should be prior to 2006 - otherwise our now PM would have had very little reason to take over the elected government and put in place a military government that continues today over four years later.
Then for the past fours years I certainly would not describe Fiji as the way the world should be. Just maybe some of the military's style is a necessary evil but the thuggary, lack of consultation, lack of freedom of speach and general secretiveness is not the way the world should be.
Maybe one day but certainly not in the immediate past or totday is Fiji the way the world should be.
Regards
Concerned fFijian
@the Denarau Channel and access thereto....
Over the years, there have been many complaints registered over this 'Mates Rates' deal. Just as there were many legitimate complaints concerning the lack of access to treated drinking water once the same 'mates rates' wwere applied to Denarau Island: water for the few at expense of the many? Those who paid for and organised such restricted access, who thought so little of the larger mass of people who might also have rights, should have thought again. They chose not to, too often.
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