WEEKEND READING. • Allen Lockington Column • Introducing the Director of Public Prosecutions • Wages Council and Mr Hazelman • Ideas on Constitutional and Electoral Reforms Part III
NEW CALEDONIA SNUBS MELANESIAN SPEARHEAD GROUP. New Caledonia’s pro-independence FLNKS movement says this weekend’s planned visit to Noumea by Fiji’s interim PM who also the MSG chairman has been cancelled because of visa problems. ► Click on posting to read more.
The PM was to head a ministerial delegation of the Melanesian Spearhead Group to monitor and assess the implementation of the Noumea Accord on greater autonomy for New Caledonia.
The visit is opposed by the anti-independence Caledonia Together movement that had asked France to stop the visit. FLNKS spokesperson, Victor Tutugoro, has flown to the MSG secretariat in Vanuatu to discuss the matter. -- Based on RNZI.
POSTSCRIPT. THE FRENCH EMBASSY in Suva, however, denies Bainimarama was not granted a visa. It says the trip has been postponed, not cancelled.
FIJITODAY AND COUP4.5. Both blogs are anti-the Bainimarama government but where the former is reasonable, even to the point of republishing a complimentary Grubsheet article on the Director of Public Prosecutions, the latter is now constantly attacking Constitution Commission Prof Yash Ghai and is allowing comments on how to make bombs! I will have further posting on this issue next week.
NO SDL MEETINGS IN CHURCH HALLS. Police have confirmed the SDL party (and presumably other political parties) will not be able to use Methodist Church halls for their meetings. The clear separation of church and state is welcome but alternative accommodation needs to be available in all areas where they wish to hold meetings.
NAMOSI MINING. Landowners and the Tui Namosi/Namosi Provincial Council seem to be at loggerheads over possible future development.
POLICE AT MEETINGS. Police say they will not be changing conditions on the holding of political meetings "for now." The FLP objected to their presence at a recent meeting and FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry says he will be raising the matter with the Constitution Commission next month.
QARESE TRIAL FROM NEXT TUESDAY. A further plea to delay the trial has been denied. This is Qarase’s first case in relation to Fijian Holdings Limited where it is alleged that he facilitated and allowed the purchase of Class A FHL shares for certain companies when he was director of FHL, financial advisor of the Fijian Affairs Board and advisor to the Great Council of Chiefs.The case relates to the allotment and issuance of the FHL shares to Cicia Plantation Co-op Society Limited, Mavana Investments Limited and a family owned company named Q-Ten Investments Limited.
FNU GOES RURAL. The Fiji National University has extended its services to remote areas and this week 124 Ra villagers graduated in sustainable livelihood courses conducted over two weeks in Nativi Village.
POLICE OFFICER GRANTED BAIL. Kaipati Bakoa is charged with one count of theft and one count of interfering with evidence in relation to the alleged theft of drugs from the Nabua police station.
PINE CHIPS WORTH A PACKET. The commencement of the pine chipping operations in Wairiki, Bua Province, has a potential of earning close to $35 million a year, besides offering employment and other benefits to landowners
The first shipment of 40,000 tonnes worth $6 million was sent to Japan on Monday. About fifty locals are employed at the mill.
2 comments:
We all welcome the increase in Australian aid to the people of Fiji as the economy continues to deteriorate and poverty increases under the unelected authoritarian junta. The peole of Fiji and the junta controlling the state are two clearly separate entities. Australia is continuing to support the people of Fiji in their struggle to return to democracy, freedom and the rule of law. And Australia is consistent in its non support of the military junta - hence the continuing succesful travel bans on those associated with the regime. Like the message from the French, the view of Australia is very clear about the regions only dictator.
Bula Croz, As we start to achieve a fair amount of ground to prepare for elections in 2014 and for the sake of transparency & accountability I hope you won't mind answering some of the following questions:-
1. Is it possible that Sitiveni Weileilakeba is turning state witness against Qarase? Aren't they blood brothers?
2.Did PM Bainimarama purchase the house on Princess Road Tamavua previously built by the Reserve Bank of Fiji for the residence of the Govenor?
3. Did Attorney General Ayaiz Kaiyum purchase one of Foana Nemani's home in Vunakece Road Tamavua?
and finally
4. Are the current Ministers of the Fiji Government being paid through BDO Ali Accountancy (company owned by Noor Bano Ali & Co) firm rather than through the Ministry of Finance?
Should you be unable to answer the above questions please advise whom I should direct them too. Appreciate your kind assistance. Vinaka
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