A CHIEFLY STATEMENT. “The chiefly system is not our making but God's calling. He has placed these responsibilities on our shoulders to keep our people united, to maintain structure and order within our society so that the people are always untied … we stay traditional and continue to honour our practices … so everybody is happy. There is the ‘mana’, the wrath of the spirits for non adherence … you will not understand …Our people like giving, they like to serve … it is a system that has enabled our survival and the security of our people”. --Unnamed chief at Provincial Council meeting. REGISTRATION OF POLITICAL PARTIES. Registrar of Political Parties Mere Vuniwaqa has confirmed that none of the parties have applied for re-registration so far, and none are likely to be registered by the deadline on Thursday.because the process requires time for assessment of each application. If this is the case the parties will cease to exist from Friday. Applicants will, however, have an opportunity to appeal once the application has been received.
PARTY APPLICATIONS. The National Federation Party and the proposed Social Democratic Liberal Party have said that they will apply for registration later this week.
NATIONAL FEDERATION PARTY. Fiji’s oldest political party, the National Federation Party, emerged from a special meeting confident it was well on its way to registering by Thursday for next year’s elections. The party held its special general meeting over the weekend to elect new executive members. Party president lawyer Raman Pratap Singh was re-elected. Replacing trade unionist and long time party strong man Pramod Rae as general secretary is former Police officer Vishwa Nadan, of Lautoka. The vice-president is cane farmer Mohammed Rafiq of Labasa, while businessman Sanjeev Patel of Nadi has been appointed as the treasurer. To comply with the decree, which calls for a fifth executive member, Suva accountant Dilip Kumar had been appointed a registered officer.
All were elected unopposed.
Mr Singh explained the absence of any iTaukei member or women on the executive: “Because of logistic and geographical reasons we do not see iTaukei members here. If you look at our forms, you will note that it is multi-racial.”
The party also believes full time trade unionists Attar Singh and Pramod Rae do not have to resign officially from the party. Both have opted to stay with their paid union jobs rather than be officials in the party.
Mr Singh urged Prime Minister Commodore Bainimarama to appoint a Constituent Assembly which is “truly representative of the people and arrive at a constitution which broadly reflects the submissions made by people.” The party’s application for re-registration will be lodged on Wednesday, he said.
FLP TO ANNOUNCE ITS FUTURE. The Fiji Labour Party will announce its next step tomorrow, Wednesday. The party met over the weekend in Ba, over issues regarding the Political Parties Registration Decree but remained silent on whether it will adhere to the requirements of the decree.
GOVERNMENT REPS VISITING INFORMAL SETTLEMENTS.A team organised by the PM's Office. with Suva City Council, Lands Department, iTLTB, PA Rewa and DO Suva participation is currently holding meetings in informal settlements in the Greater Suva area to hear community concerns about services provided, and encourage participation in the Constituent Assembly and later election process. The initiative is to be commended but the rep from the PM's Ofice Sitiveni Raturala is reported to have been a little tardy with the truth in saying the "Bill of Rights" should be in the new Fiji Constitution as it was not reflected in the Ghai Draft. This is incorrect and I am surprised he made the claim. A Bill of Rights was in fact included in the Ghai draft and one clause 5 (1) (c) was especially relevant to people living in informal settlements. It said everyone is entitled to accessible and adequate housing and sanitation.
NEW DEMANDS ON PUBLIC SERVICE. Public Service Commission acting PermSec Iliesa Lutu says he is confident that with strong leadership and the major changes and reforms currently underway, even the most troubled department or ministry can be reformed. From now on almost all base-grade positions will require a diploma, and all positions above the administration officer will
require a degree. "The message we are trying to put across now is that in all positions in government, we need graduates who can think critically,assess analytically, and make informed and educated decisions," he said.
"The role of the executive leaders has broadened somewhat, from performing customary administrative and managerial duties to taking the proactive role of continually improving and thinking up new policies and new operational methods that adhere to global trends."
Accountability was also another challenge emphasised. He said the onus was on all directors to practice good governance in the dispensing of their duties.
"Let me emphasise that for all leaders in the civil service, we are required to relay national realities and marshall energies and initiatives on the ground to enable the government to achieve its national goal...Accordingly they must first break down many old barriers that existed in the civil service for a long time."
34 comments:
To put the cats among the pigeons, I think Alisi Daurewa was right about India link to 1st Fiji settlers. Research shows ancient
Indian migration to Australia, so no reason why they did not reach Fiji. I always knew we were kaivata. When our lovely Fijian girls straighten their hair they look like us, kai-india. read for yourself!!
Research shows ancient Indian migration to Australia
PM By Anna MacDonald
A new study of Indigenous Australian DNA suggests there was some form of migration from India to Australia about 4,000 years ago.
Aboriginal people first inhabited Australia about 40,000 years ago and researchers had previously thought them to be isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years.
A German study may change that assumption after it analysed about 1 million genetic markers in Indigenous Australians and compared the patterns of variation to other populations.
Doctor Mark Stoneking, from the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, and a team of researchers found the first signs of Indian influence coincided with a time of significant developments to the way Aboriginal communities lived.
Dr Stoneking says there are two explanations for the Indian DNA link.
"It could have been by people actually moving, physically travelling from India directly to Australia, or their genetic material could have moved in terms of contact between India and neighbouring populations who then had contact with other neighbour populations and eventually, there would have been contact with Australia," he told PM.
The study shows the earliest Indian link occurred about 4,000 years ago during a time when dingoes first appeared in the fossil record and Aboriginal communities changed the way they sourced and prepared food.
Professor Alan Cooper, from the University of Adelaide's Centre for Ancient DNA, says the Indian influence may well have played a role in the development of the Aboriginal culture.
He says it is impossible to ignore the link with the discovery of the dingo.
"The timing of all those things in the archaeological record, about 4,000 to 5,000 years ago, happens to match the timing estimated for this genetic influx from India," he said.
Professor Cooper also points to another development that happened around the time of this Indian connection - a big expansion of one of the Aboriginal language groups.
"This other language seems to have taken over Australia relatively recently - perhaps 5,000 years ago," he said.
"And how it did it, how it replaced the other ancient languages, we don't know.
"So suddenly, 4,000 to 5,000 years ago is starting to become a fairly tumultuous time in Australian history."
Dr Stoneking says it has taken a while for the Indian influence to be discovered because Indigenous Australians have been hesitant to participate in these kinds of genetic studies.
"It's one of the most rich and challenging stories in human history, and we know almost nothing about it, as this study has shown."
The study will be published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
@ Kai India
Studies will also show that we are all Africans! At the end of the day, we are all same! But if only we can to live together in harmony! Why did the originals have to leave in the first place...bet the DNA analysis can not tell us that? Regardless of what the DNA says if we can not tolerate and consider others as equal, we are all lost... and will continue to migrate to a better place!
Even the pope has resigned. A sign for the dictator?
Well said Migrant. That was the point I was trying to make, using a bit humor, knowing it would ruffle a few fascist feathers.
The dismantling of the Fiji's Chiefly system is long overdue. All men were created equal.
It would appear this is not the case in the country of untouchables? Is there a more corrupt nation?
Talking about corruption, which country's ex-prime minister is now behind bars for using his official position for personal gain ?
Over to you, vale ni kuro.
Which current PM should be in jail for staging a coup, helping himself to back pay and paying himself unknown amounts of cash >
The now PM claimed back in 2006 he would fix the public service by 2009. Its now 2013 and he has had more power than any other PM in Fiji's history. Yet every week we hear militay folk lecturing the public service about changing from old ways and the need to improve. Pretty soon 'old ways' will be old as in 2007, 2008, 2009. Ahh but surely they mean pre coup when all things where bad !!!!!
Why dont they stop lecturing and then get on with fixing.
The problem is the army is just as bad as the cival service.
All good things must come to an end and this applies to the Chiefly system; the vested interest who benefit the most personally from the chiefly system will keep fighting for it even if it ruins Fiji's future. Sure the system can continue as part of teh culture but it has no place in politics and it has to take a step back in allocation of resources
Agreed - but i would also add their is no place for the military in politics either
I wonder if the Great Council of Chiefs had allowed the law to run its course in 1987, meaning the hangman's rope for Rabuka, would there have been any further coups ? Instead they made Rabuka, a life member !!
The coups of 2000 and 2006 - blame it on the Council of Chiefs for their decision in 1987, based entirely on their self-interest. In the medium term this Council has lost its "mana" and is a laughing stock, having been cast aside by a commoner.
He's fixed the Methodist Church and the talatalas .....these modern day Pharisees have been cast aside.
He's fixed the Council of Chiefs and ensured a fairer distribution of rent monies......these thieves have been sidelined
He's fixed the crooked lawyers... ex-president Sahu Khan is staying away from Fiji. Fiji football should review its affairs over the last 25 years to see no impropriety took place, or bring him back to fiji to face the music
He's fixed politicians who abused their positions for personal gain -- Qarase in jail, chaudhary on tax evasion charges.
Yes Frank Bainimarama is the Fixer who's fixing Fiji.
But somebody needs to hold the stick!! Do you want the lovely chiefs to hold the stick? I dont think so...haha ...Greed plays with the mind!
Thikwit Ramshit has a big mouth as long as military protection continues? Without protection these boney arsed big mouths would last 24 hrs. So keep washing feet slurper.
He aslo fixed Alice Tabete, the inefficient Fiji Sports Council ceo who was queening it at the council and abusing her position by overspending on vehicles and using staff to do chores at her house, but achieving very little for the council, so she got a well-deserved and long overdue kick.
He also fixed another wannabe queen Foana Nemani, who was behaving like a millionaires after taking improper and unauthorised loans from FNPF to buy up property all over Suva. Foana and sacked general Manager Olota Rokovunisei were having a field day scratching each backs at FNPF. They defrauded FNPF by authorizing payment of responsibility allowance for each of over $30k each. The two wannabe millionaires have received their just deserts.
what farcical argument to claim that as you were abused by the chieks and talatala's, it is all so different now you are patronised and abused by the military so you are better off ??!! only in fiji.
The military is abusing those that were abusing us! What's wrong with that!! The chiefs now do people work and church does god work!! We are happy now.. you cant accept that coz u are outside! Come and check out the talatala's now... any politics and they get a smack! At least it is not something else on their backside!
I all for that logic and would suggest that there be harsh recriminations against all those in the current regime to!! or is that different?? If you are so happy why not out in the streets celebrating , oh thats right....you will need a permit and close police protection like the regime!!
the simple answer is that the military is the less of the 2 evils;
Looks like he also fixed this racist thug who's spewing venom here under the name of "Military protection".
Military protection
Methinks you're speaking from your rear, polluting the atmosphere of this thread by your stench, you kaisi bakola !!
@ Ratu Roti
Sorry to hear daddy set fire to mummy again.
Poor Ratu Roti
Sorry to hear that your mum is no more and Dad is in jail !!
What hope is there for you ??
If you are so annoyed, why dont you pick up arms and the take this military on! I dont think so.. the country is doing well and we have strong leadership! Guess what, the old parties are dead! Where are the nationalists, the once powerful chiefs, the elites hiding behind their big ta's,... they are all demolished and will be a footnote in the future!! Fiji is changing and we are happy with that! There are social problems but where are those Jesus screamers!! The church needs to concentrate on the social ills not the politiks.. as for the chiefs... I am not sure what they should be doing! How about civil service! Before this government, forced home breakins were common and the police took ages. Now the criminals understand who is the boss! They feel the pain and I am happy with the security! If you want Human rights for them then you are welcome to take them in your foreign countries.. Put your money where your mouth is or just shut up because the positives are outweighing the negatives!
The SDl is till the SDL, bet the regime didn't plan on that, and it doesn't take genuius to know you don't have to be member of the excutive of a party to pull the strings and run the agenda. Shows how naive the regime is. Wonderful to see there is no crime in fiji thanks to the regime!! I see they make the sun shine too.
Wait till they try to register.. because they may not meet the requirements!! They have missed the deadline and now will not be part of the Assembly discussions of the draft constitution! Seems they understand that they are losing the battle...God Bless Fiji!
This a a good topic of debate - those constantly criticizing Franka and the military government should try and understand why so many people are supporting him instead of getting angry and repeating well worn phrases.
The reason the military is supported is that they have ruled with a lot less racism then previously - yes the military is mainly indigenous and that is not great but previously it was a lot worse than this - the government was racist and elitist under Qarase
The Fijian economy is also on the verge of some growth despite the failed sugar industry which suffers from a fundamental issue due to it being propped up by EU subsidies for so long - it was always going to fail but now we have a controlled wind down while tourism boom
Has anyone here been to Fiji recently - apart from the hurricanes Tourisim is booming; construction activity is picking up and the ordinary Fijian is hopeful
they don't have to register this week, and they will swamp anyone else with votes, The same people voting the same way. They will have a mandate, unlike this bunch. If they are so confident, this regime should let thepeople chose , those same people they claim support them all these years. Well lets see then. Gutless.The fact is afterv all their claims they are scared sh*tless of the people voting the way THEY want.
IF so many are supporting him then it should not be hard to win an election then should it!! So why then the sneaky tactics to create an uneven plyaing field to advantage the regime and their own set of crinies?? we all know why. Please spare me the 'try to unerstand the regime' garbage. The fact is even in this twisted and patronising attempt at 'real democracy!?' they don't trust the people to chose. SO agin i say , if it clear toall then there should be no problem winnign government in an actual election , but we know the military won't leave it to chancegiven their tactics.
Federal elections were held in Germany on 5 March 1933. The Nazis registered a large increase in votes, again emerging as the largest party by far.
Just because you can get more votes doesn't mean you are doing the right thing. Hitler was one of the most evil human beings in history but he managed to get double the votes of the nearest rival in the German federal elections in 1933.
"uneven playing field"?????????? Are you serious? Obviously you have absolutely no idea. If your brains were made out of elastic, there wouldnt be enough to go around the ankle of a sparrow.
"The ankle of a sparrow" - that is one of the most memorable sayings ever to have been posted in the past seven years! Along with the 'straw that breaks the camel's back' - it will live on forever in our memories long after all those who oppress us are rendered and scattered in dust.
Oh so the mandate that bainipajamas claims is all rubbish too?? It swings both ways.
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