Fiji Tidbits: Consulting the "People", Children's Savings, FHL, a Taukei Business, Alleged Misinformation.

Consulting the People

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Peter Waqavonovono on Facebook

12 February at 19:17 · 

Happening now in Parliament, your Fijifirst Government is trying to fast track a Bill under Standing Order 51 that the native people of Fiji have the right to be consulted on any laws that affect them.SODELPA is arguing that as the first people's of Fiji, the NATIVE FIJIANS must be consulted, and consent given for any changes to the law Government is proposing

By the Way, Government is trying to fast track Bill No. 2 of 2019 - Bill for an Act to Amend the iTaukei Land Trust Act 1940.
The Bill has not been given to us NATIVE FIJIANS! WE dont know what Government wants to change and why! We weren't even alerted about this Bill.
Soooooo who ever said we the Indigenous of Fiji were protected, here you see that we really aren't even consulted about a Bill that directly affects us!

Peter, you know this. Parliament is a legislative Assembly. Its job is to pass laws. Every 3 years all the people are consulted and they vote for the party they want in Parliament. The people empower them to pass laws.   Outside Parliament Government refers to the people by visits, meetings, TV, the radio and social media. 

Why, and how much extra consultation is needed? 

The Opposition, who also represent the people, has a number of ways to foster consultation, e.g., question time, standing committees, Taukei ministries, press releases, face- to-face meetings, and so on. 

Peter, There appears to be a legitimate concern with the "fast tracking", but what else do you and SODELPA want? A referendum on each issue affecting Taukei?  

Do you really want all Taukei to be consulted, or would consultation with SODELPA along suffice?  I take it that you think SODELPA represents Taukei, although it claims to be a multi-ethnic party. Should Indo-Fijians, Rotumans and others also be separately consulted if legislation affects them?   I suspect it's the Taukei elite you are really talking about. Not the People.

Finally, Peter, the proposed amendment to the Act is about changing the name of its executive head from Manager to CEO. What's the fuss about?

--ACW

The Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) has opened its membership to children as young as 6 years old from today.

The Minor Voluntary Scheme allows children to earn compounded interest on their savings; enabling them to accumulate and grow these at a faster rate with zero fees and no taxes.Read on.


Fiji Holdings Ltd, a Taukei business
This article from Islands Business could be seen as more than a little one-sided. It stated that the company was set up by Rabuka but said it is now illegally headed by  Bainimarama nominees. 

"Like all native institutions and control and management of native land and resources, it has been taken over and nationalised by the Fiji First Government." 

It reported all SODELPA concerns but questions put to to the company and stock exchange "were not answered by press time." No questions were put to the minister or ministry responsible for its management.

Thankfully, it does report how well the company and its Taukei shareholders doing, despite these SODELPA concerns, fars better than it did before FijiFirst "took over":

"As an institution set up to encourage indigenous participation in business and commerce, FHL has become a successful investment institution and a major player in Fiji’s economy and reported an after tax profit of F$35 million (US$16.55m) last year, up from F$31 million (US$14.66m) in 2017.Its total dividend payout for 2018 prior to share split was 24.4 cents per share (US 11.5cents)."

I don't think many shareholders will be complaining. 

Bainimarama challenges Opposition's alleged misinformation. Read on