Pacific Roving Ambassador, Big Plans for Health, New NZ Aid Policy, A Tick for FijiToday, and its Polldaddy Poll

N0312. NEW PACIFIC ROVING AMBASSADOR. Another indication of Government's intention of developing closer ties with its Pacific neighbours is the appoint of Mrs. Litia Mawi as Roving Ambassador/ High Commissioner and Special Envoy to the Pacific Island Countries.

Until recently a career public servant, Mrs Mawi was Fiji’s First Secretary then Counsellor at the Fiji Embassy in Tokyo under the Qarase government. and a Permanent Secretary and the Deputy Secretary for Foreign Affairs and External Trade under the Bainimarama government. She retired from the public service in late 2009 when she travelled extensively overseas for personal and professional reasons.  She has just returned from Tuvalu and a one-year consultancy for the UN as an International UN Volunteer Specialist in Aid Management and Coordination assigned to the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Funafuti, Tuvalu. -- Based on No.776/MOI.

N0313. BIG PLANS FOR HEALTH. Fiji should have a facility within the next five years which will enable local surgeons to perform heart and kidney transplants. Permanent secretary for Health, Dr Salanieta Saketa, said  major reforms over the last two years such as the decentralisation of the General Outpatients Department at CWM and the current upgrading of their ambulance fleet have helped improve current services. The Ministry's plans for the future also include better services for non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, cancer treatments and kidney diseases. A dialysis unit is now available thanks to assistance from the private and public sector.-- Based on No.0781/MOI.

N0314.  NZ'S NEW AID POLICY. The New Zealand government has released its new International Development Policy that aims to support "sustainable economic development, particularly in the Pacific region." To receive a copy of "International Development Policy Statement: Supporting Sustainable Development" please email: aidcommunications@mfat.govt.nz.

N0315. CONGRATULATIONS TO FIJITODAY.  Thank goodness for another rational blog. Most political blogs on Fiji are so full of venom and hatred they cannot make  a useful contribution to Fiji's situation, or the way forward other than as advocates of violence and a return to the divisive racism and rampant corruption of Fiji from 2001 to 2006. Peter Firkins's FijiToday (I think the name is  a pseudonym) is very different.  It's anti-government, there's absolutely to doubt about that,  but many of its criticisms (usually contained in a long heading before a copied post item) are rational, thought-provoking and need to be made.  Recently it ran a poll asking readers to tick the statements with which they agreed on a wide range of government actions (see below).

Last Saturday it asked this question: "Leaving aside Political and Moral Issues, what actions of the current administration do you approve of?  I thought this comment and another reader's reply worth sharing with readers of my blog. I don't think Peter will mind.

Fiji 'Playing Politics' at MSG? Pacific Islands Trade, Disabilities, Gays have Human Rights

WEEKEND READING ♦ Allen Lockington Column  ♦ People's Charter  Pillar 4 Public Service Efficiency: for Discussion   ♦ Father Arms Corrects Me on the Charter's Proposed Voting System   
♦ Kevin Rudd Takes His Eye off Pacific Islands

I had hoped to publish " Two Viewpoints on the Alleged Torture of Detainees"   but this will now be deferred for two weeks due to  the Amnesty International NZ CEO being temporarily unavailable. 
 
Photo: A comment on last year's Engaging the Pacific meeting that was held when the MSG meeting was cancelled by then Vanuatu PM Edward Natapei, some say due to Australian pressure.

N0258. SNIPING FROM THE SIDELINES. The  Melanesian Spearhead Group is meeting in Suva this week and next. Last year's meeting was abandoned because the then MSG chairman, Vanuatu PM Edward Natapei, refused to hand over his chairmanship to Fiji whose turn it was to host the meeting. Natapei denies he was influenced by Australia and NZ in his decision. This year, no longer chairman and no longer PM, he tells Radio NZ International that Vanuatu should reconsider its membership of the Melanesian Spearhead Group because the MSG is now — and for one brief term only — "chaired by a non-democratically elected government.”

Thank you, RNZI, what would we do without you to keep us informed on what we should think about Fiji? Having obtained Natapei's statement RNZI journalists ferreted out another negative comment on the MSG meeting, this time from Auckland University's (and formerly USP's) Dr Steven Ratuva who is usually not known for negative comments.

Steve warns the MSG not to become "a tool of geopolitics."  He says (or is reported to have said) Fiji's chairmanship of the MSG meeting "consolidates Commodore Bainimarama’s power in his scrap with Australia and New Zealand, and he may feel he’s now the new regional leader to be reckoned with."

“Perhaps in the long run that kind of thinking may be counter productive to the MSG which really needs to be focused more on economics and trade rather than in terms of fighting the political battle. So if [Commodore] Bainimarama uses the MSG as a means by which it can leverage politically then it might not be in the future interests of the MSG.”

But, Steve,  since all politicians play politics (that's what they do), why can't Fiji join the game? Fiji did not kick itself out of the Pacific Islands Forum, or the PACER talks (it wanted to participate). Australia and NZ influenced the Pacific's Forum members to make that political decision. Fiji did not ask the Commonwealth to be excluded from the Delhi Games. Australia and NZ urged the Commonwealth to take that political decision. Fiji did not ask the EU to suspend aid to its sugar industry. Australia and NZ were at it again. And Fiji has not placed travel bans on Australian and NZ sportsmen and women. That's Australia and NZ again. So if Australia and NZ are playing politics, is this also not the "the future interests of the MSG — and the Forum? As the saying goes, "If it's good bad for the goose, it's good bad for the gander."

Perhaps we can now get some worthwhile coverage of the MSG meeting by Radio NZ International — or any other media news source for that matter.  It's not often we get so many Pacific leaders together.  They should merit some mention.


N0259. MSG TRADING PARTNERS. The Director of Trade and Investment at the MSG Secretariat, Mere Falemaka, has told MSG delegates that while there has been an increase in trading among the MSG countries, there's a long way to go before the trade potential is fully realized. She urged all MSG countries to explore areas outside their traditional trading boundaries.

Australia continues to be the Region's biggest trading partner in both imports and exports followed by Asian countries (China, Japan, Indonesia, Korea and others) with whom trade it rapidly increasing. New Zealand comes next.-- based on No:0722/MOI.

N0260. FIRST LADY LAUNCHES DISABILITIES WORKSHOP. The Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) two-day workshop on empowering the deaf was launched by the First Lady Adi Koila Nailatikau on Thursday. The workshop was by the Fiji Association of the Deaf. The association has received $38,000 funding from the European Union for a one year period. The workshop focused on issues relating to employment and health. -- Based on No:0717/MOI.

N0261. FIJI AGAINST GAY DISCRIMINATION. Fiji joined 84 other countries recently in released a joint statement at the UN Human Rights Council in  Geneva on "Ending Acts on Violence and Related Human Rights Violations Based on Sexual Orientation and Gender  Identity." Local NGO, Women's Action for Change director Peni Moore said her organisation was pleased with the action taken by the Government.

"For those of us who've been working in this area for a long time, it gave us great pride to see what the Government has done," said Mrs Moore. She said she was honoured to be a member of one of the first Pacific island countries that was a signatory to the statement.

The US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, said the event stressed a commitment by the US to human rights through dialogue, open discussion and frank conversation, according to a statement yesterday. "Gay rights are human rights and human rights are gay rights," Mrs Clinton said.

NZ Parliamentary Report on the Pacific by Gerald McGhie

 

Gerald McGhie is a former diplomat with substantial experience in the Pacific. His Blog is External40.Blogspot.com  A slightly revised copy of this article was published by the DominionPost on Friday 18 February.

A Minibus Owner's Story; Tonga Warns AustNZ Over Fiji

N0122. CANCELLED LICENCES PROOF OF 'JUNTA CORRUPTION'. I was alerted to the public transport situation by a letter in FijiToday by a minivan driver who warned all of the blog's readers not to "do any business in Fiji at present" because "justice in business depends on who you know in the right place."

The writer said he had been issued a permit to run a minibus service between Lautoka and Ba but after two weeks the licence was revoked along with the licences of ten others. A Ministry of Transport official told him he and other minivan owners "were causing bus companies to go broke." He thought complaints by the bus companies were the cause of the revoked licences, adding "Surely this is part of the corruption that this government was going to wipe out."

I commented on Peter Firkin's FijiToday blog sympathising with his position and advised him to complain through the Chamber of Commerce and contact me if he thought I could help.

Blocked Racist Comment, School Fees, Coordinating Aid, Kiribati-Fiji Relations, Office Rationalisation

N0081. BLOCKED COMMENTS.  Sometimes I block comments that are insulting and distasteful but sometimes it is necessary to publish one to show the sorts of people who do not like my blog (and much else besides). Here is what Boots on their throats boy wanted to leave behind on my "It's Only a (FRU) Game &  Ugly Racism" (N0065) item:

Croz, Has your little mate who is going to stand on our throats run down his hole and peed his pants? As a Fijian said to me today - why doesn't the little roti boy come into the pub here and open his big mouth? If he does I'll tear his leg off and shove it up his arse!!!"  

For those who missed the original comment, it referred to the publishers of an anti-government blog who  had distorted the news. But, despite comments to the contrary, this writer and others chose to believe it was meant for indigenous Fijians.

N0082. EXORBITANT SCHOOL FEES NOT TOLERATED. The Ministry of Education has warned schools that school fees and levies must by approved by the MOE, and that no child may be locked out for unpaid fees.  Minister Filipe Bole said that many school had been charging exorbitant fees and this would not be tolerated. "No child is supposed to owe any money because the government is paying all the fees. However, some managements may argue that such levies are directed towards building grants and few other items.They ought to know that the government has considered all those expenses while allocating grants. Our people have been instructed to obtain each school's audited accounts for verification,” the Minister said. -- Based on 2011, No:0187 /MOE.

N0083. COORDINATING AID. An aid donors round table co-ordination meeting will be held on Friday. The meeting, that will be attended by development partners, regional organisations and financial institutions, civil society organisations and government officials,  will provide government with the opportunity to discuss way in which overseas development assistance and aid resources can be enhanced through partnership with development partners.

The overall objective is to formulate a framework for Overseas Development Assistance in line with the 2005 Paris Declaration commitments to which Fiji and another 91 countries, donor partners and stakeholders are signatories. The meeting will help Fiji prepare for the Fourth High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness to be held in Busan, Korea in November. -- Based on 2011, No:0203/MOI.

N0084. KIRIBATI RESPECTS FIJI SOVEREIGNTY. A delegation of senior government official was in Kiribati from January 13 to 18 to discuss strengthening bilateral ties as  stipulated under the Memorandum of Understanding signed by HE President Anote Tong and PM Bainimarama last September. Areas of cooperation included trade and investments, education, labour mobility, immigration, commerce, retail and taxation, fisheries cooperation, air and sea transportation, health and pharmaceuticals, climate change, environment, security and energy.

During the visit President Tong further underlined his government's policy to continue engaging constructively in recognition of the sovereignty of Fiji to settle its own internal affairs.  He also acknowledged the crucial role that Fiji played in the enhancement of the wellbeing and socio-economic development of the people of Kiribati and the region.

N0085.OFFICE LOCATION RATIONALISATION. The PSC is in the process of arranging for the relocation of various Government Offices to bring about cost savings and "better synergies" in government administration. The "clustering" of related departments is also expected to improve accessibility the public and other stakeholders. -- 2011, No: 0162/PSC.

This was announced on Monday by PSC Permanent Secretary Parmesh Chand who anti-government blogs reported as having resigned a month ago — and they have still not corrected their error!

WEEKEND READING WEEKEND READING (AND LISTENING) ♦ Allen Lockington column ♦  Fiji's New Diplomacy has Implications for the Region by Sandra Tarte ♦ Why the Roadmap: the Politics Under the Bridges Part II by Croz Walsh

"A Camel is a Horse Designed by a Committee"

2011 PUBLIC HOLIDAYS, SCHOOL TERMS, see left sidebar. 

New QUOTE FOR THE WEEK, see right sidebar.

NZ COMMITTEE'S NON-REPORT ON FIJI. The multi-party NZ Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee was charged in March 2006 to investigate and to report to Parliament on NZ's relations with Pacific Island nations. This it did in December 2010 following numerous consultations and a visit to four Polynesian islands. Few of its ten members had any prior knowledge of the Pacific but they were assisted with advice from MFAT. The report covers 96 pages.

The single page on Fiji and the country's  rare mention elsewhere shows that Fiji was peripheral to the Committee's main interests, but clearly it had to say something. Of the 116 written submissions I can identify only three from people with Fiji knowledge. Not surprisingly, the report provides no new insight into the Fiji situation, and makes no recommendations on NZ-Fiji relations.

In essence, it merely restates the already well-known position of the NZ government and appears to have been unaware of, or unwilling to visit,  alternative interpretations. I thought its tone a little patronising and its assessment of the situation on the ground in Fiji dated and lopsided.

The Tongan Elections

by Crosbie Walsh

When I lived in Tonga nearly 50 years ago, parliament comprised 7 nobles representing 33 nobles,  7 elected commoners representing about 25-30,000 adults, and a Cabinet of 8 which including the Prime Minister, appointed by the much loved Queen Salote.

I doubt many people were concerned about this inequality.  Nuku'alofa was barely urban. There was little industry or commerce. Most people were subsistence or semi-subsistence farmers. Few Tongans had been educated overseas and overseas communities were small.  There was a weekly Heron flight to Fiji but most overseas travel was by the Tofua or Hifofua that took five days to get to New Zealand.  There was a weekly foolscap-size government broadsheet but no newspapers and one government-owned radio station.

Roads, Water, Roadmap; Australian Leaks, Forum Threatened; Economy Surviving, NZ 'Spying,' Solomon MOU, Hi Oprah

SCROLL DOWN TO WEEKEND READING. QUOTE FOR THE WEEK

Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul.-- Mark Twain (1835-1910). See right sidebar.

IF I HAD A THOUSAND TONGUES. It may be boring to town dwellers who've never had to walk ten k lugging a 30kg basket of dalo but the opening of the new 10km Lagi Nukusere road that branches off from the main Dogotuki highway to link isolated districts of Udu in Macuata and Tawake in Cakaudrove is a big event for those concerned. It will save them a ten kilometre walk to the nearest bus and a boat trip to the Labasa market and hospital that could cost up to $400. Government is hoping its $850,000 investment will increase productivity and the marketing of farm produce.

Lorosio Qiriyamo, the 84-year old leader of the Yavusa Lagi, said for a long time he’d seen the struggles of his people. “If I have a thousand tongues they will all just thank the investment the Government has made here.” -- Based on 2010, No:2205/MOI

ANOTHER VANUA LEVU DEVELOPMENT. The $10m Navau water project that opened this week has resolved long standing water problems for people living in the high areas of Labasa, the main town in Vanua Levu. An additional five mega litres of water is now being pumped via 23km of piping into the Benau Reservoir, raising the typical water level from 0.34m to its maximum 4.6m capacity. Previously, people living in higher areas received only intermittent water supply. The project was first mooted in 1998 but has been delayed by lack of funding .  -- Based on 2010, No:2206/MOI. The project serves as another example of work on the Government's Roadmap and the use to which funds and loan money are being used.


AUSTRALIA'S LEAKED POLICY.  The Sydney Morning Herald has  an  interesting article by Phillip Dorling, based on Wikileaks, about the opinions of former parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs Duncan Kerr. Kerr was deeply frustrated with the failure of Australia's policy to isolate Fiji and topple the Bainimarama government but could see no policy alternative. Kerr privately encouraged the US to seek re-engagement with Fiji, and so break the impasse.
 
He thought  Australia's hardline policies [were] driving Fiji's economy towards collapse while failing in their objective of bringing an end to the country's military rule." And he was deeply concerned at what he saw as a severe deterioration in Fiji's political, economic, and social conditions, and the potential costs for
Australia in the event of economic collapse. The US embassy reported that Kerr, who had "considerable experience of South Pacific politics," believed "Bainimarama cannot give up power as he would end up at the mercy of his enemies, and suggested that the international community should find a safe way for him to step down. [Bainimarama was] the only military man who believes in a return to civilian rule, as less senior officers are getting the taste of being in power".

Well, here we are a year later. Australia had an opportunity to modify its policies after the election of a new government, but failed to do so.  The US could still be contemplating some new approach. And in Fiji, Bainimarama seems to be steadily improving his position, work on infrastructural and institutional reform continues, and the economy survives with some signs of recovery.

For me, the article was of interest because of  Kerr's  limited understanding of Fiji's internal political dynamics; the assumption that Australia alone holds the key to "make or break" in the Pacific region; and its admission  that Australian policies had adversely affecting the Fiji economy.  Someone should tell Prof Narsey who seems to think it's all Bainimarama's fault.

WIKILEAKS COULD DERAIL PACIFIC FORUM. This is what the NZ Herald had to say.

ECONOMY SURVIVING. Fiji's economic recovery is still some way off but recently released Reserve Bank figures indicate that it is holding its own, with improvements in some areas. Compared with the same period last year:

• New lending for consumption purposes increased by 1.4% to $85.5 million, mainly supported by buoyant tourism activity and higher inward remittances. Imports of consumption goods declined by 1.6%.
• Investment, however, continued to remain weak.Imports of investment goods declined by 4.8% and new investment lending declined by 1.1% from $45.7 million.
• Rather better news was that the merchandise trade deficit narrowed  by around 6.2% to $920.6 million. This was due to higher domestic export earnings, up by 10.1%, led by mineral water, fish, timber, sweet biscuits, gold, garments and flour which more than offset the decline in earnings from sugar, molasses and coconut oil.
• Total export earnings, including re-exports, rose by 15.9%, up from a 18.2% decline in the same period last year.
• Import payments (excluding aircraft) rose by 2.4%, up from a decline of 16.4% mainly due to higher prices for  mineral fuels, chemicals and manufactured miscellaneous articles, but the increases were largely offset by declines in payments for machinery, transport and equipment, and foodstuff. -- Based partly on  Fiji Times.

NZ 'NYET' (NO COMMENT) ON SPYING. Following up on Wikileaks, FijiVillage news sent questions to MFAT asking Foreign Minister McCully whether NZ has been still spying on the Fiji military and government since 2006, and whether it was still listening to Fiji mobile phones. NZ replied that it was a longstanding practice not to comment on intelligence matters.


 FIJI-SOLOMON MOU. The Memorandum of Understanding signed in Honiara last week will see greater co-operation on bilateral trade and investments, education, labour mobility, immigration, commerce, retail and taxation, fisheries cooperation, air and sea transportation, health and pharmaceuticals and climate change, environment, and security and energy. The MOU will enable Solomon Islands students to enjoy tuition fees concessions in most tertiary learning institutions in Fiji. -- Based on 2010, No:2194/MFA.

OPRAH IN FIJI.  "Oprah Winfrey and her partner chose Fiji as a holiday destination because they were told it was safe and a fantastic time out from their hectic schedule as public figures.  When she leaves I wonder what she could tell the world. I wonder if she'll tell those who say Fiji is dangerous that they are wrong."-- Allen Lockington.