Discussion in Fiji, Silence in NZ; Police Getting Serious; Election Groundwork Needed Now; Focus

WEEKEND READING ♦ Allen Lockington Column  ♦ People's Charter Pillar 5 (Achieving Higher Economic Growth): For Discussion  ♦ Is the PNG Land Grab Relevant to Fiji?

Photo: The University of the South Pacific Laucala Bay campus was built on the RNZF base for Sunderland flying boats which were then the only way to reach many islands in the region by air. The road on the left is Queen Elizabeth Drive that now dissects the upper and lower campus,  and the one from top to bottom of the photo is Laucala Bay Road.

N0292. PUBLIC DISCUSSION IN FIJI .  Restrictions on open debate could be improving in Fiji despite the retention of PER, the emergency regulations.  On Wednesday, USP held a public forum on the large loan recently taken out by Government, Fiji’s Second International Bond Issue. Speakers included Filimone Waqabaca (Ministry of Finance), Dr Mahendra Reddy (Fiji National University), Prof. Warden Narsey (USP), Norman Wilson (ANZ) & Dr. T.K Jayaraman (USP). Notable is the inclusion of Prof Wadan Narsey, a well known  government opponent. The audience would have heard more than one side of the argument.

My understanding is that the Fiji Times taped the debate so we may see something of what was said in the print media. They published a short item today with arguments for (Waqabaca) and against (Narsey). Hopefully, more will follow. 

Biased Reporting in New Zealand
Radio NZ International, however, mentioned only Narsey's position: "Fiji's interim administration is being criticised for burdening future generations with debt after raising about 250 million US dollars in foreign bonds."   This overtly biased reporting on Fiji is now standard fare (unfair) for RNZI. Witness Johnny Blades's report on the Melanesian Spearhead Group meeting published earlier today (N0290) that made no reference to the leaders' support for Fiji's reforms and elections in 2014, and compare with the report by Radio Australia.

Radio NZI and its reporters need to remind themselves that New Zealanders pride themselves on fair play. On-going, one-eyed, biased reporting is not fair play. One wonders why they are doing this? Is it because the State broadcaster, in today's difficult economic environment, fears funding cuts unless it kowtows to government policies?

N0293. POLICE GETTING SERIOUS ABOUT CLEANING UP THEIR ACT. Three policemen have been sacked in the Northern Division  this week. A Police headquarters spokesman said: "The consequence of abuse of power by law enforcers shows how serious the new administration is about the rightful use of power vested in the officers.We want to make Fiji a safe and secure place. We want people to place their trust and faith in the Police Force. We can't have the same people in the Police Force who have threatened and abused people. We will not condone such cases."

Fiji Today, the only moderate anti-government blog, had this heading today: "Rumor says that the Police Force has set up an Internal Investigation Unit that is operating behind the scences to reduce curruption in the police force. This force needs to be cleaned up if it is to have any credibility in the eyes of the public."

N0294. CRITICAL GROUNDWORK FOR ELECTION 2014 DATE MUST START NOW.
The Citizens’ Constitutional Forum is encouraged by the confirmation of the 2014 election timeline by Government (Fiji Village 30/3/11) and wishes to highlight that even prior to the event, the State, Civil Societies and all the key stakeholders need to start addressing the critical preparatory groundwork now.

“Going by best practices experiences of recent history of transitional governments similar to our experience, it has shown that prior to the elections itself critical landmarks such as dialogue on key issues including the Constitution, Electoral Reform and ongoing public consultation and dialogue at all levels needs to start now for a sustainable transition,” states Reverend Akuila Yabaki.

He added that, “All stakeholders need to be engaged in some critical dialogue on the processes and the content of the Constitution.”

With regard to “ironclad assurances” by the Foreign Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, on the timelines towards 2014, Reverend Yabaki “finds this warmly reassuring and strongly recommends that a good first step would be the lifting of PER.” -- CCF Press Release.

N0295.  FOCUS is the Government newsletter published in English, Fijian and Hindi. The latest issue has, as might be expected, a swag of articles on government's development initiatives,  but it also has letters to the editor, an extensive list of government job vacancies, information on the Order of Fiji, and lots of photos.

If you are interested in  having a look, it may be downloaded from the Government website by  clicking here.

PM on Racism and Elections; Graham Southwick on the EU's 'Never-ending' Story

N247. THE PM ON RACE AND ELECTIONS. Fostering racism should be stamped out so that the country can move forward, the PM told Nakalawaca Villagers in Tailevu last week.

“Na veivakaduiduitaki vakamatatamata e vakadukadukalitaka na noda vanua (Racism corrupts our country).“E kune e loma ni politiki, ka kauta mai na veilecayaki e na noda vanua. E teteva na veimata tamata kei na lotu. E dodonu me vakawabokotaki. E vakataotaka na toso. (It is rife in politics and creates uncertainty among people. Racism is found in religious societies also. It should be stamped out. It affects growth and progress).

He said the People’s Charter was built on removing racial differences.

“This Government wants to remove racial discrimination so that we can live together peacefully. This is the charter — one country and one people. We should learn to love each other and appreciate each other’s race. This is your country and this is your land. No one can take them away from you but what this Government wants is to shape a Fiji every citizen will enjoy living in.We are working on these grounds to pave a way for the 2014 elections.”

He said citizens of this country should elect good politicians for the 2014 elections. “Select politicians who can move the country forward so that we gain prosperity. Don’t just elect anyone. We want a Fiji for everyone.” 

He said the voting age should be dropped to 18 to allow youths to raise their choices and voices in the formation of their government. “Soldiers go to war at the age of 18. They fight and die for our country but they are not given the freedom to have a say in how to run their country.”

“That is why we are working hard to make changes before the elections. This Government is for you the people, but you should also change for the better. Watch what is happening around you; the prices of food you buy, the state of frozen foods in the shops and supermarkets, the cost of hardware prices and so many things. Be alert so that you can also change and move forward."

Bainimarama is the first Prime Minister to visit Nakalawaca and Namara. His next visit will be to Kadavu island to inspect the progress of Government-funded projects and meet the people.

N248. EU'S 'NEVER-ENDING LIST.' Fiji Fish Company head Graham Southwick  says the recent EU audit may pave the way for fish exports to the EU but he wonders whether it’s worth meeting the EU's remaining conditions. The EU still needs to clear fisheries exporters and it’s asked them to fulfill an extensive list of conditions.

“Now they’re talking about having to upgrade not only the factories, they want to upgrade the boats and then they want to upgrade the trucks ... Where is the thing going to end really, upgrading the airport or the aircraft? ...We don’t have any finite list that we can say, ’OK if we do these 10 things that we can go to Europe’. At the moment the list seems to be never-ending.”

Southwick says Fiji exporters have asked for a final list of conditions so that they can work out how much it’ll cost to come up to EU standard.
 
[Sounds a bit like the battle to get Australia to accept NZ apples! All's fair in love and war "free" trade.]

Lawyers Guilty, Don't Preempt Dialogue, Indian NGO to Help Amputees, Sukanaivalu Resigns

 Commissioner Connors and the Attorney-General.

Photo: Commissioner Connors and the Attorney-General.Fiji Times.
N0184. LAWYERS GUILTY.  Three prominent lawyers, Muhammed Shamsud-Dean Sahu Khan, Mehboob Raza and Vipul Mishra, have  been found guilty of professional misconduct by Independent Legal Services Commission Commissioner John Connors. Mitigation for the lawyers will take place on 28 April and sentencing on 4 May. Readers in any doubt about Government charges of corruption, negligence and malpractice in the legal profession, and the earlier need to sideline the Fiji Law Society, should read the full article.

Speaking last year on Commissioner Connor's appointment, Attorney-Gereral Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum said, “The Bainimarama Government is determined that lawyers gain public trust. Having confidence and trust in the legal profession assists, and is an integral part of the proper and effective administration of justice.” Today's decision is part of that process.

N0185. PREEMPTING DIALOGUE?  Although the main elements of the People's Charter are well-known and generally accepted by fair-minded people in Fiji, Wednesday's  statement on the format of the 2014 elections by Director of Strategic Framework for Change office Joeli Besetimoala (and his further statement that work on the new electoral system is continuing) could be seen to preempt the dialogue on the electoral reforms scheduled to occur in 2012.

He says, “The voting system dictates the composition of political parties - the voting system that will come in the next coming election – it will be the Open-list Proportional Voting System – there won’t be any ethnically based voting, the communal seats will be done away with and we can call the seats to be open seats, so if you want to appeal to particular ethnic group to win the election the voting system will be un-friendly to you so it will not allow any particular party to that level.”

There is nothing surprising in this but Besitimoala should make it absolutely clear that the Charter is a draft document and the work of the SFC are only recommendations that will be presented once fuller, citizen dialogue commences. He has also not made clear whether the SFC committee that once included citizens is still functioning or whether the "work" he describes is only that of his own officers.

He is right in stating proportional voting systems "provide more accurate representation of parties, better representation for political and racial minorities, fewer wasted votes, higher levels of voter turnout, better representation of women, greater likelihood of majority rule, and little opportunity for gerrymandering" and probably right in saying that PR, even one particular form of PR, will be used in the 2014 elections. But he should make sure that his words are not taken to preempt the dialogue process.

The moderate anti-government blog thinks PR is "a step in the right direction" but hopes several parties will contest the election. They believe a Pro Government and Opposition type party standoff will not give the true results of a PR voting system. I agree.

N0186. INDIAN NGO HELP FOR AMPUTEES. A team from the India Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahayata Samiti (BMVSS), Jaipur, the world’s largest prosthesis organisation will be in Fiji for month from early April. The team will  provide free 300 artificial limbs to registered amputees and train local prosthesis technicians to produce artificial limbs of a better standard.-- Based on No:0533/MOH.

N0187.SUKANAIVALU RESIGNS. Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Netani Sukanaivalu notified the PM on Wednesday of his intention to return to managing his family business, a work he could not dedicate quality time to as a Cabinet Minister. In accepting his resignation the PM  acknowledged what he called his immense contributions to the country’s development first as Minister of Education and recently as Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources where  he has been instrumental in setting up the Land Bank and bringing idle land into production for agricultural and industrial use. -- Based on No:0536/MOI.
  
Don't forget to check the Weekend Readings, and comments from postings earlier in the week.

Why the Roadmap? The Politics under the Bridges Part III

                                               By Crosbie Walsh

Government opponents have made much of the fact that the Roadmap has not yet been published and released for pubic scrutiny, and some have doubted its existence. I have no doubt the Roadmap exists in draft form, sufficient for government planning but clearly not sufficient for release.

I suspect Government reasoning, as in all else they have done, is that the Roadmap and the Strategic Framework for Change (that also has not been published) are operational documents based on the well known principles of the People's Charter. Publication for the general public is therefore not a priority at this time. 

If this is the case, it demonstrates government's step-by-step approach to change. First, the infrastructural changes discussed in Part I, followed by the constitutional and electoral changes that require public participation and the publication, if by then if it has any residual relevance, of the Roadmap. We should know the answer by the end of this year.

The purpose of this three-part article is to set the everyday actions and statements of Government within the broad framework of the People's Charter in order to reveal the main elements of the Roadmap and their likely outcomes. Thus, in Part I we discussed the hoped for political outcomes (the “winning of hearts and minds”) of the infrastructural reforms (the politics under the bridges) and  in Part II the sorts of changes that are likely, because of perceived shortcomings in the 1997 Constitution, to be part of the constitutional reforms. 

In this, the concluding section, I itemise and comment on the likely electoral changes and their intended purposes.

Race, Racism and the 2014 Election

By Crosbie Walsh

In the relatively moderate anti-government blog FijiToday a Pita Massam writes to publisher Peter Firkin  raising interesting questions on race, racism, legislation and the 2014 elections.

Pita writes about an IndoFijjian business friend who says he can think of no one who would be acceptable to both i'taukei and IndoFijians as prime minister. "Both Qarase and Chaudry are way too polarised to be allowed to stand and the PM has promised to exclude them anyway."

Further, his friend doubts any "village Fijian would vote for a “Mongoose” and that is 30% of the total vote. No Settlement Indian would vote for a “Tu” and that is 18% of the population."

"He proposes a question to ask to gauge the level of racism bred into the current population. Would you be happy if your daughter married a Fijian or Indian? He believes that an almost 100% of parents would say “no way.” This will not change in the six years as proposed by the current Government. So if we do get to have an election in 2014 it is impossible that it will be non racial and even the most non political Indians see themselves worse off than before 2006."

The friend thinks "that the current administration has the right policies about non-racial schooling and the next generation is the first opportunity for advances towards a non-racial society [but] irrespective of what dreams the current administration has, racism is way too alive and well in Fiji and the majority Fijian vote will own the next parliament."

Many people probably share these views. At first glance, they seem so obvious but a closer examination is needed. First, it is important not to confuse race with racism. There's no way any legislation anywhere will be able to change people's race, so to this extent the 2014 elections will not be non-racial. But society can put structures in place to reduce hostility and suspicion between races and take actions against institutional racism.  Individuals and groups, of course, may still be racist but the opportunities to treat other races unfairly or unjustly will be very limited by removing institutional racist structures. It is important not to confuse individual or group racism with institutional racism.

Of course, parents may still prefer their children to marry within their own race, or religion or social class. This is entirely natural, but it is only racism when the parents seek to prevent marriage to an otherwise suitable son- or daughter-in-law because of their hatred towards or unreasonable suspicion of the "other" race. And voting for an MP is nowhere near as intimate or permanent as choosing a marriage partner!

Pita's friend correctly says racism is alive and well in Fiji and cannot be "killed by legislation." But institutional racism can be killed and race relations improved.

The next four years, with ongoing institutional and infrastructural reforms, the new Constitution and Electoral reforms, should see Fiji go a long way to ensuring that race is pushed to the sidelines of  politics, and that when the election is held parties will be formed around policies and issues, not race.

Most MPs, the PM and the President after 2014  will probably be i'taukei simple because most people in Fiji are i'taukei. This should not be an issue, but if it is, the Deputy PM and Vice-President could represent other races. The bigger parties at least will be multi-ethnic, and structures will be in place to prevent a return to the race-based and often racist politics and legislation of Fiji before the 2006 Coup. Among most educated people, the race of the country's leaders will be far less important than the quality of their leadership. And given more time, most people will think the same. "By their deeds [and not their faces] ye shall know them."

There is, of course, always some doubt about future outcomes. None of us can predict the future. But if Peter, Pita and his IndoFijian friend want the kind of Fiji I think they want, I'm sure their best option is to keep the Bainimarama regime — for all its many warts and imperfections —  honest to the principles of the People's Charter and on track to elections in 2014. The alternative, the so-called "return to democracy,"  proclaimed by the racists in the extreme anti-government blogs is too frightening to think about.

Premature Statement on Electoral Reform, Chiefs are Not the People, Squatters Praise Government, Mission Abuses of Office

A VOTE BEFORE TIME. I'm not sure on whose authority Strategic Framework for Change Coordinator Lote Raboila has announced that voting will not be compulsory for the 2014 elections. He says people will be given the choice whether to vote or not to vote according to Pillar One of the People's Charter. Pillar One makes no specific reference to compulsory or voluntary voting. But, more importantly, I wonder what this has to do with the SFC Office?

Isn't it up to the people who will be involved in the electoral reform process to make recommendations on all matters of electoral reform?  Government may give "advance notice" of what it would like, but their views should not be stated as facts before the event.

ALL PROVINCES NOW SUPPORT CHARTER. The Permanent Secretary PM's Office Col. Pio Tikoduadua, reports that Government now has the support of the 14 provinces in the country. He says even though some chiefs have yet to show their support, they have received assurances and encouragement throughout the 14 provinces. Great. But ...

But the chiefs and provincial council are not the people, though they invariably speak for them, and neither do they represent the non-ethnic Fijian population that don't quite fit into the provincial system. I understand the Rotuma districts have already expressed support for the Charter.

Does anyone know what Government envisages for the future of the separate and parallel system of ethnic Fijian administration, organized through tikina, provinces and divisions, come 2014?  And whether this will be open to discussion as per Pillar One of the Charter before then?  My understanding is that the roles of all ethnic Fijian institutions were to be reviewed.  This would include: the Great Council of Chiefs, the Native Land Trust Board, the Fijian Affairs Board, the Ministry of Fijian Affairs and Provincial Development, the Business Development initiatives such as Yasana Holdings and the Vanua Development Corporation and, of course, the Provincial Councils.  Some have already been reviewed but an overview of what has been done, and what remains to be done, and by whom, would be most useful.

Any volunteer to write about this, or provide the necessary information so that someone else can write it up?

SQUATTERS PRAISE GOVERNMENT. Semiti Qalowasa, Director of the People's Concerned Network, a grassroots NGO which aims to provide squatters with a legal piece of land and better housing, says the current government is the only government that truly cares about the plight of the less fortunate.

He was speaking at the Ground Breaking Ceremony for the Lagilagi Housing Pilot Project at the Jittu Squatter Settlement that will see 162 families rehoused.  For years, he said, they have struggled to have the voices of squatters heard but past governments were full of false promises. The Lagilagi Housing Project will see the construction of three double-storey complexes with two bedrooms, with a single storey one bedroom complex  put aside for the elderly and those receiving Assistance from the Social Welfare Ministry.

The Project comprises a partnership between the 162 families and the PCN, whereby the families pay half the cost of the construction of their home, with the other half funded by the German Catholic funding group Misereor, and the Fiji Government. The land on which the houses will be built will be owned communally.

PUBLIC FUNDS ARE NOT PRIVATE  FUNDS. Major fiscal discrepancies in some of Fiji's foreign missions still need addressing, and the heads of the missions need to be held accountable.  Take,  for example, the mission in PNG where $62,761 of public funds were used to pay the HighCom's son's fees for Saint Joseph's Nudgee College in Brisbane. The HighCom paid back $12,000 but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ceased all the recoveries without any explanation when he was recalled in March 2009. Or the personal phone calls and other extravagant expenditure totalling $11,929 at the Tokyo mission.

These and other discrepancies came to light following the proper assessment of the Auditor General's Report for 2007 by the Public Accounts Committee. PSC Permanent Secretary, Parmesh Chand is seeking explanations before decided what further action should be taken.

(o+) How to Kickstart the Economy: Government Needs to Set in Motion, and Sell, a Credible Process

Several people responded to Rajendra Prasad's account of his Fiji trip. One, signing himself Tears of Tedium, thought Rajendra's reflections  a "once-over-lightly approach to the Fiji economy."

"Talk to anyone in the business community," he said, " and they'll tell you new investment is zero. That, coupled with the dismal outlook for sugar, continuing EU sanctions, cyclone fallout, etc. ought to be ringing loud alarm bells. Cheap airfares aren't going to save the country either, only destroy Air Pacific as a viable carrier." 

I replied: "I'd be pleased to hear ... what advice you'd give to local and overseas protagonists ... what, realistically, do you advise to 'take Fiji forward'?"

He did not comment on the role of overseas protagonists, and thinks Government is the only local protagonist (I think him wrong but we may define protagonists differently. Stakeholders would have been a better word) but this is how he responded on what Government can do.

In my opinion, it is wise, informed advice given by someone who knows business; basically agrees with what Government says it is trying to do, but who thinks they could be making a far better job of it. And I agree.  Here is what he said:

Well, Croz, my advice to the local protagonists (and what other protagonist is there, realistically, apart from the regime?) is to move a lot quicker on two vital fronts. Because until it does, international confidence in Fiji will continue to be adversely affected.

The first is to begin the process of electoral reform that will demonstrate, in a practical sense, that Fiji really is committed to holding elections in 2014. Had this process already started, perhaps the EU might have reinstated its aid. We were told there'd be a national forum in January to map the way forward for a return to democracy. What's happened? As far as I can see, nothing. Can't find a chairman? Try harder.

The second is to address the chronic lack of discipline, strategic planning and, especially, lack of basic communication, that characterises the regime. It's simply not doing enough to get a positive message across to the international community. Whether or not it's governing effectively isn't enough. It needs to be seen to be governing effectively and working towards the restoration of democracy. As far as I can see, there's no concerted effort to address this woeful shortcoming, even with the regional media.

Let's take, as an example, the regime's treatment of the Methodist Church. It wonders why the rest of the world sees this simply as a case of religious persecution. But it doesn't do a jot to explain the stand-off more fully and present the evidence we all know is there of the church's pernicious influence in national life.

Even your own correspondents have demonstrated contempt for the notion of an effective PR campaign to explain the regime's case. But then have the gall to constantly complain about the failings of the regional media when they (inevitably) embrace the message of the regime's vociferous and smarter opponents. The evidence is undeniable. Be willing to join the battle or be prepared for defeat, as a matter of course, in the court of public opinion.

Bainimarama and the Military Council seem to think that it's enough to be demonstrating to the country that government is being conducted more transparently and effectively. We know that compared to the last government, that is pretty much the case. But what the international community sees is a military dictatorship with no mandate other than the gun whacking its opponents around the head while promising to relinquish the reins of power in four year's time. Promises, promises.

Set in motion a transparent and credible process to deliver on those promises and you've gone some way to meeting the concerns of your critics. Then go out and sell that process vigorously (by opening up the country to selected media, among other things) and you've got some hope of regenerating investor confidence. Do nothing and the country continues to stagnate. Don't take my word for it. Talk to senior members of the business community in Fiji. The overwhelming sentiment is: "there's nothing happening" and "these guys have no idea".

And that's a disaster for Fiji.

(+) Big Guns Fire Back

After all the  repetitive negative public publicity Fiji has been receiving lately, most particularly from uninformed Australian media sources, it gives me great pleasure to see two very influential "big guns" fire back.

Fiji is pulling itself up with its own bootstraps

Letter in The Australian Financial Review Friday 12 February 1010

In your editorial, "Fiji's Bosses understand big-stick diplomacy" (February 6-7), The Weekend Australian Financial Review called on Foreign Minister Stephen Smith to emulate Theodore Roosevelt and carry  a big stick when he's dealing with Fiji. The editorial says the Australian government should make it clear to Fiji "that Fiji needs Australia and New Zealand more than Australia and New Zealand need Fiji."

This is an unworthy response and is condescending to a smaller neighbour. It is also strategically unproductive.  The last few years have demonstrated that if you send a man to Fiji with a big stick, he will be met by a man with an equally big stick. Congratulations are due to Smith for inviting his Fijian and New Zealand counterparts to Canberra for talks this month. And congratulations are due to all three ministers for conducting the talks in a professional manner with agreement to meet  again in tripartite format in the future. We now have a rational dialogue process restored to our South Pacific region, and with that the tide has indeed turned for the better.

What is happening in Fiji today is the correction of a colonial inheritance that first came unstuck with the coup d'etat of 1987.Those coups unleashed a blight of entho-nationlism over the next two decades that was at its worst when a racist, violent mob invaded Fiji's parliament and held the government hostage for 56 days.

The people of Fiji, be they indigenous or non-indigenous, have come to see the blight for what it is. They recognise the futility of separate  development, and clear support is emerging for the Bainimarama's government policy of eliminating racism from Fiji's political system. For the first time in history, the citizens of Fiji will go to general elections in 2014 on the basis of one-man, one-vote without regard to race.

 The world abounds with failed states, where lawlessness has been let loose. In our region, the Solomon Islands fell to that level and it has cost us $1 billion to date for the regional assistance commission (RAMSI) to set that right. Fiji is not a failed state; it is a country that is exorcising the demons of its past and reconstructing itself as a stronger, fairer nation for all its citizens. It is pulling itself up by its own bootstraps.

Mark Johnson
Bellevue Hill NSW

Dick Smith
Malolo Lailai Island Fiji

Mark Johnson is the son of Tui Johnson, one of Fiji's most influential business leaders of the 20th century. Formerly deputy chairman of Macquarie Bank, Chairperson of the APEC Business Advisory Council  and of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, Mark was awarded the Order of Australia in this year's Australia Day Honours list.

Dick Smith is past chairman of the Fiji Hotels Association, a pioneer of the Fiji tourist industry having founded Stardust Cruises and Castaway Island Resort in the 1960s, and developed and run Musket Cove Resort of Malolo Lailai in the Mamanuca Islands.

Scroll down to see three Sunday Features you may may missed. 

See also comments to this post. Click on "Comments" below/ 

(B) Electoral Reform for Fiji

 Electoral Reform for Fiji: the Importance of Speedily Ending Malapportionment

by

Scott MacWilliam

The current regime in Fiji has correctly identified one vote one value as an important democratic principle which should underpin electoral reform in Fiji. The system used under the 1997 Constitution for the 1999, 2001 and 2006 elections grossly distorted the weight given to votes as between different constituencies, which is malapportionment, but not gerrymandering. (The latter involves the specific drawing of electorate boundaries to benefit a particular party or individual candidate, and was not a major feature of the Fiji electoral system.)

Malapportionment is usually initiated when conservative parties, with their bases in rural areas have most influence. In federations, where there is an elected upper house or Senate, there is often constitution derived, deliberate malapportionment which favours states or provinces with small populations. In the US, each state has two Senators, whether the population is large – California, New York etc. – or small – Alaska, Wyoming, South Dakota etc. In Australia there are twelve Senators per state, with each seat in Tasmania allocated per approximately 27,000 voters and in New South Wales and Victoria allocated on the basis of about 330,000 voters. That is, a senator from the two most populated states represents more than ten times as many people as a senator from Tasmania. A former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating was in part referring to this disparity when he described members of the Senate from all parties as ‘unrepresentative swill’.

However for much of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries lower house seats for the national and sub-national legislatures have been malapportioned as well, usually reflecting the continuing power of rural interests in the major parties or coalitions. It was not until 1974, that malapportionment was removed for House of Representative seats in Australia and the practice remained at the state level until recently. It has often been the case that the Australian Labor Party has campaigned hardest for reform, but in seeking to become the dominant force in conservative politics in Australia the Liberal Party – or at least some its members – also favoured the end of malapportionment. One vote one value is a cause with political as well as moral imperatives.

This is the case for Fiji too: the malapportionment of the old electoral system played a major part in keeping the country’s political economy mired in its rural past, even as the population shifted to the urban areas. Along with this shift educated, skilled workers and professionals formed a larger proportion of the labour force. While communal electorates are widely regarded as conservative, being important for keeping Fiji’s politics race-based, malapportionment should also be credited – if that is the right word – with reinforcing this and other anti-democratic features.

(o+) Snippets: IMF, Land Reform, Labasa's New Health Unit, Violence against Women, Constitution Retentions, Corruption Suspicions

THE SPECTRUM SAGA IS UPDATED DAILY, 
WHEN SOMEONE SAYS SOMETHING NEW.

SEE UPDATES AT THE END OF THE ARTICLE.

AFTER TWO WEEK OF CONSULTATIONS IN FIJI,the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised Government that rushed civil service reforms could result in the loss of experienced manpower. The retirement age policy that  saw 2,044 civil servants go home earlier this year was part of the Civil Service Reform. The IMF also advised Government to stop borrowing, and reduce its reliance on the Fiji National Provident Fund as a source of finance. Full story.

WORK ON A LAND DATABANK has started at the Ministry of Lands and Minerals, working closely with the Native Land Trust Board. The work is part of the Ministry's 2010 - 2014 Strategic Planlaunched in Suva on Tuesday. Outcomes will assist land reform aimed at better land use and accessibility, needed to save the sugar industry and open more opportunities for tourism and agriculture. The reforms, part of the 2010-2014 Stategic Plan, will benefit landowners financially and not affect their ownership. The Plan was undertaken following community-wide consultations. Government says Fiji also needs the reforms so that State lands, minerals and groundwater resources are utilised and developed to provide better returns to the country's economy. Full story.

THE KOREAN-FUNDED ACCIDENT AND EMERGENCY UNIT IN LABASA, the main town in Fiji's second largest island, is the largest in the country. The Unit cost $2.5m. Health Minister Dr Neil Sharma  said the project was to ensure people in the North received the best health care."With the completion of these new units, we are determined to make quality health services more accessible to our people."  Full story.

FIJI'S WOMEN'S RIGHTS MOVEMENT is organizing 16 days of activism starting Wednesday. November 29th is International Women Human Rights Defenders Day, and December 1st World AIDS Day. Full story.

PARTS OF 1997 CONSTITUTION WILL BE RETAINED. Listen here to Radio Australia's interview with Attorney-GeneralAiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. PM Bainimarama had earlier informed visiting EU officials that clauses on the rule of law, the judiciary, human rights and democratic principles will be re-authorised by presidential decree. The main element to be changed is the race-based electoral system.There never was any intention of "throwing the baby out with the bathwater."

MIDDLE EAST RECRUITER QUESTIONED. Timoci Lolohea, head of the Meridian Services Company, has again been taken in for questioning by Police following fresh complaints that he has received money in exchange for promises of jobs in the Middle East. It is suspected he was at the centre of a scam where more than 20,000 people allegedly paid a total of more than $3 million after being promised jobs in Kuwait. Full story.

All Strangely Agree on Reform Substance -- Really?

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"The strange thing is I have talked myself to political leaders in Fiji and all of them agree strangely enough on the substance of the reforms which are necessary."

These are the words of Roger Moore, the European Union's Director for Development and Relations with the Pacific, after his recent return from Fiji where he met government and opposition leaders. He was speaking yesterday to NZTV's Paul Holmes.

Comment
It is indeed strange. It is also the first time I've heard the claim. One wonders why, if it is so simple now, the political leaders did nothing to implement the reforms when they were in parliament. Why they have constantly tried to undermine and detract from government's reform efforts. And why they themselves have done nothing to advance reform except to talk in non-specific terms to overseas visitors.

(B) Election Formats: Part I Narsey on Proportional Representation and the List System

In this two-part series USP economics Prof. Wadan Narsey and I come to rather different conclusions on the possible outcomes of electoral reform. Wadan's two related articles, Electoral Reform Not about Racial Justice and Does the Military Really Want Electoral Reform? were previously published by Pacific Scoop. I abridge and summarize their contents here with a link to the originals. Part II Walsh New Election Playing Fields and Outcomes will be published next week.

(o+) Why UN and Commonwealth Demands Not Good for Fiji

Minor revisions, 28.9.09

It's not been a good last few days for Fiji internationally. PM Bainimarama called on the UN General Assembly for "patience and understanding" but it is doubtful any of the powers that count took any notice. That's what happens to little players on the international stage. He expressed disappointment that Fiji troops had been barred from new UN peacekeeping operations, despite its long "proud record" since 1978.

There was no doubt who he was referring to when he said, “Our people pose no threat to anyone, least of all to the big powers of the South Pacific who have abrogated to themselves the right to dictate to us our future and the way we govern ourselves. In all of this, they have used their extensive diplomatic and financial resources to deny Fiji to participate in new peacekeeping operations."

Not for the first time he said overseas critics had little understanding of the Fiji situation. They still seem "largely unaware of the extent to which politicians, in league with those who employ terror as a tactic to push a racial supremacy and corrupt agenda, had become a threat to the safety and security of our people." He outlined his roadmap to elections in 2014 and again invited “the international community to engage with us, visit our country to see the situation for themselves and to provide practical support and assistance to enable us to implement the reforms”.

And over the weekend Fiji's opponents within the Commonwealth stated they wanted Fiji excluded from next year's Games in Delhi. Bainimarama had written endorsing Commonwealth principles but this was not enough. They wanted "reactivating dialogue with Fiji’s political party leaders, leading to credible elections in the country no later than October 2010." Here are my reasons why I think their demands would not lead to a fairer and more democratic Fiji:

My Comments on Dialogue
I think Government should immediately agree to revive the dialogue process and progressively ease the Public Emergency Regulations, but I do not think it would be helpful to confine dialogue to "Fiji's political party leaders" --or even include them -- unless these parties first reveal how they stand on electoral and constitutional reform and disclose their vision for Fiji.

I continue to wonder why they have not made public their views on constitutional reform, the presidency, the senate, the Great Council of Chiefs, electoral reform, so-called affirmative action and so-called pro-Fijian legislation, public service reform, corruption, land reform, land leases, multi-cultural and multi-lingualism, and poverty alleviation. Dialogue is not just about elections; it's about the Fiji that Can Be.

The Bainimarama Government has stated and shown where it stands on these critical issues. If its opponents would do the same (and why haven't they?) Fiji citizens and foreign observers alike would be able to compare their philosophies and policies with those of the Government. They would also have "promises" they could insist were kept.

My Comments on Elections
Neither do I think it wise to insist on elections in 2010. This would merely allow the "old" essentially race-based parties to re-form, re-group and return to parliament, with absolutely no gains for Fiji. There would be democracy in name only. Race-based policies would return. To retain support, Fijian (and Indo-Fijian) politicians, acting for themselves and their respective elites, would continue to play the "race card" to win electoral support from ordinary Fijians and Indo-Fijians. The basic cause of coups would not have been removed.

It is far too early for elections. Time is needed for new Fijian and Indo-Fijian leaders to emerge, untainted with the racism of their predecessors. Time is need to absorb the lessons of the last three years. Time is needed to reassure the "reserve army" of less educated Fijians that multi-culturalism is no threat to their economic or cultural interests. Time is needed to show that Government's dream of a better and fairer Fiji can work.

Meanwhile, I would like to see Government increase the size of Cabinet to make it more inclusive and representative so that it may be seen as an unelected "Government of National Unity" until elections are held in 2014.

Photo: Fiji Village.

(-) Electoral Reform Not About Racial Justice: Narsey

USP's Professor Wadan Narsey has an article on this topic in Pacific Scoop, and a second instalment is to follow.

I believe some of his analysis and deductions are flawed, and shall argue along these lines when his second instalment is published.

Fiji's future political alternatives need to be publicly debated in Fiji's media, and not be limited to blogs and websites published from overseas. Unless Government is privy to information not generally known, the Emergency Regulations need to be lifted and the President's Political Dialogue Forum reconvened very soon. How else can there be constructive feedback on the Government's intended reforms? Meanwhile, check out Wadan's argument. Photo: USP.

IF DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT VOTING, WHY HAVE YOU NOT VOTED?
SEE LEFTHAND COLUMN -- PUBLIC POLLS ON FIJI'S POLITICAL SITUATION, AND HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THIS BLOG?

(o+) Former Fiji Diplomat Urges International Attitude Change

His Credentials
Born in Fiji, 16 years in the Fiji civil service, district officer, permanent secretary to the Governor-General when the 1987 coup occurred, author of Kava in the Blood about the coup (he was arrested on the first day), Fiji diplomat in Tokyo and Sydney, and now a private consultant in Australia on Pacific Affairs, Peter Thomson (photo) has recently returned from a visit to Fiji where he had a one and a-half hour one-on-one talk with PM Bainimarama. Click here to listen to what he had to say in an ABC Counterpoint programme. The interviewer is Paul Comrie-Thomson.

Thomson's comments are best heard in full and in context but for those in a hurry, these are the points I found most interesting:

Read more...

Reasons for the 2006 "Bainimarama" Coup
In talking about the reasons for the 2006 coup he drew attention to one cause that had slipped "under the radar," the military's opposition to Qarase's Indigenous Claims Tribunal Bill that would have opened the door to multiple, conflicting indigenous claims to all freehold land in the country, and made lawyers "fat for 30 years." The other bills opposed by the military were the Qoliqoli Bill that would have seen a similar scramble among mataqali (tribes) for exclusive foreshore rights, and the Tolerance and Reconciliation Bill that would have freed the Speight 2006 coup-makers from court and jail. [We need to be reminded of these three racially-motivated bills when talking about human rights abuse by the Bainimarama government.]

Bainimarama seeks to remove all vestiges of institutional racism

He talked with Bainimarama about the "way forward" and left convinced Bainimarama would not allow the ethno-nationalist agenda of the past to resurface, hence his actions against two of the drivers of ethno-nationalism: the Great Council of Chiefs and sections of the Methodist Church. All vestiges of institutional racism will be removed. Thomson was happy about this. There was no threat to Fijian interests, but an unanswered question was how to protect the interests of ethnic minorities in a new constitution and new electoral system.


Australian and NZ "smart sanctions" disastrous
Australian and NZ "smart sanctions," especially the travel bans on senior government personnel and their families, made it difficult for the Governmnent to operate and were indirectly supporting a return to the racism of the past. He urged these government to accept the reality of the status quo, drop the sanctions, and engage in positive dialogue to speed up return to civil government and elections.


America and China
On American policies, he said America had followed the Australian and NZ lead since World War II but he thought "cracks in confidence" were emerging as our policies had failed and as Chinese influence increased. The Chinese ambassador saw Bainimarama almost daily; the Australian High Commissioner was not allowed by Canberra to meet him!


Public Opinion in Fiji "shifting"
Asked about public opinion in Fiji, he said Fijian opinion was "ambivalent" but there did seem to be a "shift" towards Government since his last visit. Non-Fijians (about 40% of the population) were worried about the economy and human rights but he thought they were generally behind the Government. Mu>He hadn't found even one person, of different political persuasions, who supported the "smart sanctions."


What will the future bring?
Asked about future scenarios, he said foreign governments can continue to isolate Fiji, and drive it towards what he called the "Burma Road:." He could not dismiss the possibility of an insurrection. He found his option "repellent" and condemned the outgoing chair of the Pacific Forum' s recent call for an uprising "irresponsible." The best option (for Australia and NZ, but also by interference, for internal actors also) is to work with the Government in a positive way to lead Fiji to elections by, or before, 2014.

When time permits - but soon - I urge you to listen to the full interview.

The Chaudhry-Qarase Arranged Marriage (Amended)

It was certainly not love at first sight, they hated each other for years, but for several months now they have been seeing an unusual amount of each other, and we were all left wondering when an engagement notice might be expected. It seems that when Chaudhry's earlier courtship with Voqere Baimarama foundered, the disappointed Mahendra turned his attention to his earlier rival Laisenia. And it's now official. FijiLive reports the couple have sent a "joint letter" (sic!) to the PM asking him to be best man.

Read more...
At first sight things look promising. Chaudhry and Qarase seem to have accepted the need for electoral reform, or at least that the issue be discussed but with no "prejudice to outcomes." They will participate in a reconvened Dialogue Forum, to meet this month, but only on their terms, one of which is the immediate lifting of the Emergency Regulations that would see "freedom of the press" restored. The Forum must focus on holding elections before October 2010 at the latest, and all issues must be finalised by this October. Meanwhile, a caretaker government must be appointed and the military return to Barracks.

What's new? Very little. Perhaps the mention of "constitutional safeguards to hold elected governments accountable and ensure good governance." But are they asking this of the 1997 Constitution that has already failed to offer these safeguards? There's no mention of a new Constitution that Bainimarama wants. There's not even mention of the People's Charter that's about much more than elections, or the many reforms Bainimarama has set in motion. It's not difficult to guess how Baimarama responded. He'll have seen it for what it is: at the best, a publicity stunt; at the worst, a way of perpetuating unrest and deferring real dialogue.

But it's a good political move by Qarase and Chaudhry. Bainimarama will appear to many to have refused a real "olive branch," and they can pose virtuously before the world's cameramen -- holding hands.
.

Click here for FijiLive article.

(o+) "I Will Not Meet Commonwealth Deadline" : Bainimarama Reforms First, then Elections

As predicted -- and as the CMAG group must have known -- Fiji will not comply with the Commonwealth ultimatum to announce elections by September 1 and hold them in November 2010. PM Bainimarama says Fiji will continue on its path to elections in 2014.

There was a time when Government critics accused Bainimarama of inconsistencies and backtracking on promises. No longer. For a long time now, he has been unwaveringly consistent on the reforms he sees as needed before truly representative election can be held. Since Australia, New Zealand and the PI Forum, from whom the Commonwealth takes its lead, are likely to see changes in their stance as a loss of face (not in my book), one hopes that behind-closed-doors diplomacy will now increase, with Fiji being offered all the assistance needed to design and implement the reforms and hold elections no later than 2014. I say "no later" because continuing internal and external obstructions may cause further delays.

My advice to my own government would be:

• Dialogue with the Fiji government, using a stick and carrot approach.
• Concentrate on human rights improvements and the speedy relaxation of the Emergency Regulations.
• Encourage the different parties to talk with each other.
• Encourage "middle Fiji" to cooperate with the government's intended reforms.
  
• Cease dialogue with extreme elements in Fiji who continue to obstruct government plans.
• Progressively relax the travel bans, starting with senior civil servant (non-military) families.
  
• Offer legal and other assistance for Bainimarama's reforms.
  
• Reaffirm your offer of assistance with election preparation.
• Offer access to at least some Forum meetings.
  
• Urge the progressive extension of Forum and Commonwealth benefits.
• Listen to Pacific Island leaders, and seek their help to break the impasse.
• Assist our media and public to better understand the Fiji situation
  
• Appoint new faces to deal with Fiji; people who can find something good to say.
  

Bainimarama told FijiLive that he had issued a roadmap to elections in 2014, which includes a new constitution that assures racial equality and reforms that will address the country’s coup culture. “The governments view is that the best way forward for a truly sustainable democratic Fiji is, Fiji’s Strategic Framework for Change,” said Bainimarama.

He said ministries and departments are engaging in consultations on the Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio Economic Development (RDSSED) 2009 - 2014. The RDSSED sets out a framework to achieve sustainable democracy, good and just governance, socio economic development and national unity, he said.

He said the objective of the road map is to implement policies to achieve the vision of “A Better Fiji for All” which is consistent with the Peoples' Charter and is linked to the Strategic Framework for Change (SFC).

Bainimarama added that changes entailed in the Charter is about the Electoral System, Parliament, Laws, the Public Service and related institutions including priorities in economic and social development, indigenous institutions, the use of land, food and security, how minority interests are protected and enhanced, Fiji’s relations with former Fiji citizens living overseas, race relations, the relationships between religions in Fiji and many other changes.

He said that integral to this process has been the firm commitment of all stakeholders as well as the Government towards the restoration and sustenance of “true parliamentary democratic governance, stability and peace in Fiji”. Extract. To read in full, click here.

(o+) A Verbatim Summary of the "Perfectly Frank" Interview

Frank (Voqere) Bainimarama's recent "Perfectly Frank" interview by Australia SBS video journalist Mark Davis has been widely circulated by those opposed to Bainimarama, probably because they think he came out of the interview rather poorly. I thought differently. True, his "style" is not the typically diplomatic and he has a "raw" way of saying things in English, but what he actually said confirms my impression: he's perfectly consistent in what he says he's trying to achieve, and he means what he says. Of how many diplomats or politicians can this be said?

Of the interview itself, the two men seemed to be talking past each other on different planes of non-comprehension. Davis couldn't understand where Bainimarama was coming from: "Surely this man cannot believe what he's saying!" while Bainimarama seemed to be thinking: "How many times are they going to ask these questions? Why don't they believe me?"

In this post Baimarama's main points are grouped by topics. Otherwise his words are unchanged. Some quite lengthy exchanges have been omitted. To see the video of the interview, click here, and to read the text in full, click here. Read more...

On Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island Forum
"A lot of people don't want to understand the situation here - especially Australia and New Zealand ...Why is [the Australian Foreign Minister] warning me? Is he the forum? He's not the forum. The forum is a group of island nations in the Pacific - it's not Australia, it's not New Zealand. But do you see what's happening? They are using bulldozing tactics to have their way with the Forum. ... there's a lot of things that you from Australia and New Zealand don't see. You don't understand the politics in Fiji."


On Australian and New Zealand Influence on Internal Fiji Politics
Bainimarama: "The only reason these people [his main opponents] are vocal is because of the stance taken by Australia and New Zealand."
Davis: "It's encouraged them?"
Bainimarama: "It's encouraged them. In fact, they are encouraging one another."

On What He's Trying to Do
"I keep telling everyone a radical change needs to be brought in. And radical change cannot be brought in by some weak organisation ... Yes [I am demanding "changes" and "obedience", Davis's words] for a reason, because we want to bring about changes and you can't bring about changes if you wait 20 years for that to come about. You need to have it done - today... If there were going to be any changes to the electoral reform, why didn't we make the changes in the last 30 years?

On Why No Elections Now
Davis: "If you an election were held today, I think you'd agree, Mr Qarase would probably win it."
Bainimarama: "Exactly. Because of the way the constitution is done, how the electoral system is made up, that can never change. And why? Because the politicians are happy with that - they are comfortable with that. They want the race issue to remain so that they can win.""He would win it and where would that take us? ... It's not going to take us anywhere because as I've said we are trying to change the mindset of the people from the racial issues that were prevalent in the last 10 years to what we want to take Fiji to."
Davis: "Equal suffrage Multi-ethnic equal rights?
Bainimarama: "Exactly. Isn't that what the Australians would want?

On the Role of the Military in Bringing about Change
Bainimarama broke the 2000 Speight coup, installed Qarase but as Davis said "they quickly fell out, again on issues of race and indigenous power."]

"What I did in 2000 was exactly what I did in 2006. We took away executive authority in 2000 because of the chaos and I handed executive authority to the politicians, the political masses, in the understanding that politicians were going to take us forward. They did not. Qarase and his crowd did a turnabout, did a turnaround on the military. Everything, or the direction that we wanted them to take the country to, to include all the races, they didn't do that.So I took it back in 2006. I took it back to prepare the politicians to lead this nation and the only way we can prepare the politicians is by getting a new constitution, getting a new electoral system in place. One man, one vote, and see what happens? If one man, one vote is good for Australia and New Zealand, why isn't it good for Fiji?"

"... what we want right now in Fiji is to bring about radical changes. Strong changes. Make changes to improve the lives of the people of this nation. No-one can bring those changes into being except the military here, now. In Fiji's history, no-one can bring about the changes to the public service. No-one can bring about the changes to the land and bring about land reforms. We can do that. We are not elected. We don't have to please the indigenous community. We don't have to please any chiefs. We don't have to please any members in the Methodist hierarchy. We do what is good for the nation irrespective of your colour, irrespective of your religion, irrespective of your creed.

On Media Freedom
"My government believes in media freedom. However, the media must ensure that their work does not impact negatively on the right of others or the stability and well-being of a nation. But it's not a military dictatorship where we abuse our authority.They can print whatever they want, but irresponsible journalism is not going to be tolerated.

On Ousted Former Prime Minister Qarase
"I want Qarase and his politics to be irrelevant. I want him out. I want his politics irrelevant from now on, OK? I don't want any race issue brought back again. .. This is the action that will stop all coups, that will stop all the destabilising forces from bringing up race issues from now onwards. That's what we are trying to do."

On Methodist Leaders and Chiefs
Davis: "You've got Australia and New Zealand against you, you're going to have a lot of the chiefs against you. You've now got the Methodist Church against you, and that's the biggest church here. I mean, can you hold this together for five years?"
Bainimarama: "You must remember I'm a member of the Methodist Church. I'm not against the reforms. There are a hundred thousand more like me. Just because some of the chiefs are against me, it doesn't mean that the rest of the indigenous population are against me. The only reason these people are vocal is because of the stance taken by Australia and New Zealand."

Mark Davis Concludes
"For now, Bainimarama's biggest headache doesn't come from foreign nations. The real power he is challenging doesn't lie in Canberra or Wellington - it lies in a thousand traditional villages across Fiji. While all the correct indigenous protocols are being followed today, it is those same protocols and the associated privileges that Bainimarama is directly challenging. In essence, he's proposing sweeping constitutional changes to eliminate electoral, employment and other advantages given to indigenous Fijians over their ethnically Indian compatriots."

My friend Bhaiya comments on Davis's conclusion
Davis appears to be caught in a ‘time warp’ himself. The issue in Fiji is not merely a ‘Fijian’ –‘Indian’ one! It is also about the abuse of a racially justified electoral system and policies, including affirmative action policies, by an indigenous elite. Disadvantage and exclusion in Fiji affects a broad mass of people that include ethnic Fijians, Indo-Fijians, mixed-race people, Solomoni, Ni-Vanuatu and several other minorities.

Cartoon: Cafe Pacific

(G) Bainimarama on Media, Socio-Economic Infrastructure First, then the Constitution and Elections

Speaking at Nadi yesterday, PM Bainimarama said Fiji would have have what he called "a modern day constitution" well before the 2014 elections, but that Government's focus for the next three years will be be on improving "socio-economic and infrastructure conditions throughout the country.” This will include encouraging the private sector and the media to join Government in initiatives that will be pro-growth and pro-poor.

Work on the new constitution will start in September 2012, two years before the elections. It will include provisions that “will entrench common and equal citizenry, it must not have ethnic-based voting; the voting age shall be 18; and it must have systems that hold elected governments accountable with more checks and balances." Public consultations on the constitution will include discussionon the “size of the new Parliament, the appropriateness of a bi-cameral system, the term of office of a government and systems of checks and balances”. Based on Fiji Live.

Past Media Culture Not Conducive to National Unity and Progress

Speaking of the Public Emergency Regulations, he said divisive policies and the past media culture was not conducive to national unity and progress. PERS was a temporary measure, that seeks to provide a stable socio-political platform conducive to the government's nation building initiatives. He said the government wants a Fiji where opportunities are equally available to the different ethnic groups that make Fiji what it is. While strongly believing in media freedom and freedom of expression, he said, media freedom is not absolute and the media must exercise this freedom and right to express oneself with greater responsibility. The media must ensure that their work does not impact negatively on the rights of others or the stability and wellbeing of the nation. Based on Fiji Village.

Bainimarama was speaking to delegates at the 35th Annual Gathering and 8th Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) General Conference.

(G) The "Road Map" and Events to 2014

Made your views known. To see Realfijinews poll on the speech, click here.

The PM's Address at the Tradewinds Convention Centre on Fiji’s Strategic Framework for Change, July 1 2009.

Click here to read in full from the official government website.

I know some readers will be disappointed at the lack of detail. It certainly wouldn't do as a military map, and it does seem to take a long time to get from A (now) to B (constitution, elections), but with the destination logged in and set on auto-pilot, the address suffices to show Government is serious about reform and elections in September 2014.

One might hope the international community, having given up on earlier elections, might sometime between now and then respond to Bainimarama's appeal for assistance. “I invite our international partners and relevant development agencies who are interested in facilitating the practicalities of the rule of law, creating transparency, facilitating access to justice and removing systematic corruption, to work with our Chief Justice, the Independent Legal Services Commission, the Legal Aid Commission and the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) respectively.”

Bainimarama said the "Government is committed on the need to facilitate the practicalities of the rule of law, creating transparency, facilitating access to justice and removing systematic corruption.”

Government is also concerned with law and order. PER (the public emergency regulations) are extended to the end of this year. "Some people with dirty political motives are awaiting the removal of the emergency regulations to organise a protest march against some government decisions."

My Summary of the Road Map (quotes from Bainimarama)

The first 3 years (2009-2012): a "period of immense change."

1. More efficient government (Government has already cut $190m from government expenditure from January-May this year). "Workers and civil servants of the country that they will be treated fairly" but Bainimarama said that "they have to become more efficient and productive."

• Divestment of Government shares and closure or amalgamation of non-performing department
• More outsourcing to the private sector
• Rewriting of town and country planning laws that impede development

2. Focus on implementing social and infrastructural needs:

• Strengthen "infrastructure and assist in building capacities within the judiciary."($500,000 extra already allocated)
• Continuing work on reducing corruption
• Upgrading police infrastructure: communications, transport, forensic tools
• "Seek to empower the marginalized and address areas of neglect."
• Develop "pro-growth and pro-poor" policies in co-operation with financial institutions and the private sector
• Laws on underage marriage and domestic violence

3. Tourism. Laucala Island Resort and Natadola Bay resorts completed. Ongoing work on Naisoro Island project. Hopeful sale of

2010. Implementation of Land Reforms. This will result in:

• Attractive rental returns to ordinary Fijian landowners (the present system skims off most rental money before it reaches the "grassroots" owners)
• More secure tenure for tenants; increased productive land use.
• The ownership of traditional Fijian land to remain unchanged.

“We cannot realise our potential in agriculture, improve the living conditions of the taukei (indigenous Fijians), if land is not made available on a long term, sustainable basis.”

2011. Nadarivatu hydroelectric power project (41.76mW) completed. Road improvements continue.

2012. Consultations with stakeholders on the Constitution.

"The impetus [will]from People's Charter recommendations" [but there will be further inputs] "Consultations shall be extensive and will not just be limited to political parties. It shall include civil society including non- governmental organizations and citizens of our country." Topics to be discussed with include:

• “Common and equal citizenship"
• New (racial-free) voting system
• Proposed new voting age at 18
• Size of parliament and terms of office
• Checks and balances on parliament
• A bi-cameral system (the old Senate)

"The new constitution must include provisions that will entrench common and equal citizenry, it must not have ethnic based voting; the voting age shall be 18; and it must have systems that hold elected governments accountable with more checks and balances."

2013. Constitution completed by September to "allow all Fijians and parliamentary candidates ample time to familiarise themselves with the new constitution."

• Constitution to be translated into the vernacular, and with a concise "pocket-size" version available.

2014. September. Elections.

Bainimrama concluded:

"My fellow citizens, your Excellencies what I am saying is that I and my Government have a vision to make Fiji realize its true potential – a potential that can be realized through building a strong nation state, by empowering all our citizens, by fixing up the decades of neglected infrastructure, by providing actual adherence to the principles of the rule of law, by putting in place sustainable institutions and laws that will create accountability, transparency, justice, fair play and modernity; by improving living standards and alleviating poverty; by putting in place a liberalized and level playing field economy."