Ganilau Resigns, Savu and Kaitani, Transparency International says Corruption Less, How Big the Civil Service

GANILAU RESIGNS. Ratu Epeli Ganilau has resigned as Acting PM and Minister for Defence, National Security and Immigration. His portfolio and the Acting PM position has been taken over by Minister for Primary Industries Joketani Cokanasiga. An explanation may be expected when the PM returns from China next week.


TUI SAVU HAS TWO FACES. Looking one way he is a former Fiji lawyer now resident in Townsville, Queensland, where he is a government employed solicitor dealing mainly with indigenous cases. Looking the other way, he is an active member of the so-called Fiji Freedom and Democracy Movement who is  canvassing a regime change by armed force.

As one reader said: "That he discusses violent overthrow in Fiji while living off the Australian taxpayer is something I'm sure his employers aren't aware of and neither would many readers of your site."  This is what he wrote on a recent Matavuvale Fiji's Family (sic!) Network Forum. Of course, he's not actually advocating violence. That would make him responsible. He's just floating the idea for someone else to take up.    Click here.

The photos shows Tui Savu in white shirt and to his left Simione Kaitani, a former SDL cabinet minister implicated in the 2000 Speight Coup. Kaitani relinquished his portfolios to make way for Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, the paramount Chief of the Tovata Confederacy and leader of the Conservative Alliance that merged into Qarase's SDL, following Lalabalavu's release from prison on coup-related charges. Birds of a feather.

Tui Savu's flirtation with violence is not new. At the Fiji Law Society Conference in 1998 held at the Warwick Hotel Savu narrowly avoided censure from the FLS when he physically assaulted his wife and verbally assaulted a fellow lawyer.

CORRUPTION LESS SINCE 2006 COUP. The Fiji Director of Transparency International Juris Gulbis, says corruption in Fiji has decreased since 2006. While Fiji has not been listed in Transparency International’s Perception of Corruption Index since the 2006 coup, Mr Gulbis says FICAC and Transparency International ensure that corruption is not rife.

“People are no longer hesitant to bring their concerns and complaints to us. At the end of the day I have to say more and more complaints lodged with us get resolved. More complaints get voiced by the people without fear or hesitation. They come to us and they freely discuss their options. They no longer feel threatened. At the end of the day people get justice.”

HOW BIG THE CIVIL SERVICE? A further reduction in civil servant numbers can be expected soon, as the Public Service Commission reviews the service to determine its optimum size and consequent restructuring that is likely to entail the realigning of roles, merger of overlapping functions, downsizing of personnel in ministries or departments of lesser significance and strengthening of human resource capabilities in areas of priority in line with relevant provisions of the People’s Charter for Change and the Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development.The exercise will take three months, with the target timing for completion being 28th February, 2011.

The review follows an  IMF recommendation to contain the wages bill. The operating cost of the Government in the past five years was $7.25billion — at least 78% of its total budget.

What Did Bainimarama Say? What Did He Mean?

 Opinion. Crosbie Walsh

(Photo: Bainimarama as he is usually portrayed on NZ TV.)
 
Prime Minister Bainimarama is sometimes his own worst enemy.  He should know by now never, absolutely never, to make unprepared statements to the media. If he does, they will savage him as they have done with his latest remarks which have raised doubts about an election being held in 2014. What he says should leave no doubt about what he means.

This is not the first time he, and they, have acted in this way.  On his return from his provincial tour of Lomaiviti just over a month ago he told a Fiji Sun reporter the people supported his reforms and asked him to stay in power after 2014.  His remark was in response to Australia's Smith and New Zealand's McCully's remarks,  made after the Auckland Forum dialogue with Fiji, that the situation in Fiji had deteriorated. Readers will remember Bainimarama withdrew his invitation to visit Fiji immediately afterwards.  Bainimarama had not for one moment said that elections may not be held, or that the "people"  represented national opinion (they were the remarks of villagers) but that is what the media took from his comment.

And this is what they have done, quite deliberately, with Bainimarama's interview with Radio Tarana, made by phone from Korea, in the wake of the the sudden cancellation of the MSG Plus meeting that was to be held in Fiji next week, as Bainimarama was still reeling from what he saw as Australia's involvement in a MSG betrayal.

The interview was then, predictably, taken up by Michael Field. And who can blame  him. His continuous one-sided and false reporting (think of his recent totally unsubstantiated  accusation of Mugabe-style confiscations of White-owned farms in Viti Levu!)  shows he has a score to settle with Fiji and Bainimarama has once again provided him with an opportunity that was too good to miss.

First, read what Field reported Bainimarama to have said, taken from the Tarana interview. Note the obviously hurried, ad lib and disjointed sequence of Bainimarama's remarks. It is not hard to see how his intent could be misconstrued.

"In fact, I am all of a sudden thinking we might not be ready for 2014 for election if we don't get any assistance from Australia and New Zealand for instance ... If we reach 2014 and we are not ready because of constant interfering, we are not going to give up our government to political parties...I am seriously thinking about the date of the elections, the interference by these people, but I can tell you nothing is going to stop us from doing what needs to be done continuing on this pathway we need reforms ... That is going to happen, whether Australia likes or not, whether New Zealand likes it or not, they don't live in Fiji, they don't know what is happening in Fiji."

My  reading of these remarks  indicates they were thought up as he spoke. This was not a prepared response, and certainly not a statement on a change of policy. He says the idea of deferring elections "suddenly occurred" to him. I think it was his way of getting back at Australia.

Read his ideas in sequence, and then ask yourself what he really meant. He proceeded from the idea of their (Australian) assistance, to their interference, with a reference to political parties (we'll come back to that) and then moved on to say nothing will stop the needed reforms.

The reforms to which he referred are those Fiji is currently engaged on which will continue until 2014. They include electoral reforms.  If the reforms were stopped now and left incomplete, his government would have to hand over to the "political parties" (that is, the race-based  political parties he ousted in 2006). But when the reform process is complete, new non race-based parties will emerge to contest the elections in 2014.

Bainimarama was not seriously thinking about deferring the elections or not handing over government to the new parties formed for the 2014 election. He was using a bluff to warn Australia to stop meddling in Fiji affairs: 'Your interference could derail or delay the reforms.  We will not allow that.' It was a poorly executed bluff which boomeranged, with the usual assistance of Michael Field and the several media outlets that used his story.

One might hope the more discerning readers will see Field's widely  circulated report for what it is: another attempt to discredit the Bainimarama government and cast doubts about elections in 2014. And they probably will. Unfortunately, the typical reader and viewer will accept the story literally, as it was told, repleat with Bainimarama in his unchanged military uniform, as on New Zealand TV1 last night.

With respect, Prime Minister,  the foreign media will always pounce on your ambiguities and use them to Fiji's disadvantage, misinform their  readers, and influence Australian and New Zealand policies on Fiji -- and these were sufficiently ill-informed before you cast further doubt on the waters.

Rotuma Day, Hurricane Tomas Costs, AusNZ Aid, Flashback: Qarase on Bainimarama

NA SALA CAVA?  Readers are urged to scroll down to the three "Way Forward" questions, read what others think, and add their own comments. I will summarize these on Wednesay and post a further question for your consideration.

ROTUMA DAY, marking the anniversary of the island's cessation to Britain in 1881, is usually  celebrated on May 13 or the following Saturday. Fiji Rotuman Association chairman Roy Fiu used the occasion to highlight awareness about culture and language that many born outside Rotuma know little about.

Speaking on the second day of the celebrations in Suva, PM Bainimarama said one of Government's visions is to make Rotuma a well developed Island. Work has alreadsy been done to make Rotuma a port of entry and the first direct exports to Tuvalu had gone ahead as planned, but the $15 million airport concfrete runway upgrade planned for this year had been delayed. The PM saidCabinet has already approved additional funding and they are on the verge of seeking funds from the Ministry of Finance.  Infrastructure and outer island development are part of the Roadmap.

HURRICANE TOMAS COST ONE BILLION. Speaking at the 18th session of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development, PS PM' office Col. Pio Tikoduadua said:The evidence of negative impacts of climate change on the Pacific region are many and two of Fiji’s close neighbouring countries, Tuvalu and Kiribati, are starkexamples of that.In the case of my own country, Fiji, the effects of changing weather patterns have been felt heavily by our people. The rate at which natural disasters, such as floods and hurricanes, have hit Fiji and their severity have increased markedly in the recent years. For the first time in 35 years, we experienced the devastation of a Category 4 cyclone in February this year, costing our economy more than F$100 million." (extract)

AUSNZ HURRICANE AID will increase by A$1m and NZ$600k to rebuild homes, schools and health centres affected by the hurricane. The money will be given to Habitat for Humanity Fiji which has a track record of successful delivery of house reconstruction and cyclone proofing following the January 2009 floods. The two countries previously gifted A$1m and NZ$1m.

FLASHBACK DEC. 1, 2006. QARASE SAYS BAINIMARAMA "DERANGED, UNSTABLE."In an interview on Radio Tarana as reported by Michael Field, PM Qarase branded Bainimarama "deranged" and "unstable"."We are dealing with somebody who is completely deranged and unstable so that's part of the problem," he said. When asked if he thought Bainimarama was mentally stable, he replied: "I think that should be obvious to anybody."

As the midday deadline for Bainimarama's threatened military coup passed with no obvious signs of a military take-over today. The capital was quiet and Bainimarama was at the Suva sports stadium watching a soccer match between the army and police.  

Meanwhile, PM Qarase said he was counting on divine intervention to prevent the country's fourth coup in 20 years. "There is always such a thing as divine intervention and I'm counting on that this morning," he told ABC radio. "God works in mysterious ways, and he might be working on it now...I rely a lot on how God works in people and it could well be today is the day for him that God may work through him and pull (him) back from his position." PM Qarase also thought Commodore Bainimarama's deadline could be a bluff. The army was divided by a "very big split" – a factor which could work in the Government's favour and prevent a coup.

(o) Snippets: Soccer, NZ Sanctions Poll Results, Fiji National University, Parachute Journalism, Civil Servants, Qoliqoli, Crime and FNPF Reforms, Court Cases (Qarase, Dorsami Naidu), NLTB, School Bus Fares, Ethanol

 The starred (*) items are all part of the "Roadmap"

How Fiji Beat NZ at Soccer, and Lost Before the Game
In 2007, FIFA (Fédération Internationale de Football Association) was forced to cancel the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa qualifying match between New Zealand and Fiji, following the New Zealand government’s refusal to grant a visa to Fiji goalkeeper Simione Tamanisau (Photo Stuff.co.nz). In order to maintain the integrity of the competition in the Oceania zone, FIFA made the decision to call off the encounter, which would finally take place a year later in November 2008. In the meantime, the Kiwis had secured their qualification for the next round, which may have rendered the result meaningless, but not the decision to postpone the original fixture, as Fiji earned a 2-0 victory on the day.

Fiji Live Poll. "Should the New Zealand government continue sanctions against Fiji while trying to normalise diplomatic relations?" Yes 32%; No 68%. This non-representative poll seems to indicate a "core" 32% opposition to Government which would be consistent with earlier polls.

Fiji National University This Fiji Times article provides details on the new university.

Sanjay Ramesh in Suva on Parachute Journalism. Link.

Some 2230 Civil Servants have retired since the implementation of the retirement policy last April, of which 250  were re-engaged to ensure continuity or because of scarce skills.

*The Public Service Disciplinary Tribunal is meeting on a regular basis to deal with disciplinary cases of civil servants. Commission chairman Josefa Seruilagilagi said there had been an increase in the number of disciplinary cases being submitted. The Tribunal comprises former teacher and retired magistrate Aminiasi Katonivualiku (Chair); former chair of the Publi Service Appeals Board Kangwai, and Jack Valentine a retired government accountantand a public trustee for a number of years.

* Background on Proposed Qoliqoli Foreshore Reforms. Link.

* New Crimes Decrees. The Crimes Decree, the Criminal Procedure Decree and the Sentencing and Penalties Decree represent Fiji’s first substantive reform of the criminal justice system for one hundred years.Crimes against humanity and of people smuggling will be punishable; rape will be gender neutral. Special provisions will be made for vulnerable witnesses. The decrees will ensure that sentences areconsistent and proportionate to the offence.

* Reform of Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) Underway. Fiji will study the highly successful Singapore fund, and adapt to local conditions.

* The FICAC Corruption and Misuse of Office Court Case against former PM Laisenia Qarase and former Fijian Holdings CEO Sitiveni Weleilakeba has been adjourned until 23 February.The prosecution "wants more time to consolidate
conspiracy charges" and the defence wants more time to consider the implications of consolidation.

* Fiji Law Society President Dorsami Naidu today (18 January) appeared before the Independent Legal Services Commission facing 9 separate counts of unsatisfactory professional conduct. The hearing date is set for 19 April. The case against Suva lawyer Haroon Ali Shah, who is facing 20 separate charges of unsatisfactory professional conduct was also called this morning. Shah failed to appear before Commissioner John Connors despite being given reasonable notice that the matterwill be called today.

* The Native Land Trust Board has announced new appointments in its managerial positions as a result of an internal review conducted last year. General Manager Alipate Qetaki said Solo Nata had been appointed as Acting Deputy General Manager Operations,a post previously held by Meli Benuci who was sacked last year. Nata is an expert in Land Management.Qetaki the NLTB needed better trained staff, especially in land management valuation and land survey. Boundary disputes, mainly due to lack of land surveying expertise, had been a problem for many years. Qetaki said technical training will be a high priority this year. Savenaca Ralagi has been appointed Acting Manager Central/Eastern Division and Rota Lenati Acting Senior Estates Officer Central/Eastern Region. It is noted that all three are acting appointments, presumably to allow the Board to make changes later.

School Bus Fares. Only those parents whose joint income is below $15,000 and who apply for and are granted exemption will have free bus fares for their children when school opens in February.

Ethanol. A minimum of 30,000 tons of tavioka (cassava) and 8,000 hectares of land,will be required monthly to establish a Fiji ethanol presence. Sir James Ah Koy says the proposed project should result in immense benefits to ethnic Fijians who own most of the land.

(o+) Making Sense of Recent Government Actions

OPINION
Something's going on. After months of easing tensions-- no fresh reports of possible human rights abuse, supportive statements from many in Fiji, from this blog and many overseas commentators culminating in the McCully-Kubuabola statements this week, slighter better relations between Government and the Fiji Times, and better than expected economic news despite the recent cyclone -- we have a rash of "aggressive" actions by Government, all within the span of a few days.

First, international juror and  government opponent Imrana Lala was charged by FIAC, the anti-corruption commission, with not having a licence to operate her part-owned restaurant (sic!) and the dismissal of some magistrates. Then Dr Padma Narsey Lal, wife of ANU's Prof. Brij Lal and brother of USP's Prof. Wadan Narsey, both staunch government opponents, was refused re-entry into the country.  Then 15 senior Suva City Council employees were sent home pending charges they were using SCC computers and time to write for anti-Government blogs.

Then Bainimarama announces that retired public servants  -- and that includes former PMs Qarase and Chaudhry -- who speak out against the Government will not receive their pensions (see comment below on this). The very same day he says the Methodist Church will not be allowed to hold their annual conference until after the elections in 2014. He said Government spies within the Church report ongoing anti-government activity.

Why this sudden hostility and blustering when things seemed to be going so well for Government? Is it pure coincidence, or do at least some of these events, all of which threaten freedom of speech, have a common cause or explanation?

The Wider Context

The wider context within which these events can perhaps be better understood is one in which Government sees the "normal" workings of civil society, where opinions are freely expressed and exchanged, as distractions and impediments to what it says it is trying to do.

Hence their delayed attention to political change, and their immediate focus on economic and infrastructural changes -- roads, electricity, the use of idle land, and agricultural initiatives in rural areas; getting rid of corruption and poor work ethics in the civil service; reforming national and local institutions such as the NLTB (Native Land Trust Board) and urban councils; opening up jobs and scholarships to all races; support for garment and tourist industry marketing; and a number of actions to reduce poverty, including housing assistance, the introduction of a minimum wage,access to micro-credit, a fairer distribution of land rent money to ordinary Fijian villagers, food coupons and free or subsidized school meals and transport.

Government wants to see major improvements in all these areas before it fully addresses political, constitutional and electoral issues in 2012-13. But just as foreign investors seek political stability to protect their investment, the Bainimarama Government seeks to impose stability (where it is not freely given) so it can get on with the job. Hence its constant references to the need for "unity" to "take the country forward."

This is not the normal way democratic governments operate, but it is not unknown. It is the way Allied governments operated during the two World Wars; how the US military, with and without government connivance, operates from time to time, and, perhaps even more relevantly, how Singapore dragged itself up from a poor, racially and politically fractured Third World country to become the country it is today.  In the early days, Lee Yuan Yew was far more oppressive than Bainimarama, and no less of a dictator. This, I think, is the wider context.

The Immediate Context

The more immediate context involves high celebrity court cases with Qarase, and possibly Weleilakemba and others, charged with corruption and abuse of office. My understanding is that these hearings will commence next week. The other big event is the first meeting of the Citizen's Assembly on the 27-28th.

Whenever Government anticipates its opponents will use events to trigger discontent, it is likely to send out strong warnings about "consequences", take measures to break or disrupt opposition networks, and forestall all overt expressions of opposition. This is how it operated in the lead up to last year's Methodist Conference, and this is how it could be operating now.

What we think of as unconnected, vindictive, arbitrary acts could in fact be part of a pre-conceived plan for civil society until 2014 -- modelled on a first-strike military manoeuvre. –- Crosbie Walsh.

Readers are urged to read comments to all posts, and particularly to this post. Just click "Comments" below.

Snippets: Imrana Jalal, PER, Civil Service Audit, Permanent Secretaries, Child Poverty, Garment Industry, Bus Workers Unionise

(-) By Hook or by Crook* Chook. It really does take a big leap of imagination to know why it's the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC), and not the Suva City Council, that is charging well known human rights and anti-government lawyer Imrana Jalal and her husband Ratu Sakiusa Tuisolia with operating their Suva Hook and Chook restaurant without a proper licence. See also Imrana's statement on this charge posted on Coup FourPointFive.

Fiji Law Society President Dorsami Naidu, also not a government friend, says he doesn’t understand why FICAC has become involved, but adds "the Commission seem to single out people who are critical of the regime." It may be  coincidental but magistrate Mary Muir who questioned FICAC over the matter was  dismissed on Monday.

Whatever the rights and wrongs involved, Government must not be -- and must not be seen to be -- petty or vindictive in situations like this. It has a country to run! Not a restaurant!

* Hook or by crook means "by any means possible." Origin possibly from a custom in mediaeval England that allowed peasants to take dead wood from the royal forest that they could reach with a shepherd's crook or a reaper's billhook.  Photo: LunchinSuva

G) PER Extended but -- Light at the End of the Tunnel?  PER, the Public Emergency Regulations, first imposed in April following the Abrogation of the Constitution, were extended for another 30 days from January 3, but indications are that they will be lifted once the recently passed Media Decree is in place. Full story.

(G) Massive Civil Service Audit. All Government departments and ministries will be audited this year as a step to decide their right-size. The audit will also determine the minimum qualifications required, and the appropriatess of salary scales,for each position. The restructuring exercise that will follow in 2011 is part of Government’s plan to reform the civil service which could also save the country a huge amount of money. Full story.

(o) Permanent Secretaries. Ten permanent secretary posts in Government ministries, where contracts are due to expire in March, have been advertised by the Public Service Commission. The posts are:  Local Government, Lands and Mineral Resources, Trade and Commerce and Labour ,Public Service, Public Enterprise, Indigenous Affairs, Agriculture, Public Utilities and Defence, National Security and Immigration.

In anticipation of the usual comments by Anti-Government bloggers, please note that these are routine arrangements with none of sinister implications the bloggers invariably read into changes in the civil service. Full story.

(o) Children and Poverty. An honest, apolitical, no-holds-barred account of child poverty in Fiji can be read on the Inter Press Service website.

(+) Garments and Poverty Alleviation.The garment industry, that currently employs about 4,000 people, mostly women and mostly very poor, suffered a loss of over 1,000 jobs and a drop of 25 percent in exports last year. Government hopes to turn this situation round with the grant of $300,000 to a goverment-private sector marketing campaign intended to grow jobs to 6,000 and increase exports to over $150m within three years. The industry plays an important part in Governnment's poverty alleviaton programme, providing workers and their families with low but steady incomes, protection of the labour laws, dignity and a degree of empowerment. Full story.   

(+) Buses and Unions. Nair Transport Company that operates in the Nasinu area will become the first bus company to allow its workers to be members of a trade union. Fiji Transport Workers Union secretary Kamlesh Kumar hopes details will be finalized soon, and that other bus companies will follow suit. Full story.

(+) The Government School Bus fare subsidy scheme has been  extended to those travelling by boat, minibus and carriers.

   

(+) Prison Reform Part of the Roadmap: The Yellow Ribbon Programme

3 Comments so far. Others welcomed. 
 

A Letter from a Naboro Prison Visitor

Dear Walsh,
One of the great untold success stories of this regime is the Yellow Ribbon Programme,the new, humane and Christian approach to rehabilitating prisoners.

I've been visiting Naboro Prison for a long time. I've noticed a general cleanliness in the barracks and surroundings, the wardens more friendlier, yet still firm and professional with the prisoners. The Prisons Department won a quality circle award at the recent Civil Service Awards Night and this is a major achievement.  An inmate told me that the changes Prisons Commissioner Brigadier Ioawane Naivalurua brought in are transformational.

This Government may be illegal but it is doing more and better for this country than any democratic elected government. It also has a heart for the poor and disadvantage - something that was lacking with previous administration.

I am writing to you because your blog seems to be the only one that does not say those who report good changes like this are making these stories up. Vinaka. M.

Some Yellow Ribbon Stories

In September, after a lapse of 20 years, Naboro prison revived its Sports Day Competitions. Some 50 inmates from the maximum, medium, and minimum security prisons and pre-release centre took part in the volleyball competition."It is part of our efforts to redirect the energy and focus of the inmates towards useful and productive avenues," said ASP Josefa Kulinidilo, the Naboro supervisor, who also thanked local businesses for supporting the Yellow Ribbon Project that aims to give prisoners a second chance.

Another initiative trains inmates as rugby referees who before and after their release referee games in many parts of Fiji.Thanks to this, the released inmates are help reintegrate in society by playing a positive part in it. 

One story was that a prisoner referee student was taken by his warden from Suva to Taveuni on Friday where he spent the night in the police cell. Next day he changed into his ref uniform, refereed the match and returned to the cell for Saturday night and flew with his warden to Suva on Sunday. No one knew he was a prisoner as he was not cuffed or wore prison garb. They allowed him to wear street clothes and only his warden (street clothes) and the police station knew his identity. Asked wshat it felt like like later, the prisoner replied in Fijian saying for the first time in a very long time, he felt that his dignity had been returned at last."

In the last few days prisoners have also been active in helping to clear the mud in Navua Hospital, deposited during Cyclone Mick. Click here, and 23 prisoners sang carols to children at the St Christopher's and Dilkusha Children's Homes.

"We have come away from the key and lock ideology," said prison officer Pete Rokoratu, "and gone into correctional services as part of the rehabilitation process for the prisoners. These prisoners are neglected and deprived so we are fortunate to come out to sing carols for children who are also neglected, deprived and unfortunate." Local businesses paid for the choir's uniforms, chocolate biscuits for the children and donations of $200 to each Home. Full story.  Many countries use the Yellow Ribbon symbol  differently but a common theme is giving prisoners a second chance.
 See Wikipedia and also read about the song Tie a Yellow Ribbon 'Round the Ole Oak Tree.

Snippets: Rotuma, Micro-Credit, Tourism, NLTB, Intellectual Property, Free Textbooks, Cyclone Donors

Rotuma set to trade with Tuvalu
From mid-January farmers on isolated volcanic Rotuma (population 2,800 and 390km NNW of Fiji's main island of Viti Levu) will trade directly with independent Tuvalu (pop.12,000 on nine atolls) nearly 300km further north. Click on map to enlarge.  Some 400 Rotuma farmers, organized in 20 groups with 20 members each, are expected to generate $18,000 a month from their food exports. This new venture follows Rotuma being declared a port of entry and the provision of new port facilities by central government.

One can only wonder why this "regional development" initiative was not launched by the British when the Gilbert and Ellice Islands, Rotuma and Fiji were colonies. And if not then, sometime earlier during the nearly 40 years since Fiji Independence. Full story.

Chief surprised with development

Radio Fiji report 
Rotuma High Chief Gagaj Maraf says he is so overwhelmed with the government's development work undertaken on the island.

Gagaj Maraf says he thank the government with the initiative taken to develop Rotuma.

“Rather surprising we have never expected such a tremendous program to be done in Rotuma we thank the almighty god and the present government for the love that enable them to give Rotuma a very large development that is to show how the government cares.”

Gagaj Maraf adds the development has been long awaited.

“Many governments have gone and many things we have requested them this is my 27th year being a chief in Rotuma and I’ve been in the council for 27th year and I’ve been two times in the senate we have requested government with some of the developments in Rotuma but until then now we are lucky such things we were requesting the previous government which they could not afford to help Rotuma is now happening.”

Micro-credit for informal sector economy
An initiative by the Bank of Baroda's new micro-finance service centre, was launched on Christmas Eve, with 20 Suva market wheelbarrow boys given credit to buy (and no longer rent) their own wheelbarrows. The service will be extended to  other micro businesses including shoeshine boys, artisans and handicraft sellers. Bank CEO Rakesh Sharma said the scheme was an exciting one which had worked well in stimulating India's domestic economy. Full story.

New trading hours: stimulus to tourism
Retail and commercial trading hours for the whole of Fiji has been extended to 9pm daily.Cabinet has also set up two special zones, one in Suva and one in Nadi where shops can trade for 24 hours and nightclubs can sell liquor from 5pm to 5am. Restaurants and taverns can also sell liquor until 3am daily. It is expected the new hours will be of special advantage to tourists.  Full  story.

NLTB Review complete: part of the "roadmap"
The review of the Native Land Trust Board has been completed by land consultants from Australian and the UK and is currently with the General Manager Alipate Qetaki. Full story.

Confidence growing in Fiji's ICT sector
The recent visit by an ICT team from India comprising senior executives from three ICT companies is an indication of the growing confidence that investors have in Fiji’s ICT sector. Full  story.

Traditional intellectual property rights
An Action Plan was launched at a Traditional Knowledge workshop in Nadi convened by the PI Forum Secretariat and World Intellectual Property Rights Organisation (WIPO) in late December. The Plan will protect Pacific traditional Knowledge (e.g., traditional plants, medical knowledge, arts, songs and dances) from misuse and misappropriation without any compensation to the owners of Traditional Knowledge. Full  story.

Free textbooks distribution starts in remote Eastern Division
Head teachers from Lomaiviti, Kadavu, Lau and Rotuma have been advised to make the necessary arrangements for the collection and shipment of these books so that students receive their textbooks on Day 1 of Term 1, 2010.The teachers will establish an appropriate recording system for the books which are expected to have a lifespan of five years. Distribution in other Divisions will follow.

The initiative will assist economically disadvantaged families, and is a move that is targeted at providing free education for all students and at the same improve the quality of education in Fiji. All primary schools are expected to be assisted by 2011 before it is implemented for secondary schools in 2012. Full story.

Australia, New Zealand, China, France cyclone relief
The Australia and New Zealand governments have made a joint contribution of $56,000, and China $57,000, to the Fiji Red Cross to help with relief and recovery works following Cyclone Mick. Australia has also given A$100,000, New Zealand NZ$100,000 for other assistance. France has given $139,000 in cash and the equivalant of $292,000 for French naval aircraft based in New Caledonia for aerial support and assessment of areas damaged by Cyclone Mick. Full story. Damage costs haqve been estimated at $3.8m

Snippets: Sanctions, Roadmap (Housing, Education, Rural Dev.), Forum, Commonwealth, PACER, Air Fiji

The Freeze is Not Working, So What About a Thaw?
Gleeful that Australian tourism is "up 27 per cent" despite Canberra's harsh rhetoric against the regime in which he serves as Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, is urging the Rudd Government to back down on Fiji. 

"In the earlier Fiji coups they left themselves room to move. They condemned the takeovers, but they kept talking," Sayed-Khaiyum said. "Now they refuse to visit the Prime Minister and they only entertain people opposed to the regime and, like New Zealand, they fund various NGOs to be their proxies. In past coups judges were locked up and MPs were taken hostage and the governments operated by decree, but full diplomatic relations continued and there was no suspension from the South Pacific Forum. Read Paul McGeough in the Sydney Morning Herald.

Government's New Housing Plan: 1. Part of the "Roadmap"
USP Economics professor Biman Prasad has commended Government's new housing plan that will for the first time see collaboration with the private sector and banks. The plan will give up to $10,000 to first homeowners who are able to put down a 20 percent deposit. At an average cost of $100,000 a house the scheme will benefit 1,000 families, and put $100 million into the economy. Prasad called it a "smart way to help the low to middle income group buy houses,and increase economic activity in the construction industry which has suffered badly since the coup in 2006."

Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) Director Hassan Khan in also commending the plan urged possible applicants to seek independent advice and guidance on housing and not be exploited. "The business sector, too, need to help by keeping the hardware prices affordable,"he said. Read more

New NGO Helps Rural Children:  2.  Part of the "Roadmap"
FENC, the Foundation for the Education of Needy Children, will help needy rural children with meals, tuiton fees, stationery and other education expenses. Co-ordinator Irshad Ali said many children in the interior and the northern parts of Fiji walked long distances to school.

FENC was formed with support from overseas Fijians and a $200,000 grant from Government that is trying to encourage more volunteerism in society. The NGO will work closely with social groups, government and the private sector. The "scholarships" will be closely monitored. The NGO will be counselling and teaching microfinance skills.Chairperson Lorraine Tevi said the NGO seeks to "encourage the spirit of volunteerism in Fiji where people come forward to help us." A survey was being done to find the poorest of the poor in the country, and the awards would be made before schools resume next year. Full story. Government's involvement in this new venture follows on from its free school bus and subsidized lunches schmes that mainly help urban children. Click here for further initiatives.

Government Promotes Rural Participation: 3. Part of the "Roadmap"
In an attempt to promote rural community and resource owners' participation in Fiji's economic development, the government has approved the formulation of policy guidelines for the assistance provided under its subsidy program for fisheries and forest sectors. Full  story. 
 

Fiji Opposes Forum Climate Change Policy
Fiji will oppose the climate change stance adopted by Australia and the Pacific Island Forum at Copenhagen this week. It will instead  align itself with the Association Of Small Island States (AOSIS). Together with a number of environmental groups and NGOs Fiji believes the Forum stance, led by Australia, "dilute the Pacific’s concerns"  about emission levels. Full story.

 Fiji May Appeal Games Decision
Fiji is expected to lodge an appeal against its exclusion from the 2010 Commonwealth Games with the Court of Arbitration for Sport. Read report one.  Read report two. 

Suspended Fiji Trying to Protect its PACER Interests
Fiji has not ruled out moving for the suspension of a key trade deal if signatories to it do not respond in good faith to its stated intention to suspend Part 2 of the Agreement. Full  story.

Air Fiji to Close
After months of uncertainty, Air Fiji Limited is being closed down permanently as theowners, the Tuvalu Government, is unable to raise some $10 million to revive the airline company.Full  story.