Saturday, 4 February 2012
Friday, 3 February 2012
News and Comments Friday 3 February 2012
WEEKEND READING. • Allen Lockington column • All the World's Religions Agree on ...
• Economic Report for January. 
RESIDENTS ANGRY AT LACK OF WATER. Radio Fiji reports that Yalalevu residents in Ba have had no water since flood waters devastated their homes last week, and to date there have been no visits from Water Authority or DISMAC officials to talk to them and analyse their needs. Resident Rajesh Prakash says no water trucks have visited their area. But in a later Radio Fiji report, WAF Communications Officer Kelera Serelini rubbished the claim. She said they are aware of the problems in Yalalevu and elsewhere and are working with the military and volunteers to ensure that affected communities are supplied with water. Delays to restoring reticulated water have been caused by mud, gravel and debris in the dams and in treatment plants. The dams have to be filled to an average level before water can be treatment and directed to residents.
RELOCATION REQUEST NEGLECTED. The landslide in Tukaraki that killed a family of four has raised a question about earlier requests for the relocation of the village. Claims by villagers are supported by Government officers serving Yakete at that time who said they all knew about the proposal to relocate, but apparently the request was not taken seriously and nothing happened.The issue was also discussed in their Bose Vanua and at the Tikina Council Meeting some years back. But others contacted by FBC News have denied any knowledge of the relocation request. Chairman of the Ba Provincial Council Meeting, Ratu Meli Saukuru, says that during his time of chairmanship nothing about the relocation was ever raised.
THE TWO STORIES ABOVE indicate how easily it is for contrary stories spread in Fiji and just how difficult it is to know who to believe, even on the most prosaic of issues. It gets far worse with political stories!
ONE YEAR FREE RENT IN FLOOD-AFFECTED AREAS. Government land tenants in the worst flood-affected areas of the West will have their land rent free from January 2012 to January 2013.
RATU TEVITA RESURFACES with a statement based on "inside sources" that Bainimara has threatened the Namosi people with military action if they do not agree to his mining plans. No other "source" has made such a claim. Ratu Tevita's plausibility has declined since he failed to produce the documents he said would prove all about the horrors of the Bainimarama regime, and since he revealed his plan for a "return to democracy" which entailed a central role for the Great Council of Chiefs.
AVID BLOG VISITOR HAS QUESTIONED my action in not publishing a reader's comment that comprised a list of Bainimarama's alleged wrongs. "I believe there is a a danger," he writes, "in ignoring topics or issues just because they are 'old news'. For example the questions on how much the PM pays himself and his team and why this is done by a third party are 'old news' and repeated in blogs. However they are unanswered questions that go to the integrity of the PM and his original commitments as Commodore when he placed Fiji under huge stress by taking over government in 2006."
I AGEE ...BUT. I agree these issues will not go away and I will continue to publish some comments, but not as repetitive lists with no new substance or interest. Many seem orchestrated and could come from just one or two readers, I seek to publish a balance of comments. For more such comments (and far worse) visit the anti-blogs and see what they allow to be published. Recent Coup4.5 comments on Sharon Smith Johns were especially despicable. On the same tack, Sara'ssista, writes that I have "a nerve [for denying] the reasonable requests of the publics right to know" and then accuses me of being "clearly in the same camp with the gutless fiji media." On average, Saras'sista emails me three negative and sometimes insulting comments a day, most of which I publish although several readers have urged me not to do so. I think (s)he has a nerve.
CZECH REPUBLIC AMBASSADOR PRESENTS CREDENTIALS. The non-resident Ambassador for the Czech Republic to Fiji today presented his credentials to his Excellency the President, Ratu Epeli Nailatikau.
Thursday, 2 February 2012
News and Commments Thursday 2 February 2012
Meanwhile, in Fiji, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said his Fiji visit "afforded the Russian Federation the opportunity to strengthen ties with Fiji, as well as meet with numerous other foreign ministers from the Pacific Island Countries.
The meeting in Fiji, the first high-level visit from a Russian official to the country." Topics discussed included security ("The [wider] region is becoming the powerhouse of the world economy, and with economic influence comes political influence [and] some risks to security") and the economy ("the priority of the day are the programs and projects that will drive real growth and make the economies of the [Pacific] region even more independent.") The Russian Minister concluded by saying, "We seek to find partners in the region, and we would really like to cooperate in a mutually beneficial manner in order to promote our ties and improve visitation in the region. And let me say that we are not making friends against anybody."
Minister Kubuabola said: "By diversifying our relations with such countries as Russia, we are creating greater stability for ourselves. We hope to establish new lines of trade that help diversify the types of job opportunities there are for Fijians."
The meeting resulted in several outcomes: an outline of possible areas of economic cooperation, an accord to establish visa-free travel to promote tourism between the countries, and discussion on how Russia can support Fiji's peacekeeping missions.
GOVERNMENT PLEDGES SUGAR ASSISTANCE. The government pledged to help the Fiji Sugar Corporation rebuild vital infrastructure damaged by flooding in the west.
Huge deposits of mud and debris have put the Rarawai mill in Ba, the worst hit by flooding, out of action for three to four weeks. Planned repairs and upgrades have been put off until they cleared all debris. It is hoped that work on the mills, rail bridges and access roads will be completed before the new crushing season commences in six months time.
THEFT OF COPYRIGHT HURTS OUR ARTISTS. Over 40 officers from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Police force attended a one-day joint workshop on copyright prosecutions last Friday. Opening the workshop, Director of Public Prosecutions, Christopher Pryde said that “to date, there has not been a single successful copyright prosecution in Fiji despite a robust copyright act that was amended in 2009 to make prosecutions of copyright infringers easier. This year we intend to change that” by establishing a Fiji Intellectual Property Office and a Copyright Enforcement Unit in the fight against copyright piracy.
“The theft of copyright imposes a cost on Fiji by depriving artists such as local songwriters and musicians the chance to earn a legitimate living," he said.
SOMETIMES I DON'T PUBLISH REASONABLE COMMENT BECAUSE the same points have been made many times in the past, and most have already been published on this blog. On Tuesday OUR PMs history left a comment saying:
"You love to look back in history when it comes to your opponents but what about those you support? Take our PM for example.This was followed his view of Bainimarama's record. He ignored democracy in 2000 by not letting the SDL party continue in power" (I think he means the FLP); he erred in putting Qarase into power. He made seditious comments leading up to the 2006 Coup (he was warning Qarase about the Qoliqoli and other Bills). He prevented audits of regiment funds. He took leave and did not record it. He gave himself a big payout. He promised an election in 2009. He said no one in the military would benefit form the coup. He said he'd fix the sugar industry. And so on ...
All of these accusations have had a good hearing. I've posted his comment on the main page so that others, wishing to make the same comments, will know that repetitive lists of Bainimarama's alleged wrongs are unlikely to be published. Original, considered and critically adverse comments of interest to readers are welcome, especially when they point to ways forward, but this blog is not an advertising sheet for either pro or anti Bainimarama extremism.
CONSTITUTIONAL PROCESSES HANDBOOK. The text of the ILO handbook discussed at the recent CCF public meeting (see earlier post) is readily available on the ILO website.
NAMOSI MINING UPDATE. Meetings and rubbished rumours.
Wednesday, 1 February 2012
This Letter was Not Published by the Fiji Times.
Self-Censorship or Employer Self-Interest?
Dear Editor,
Congratulations to Ruby Taylor Newton for her Editorial in The Sunday Times (Jan 22nd). She drew attention to the increase in the cost of living and the hardship faced by so many families - especially now when families are paying for the school fees of their children.
However, one of the things our media have not spoken about is why the cost of living has risen and why so many people are facing severe hardship.
- We need to talk about the negative effects of devaluation and the increase in VAT.
- We need to talk about the delays in wage increases.
- Also we need to diffuse the myth that the new tax reforms will put more money in everyone's pockets. In fact they will have no effect on at least 70% of our working population.
- We need to help people realise that poverty is not limited to the 3-4% of those who receive assistance from Social Welfare. What of the other 32% who live below the poverty line?
We give lip service to the Millennium Development Goals and the People's Charter where we resolve to minimise poverty but, in fact poverty is increasing.
It seems we are willing to do more to satisfy overseas investors and tourists than we are for our own people.
In terms of education for our children I estimate that at least 40% of children would not be attending school if they were not being assisted through the generosity of individuals, businesses, NGOs and other organisations like Save the Children and FENC. Of course the initiative of the Navakalolo Education Trust Fund is a good model for other mataqalis to follow.
Sincerely,
Fr. Kevin J. Barr
Fr. Kevin J. Barr, Peoples Community Network Consultant, Lot 36, Koroi Pl. Samabula, Suva.Ph: +679 3373223 Fx: +679 3373222 "A New World is Possible"
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)