The Charter, the Strategic Framework for Change, the Roadmap and Ministry Plans

This article, provided by the Fiji Ministry of Information, describes how the People's Charter is  being implemented via the Strategic Framework for Change, the Roadmap, and Ministry Corporate Plans. 

                                                                 
1. People's Charter for Change, Peace and Progress

In September 2007 the Interim Government launch a national initiative to ‘Build a Better Fiji for All’ through the People's charter for change, peace and progress”. The President officially launched the People's Charter initiative in October 2007 and took steps to establish a 45 member National Council for Building a Better Fiji (NCBBF).

The committee was board based with representatives and leaders of all major organizations (community, social, civic, religious, business, political). The work was to be independent of the Interim Government. One of the first steps was to prepare a comprehensive, facts-based, diagnostic, forward looking report named the State of the Nation and the Economy.

The report was to provide a list of recommendations for changes to our system of government, our constitution, laws, economic and resources development policies, leadership values, community relations, and institutional reform.

The overarching objective of the People's Charter is to rebuild Fiji into a non-racial, culturally vibrant and united, well governed, truly democratic nation: a nation that seeks progress and prosperity through merit-based equality of opportunity and peace.

The charter was widely circulated throughout Fiji just over 250,000 copies of the Charter were published in English and the vernacular, and disseminated as widely as possible across the country, approximately 65% of the population supported the People's Charter.

2. A Strategic Framework for Change

The People's Charter lays the long term foundation and the commitment of the People of Fiji for Change, Peace and Progress with the ultimate vision of building “A Better Fiji for All”.

Since the Charter is a living document and reflects long term aspirations of the People of Fiji, it is prudent that the Government puts in place a solid foundation and necessary framework for its implementation.

It is therefore necessary that there is a very clear statement of Government’s intentions, identifying key milestones to be achieved and ensuring continuity of our collective vision.

In line with the eleven pillars in the People's Charter, the Strategic Framework for Change outlines key milestones to be realized with specific timelines to be achieved leading up to the elections in 2014. The Strategic Framework for Change also outlines a number of measures including reforms that shall be implemented.

It reiterates the focus for the first three years to improve the socio-economic and infrastructure conditions. This period shall be followed by the formulation of a modern day constitution and then the holding of elections for parliamentary representation by September 2014.

3. Roadmap for Democracy & Sustainable Socio-economic Development 2009-2014

The Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-Economic Development,  2009-2014 sets out a framework to achieve sustainable democracy, good and just governance, socio-economic development and national unity. The key foundation of the Roadmap is the People's Charter. The roadmap is also aligned to the mandate handed down by His Excellency, the President in 2007 as well as the Strategic framework for Changed announced in July 2009.

In order to ensure an inclusive approach, ownership and successful implementation, the Roadmap has been compiled in consultation with private sector, civil society and government to take on board the current political, social and economic situation, both on the international and domestic fronts.  
The objective of the Roadmap is to implement policies to achieve the vision of People's Charter which is a ‘Better Fiji for All’. Therefore the Roadmap is a detailed document that covers all areas of government and provides policy objectives, strategies and key performance indicators as well as time lines.  This in effect is the corporate plan of the government.

4. Ministry corporate plan 2009 – 2011

Each government ministry has a three year strategic plan that is tightly linked into the Roadmap. The Strategic plan is a high level guide from 2009 - 2011. This document supports the vision of the People's Charter, the Strategic Framework for Change and ultimately the Roadmap. The strategic plans set out strategies and objectives to be developed from 2009 – 2011.

5. Ministry Annual Corporate Plan

From the Strategic 3 year plan each Ministry has a yearly Corporate Plan; this document set the targets and strategies for the Ministry on a quarterly basis. All plans must be clearly articulated with timelines and accountabilities. It tightly aligns itself with the Roadmap.

Scroll down to earlier posts published late yesterday.

Slowly Rooting out Corruption, Look North Division, New Health Centre Ovalau

FOUR COURT CASES LAST WEEK.  The wheels of justice may grind slowly but Government is gradually rooting out corruption, professional misconduct and abuse of office.  There is still a long way to go.

• Three former Native Land Trust Board executives are charged with defrauding the NLTB of $3.7 million and a Government grant of a further $1m by causing the payments of these funds to support a defunct Information Technology System called MYSAP.
• Three prominent lawyers are charged with nine counts of alleged professional misconduct and unsatisfactory professional conduct. The alleged offences occurred in 2004 and 2005 and concern the sale of land in Ba province.The case will be heard from 16-23 November.
• The case of three men who are alleged to have defrauded Tropik Wood Industries Ltd has been transferred to the High Court in Lautoka. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC)  claims that in April last year their action caused the Tropik Wood board of directors to deliver the ownership of Fiji Forest Industries Limited (FFI) to one of the defendents by false pretence namely providing incorrect and/or misleading information including financial figures pertaining to FFI which is a subsidiary of the TWIL. The case has been adjourned to September 3

• Two former executives of Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPCL) have been given 14 days to file objections for application by Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC) to consolidate the cases against them. They are charged with abuse of office involving payment of $177,000 as an ex-gratia payment in lieu of early retirement to Herbert Hazelman who was employed as the Chief Executive Officer of the FPCL, without the authority of the FPCL Board and/or of the Higher Salaries Commission, which is an act prejudicial to the rights of the said FPCL. The matter is adjourned to the August 27 for mention.

SELF-ENRICHMENT AT PUBLIC EXPENSE IS OUT: THE $150 MILLION LOAN.  A reader writes: The proposed Sinking Fund means of paying back this ill-advised loan  eagerly supported by the bloated Qarase Cabinet of 36 Ministers and Assistant Ministers of State in November 2006 Budget (the largest Cabinet of any Commonwealth Nation at the time) should now receive the support of all patriotic and prudent Fiji Citizen as a means of avoiding another devaluation and of ensuring - against all odds - Fiji's capacity to repay with interest what was done in all our names.

How ill-conceived and ridiculously profligate this US dollar loan now appears!  But this is the kind of exercise that politicians indulge in when they are completely ignorant of trends in global affairs.

Those who now face charges of Abuse of Office, misuse of Public funds had best consider their positions with regard to the penalties they face. All their assets both in Fiji and overseas should be forfeited to the Public Exchequer if they are found guilty. The message must be sent loud and clear to these people and anyone like them: You will be held to account. Self-enrichment at public expense is OUT. The loan is due for repayment in September next year.

"PLEASE DON'T LEAVE." Commissioner Northern Inia Seruiratu  said the politicisation of land and the mass movement of people from the North (Vanua Levu)  to Viti Levu in search of "greener pastures" had greatly impacted its economy. Speaking at the opening of the Housing Authority Customer Care Centre in Labasa, he appealed to youths, businesses and the public to stay and play a role in building the economy. "Please don't leave," he said, "it's going to get better and will continue to improve."

He said the Look North Policy was helping create an environment that was conducive to growth. "There are a lot of infrastructural developments in terms of roads, electricity and water because that is the key to economic developments. The land availability issue is being looked at by the Committee on the Better Utilisation of Land and land reforms introduced by the state that augurs well with the development of the agro based economy of the north. A strategic development plan for the north has been drafted and its all inclusive and pro-poor. The Fiji National University will set up its campus here soon and access to other tertiary level of education that will help in human capital development is happening. All these things are being done to create a better environment to entice people to stay."

NEW HEALTH CENTRE IN OVALAU: CHARTER MILESTONE. In opening the new centre at Bureta village on Friday, Health Mininster Dr Neil Sharma said the centre is another milestone achievement for the island in line with the People's Charter Pillar 10 which calls for improvement in Health Service Delivery.

“We are thankful to the vanua for their continued support towards the project which is now a reality for the people of Bureta and the nearby villages,” he said. In the past people travelled long distances to the Hospital in Levuka, but now seven villages would be able to access a brand new facility much closer to home.-- Based on  2010 No:1230/MOI.

Correcting Two Errors on the Charter Process

We recently ran a series of critical but helpful short pieces  by a reader who called himself Thinking ... Not Sleeping which is now also published in Na Sala Cava for your further comments.  

In #7-8 of the series Thinking ... Not Sleeping who was a participant in the People's Charter discussions made two statements that I found puzzling: he claimed that John Samy had written  the Charter, and that the public voting was a "complete joke."  I referred these two statements  to a knowledgeable and very fair-minded friend in Fiji who was also involved with the Charter.  I have added the sub-headings to Vatu's reply:

Registrations, Aust-NZ-US-Fiji Relations, Elections and the Constitution, Youth and Grassroots Empowerment

Stray dog waiting registration

REGISTRATIONS RAISE SOME QUESTIONS

Government needs to spell out the positives and 

provide  assurances on the negatives. 

Fiji seems to be having a bout of registration mania with everything except stray dogs now requiring registration. The need to register higher education institutions is obvious. It is surprising it was not always a requirement and yet only nine of the nation's 75 institutions are so far registered.

The Telephone Service Decree also makes sense requiring telephone and mobile phone users to register, and for this the deadline runs out next Sunday. But the details required raises concern, and could easily be abused by the authorities. Those registering are required to provide their name,date of birth, permanent home address (or address in Fiji if visiting), photo identification and parent or guardian's signature if the customer is below 18 years of age.But now we hear that the government wants those with driver's licences and bank accounts for similar information and their Tax Identification Number. Again, this makes sense.

In New Zealand telecommunications companies, the Transport Authority and the individual banks collect these or similar details, as does the Department of Inland Revenue. The police, the secret service, the Courts, the IRD and many others may request specific information, and in some instances demand it.  What is of concern in Fiji is that this information may be combined into one large database to which Government may have unrestricted access. But even if, like New Zealand, the information must be requested and then only in relation to specific charges against identified individuals, such powers available to the Fiji Government is the present political situation must raise major questions and concerns. The obvious question is will they be used to target their opponents and even people who agree, but not totally, with what they are doing?

Registration, probably influenced by Singapore's one-ID number system, has many positives but the potential negatives are very worrying. Government needs to spell out the positives and provide  assurances on the negatives. And people need to dial the PM on 01 and write to the media until there are answers.

OLD AND NEW FRIENDS. Commenting on PM Bainimarama's hint that Fiji would turn its back on its old friends Australian and NZ and look increasingly to China for support, Auckland University political scientist AssocProf Stephen Hoadley thinks Bainimarama "misdirected." Fiji still needs AustNZ. He says humanitarian aid still comes from AustNZ, and cutting further links could result in Europe and the US following suit, which in turn could lead to a deterioration of infrastructure and --  a drop in tourism. [That's a long drop!]  As for China, it wants to keep Taiwan isolated and Fiji's vote in the UN General Assembly. Its support for Fiji is arbitrary and could be withdrawn if Fiji's political support is not forthcoming.

Comment.  Prof Hoadley is half right in one assertion: Fiji definitely needs AustNZ support -- but not at any price and it is not a one-way need: that's the other half.  These countries  have already done much to divide the Pacific Islands Nations and damage the Fiji economy  and they could still do much more -- for better or for worse.  But Fiji is not the aid-dependent portrayed in our media. Our  trade with and investment in Fiji is very profitable.  I'm also amused that Prof Hoadley doesn't see the irony in his comment that China's support is arbitrary and could be withdrawn unless Fiji does what it expects. Isn't this exactly what has already happened with AustNZ support?

AMERICAN SAMOA REP. CRITICAL OF AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND. Eni Fa'aua'a Hunkin Faleomavaega, Jr.is the non-voting Delegate to the United States House of Representatives.
"I've been very critical of New Zealand and Australia's approach to engaging Fiji," he says. "Of course we all don't agree with Fiji not having a democratic form of government but I also believe that we have to appreciate and understand the complexities facing Fiji. New Zealand and Australia's approach to punish Fiji has caused some 'bad developments.'

Fiji is not like other countries in the islands  because of its colonial past the multi-ethnic society. Faleomavaega says what's reported in the mainstream media is not necessarily what's happening in Fiji.  "One of the things that is really amazing is the way the media played Fiji being under a military administration. You'd think that there are barriers on the roads/streets with police, military army and soldiers all over the place. You don't see one, not in Nadi not in Suva. And here's the one thing that is really surprising, the tourism industry in Fiji is going by leaps and bounds."

"We [the USA] don't have a policy towards PI countries, our policy only includes Australia and New Zealand. And whatever New Zealand and Australia want done, we just simply follow it. I totally disagree with that." --Press release,Faleomavaega's office,12 August.

AN ELECTORAL SYSTEM OUTSIDE THE CONSTITUTION? The abrogated 1997 Constitution spelt out almost every detail of Fiji's electoral system, making changes impossible without the lengthy process of changing the Constitution. In the future this may be very different.

Strategic Framework for Change Coordinator Lote Raboila says  “The proposal is that the electoral system be removed from the Constitution and enacted as law so that it may be a separate law, and may be amended and reformed from time to time according to the will of the people. However the fundamental recommendation of non-ethnic voting, equal franchise and proportional representation be enshrined into the constitution. Therefore the electoral law itself be outside the constitution so that the government of the day may make amendments and reform according to the time to suit the condition with the regards to the will of the people.”

Youth and Grassroots Empowerment
Democracy without such initiatives is diminished.

YOUTH DIALOGUE. A one-day youth workshop organized by ECREA last week focused on dialogue in peace building, inner dialogue and self awareness, youth empowerment in nation building and an exhibition. Co-ordinator Waisale  Ramoce said the objective was to educate young people on the importance of dialogue as a tool that would create peaceful co-existence among different ethnic groups in Fiji. He said, "For a multicultural nation like Fiji, the appreciation of cultural and religious diversity is very much needed. To engage young people in appreciating differences through dialogue and mutual understanding will undoubtedly create the way forward to a peaceful and happy nation. It reinforces the need to have young people partake in decision-making on nation building."

FCOSS AND FINANCIAL LITERACY. So far this year the Fiji Council of Social Services Microfinance Unit has  conducted 15 financial literacy training workshops in 15 communities (5 villages in Namosi, 5 women’s groups, 3 youth groups and 2 Indo-Fijian communities) involving over 400 people. By year end they plan to conduct another 25. The workshops, aimed at rural and disadvantaged people, teach people how to manage their money and generate income. Each community had requested the training.

REWA YOUTH EMPOWERMENT WORKSHOP. A two-day workshop organized by the Department of Youth (a new Government initiative) saw 120 young people from nine Rewa tikina (districts) meet at Nakorovou in Dreketi on Thursday last week. They were taught on the twelve seeds of success, aimed at improving personal development of youths in areas of time management, self discipline and positive mental attitude. The workshop also aimed at reviving the Rewa Provincial Youth Council.A three-member medical team was also present conducting free medical checks.-- Based on 2010 No:1231/MOI.

Weekend Reading

Scroll down to view --
Allen Lockington's Column
Australia, New Zealand and the Forum "Straitjacket"
The Big Push into Rural Fiji
Timor Leste Journalists and Self-Regulation
Engaging with Fiji: Another Opportunity Lost
Friday's Briefs include -Ramadan, The Week's Rumours, Visible Governing, Dorsami Naidu Found Guilty,  Sunil Kumar Acquitted, Shipbuilding Potential, Soldiers to Train in China, Australian Bluff and Cheek; PINA and PacMA

Also check out Na Sala Cava (Which Path for Fiji) by clicking orange icon in right side bar.

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in www.connectme.com.fj/news/opinion. I thank Allen and Connect for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.

Homeless in San Francisco

When I read the story about Kolinio Waqairawai I was shocked. I said: how in the world did a citizen of Fiji become homeless in San Francisco?  What a  terrible fate. People usually migrate to greener pastures. What happened to the  pastures he went to? But full marks to his family and other Fijians who have tried to bring him home. There are a few like him right here in Fiji. Proper homes were given to them but they seem to prefer the streets, and keep returning there despite the good efforts of church and charitable organisations,  private individuals, and government agencies.

But let me bring you closer to home. Many people migrated to New Zealand and Australia leaving behind good jobs only to find that they couldn’t hack it  and ended up on the dole and or on the streets. Many are too ashamed to return home because they had painted such a wonderful story of their impending migration that they’d rather live in poverty over there then came home and face shame. 

But now I bring you home, I suppose no people of this world is immune to poverty and like the rest of the world we have so many of our own. Just a while ago we read the story about the three children who were abandoned by their parents. By the way, what happened to them?

However, I know of some people who always look like a million dollars but are struggling to make ends meet and or living in poverty. Yhese are proud people they don’t let others know of their dire circumstances. 

So, after all Kolinio’s story is not really unique. The only difference is that he is homeless in San Francisco.  Heck, that sounds like a  good title for a movie.

 The line "Proper homes were given to them but they preferred the streets. And kept returning there despite the good efforts of church and charitable organisations,  private individuals, and government agencies" suggests this is choice made by normal people.

ALLEN AGREED TO MY APPENDING THIS FOOTNOTE.
Research on such people world-wide shows that they are extremely poor, severely crippled,  mentally retarded or mentally sick, alcoholics or drug addicts, and often a combination of these maladies.  Such people do not have what you and or I would call "choice"  and for this reason they do not "prefer" to live in the streets.  They see this as the only way they can cope with the problems of life.

Only if the underlining problems of these people are understood and appropriately catered for will they not return to the streets. Providing what Allen called a "proper home" is obviously not  appropriate help, and this is not always understood by those wishing to help these unfortunate people. Often, though, they do understand but simply do not have the resources to help in the most appropriate ways.  This is where in some wealthier countries the State gives a hand, but even in those countries many people wrongly blame the unfortunate when they should be saying "There, but for the Grace of God, go I."  -- Croz Walsh.

Australian, New Zealand and the Forum "Straitjacket"

The Big Push into Rural Fiji

Feature article from Island Business on Small and Micro-Enterprises by Dionisia Tabureguci

Timor Lese Journalists and Self-Regulation

Dr Clinton Fernandes of the University of News South Wales say East Timor journalists need to regulate themselves or be regulated by government. Had Fiji followed the course he recommends some years ago,  when there was absolutely no effective regulation, the regulatory provisions of the Media Decree would have been unnecessary.

Engaging with Fiji - Another Opportunity Lost: Dev Nadkarni

Despite the unchanging rigidity of their isolationist approach towards Fiji, the political leaderships in Australia and New Zealand would now have all but realised that trying to keep Fiji out of the South Pacific regional equation was never going to be a tenable strategy. 

Ramadan, Rumours, Governance, Lawyers, Australians Turn Cheek, Shipbuilding, Soldiers, PINA & PacMA

MUSLIMS CELEBRATE. Fiji's 55,000 Muslims are observing the month of Ramadan which started on August 10th.

THIS WEEK'S RUMOURS.  There would still be anti-government rumours, of course, even without the Public Emergency Regulations (PER)  but with PER in place it takes that much longer to refute them before they have achieved much of their purpose: to discredit, distract and destablize governnment.  The absence of "free airwaves" also makes the task of checking on the reliability of the rumours much more difficult.

This week's rumours raised questions on whether the government's Roadmap really existed; the Military Council had called for Bainimarama and Sayed-Khaiyum's resignation (always a popular one when they are both overseas); the PM and other Cabinet members with more than one portfolio were "double dipping," and  whether the Attorney-General's Aunt was involved in corrupt practices. I wonder what next week will bring. It's already started with a comment to this post: "Where is Teleini? He has disappeared faster than the natadola communique?" Should be Teleni.  But nice try. Anything else to distract me?

VISIBLE GOVERNING. The PS for the Public Service, Parmesh Chand, says that the visibility of the role and services of respective Ministries, Departments and Agencies is steadily improving. This has been helped by Civil Service Public Week, the Agriculture Show, strengthened rural development machinery and the on-going emphasis by the PM that civil servants should reach out to as many people as possible, particularly those in the rural areas.  The Government Information & Referral Centre in downtown is also playing its part. Seven Ministries and Departments have already exhibited their programmes at the downtown facility.These activities also help Government to get a better feel of public perceptions and the types of assistance they require to improve their livelihood.  -- based on 2010 No:1221/PSC.

These activities stem from the People's Charter general provisions on governance and the Roadmap's more specific targetting.  I hope soon  to have one or more posts that will explain the Charter, the Roadmap and the Strategic Framework for Change structures and functions.

DORSAMI NAIDU FOUND GUILTY. Fiji’s Independent Legal Services Commission has found lawyer Dorsami Naidu guilty of complaints of unsatisfactory professional conduct and professional misconduct. Commissioner John Connors stated details of a total of 18 complaints against Naidu, two of which Connors said were withdrawn because of the unavailability of the complaints.Seven complaints were dismissed. Among the complaints proven against Naidu were five of unsatisfactory professional conduct and two complaints of professional misconduct. Under one of the complaints of unsatisfactory professional conduct, Connors said Naidu billed an estate the sum of $3,750 when the legal services rendered did not justify this amount “falling short of the standards of competence and diligence that a member of the public is entitled to expect of a reasonably competent or professional practitioner”. In another instance, Naidu prepared a sale and purchase agreement for a 10-acre piece of land in Nadi, failing to inform the buyer that the land was co-owned. Naidu is the President of the Fiji Law Society and an outspoken critic of Goverment. The charges against Naidu are part of ongoing investigations resulting from public complaints against lawyers.

SUNIL KUMAR ACQUITTED. Former Nausori Magistrate Sunil Kumar has  been acquitted of trying to prevent the course of justice after it was alleged that he had tried to deter police officers in Nausori from booking anyone for any traffic offence in the Nausori area and allegedly making certain comments in open court.

WHOSE BLUFF? WHOSE CHEEK? Interviewed by ABC, Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith was asked "what do you propose to do to try to advance your agenda with Fiji for a return to democracy, because clearly at the moment Frank Bainimarama is heading a long way away from Australia?"  Smith replied:

"Yeah that's regrettable, I mean we will continue, despite any number of rebuffs, continue to try and get a dialogue going with the Commodore and with the interim administration in Fiji to bring Fiji back to democracy and respect for human rights. There's unanimity amongst the Pacific Island Forum leaders that Fiji's suspension has to continue until they return to democracy. The same with the Commonwealth. But we've got to find a way back to a dialogue and we will simply redouble our efforts. It would have been the easiest thing in the world to respond in kind when Commodore Bainimarama expelled our acting high commissioner, but I didn't want to leave our professional diplomatic relationships with Fiji unrepresented in Canberra. So I turned the other cheek on that matter. It's simply a matter of us keeping at it. We are worried about Fiji moving further into an isolationist position, and in my conversations with the leaders of the Pacific and Vanuatu, we all believe absolutely in the need to just continue our efforts for a dialogue to bring them back to their full standing as a democratic Pacific nation."

SHIP BUILDING POTENTIAL. On his return from China and talks with China's largest shipbuilding company, PM Bainimarama is hopeful that Fiji will once again build its own ships and that Fiji Ships and Heavy Industries Limited will become the top shipbuilding company in the Pacific.

MORE SOLDIERS TO TRAIN IN CHINA. Another result of the PM's recent China visit is that more officers will probablt soon be receiving specialised training in China. The trip was fully funded by the Chinese Government as Commodore Bainimarama was the chief guest at Fiji’s National Day Celebrations at the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

PINA MORE MEMBERS THAN EVER. With 21 members, the Pacific Islands News Association has dismissed claims from the newly-formed Pacific Media Association (PacMA) that they only have a handful of members across the Pacific, and mainly from Melanesia countries. PacMA was formed because some members, notably from Samoa and Cook Islands, thought PINA was not sufficiently critical of Fiji's media restrictions and the Bainimarama government.

However, PINA Manager Matai Akuola says PINA is just doing things differently. "The statement put out by the PINA President is that we are not wrong but are doing things differently. In regards to media freedom we are having dialogue with governments and no longer are we putting out statements to please some people. We are working and having dialogue with government we’ve had meetings with the current Fiji government. So, that a progress. That is a move forward. That’s why we are saying we are not wrong we are just doing things differently."

Charter Points the Way, Aussies on Fiji, Chinese Investment, Tuvalu Studies PSC, Unemployed Training

CHARTER POINTS THE WAY. National People's Charter Advisory Council Chairman Josefa Serulagilagi stressed that, while there is progress, the eleven pillars of the charter need to been seen incorporated in the running of government and the lives of the people. He was speaking this morning at the  fifth meeting of the Charter Advisory Council. He also expressed concerns that some government ministries and departments are acting like politicians and looking after their own agenda and interest and not focusing on the task at hand.


PINE HARVESTS SHOULD REDUCE BUILDING COSTS. Fiji Pine Board member Ratu Jolame Lewanavanua said that harvesting of the pine plantations in Gau, Kadavu, Lau as well as other areas commences in two weeks' time should mean cheaper timber prices for the local market.This is in line with Government's plan to provide current and new home owners affordable options.

AUSSIE OPPOSITION WOULD   open negotiations with Fiji's military ruler Frank Bainimarama for electoral reform as a way of breaking the current diplomatic standoff between Suva. If this means they will respond to Fiji's requests for legal, technical and financial assistance, great;  but if they are still talking about dates, what's new?

Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said there are three priorities when it comes to Fiji.

(1) "To continue to keep pressure on Fiji both bilaterally and through international institutions like the Commonwealth;"(2)"We don't want to do things to hurt the people of Fiji, which is why we don't have trade sanctions and bans.(3) "Thirdly, and most importantly, we do need to continue in conjunction with the international and regional community to find some way of opening up an effective dialogue with the Commodore to return Fiji to democracy." In other world they will continue to pursue the policy that has proved so successful over the past four years.

Meanwhile, Lowy Institute's Jenny Hayward-Jones thinks Australian-Fiji relations have deteriorated. “Other Pacific countries want to talk to Fiji, and Australia and New Zealand are the only ones maintaining this 'don't talk' policy,” she said.

CHINESE COMPANY CONFIRMED.Speaking from China, the  the PM said Tengy Group is ready to start cement manufacturing operations in Fiji immediately. The company has also been invited to set up wind farms to generate power for the country and at the same time register a company in Fiji. The PM returns to Fiji tomorrow Friday.
     
TUVALU STUDIES FIJI REFORMS. A three member delegation from Tuvalu’s PSC is in Fiji to obtain information on the operations and workings of Fiji PSC, and identify ways on how the two governments can work together in improving efficiencies and work practices in their respective public services.The team returns to Tuvalu next week.

UNEMPLOYED START TRAINING. More than six hundred unemployed  have started a programME the government  is calling "life long skills training". It is part of the National Employment Centre's Decree Initiative which forces unemployed people over 15 years of age to undergo this training or face a fine of up to $500.

Public Emergency Regulations, Poverty, Race & the Charter, NZ Policies, Sugar Costing

PER, A BROKEN PROMISE,  Speaking to the UN Human Rights Council in June, Ambassador Peceli Vocea said:

"The calls for the lifting of the Public Emergency Regulations are contained in Recommendations 27 to 35. I am pleased to convey that Fiji generally accepts the content and intent of each of these recommendations. The Government of Fiji in February this year has pronounced that it will lift the Public Emergency Regulation as soon as the Fiji Media Decree is promulgated." And again."The Government of Fiji has pronounced that it will lift the Public Emergency Regulation as soon as the Fiji Media Decree is promulgated." But then it didn't. Why did it change its mind?   Was it a wise decision?

I put these questions to the Sharon Smith John, the PS for Information:

Q. Why was it not lifted when the the Media Decree took effect, as previously promised?
A.It was decided to let the media work with the media decree before lifting the PER.

Q. Why is it now being extended on a month to month basis? Why not fix a date 6, 12 or even 18 months in the future?
A.There are several sections in the PER. It is feasible that section 16 (which relates to the media) will be lifted in the near future. However, other parts will continue. 

Q. I know it is easier to administer the country with PER in place and am aware of Bainimarama's cautions about the influence of chiefs and clergy, but, with the Media Decree in place, government should be able to refute false rumours and claims.
A. As for monitoring the media, there is very little of that happening. I have said this publicly, in fact so little in fact the media are relatively free to write what they want.

Q. Most importantly, how can any sort of dialogue take place with PER in place?
A. The PER does not stop dialogue. In fact in the past few weeks, we have seen a lot of dialogue taking place not just within government, but outside.

Maybe, but I am not convinced. Some dialogue, inside government and out, is not enough. Much more dialogue is needed on a large raft of issues  between government and the "outside"  and the outcome of the dialogue needs to be made public.

There are valid security reasons for maintaining PER and valid dialogue and confidence reasons for lifting them.

Lifting PER soon would give Government an enormous boost in the eyes of all moderate Fiji citizens  and be taken as evidence of its sincerity by the international community. Given the odds, a gambling man would opt for lifting them.  The longer the delay in lifting PER, the faster the loss in confidence. People will ask what further promises will be be broken or delayed.

POVERTY, RACE AND THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER. The Poverty Eradication Unit from the PM’s office is adamant they will be able to fulfill the millennium development goal of reducing poverty. Unit Officer John Sowani says affirmative action in 2000 by the Qarase government had been racially-based. Sowani says their focus now is on disabled people and the vulnerable group of women and children.

"Our role is to coordinate and monitor the implementation on the framework and to conduct impact assessment that is the crunch of our work. Of all pro-poor programmes that have been done with all the stakeholders including government, non-governmental organisations and the private sector, and to identify remedial strategies to provide equal opportunities. To review, evaluate and formulate poverty reduction policies. We work under pillar eight of the people’s charter to reduce poverty to a negligible level by 2015."

[Great. But the Unit would be mistaken if it thinks poverty is confined to the disabled, women and children. And, with the poor -- the primary stakeholders-- not included in its consultations, it can hardly claim to have worked with "all the stakeholders." A major fault of well meaning, top-down, pro-poor policies over the years is that they have been framed by  people with no specialist academic training or experiential knowledge of the  ramifications of poverty.]

THE NZ LISTENER  has had two not well informed editorials on Fiji over the last couple of years but no substantive or informed article. My earlier effort to interest them waned when one of their editors left. But there has been the occasional letter, including this one in the current issue: Anyone with a faint idea of what's going on in Fiji must despair at the Government's foreign affairs policy. NZ just snubbed Fiji;s invitation to attend an 'Engaging Fiji' meeting in Nadi. This could have been a good opportunity to hear from the house's mouth what the military government plans in terms of introducing democracy and fair elections. Instead, we hang onto our black-and- white view that a military government must be evil per se. Why, then are they kowtowing to the dictators of China?....." The letter was signed by Ulli Weissbach, North Shore.

INEFFICIENT MILLS COST FARMERS MONEY. Sugar cane farmers say  that inefficient crushing mills are costing them money. National Farmers Union president Surendra Lal Sugar cane farmers in Fiji are worried that inefficient crushing mills are costing them money. National Farmers Union president Surendra Lal says the amount of can harvested this year is well down on last year. He says constant breakdowns and delays at the crushing mills means a lot of the harvested cane is lying in the fields losing its sugar content. Mr Lal says the farmers are doing their best to produce good quality cane, but the Fiji Sugar Corporation needs to upgrade its equipment or see the harvest increasingly go to waste. says the amount of cane harvested this year is well down on last year. He says constant breakdowns and delays at the crushing mills means a lot of the harvested cane is lying in the fields losing its sugar content. Mr Lal says the farmers are doing their best to produce good quality cane, but the Fiji Sugar Corporation needs to upgrade its equipment or see the harvest increasingly go to waste.

ANTICIPATING A SINISTER EXPLANATION of why a replacement is being sought for Col. George Langman as deputy head of FICAC (the corruption commission), the actual reason is that, as military's most senior qualified engineer, he's needed back in the RFMF to head the engineering corp. The Chinese government is  giving the RFMF $5m worth of machinery to carry out rural development in line with government’s policy.

What is the Roadmap?

A reader asks what is the Roadmap?  He'd searched the web on Fiji but found no reference to any such document. A recent issue of Fiji Focus written for the general public by Permanent Secretary of Information, Sharon Smith Johns, provides an explanation and  a quick introduction. 

This blog has published 78 items that concern parts of the Roadmap. Scroll down left side bar to "Labels/Index" or write "Roadmap" into the "Search this Blog" facility. A link to the full draft document, and a further explanation by PM Bainimarama,  is also provided below. 

Another reader writes of few signs of progress. Fair enough.  But many of the projects in the Roadmap (and indeed in the plans of all governments) are incremental, showing change and improvements only gradually.  Fiji's problems were never going to be fixed in a day. Think. Corruption. Efficient Public Service. Housing. Land development. 

Government has decided to give prior attention to these physical needs, leaving the Constitution and Electoral reforms until later.  A lot of work has been done on some social issues such housing, the minimum wage, poverty, and educational help for the poor.  Some dialogue is also going on about political and electoral  issues but I think the two should overlap and not be seen as two distinct phases.  Government, I think, would reply that it can't do everything at once.   Over to Sharon ....

Every time  we open a newspaper or turn on the radio it seems someone is  talking about the Government’s Roadmap. The Government ministers and officials make speeches about it. At divisional development committee meetings the Roadmap appears on just about every agenda. Last week even the Pacific Island leaders endorsed the Government’s Roadmap too. What  is the Roadmap ? Why it is so important and How it can help us?

The Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-economic Development and Fiji’s  Strategic Framework for Change or the Government’s Roadmap for short are Fiji’s national plan for the next five  years 2009 -2014 to improve standards of living, to make life better, to ensure that by 2014  people have more of those things they need  to be happy.

This can be done in many ways……. By creating more jobs that can pay reasonable wages, by building  so that people can travel in greater comfort, by constructing homes for them to live in and improving health services, sport and leisure activities. These are some of the things the Roadmap sets out to do.

There are many other things in the plan, too. The formulation of a new Constitution, the 2014 General Elections and return to Parliamentary Democracy based on common and equal citizenry elections under a just and fair electoral system- one person one vote - by September 2014.

With the theme of “A Better Fiji for All”, the Roadmap also outlines  various areas of reforms or changes that are necessary for rebuilding Fiji into a non-racial prosperous state with equal opportunity for all.

One of the reform areas the Roadmap spells out is the Land. In this issue the Fiji Focus looks at some of the initiatives taken   by the Ministry of Land and Mineral Resources to ensure land reforms benefits everyone.

But we must remember that the Roadmap is only a Plan. It cannot by itself achieve. The word and ideas in it need the support of the people- that you – to make the Plan work and reach its goals.

So it is important for everyone in Fiji to be aware of what the Roadmap for Democracy and Sustainable Socio-economic Development and Fiji’s  Strategic Framework for Change  is, and how it can move our country forward in the next five years.

Farmers, fishermen, factory workers, teachers, students parents – in fact all of us – can help make the Roadmap work.  And if we do that we are really helping ourselves as well as the country  move forward to achieve its goal of “A Better Fiji for All”.

As the Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said “ my Government has 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. My Government is a Government of change so this is your opportunity to contribute to modernize, seek incentives and contribute to the development of a sustainable economy and its growth.”

Click here for PM Bainimarama's address to the UN.

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.

The objective of the Roadmap 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).

Reaffirming that Government will be an agent of change, Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama said 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 reiterated 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.

The Roadmap has been inclusive and participatory in that it has been compiled in consultation with the private sector, civil society and government to take on board the current political, social and economic situation both on the international and domestic fronts.

PM Bainimarama emphasized that Government is firm in its endeavor to rebuild Fiji into a non-racial, culturally vibrant and united, well governed, truly democratic nation that seeks progress and prosperity through merit based equality of opportunity and peace.    Source.

China is the way for Fiji, we should forget about Aust, NZ, USA:PM

Click here for story.

National Unity and Cultural Diversity, ASEAN, Indonesia, Thailand Support Fiji Reforms, PACER Plus

NATION-BUILDING AND LANGUAGES. Nation-building involves more than establishing a common identity and calling all Fiji citizens Fijians. It also involves recognizing and strengthening the different cultural identities that make up the national whole, and arguably the most important task here is the maintenance and development of the nation's languages.

The Ministry of Education, through its Curriculum Development Unit, has developed syllabuses for the vernacular languages, namely i-Taukei  language, Rotuman, Hindi and Urdu from Class 1 to Form 7. The courses developed  include oral communication, reading, comprehension, writing, language studies, literature, culture study, research and learning resources such as newspapers. Where schools lack suitably qualified language teachers, they will be provided by the Ministry.

The Ministry also supports less used languages such as Telegu, Tamil, French and Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese). At school, children should be given the opportunity to express themselves freely in their own languages without fear of victimization. -- 2010 No:1202/MOE.

I welcome this news but wonder what is being done about local Fijian dialects (Bauan is not the true mother tongue of many Fijians) and without official help many dialects will soon be extinct.  I also wonder what is happening about teaching conversational Fijian and Hindi in all schools. Much was made of this a year ago but I've heard nothing since.

Click to enlarge

ASEAN CHIEF SURIN URGES FIJI to explore the potential of investment cooperation with ASEAN, especially in fisheries and tourism, to help grow its economy. ASEAN members comprise all ten countries of SE Asia, with a combined population of 580 million (9% of the world's population).  Its aims to accelerate economic growth, social progress, cultural development among its members, the protection of peace and stability in the region, and to provide opportunities for member countries to discuss differences peacefully. -- 2010 No:1213/MOI

INDONESIA AND THAILAND SUPPORT FIJI's Fiji's reform agenda, would welcome more conciliatory moves from Aust and NZ, and would support Fiji's bid to become an ASEAN Observer. These sentiments were expressed to Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola who  attendedthe Special Asian and Pacific Ministerial Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in Jakarta, Indonesia, last week. -- Based on 2010 No:1170/MOI.




SO MUCH FOR PACER PLUS. Australia would have Pacific Island countries believe they will benefit by free trade arrangements under Pacer Plus. But they haven't even got free trade with New Zealand.  For years they have prevented NZ apple imports on the pretext that the apples could introduce disease into their own apples industry, which NZ denied. Finally, after years of unsuccessful negotiations, NZ took the case to the World Trade Organization (WHO) which ruled that Australia is breaching international laws in restricting New Zealand's ability to export apples there. End of the matter? No way. Australia will contest the ruling. Against all the evidence, they say they fear fire blight, European canker and apple leaf-curling midge. They would have us believe it has nothing to do with the powerful apple lobby putting pressure on government, just as the curtailment of NZ potato exports had nothing to do with the Tasmanian potato lobby.  Pacific Island governments would be wise to take heed. No wonder Fiji  has decided to stay out of PACER Plus talks


PRISON 'UNPALATABLE:' CHIEF JUSTICE. Senior judges, social welfare and PWD officials inspected the Suva Correction Centre at Korovou, Suva, at the weekend, and found the overcrowded conditions unacceptable, mainly due to the high proportion of remand prisoners. Plans to build a new remand facility have a long way to go.  Meanwhile, some remand prisoners have  to be taken to Naboro,  due to the overcrowding of Korovou.

Calls for Australia and New Zealand to Change Approach to Fiji

Scroll down to check out the "Weekend Reading," and click on the orange icon in the right side bar to visit new material on our companion blog Na Sala Cava,  if you have not already done so.

CHANGE MODEL: CLICK TO ENLARGE

 Most do not support Bainimarama but this is what they say:

All of them!

Click on diagram to enlarge.
The Pacific Forum showed major cracks in the approach to Fiji no matter how hard they were patched up for public presentation.  Most Pacific leaders think Australia and New Zealand need to re-think their approach which one Australian observer (see below) said had achieved none of its stated  aims. In the items below one Pacific Islander writes of lack of "sensitivity," another of "coercion," another of "individual engagement" with Fiji with or without Australia and New Zealand, and a former diplomat with Pacific knowledge writes that the Forum without Fiji is like  "Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark."  The diagram of the Change Model when the first analysis failed sums it all up.

Only the deaf and the dead fail to hear messages like these:

WHERE ARE OUR PACIFIC EXPERTS?  I received an email at the weekend from a Pacific Islander I've known since the 1960s and whose secondary schooling and first degree were in Auckland.

She wrote, I recently read one of your epistles in the local paper re. the Natadola  meet. I liked it as it is showed sensitivity without praising the current  regime. I just wish that the governments of Australia and NZ had the same sense and  sensitivity.  Instead, they have disappointed me very much as I know there are people in  both places who have a very good sense of what the Pacific Islands are like and  the aspirations of the people who live there. Sadly their counsel is not often sought - to the detriment of all of us.

COERCION FAILED, NEW APPROACH NEEDED. Fragmentation within the Pacific’s regional and sub-regional bodies isworsening, Auckland University Pacific Studies expert Dr Sitiveni (Steven) Ratuva. Historically, says Ratuva, the region solved differences, such as the standoff with the Fiji military regime, through talanoa, or talking through an issue, but this has been supplanted by diplomatic coercion that is clearly not working.

He thinks the Pacific could learn something from ASEAN where member countries are not punished but engaged by other nations and encouraging change. Pacific "should begin to think in terms of having a proactive mechanism for this bullying rather than just punishment otherwise ... We are going for division and fragmentation rather than unity.”

Before taking up his appointment at Auckland University Dr Ratuva taught at the University of the Pacific in Suva. He is a universally acknowledged authority on social and political issues in Fiji.

FORUM BENDS A LITTLE. It seems likely the Forum will invite Fiji to join future PACER Plus trade negotiations but the extent of the engagement is unclear. Individual Pacific countries are already engaging with Fiji, according to Tongan PM Dr Feleti Sevele, and a formal request was expected to be made to Fiji to re-engage with the the Joint Forum Group that ceased two years ago. A reader commented:  "A Forum meeting without Suva being represented is a bit like Hamlet without the Prince of Denmark. I see that they are letting them back into the Trade talks. Wise? Surely necessary!"


POLICY VACCUUM IN CANBERRA. This is the opinion of Dr Michael O'Keefe, Senior Lecturer in International Relations at Melbourne's La Trobe University. He said that following Australia's initial response to the coup, several inflammatory escalations and signs of an emerging humanitarian crisis, Australia's policy towards Fiji had achieved none of its stated aims; democracy has not been restored, elections have been postponed and individual rights and freedoms curtailed.

The only diplomatic success has been cementing Australia's place as the dominant regional power, a Sheriff in our own right. What is needed is a fresh approach. We shouldn't reward a dictator, but Australia's "smart" sanctions have failed to punish Suva sufficiently to encourage compromise.

The maintenance of the sanctions status quo is now damaging Australia's strategic interests in the region and beyond. Sanctions are meant to target the regime and there is no sign that elites are suffering. Ordinary Fijians, however, are hurting regardless of ethnicity. Sanctions may be contributing to the very situation they were designed to avoid.

In truth, we can't disaggregate the factors. If sanctions are part of the problem, and a humanitarian crisis is
developing, and if we claim that the South Pacific is our "patch", then we must do something to end the
impasse. The stubborn maintenance of sanctions may no longer be in Australia's interests. But that is for the PM to decide.

INDONESIA AND THAILAND SUPPORT FIJI's REFORM AGENDA, would welcome more conciliatory moves from Aust and NZ, and would support Fiji's bid to become an ASEAN Observer.

These sentiments were expressed to Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola who is currently attending the Special Asian and Pacific Ministerial Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) in Jakarta, Indonesia.-- Based on 2010 No:1170/MOI)

Weekend Reading

Click here or Scroll Down

• Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On -- Allen Lockington  Click here.
• Impressions on Returning Home -- Sudarsan Kant  Click here.
• Fiji And its 'Dictator': Another View -- Christopher Griffin* Click here.
• Michael Field’s Swimming with Sharks --  Thakur Ranjit Singh Click here.
• Scurrilous Misreporting by Anti-Government Blog -- Crosbie Walsh Click here.

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Impressions on Returning Home -- Sudarsan Kant