Political Round Up and Comments 6 June

I published substantial news and comments articles on Monday and Wednesday. These are the items I thought worth mentioning that have occurred or been brought to my attention  since Wednesday.-- Croz Walsh.

Dr Vakaoti (L), Rev. Yabaki (R)

CCF REPORT ON "YOUNG PEOPLE AND DEMOCRATIC PARTICIPATION."  Click here for the full report. This survey report conducted for the CCF by Dr Patrick Vakaoti of Otago University  records and discusses  the responses of young people (aged between 17 and 35) to  a sizable number of political, youth  and  community-related questions. With the voting age now reduced to 18,  the survey provides a fascinating and instructive insight into how 40% of eligible voters may vote in the forthcoming elections.

My only criticisms — and this is more a criticism of Government  whose own statistical records now exclude or hardly mention ethnicity — are that all those conducting the survey were Taukei and, more importantly,  there is no breakdown of how Taukei, Indo-Fijians and Others responded. I hardly think there would be no differences on such sensitive issues as land and who and what influences their opinions.

However, of the 197 people surveyed in Labasa, Levuka, Nadi and Suva, the sexes, and I assume, ethnicities,  were equally represented. The median age was about 22.

Here's a sample of some of the findings.  I urge you to download the full 80-page report for more.

• Interested or quite interested in the election process and 2013 Constitution: 64%
• Read (19%) or partly read (27%) the 2013 Constitution.
• Registered to vote (the survey was conducted some months ago): 51%
• Understand the voting system, Yes or mostly: 49%
• Will vote in September: Yes 61%, Probably 10%, Refused to answer 23% (I wonder why. Refused to answer was very low on almost all other questions)
• Issues affecting your vote: Unemployment 43%, Education 37%, Transport 11%, Health 10%.
• Politics corrupt (52%)
• Major issues: Land 44%, Ethnicity 42%, Religion, 38%, Freedom 33%
• Who influence your voting: Family 39%, Friends 18%, Political parties 18%, Election Office 13%, Politicians 9%, Media 8%.

          People in Government...

•    ...  Can be trusted to do their best for Fiji: Agree 51%, Neutral 23%. 
•    ...  Are doing  their best for Fiji: Agree 52%, Neutral 31%; 
•    ...  Are honest with Fiji: Agree 27%, Neutral 32%; 
•    ...  Don't care about Fijian citizens: Agree 20%, Neutral 29%.

• Sources of information on political and constitutional process: Radio 80%, TV 76%, Websites 46%, Family 28%, Friends 17%, Politicians 8%, Church 8%.
• Blog sites offer credible news on development in Fiji. Agree 39%, Neutral 34%.

COMMONWEALTH TO MONITOR ELECTIONS. The Commonwealth Secretariat will assist the Australia-led elections monitoring body and also assist after the elections to help Government put in place the appropriate parliamentary systems and services. This was conveyed to Fiji’s Foreign Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola in a meeting with the Commonwealth Secretary General Kamalesh Sharma in London on Thursday.

NABOU FOR NFP. Former  Fiji Human Rights Commission operations manager and Greenpeace Australia Pacific worker. 42 year-old Seini Leba Nabou  put her name forward as a NFP candidate.

She says,“I have always been impressed with the NFP and their incredible legacy in Fiji and only recently have i become appreciative of some of the principle stands they have taken for e.g; on the 1997 constitution. Also I know that this party is not a new one and it stands on the shoulder of some of the giants of this country.”

Nabou who has extensive experience in training, communications and journalism holds social justice, organizational change and environmental protection close to her heart.

NEW PLANE. Fiji Airways brand new ATR 72-600 aircraft for Pacific Sun (Fiji Link) will be given a traditional welcoming ceremony when it arrives a Nausori airport tomorrow morning. This will be followed by the launch of Fiji Link at the Grand Pacific in the evening.

RURAL BIO-FUEL FAILURE. Efforts by Government to help outer islands development may not turn out as well as expected if bio-fuel projects are are typical of other initiatives.  Commissioner Eastern Lt-Col.Netani Rika  says it is due to three factors: the lack of feasibility studies; the islanders' preference to  engage in Virgin Coconut Oi (VCO) projects, and  the "handout mentality and dependency syndrome and work towards achieving the true purpose of the project." . He made these comments after FijiLive raised queries on the bio-fuel plant that still lies idle in Mavana village in Vanua Balavu since it was commissioned last year.

LAND LYING IDLE. Speaking at the Macuata Provincial Council meeting yesterday,  FSC representative Navitalai Masivuya  said they expected to crush about 620,000 to 650,000 tonnes of cane this crushing season, 70,000 tonnes of sugar from the Labasa  mill. But to achieve this result support was needed from grassroots people and the Council. Many cane farms had been left idle in the North as a result of people moving out and taking up other income-generating sources. [The exodus started in earnest after the 2000 coup with the non-renewal of leases to mainly Indo-Fijian tenants.]

THE MISSING LINK?  In the two items above, I have pointed to the likely absence of positive leadership by local Taukei chiefs and turaga-ni-koro, and in earlier postings I've reported that a large number of these positions have been left unfilled.  When the political parties talk about the allegedly poor state of the economy and insufficient rural development, as they do doubt will, I would like to hear specific mention of the role of chiefs at all levels and  HOW they may be encouraged to help stimulate the rural economy.

WADAN NOT QUITE RIGHT ON POLLS. He's always a good read and he always makes some good points but he's clearly not impressed with published poll results, especially the Fiji Sun-Razor polls because of its "relationships" that could bias results in Bainimarama's favour,  but mainly because "the internal Razor Research processes are not available to public scrutiny."  I concede the outside possibility of the former and am in complete agreement with him over the later. Tebbutt has kindly provided me with detailed information on its methodology and I am impressed. Effort to obtain similar information from Razor have so far not been successful.

Wadan's main comment on the polls is that all of them are samples that probably don't accurately reflect the opinions of all voters (Razor is at bus stops, Tebbutt in urban and per-urban areas), and that sample size (Razor 600, Tebbutt 1032) is too small.  He says, "The possibility of sampling error becomes larger, as the sample size becomes smaller."  This is true but only up to a point.


Probability samples  such at Razor and Tebbutt make no claims to represent any more than the total "population" of people who use the bus stops and live in the selected urban areas. These statistical "populations" comprise all the voting age people at the selected bus stops and the selected urban areas.  Neither poll makes any claim to be representative of all Fiji voters.  

The pollsters know, or can find out, the total populations, and from this they can calculate the likely margins of error (the extent to which they could be wrong at 95% of the time).  Generally, as Wadan says, the margin of error decreases with increased sample size but the decrease is not constant. A margin of error for a poll of 600 people, for example, could produce a margin of error of 4%, a poll of 1000 3%, and one of 2000 2%.  Sample size is all about how much the pollsters are prepared to be wrong. 

Thus, if we use these figures for this Saturday's Razor poll that shows Fiji First as the preferred political party for 74% of voters, the "true" figure (95% of the time)  could be as low as 70% or as high as  79%.  The next highest polling party is NFP on 8%, way outside the margin of error. Weekly Razor polls for the past three months have shown similar results.

So, on the preferred political party result, we have two choices: the results are rigged, as Bainimarama's opponents claim, or they are accurate, at least at this point in time. 
The latter conclusion is supported by the definitely independent and probably more accurate Tebbutt which, although sampling a different "population", arrives as slightly lower results. 

FOOTNOTE. Wadan says systematic errors and biases depend on  five factors.  My responses are in bold. (1) Who owns and/or controls the opinion poll? Could it lead to bias? Yes. It's a possibility, but unlikely to have influenced results so far. (2) How are the questions asked and responses recorded? We don't yet know for Razor but Tebbutt looks fine.  (3) How randomly are the respondents selected? Tebbutt totally random. All eligible voters, if they are at home,  have an equal change of selection.  Razor. My guess is something close to systematic or cluster sampling. As many as the pollsters can handle at one time.  (4) How many respondents are selected relative to the population of voters (which will be around 550,000)? This factor is largely irrelevant once you have a sufficient number to  produce results at the accepted margin of error. (5) How close might be the true party support results in the September election, for both large parties and small? We will only know in September.

Fijian Holdings Scandal: Betrayal by their trusted sons

Fijian Holdings Scandal: Betrayal by their trusted sons

Fijian Holdings Ltd Scandal: How Fijian Provinces were betrayed and looted by their trusted sons

Thakur Ranjit Singh,

(Initially published August, 2007)

FIJIANS BETRAYED BY THEIR TRUSTED SONS

People of Fiji had been told of corruption and questionable dealings by those who were considered the marshals, saviours and guardians of Fijian race. When Frank Bainimarama sacked Qarase regime and took charge, his reasoning, among others, was to save the I-Taukei (Fijian) race from unscrupulous and wanting leadership within I-Taukei community. My purpose here is to substantiate this through reporting on Senate proceedings of some two decades ago.

 

Adi Quini Bavadra (left) with husband Timoci Bavadra. During her days in Parliament in 1990s, she wanted this scandal to be investigated, but it was swept under the carpet by vested interests and influencial Chiefs and people in high places. Corruption of the highest order in Fijian Administration. ( Fiji Times photo)

When Adi Quini Bavadra was alive she tried her best to reveal the dealings in Fijian Holdings Limited (FHL) but people with power and influence won and this matter never saw the light of day. My lament had been that while Fiji has an abundance of copy journalists and copy feature writers; there is dearth of good, conscientious, bold and sincere investigative journalists. Perhaps somebody like that can pick the hints from here, and perhaps create an FHLgate.

However I will report on what took place in Fiji’s Senate on 18 May, 1993.

SENATE PROCEEDINGS-MAY, 1993

In the Senate sitting of 18 May, 1993 (pages 731 to 748), Senator Manu Korovulavula moved a motion for the Senate to call on Government to carry out an investigation into the method adopted by the Board of the Fijian Holdings Limited to allow limited liability companies to buy shares into the company (FHL) without the knowledge of 14 Provinces.Senator Korovulavula had stated that the motion was brought on a point of principle to reveal less than honest dealings of people in position of power, knowledge and trust.

 

Senator Manu Korovulavula who was a bold and conscientious Fijian who had guts to open this Pandora's box on Fijian Holding Scandal in Fiji Senate in May, 1993. Unfortunately, his commendable efforts went in vain as corruption and power of high Chiefs and influential people won, and this scandal was swept under the carpet by a so-called flourishing democracy in Fiji.

The intention of the motion was to reveal odd and strange method known to a selected group of shareholders who took advantage of this to borrow funds from the Fiji Development Bank (FDB) or the National Bank of Fiji (NBF) in order to buy shares in FHL.

As example of this a whole Province has only $50,000 Class A shares while a family private company shares add up to $200,000, which is a scam in any language. It is obvious someone somewhere had not been honest and loyal to the Fijian people in not telling them the truth.

FHL was primarily created to be owned by the Provincial Councils, Fijian people and Fijian institutions, NOT the elite limited liability family companies. The Great Council of Chiefs, right from its inception was unanimous to see that FHL was to be owned by 14 Provinces, Native Land Trust Board (NLTB) and Fijian Affairs Board (FAB). 

However the irony and shame is that according to 1992 annual report, 14 Provincial Councils and two Fijian institutions, NLTB and FAB hold only 30 % of total shares while the elite Fijians with their family limited liability companies hold 70% of shares. This is a fraud on the common indigenous people who are supposed to be shareholders of FHL through their respective provinces!

People of Fiji need to be made aware of Fijian Initiative. This Fijian advisory body comprised of intellectuals, professionals, businessmen and senior executives in the private and public sector. The aim of this initiative is to pull these resources, convene regular meetings and seminars to enable it to come up with recommendations to develop and assist Fijians to better themselves in all aspects of life, more so in the field of trade and commerce.

Senator Manu Korovulavula reported to Senate that it was interesting to know that some of the senior members of the Fijian Initiative did not consider it appropriate to advise the 14 Provincial Councils that they could borrow three or four times more from FDB, the amount of shares which they already had in FHL.

All this while, these senior Fijian sons took secretive actions to line their own and family’s pockets at the cost of Provincial Councils!

Senator Korovulavula revealed private shareholding of three provinces with which he was familiar. Please note that all figures, amounts and situations reported are as at 1993, and they may have changed now.

KADAVU PROVINCE

In Kadavu Province, he spoke about 3 companies. The first, Kadavu Development Company, which is fully owned by people of Kadavu, owned only $50,000 shares.

 

Former Qarase's Cabinet Minister Konisi Yabaki's Family Company owned $100,000 Class A shares when his Province Kadavu owned only half those shares.

The other, KJY Investment Limited, owned by Qarase’s CabinetMinister Konisi Yabaki and his family, owned $100,000 shares.

The third, Taoi Investment Limited, owned $200,000 shares. Shareholding in this Company then belonged to Jesoni Vitusagavulu and Ulaiasi Taoi. Vitusagavulu is former staff of FDB, former Air Pacific Executive, former Director of Fiji Trade and Investment Board and former Fiji’s High Commissioner to USA, appointed by deposed PM Qarase. Taoi used to be President of Indigenous Fijian Business Council. Previously Rodney Acraman also used to own shares which have since been bought by the remaining two shareholders.

Jesoni Vitusagavulu, who together with Ulai Taoi, once head of Fijian Indigenous Chamber of Commerce owned four times ($200,000) the shares that their Kadavu province owned ($50,000).

The interesting issue here in that Konisi Yabaki was then the Chairman while Vitusagavulu was Secretary respectively of Kadavu Development Company. They went ahead, used their positions to build their own interests at the cost of Kadavu Province.

LOMAIVITI PROVINCE

The next province is Lomaiviti, which had only $55,100 shares while KB Investment Limited and 5X Investment Limited owned $100,000 each while Vensalisi Investment Limited had $80,000 shares.

KB Investment Limited, with $100, 000 shares is owned by Bakani family. The head of this family Kalivati Bakani is former executive of FDB, former Deputy General Manager of NBF, former Carpenters Executive and former CEO of NLTB. The purchase of shares was financed by NBF

Kalivati Bakani, once former boss of your truly at Carpenters Fiji Limited, owned $100,000 shares compared to $55,100 by his Lomaiviti Province.

5X Investment, with $100,000 shares, is owned by Lote Rabuku, Semesa Matanicake, Delai Sainikinaivalu, Penisoni Gauna and KB Investments. Note that acquisition of these shares was also financed by NBF.

Vensalisi Investment Limited, with $80,000 shares, is owned byIsikeli Mataitoga and family. Isikeli then was Director of Public Prosecutions and is CEO of Foreign Affairs.

Interesting point to note is that in less than two months after registration of 5X Investment, this $1 per Share Company got $75,000 loan from NBF. Additionally, three months after KB Investment Limited was registered, Kalivati Bakani’s wife got $107,000 loan from NBF where her husband was the then Deputy General Manager. Three months after Isikeli Mataitoga’s family company was registered, he obtained $64,000 from FDB which was headed by Qarase.

LAU PROVINCE

Now we move to the Province of deposed Prime Minister Qarase, Lau Provincial Council, which had only $50,100 shares. At same time, Stiks Investment Limited had $150,000, Q-Ten Investment Limited had $200,000 and Kepa Investment Limited had $100,000 worth of shares.

 

Deposed Prime Minister and the leader of FHL Scandal. A clean banker who was appointed by Bainimarama as Interim Prime Minister tasted power and fame and formed SDL political party, won election and sided with ethno-nationalists. He ignored Bainimarama's warnings to his peril when he was deposed on 6 December, 2006 by Bainimarama. His family company, Q-Ten Investments Limited owned almost four times ($200,000) the shares owned by his Lau Province.

Stiks Investment Limited shares of $150,000 are fully owned by Weleilakeba family. Sitiveni Weleilakeba was a former CEO of FHL and one time business partner of democracy activist Laisa Digitaki, together with whom, he tried to run Mobil Walu Bay Service Station which went into receivership and was then acquired by Carpenters Motors. The shares in Stiks had been financed by FDB.

 

Sitiveni Weleilakeba, former CEO of Fijian Holdings Limited owned $150,000 shares, almost three times more than his Lau Province.

Q-Ten Investment Limited held $200,000 shares, which is owned byLaisenia Qarase Family. One property CT 14743, Lot 2 was mortgaged twice to acquire finance for $112,400 and $353,217 respectively. Note that at the time, Laisenia Qarase was the Managing Director of FDB, the lender for share acquisition. At that time, Laisenia Qarase was also the financial advisor to the Fijian Affairs Board, but failed to advise them of this insider information of acquiring shares.

Kepa Investment Limited, with $100,000 shares, was wholly owned by Lakepa family, Satini and Milika, and financed by FDB.

An interesting point is that one of the nine points of Deuba Accord was for government to make $20m interest free LOAN to FHL through Fijian Affairs Board, repayable over 20 years. What taxpayers of Fiji need to know is under whose authority this taxpayers’ loan of $20m was converted to a gift for FHL. Note that board members of FHL, with shares then included Laisenia Qarase, Sitiveni Weleilakeba and Josaia Mar, who has been removed as Chairman of FEA by Commander. Also note that Laisenia Qarase was the interim Prime Minister when this shady and questionable deal took place.

DOES FIJI DESERVE TO BE RULED BY SUCH DECEITFUL I-TAUKEI LEADERS? IS DIVISIVE RACIAL DEMOCRACY NOW OUTDATED IN FIJI? YOU DECIDE

What the Fijian race needs to ponder is that Qarase regime has been projecting Indo- Fijians as the common enemy of the indigenous race, the I-Taukei. Is this really so?Indigenous Fijian people had placed their faith in the hands of these intellectuals, so called professionals and who were supposed to be guiding the I-Taukei (Fijian) race. The FHL was the commercial vehicle through which the wellbeing of Fijian race was intended to be improved. The dependency of the wisdom of Great Council of Chiefs and the elders in the villagers was on the shoulders of the so called Fijian Initiative group. However these very same people tricked their own people while projection Indo-Fijians as villains.

With friends like the Fijian Initiative, the indigenous race needs no enemies at all. There is a saying that enemy who strike from front is miles better than friends who strike on the back. Fijian Provinces have been dealt commercially fatal blows on their backs by their trusted sons.

Perhaps those who are crying for Qarase regime to come back need to consider whether he is worthy of this honour. The Commander is right in trying to save the indigenous race from the enemy within, as there is no fear from those outside.

Those who were Senators in 1993, and were present in Senate, [including late past President Ratu Iloilo and] like Adi Litia Cakobau need to answer to the Fijian race why this call for investigation was swept under the carpet. Other Great Council of Chiefs nominees in that Senate also need to answer to their people.

And those racist politicians, their hangers-on and democracy refugee advocates in Australia and USA, who are now shedding crocodile tears for democracy (on Facebook), and who projected and put Indo- Fijians as red herrings should be made to answer to the indigenous race of this betrayal and who their real enemies are!

E-mail: thakurji@xtra.co.nz

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Bus Accidents

Bus accidents  have been in the news recently. In a discussion with my mates in Mulomulo, someone said  bus drivers are forced to drive defective buses  because if they refuse they can lose their jobs.

So, if they take the bus, and because the defect  there's  a fatal accident who is liable, the driver or the owner? Or both?

                                 Car Part Scam

So the car part scam has started again.

At one time Lautoka was famous for cars being stolen and stripped for parts, I know because my car was stolen. Fortunately, people in Rifle Range Lautoka saw the car parked there with teenagers standing around it. They called the police who arrived in an instant. The thieves got away taking the spare tire, stereo system, money and other stuff, but at least I had the car. Others are not so lucky.

A report says this scam is based on demand and there are garages that are part of the scam.

The police need to act on these reports but car owners also need to be more careful about where they park their cars. And they shouldn't leave bags or other stuff in the car that will lure thieves to break in and steal them.  We need to be more careful.

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen 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.

Mid-Week News and Comments 4 June

 CHAUDHRY'S SHORT MEMORY. Once again we have an example of Mahendra Chaudhry's problematic memory. 

 Earlier his FLP announced its support for the Great Council of Chiefs that, they seemed to forget, was instrumental in removing FLP from power in 1987 and 2000. 

Then there's their  partnership in the United Front for a Democratic Fiji that puts them in bed with SODELPA, the successors of the Qarase Government that sought to forgive the coup perpetrators that ousted them in 2000.

Now he is warning supporters in Labasa not to be swayed by the introduction of free education and bus fare schemes by the Bainimarama government (Why not? It would seem sensible for people to support a Government that actually does things for them, other than talk) urging them instead to remember events of the past that he chooses to remember. Such as the now lifted 2009 Public Emergency Regulations that "had taken away the rights of people", and referred to other temporary legislation that placed restrictions on freedom of speech.  

 He also applauded the 1997 Constitution that "safeguarded" people's rights, failing to mention that the Constitution was an expedient, but flawed, means of reconciliation that embedded racial voting and was never amended as its architects intended.

TAUKEI LAND SAFE OR NOT SAFE? As previously reported, the Vunivalu of Nakorovatu went to Suva last week to counter arguments by SODELPA that indigenous land ownership  was no longer safe. He said Government has strengthened iTaukei land rights not eroded them. Former Trust Board general manager and SODELPA candidate applicant Niko Nawaikula disagrees. 

He claims “The decrees that terminated the Great Council of Chiefs simultaneously took away control of native land, removed iTaukei representatives from the iTaukei Lands Trust Board, removed their names and took away management of mahogany and many tracts of native land under the land use decree... The 1997 Constitution in comparison to the 2013 Constitution finds the Great Council of Chiefs has been removed with all its powers and the entrenched provisions that guarantee government cannot interfere with land without the prior consent of the iTaukei."

However, as the FijiLive http://fijilive.com/news/2014/06/i-taukei-land-no-longer-safe-nawaikula/57862.Fijilive report pointed out:

·        Section 28 (1) of the 2013 constitution says that the ownership of all iTaukei land shall remain with the customary owners if that land and iTaukei land shall not be permanently alienated whether by sale, grant, transfer or exchange except to the state in accordance with section 27.

·        Section 27 (2a) says that a written law may authorise compulsory acquisition of property when necessary for public purpose and (b) on the basis that the owner will be promptly paid the agreed compensation for the property or failing agreement, just and equitable compensation as determined by a court or tribunal after considering all relevant factors.

·        Section 28(2) says that any iTaukei land acquired by the State for public purpose after the commencement of this constitution under section 27 or under any written law shall revert to the customary owners if the land is no longer required by the State.

Nawaikula said what the chief (the Vunivalu of Nakorovatu) said was the opposite of the truth as seen in the 2013 constitution and the various land decrees issued by the government. He said the media should stop taking advantage of the lack of knowledge and exposure of the iTaukei regarding their land.

ONE DAY ELECTIONS. While overseas voters and people living in remote areas will be able to vote before election day, most voters will vote on one day,  17 September.  FLP's Mahendra Chaudhry says Fiji has not yet developed the capacity to hold elections in one day, and this year's election should be spread over one week like previous elections.

"If elections will be held in one day, he says, "there will be almost 1,700 polling stations. For every party to have one of its members to be present at every polling station will mean each party has to have 1700 members. Where are we going to get so many people from?  Also, hundreds of voters will miss out if it's just a one day election and it will be chaos."

He's also concerned that party sheds now have to be 300 metres away from polling station. "Before, the distance used to be 50m. This will also create a problem for the elderly who will have to walk 300m to the polling venue from their party's shed."  The absence of party symbols on ballot papers will also  pose difficulties for many voters. "We believe this is one of the things that is being engineered to confuse and frustrate the voter", he said.

HELLO BRIJ. My former colleague esteemed historian Prof Brij Lal has joined the Opposition in questioned the impartiality of the Supervisor of Elections Md Saneem because he registered the FijiFirst party despite the presumed-to-be-valid objections of its opponents.

Brij says he was not surprised because Saneem was appointed by Saiyed-Khaiyum, the Minister of Elections. Beyond this, he says nothing.  He does not consider Saneem's reasons which one might have expected from an academic, only saying,

"The regime makes up the rules for itself as it goes along. You're not likely to get an open and transparent answer to the kinds of important questions that individual stakeholders are asking about the activities of the Fiji First group."

Could it be that an historian with a grudge against Government also makes his own rules rather than sifting and weighing the evidence as one might expect?

THE STUDENT WHO HAD HIS SCHOLARSHIP CANCELLED.  I have sent this email to Fiji contacts and await their replies:

"Friends, Unless there's more to this that meets the eye, I'm all with the student.  Being politically inactive should not be a scholarship requirement. Indeed, if political and other community activities do not interfere with their studies, such activity should be encouraged.

"Further, this is precisely the sort of petty action by Government that plays into the hands of its opponents and makes thinking people who might otherwise support Government have second thoughts. 

"I would be pleased to learn how you think on this. Croz"

 Meanwhile Roshika Deo, the independent candidate the student was assisting, says she is receiving death threats on the social media and Fiji Times editor Fred Wesley has written an editorial condemning  such acts.  Join the club, Roshika.  Many of the comments on my blog are in the same league. I completely agree with Fred but there's little we can do  to persuade our angry  critics to exercise more moderation.

RESERVE BANK UPDATE. Performance across key sectors varied, but remains positive. Tourism continues to expand. Electricity production saw a 3.3% yearly increase.. Timber production was up as woodchip production more than doubled. However, gold production is down by 4.1% and the the fishing industry continues an annual decline in production. Consumption and investment activity remain strong. The Bank's latest review review shows the buoyant demand in the economy is well reflected in the labour market. The number of jobs advertised increased by 17.2 percent, led by high recruitment intentions in the manufacturing sector. Inflation rose to 0.1 percent in April from -0.2 percent recorded in March.

FORMER LAWYER LOSES APPEAL.Muhammed Azeem Ud-Dean Sahu Khan was accused and found guilty of misrepresentation by falsely claiming that he was a UK barrister who had been admitted at Lincoln’s Inn. When he appeared before the Independent Legal Services Commission for the first mention in June 2013 he admitted the allegation and was fined $20,000. He lost his appeal and was fined a further $3,000 to cover court costs. Note that contrary to anti-government claims, the ILSC still exists and is clearly doing good work.

MEDICAL COMPLAINTS TO BE EXAMINED. The Fiji Medical Council and Dental Secretariat have sought the services of an overseas specialist to investigate some of the complaints received against medical and dental practitioners.

FIJI COMMENDED FOR A CHANGE. The Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) has commended Fiji’s financial sector for the great strides it has made in financial inclusion in the past few years. Some 150,000 Fijians now have bank accounts and insurance policies, a target set by  Fiji’s Financial Inclusion Strategy in 2009. Many people, including the marginalized and poor, now have access to the financial sector. Financial Literacy studies have also been included in the school curriculum to encourage the younger generation to learn how to budget and plan. PFIP is assisting Fiji in this and helping to develop a new Financial Inclusion Strategy that will run from 2015 to 2020. Source: Islands Business.

FIJI LOBBIES ON BEHALF OF SMALL ISLAND STATES. http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/fiji/5422/fiji-lobbies-for-pacific-sids-interests-on-sustain/ Click here.

EUROPEAN UNION ALREADY HELPING ELECTIONS.The EU is proving technical, legal and voter education assistance to the Elections Office

The EU Deputy Head of Delegation in the Pacific Johnny Engell-Hansen said “The experts provided are not EU officers but independent international experts working for the Fiji Elections Office and financed by the EU ...The electoral expert currently attached to the FEO supporting the training process is part of the next phase of our assistance. He will be followed shortly by two other EU-funded experts to help with the delivery and implementation of the training plan ... we are also supporting voter awareness activities as well as the preparations for the functioning of the newly elected parliament,” he said. -- Based on a http://fijilive.com/news/2014/06/eus-assistance-to-go-beyond-election/57861/ FijiLive report.

FIJI FREE ONLINE MEDIA SHRINKING. FijiLive and FijiVillage provide invaluable information for those of us who do not live in Fiji, most especially because they often include political stories not covered well by the online Fiji Sun and Fiji Times. To read FijiVillage one now has to pay an annual subscription of $70. Goodbye FijiVillage. We have to hope FijiLive will not follow suit.

News and Comments on Monday 2nd June

NEW POLL HAS ME PUZZLED. Born in Raiqwaqa, Rocky Ali Buksh now lives in California where he is the publisher and CEO of US Fiji Times. He is a regular visitor to Fiji and a donor to the Brown Street Crippled Children's Home.  On a recent visit he took time out to organize a massive poll of 3,000 people on the two main islands. He says those polled represented a good cross-section by age, sex, ethnicity and socio-economic background.  We have no way to tell.  The results are probably unscientific but they are very similar to the more scientific FijiSun-Razor and Fiji Times-Tebbutt polls.

As at 30 April some 68% said they would vote for Voqere Bainimarama and Fiji First, 14% would vote for SODELPA, 11% for the FLP, 4% for the NFP, and 3% for the PDP. Which totals 100%. And so it should, you might say, but  there is no record of undecided voters or those who refused to answer. These people accounted for up to 20% in the Razor and Tebbutt polls.  

STOP MAKING LAND A POLITICAL FOOTBALL. Vunidawa chief, Turaga na Vunivalu e Nakorovatu, Ratu Timoci Rokobukete says Taukei land ownership is intact and safe and should not be used as a political football. It is well protected by the Constitution. He said he was concerned  some politicians and political parties were claiming otherwise on this "very sensitive issue".

He was responding to claims by SODELPA General Secretary Pio Tabaiwalu that the 2010 Land Use Decree showed how Taukei land had been taken away from them by the Government. [The decree concerns native land voluntarily leased for 99 years in exchange for reasonable rentals guaranteed by Government.] The truth, he said, was that the Government had strengthened iTaukei rights, not eroded them.

Ratu Timoci said the SODELPA claim was really misleading, and urged "all political parties not to touch land in their campaign for the September 17 elections” and instead focus on how they would lead the nation if elected. “They must come up with issues that will improve the livelihood of the people and not false promises.”

He said he had supported the formation of the then SDL, the forerunner of SODELPA, but had withdrawn his backing because he wanted "a Government that cares for all Fijians and at all time puts the interest of Fiji first.” He now supports Fiji First.

FIJI FIRST RESPONDS TO CRITICS. The proposed General Secretary of FijiFirst, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has invited the Registrar of Political Parties to reject all the objections by Opposition parties against the party's registration on the grounds that they lack merit. The objections were:

• FF has used parts of the Fiji flag and coat of arms as their logo. FF states no law prohibits their use [No one objected to the SDL party using the dove or the FLP the coconut in the coat of arms as their logos].
• FF has stolen the name of an earlier party. FF responded that the "Fiji 1st" party was never registered and the names are not identical. The name was chosen because it reflect FF policy.
• The PM was campaigning before registration. FF countered by saying the group collecting signatures has always referred to themselves as the proposed FijiFirst party.
• A FF executive had been convicted of criminal charges. FF's proposed  Vice-President Bijai Prasad resigned when it was revealed he had been convicted of larceny 23 years ago.

Sayed-Khaiyum said UFDF spokesman Mike Beddoes had raised some of the accusations with the Police and Media Industry Development Authority investigations as a ground to challenge the independence of the Supervisor of Elections.

The Registrar of Political Parties, Mohammed Saneem has since registered the party. See last item in this posting.

OUTER ISLAND VOTER REGISTRATION CONTINUES. The naysayers who said Government was not serious about holding elections must now surely be asking themselves why government is going to so much trouble with  election preparations for an election they do not intend to hold.

Take, for example, the registration teams that will visit Rotuma between 2-12 June, Lau and Lomaiviti from 11-28, and Kadavu from 11-24.Other teams will be stationed in ten Central Division supermarkets during this period. To date, some 554,506 people, including 1,624 from overseas, have registered to vote in the 17 September election.

FIJI IS AMONG THE WORST COUNTRIES FOR WORKER RIGHTS according to the ITUC on the basis of information supplied by Fiji unionists. The Ministry of Labour has responded by saying trade unions still operate, over 20,000 workers belong to unions, and alternative dispute mechanisms are in place to hear worker complaints.

 Comment. Government has sought to lessen the influence of some unions whose leaders were anti-government, especially when they sought support from Australian and NZ unions that, according to Government, could have threatened Air Fiji and the tourism industry. Government action, however, left the unions little alternative. It is expected that the Essential Industries Decree and  similar decrees will be re-visited if FF forms the  new government —and scrapped if it does not.]

FIJI TIMES COMING OUT OF ITS SHELL. It would seem the Fiji Times, that has published little to no political news for many months is now more confident of its position.   The Fiji Times-Tebbutt Research polls are one welcome indication. Another sign was the publication of "What politicians say" in which spokespersons for the opposition parties gave some indications of what they would do if they became government.

• SODELPA's Mere Samisoni said the economy needs political stability, people need to respect each other and their religious differences, and the media needs to keep government accountable.  Other than saying unemployment was a problem, she did not say what SODELPA would do in government. The party's manifesto is still to be released.  
• Independent candidate Roshika Deo said she would focus on youth and unemployment, and policies on increasing agricultural production, rights-based labour legislation, and matching education with the skills the country needs. 
• Amar Ravindra Singh of the PDP singled out unemployment as the biggest issue and pointed to the need for internationally accepted labour laws, the promotion of rural employment and increasing informal sector production.  
• Biman Prasad said a NFP government would reduce unemployment by tariff, labour market and tax reforms and by stimulating labour-intensive industries.   
• FLP's Mahendra Chaudhry questioned government statistics on unemployment and said jobs would be created naturally in a buoyant economy, but investor confidence needs democracy.

IT'S EASY TO MISTAKE A THREE FOR AN EIGHT.  One paper got it wrong.  There are at most about 33,000 unemployed in Fiji, not 83,000. And even this lower figure is too high according to Labour Minister Jone Usamate who points to the increase of job advertisements, increased FNPF (Provident Fund) membership, and the Ministry's annual survey that found one-third of those previously unemployed had since found jobs.  He estimated that the unemployment rate was now under seven percent, down from nearly nine percent a year earlier. [While being unemployed usually means that a person has no job but is looking for one, international comparisons are always risky but NZ had an unemployment rate of 6.8 in January last year, and this January 6%.]

SANEEM RESPONDS TO OBJECTIONS

Fiji election authorities say an objection received over the Fiji First Party's registration contravenes the law.

The Registrar of Political Parties Mohammed Saneem confirmed Fiji First's registration last week, rejecting the six complaints it received.

Among the objections were accusations the regime-led party had campaigned before being registered, it had wrongly used the Fiji flag and its name resembled that of another party, Fiji 1st.

In his written decision dismissing the objections, Mr Saneem upheld Fiji First's responses to the objections.

His statement outlined three objections made by Tupeni Baba of the Sodelpa Party including that a former office holder of the party, Bijai Prasad, had lied over not having a conviction.

Mr Saneem, described the conviction as irrelevant and he said Dr Baba was in breach of the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act by raising it.

To Dr Baba's complaint about illegal campaigning, Mr Saneem said he hadn't provided particulars to substantiate the claims.

He said in any event the ground's raised by Mr Baba did not qualify under the law.

Three applicants objected to the use of the name Fiji First, saying the Fiji 1st party already existed.

But Mr Saneem said there was no evidence the party's registration had ever been approved.

Mr Saneem also said one of the objectors Amit Singh had not signed his letter.

Another applicant Nazia Khan Rauf had objected to the use of the Fiji flag by Fiji First in its logo.

But Mr Saneem said no law prohibits the use of the flag and in any case Fiji First was using a variant of the flag.

Mr Saneem said another objector, Mick Beddoes, had misconceived certain facts and not signed his letter of objections.

Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Hospital Services

We were at the Lautoka hospital and I saw a young man sitting by himself in the GOPD. He looked like he was in pain so I asked him what was wrong. He said he was just feeling weak.

I asked him where he was from and he said Nadi. When I said that he should have gone to the Nadi hospital he said, "If I go there I will be seen in the afternoon, I was here at 630 am and its now just after 8 o'clock and I'm about to be seen. If I go to Nadi hospital I will be seen in the afternoon."

I was taken aback by these remarks  and asked a few more people and they were also from Nadi. Wow.

Please could a survey be done to determine how true this is. Is service at the Nadi hospital really slow? And why.

Invitation
Good on you Paradise Beverages for the $18 million major capital investment. It's got an apt name in Project Bula Vou .. new life.

As reported the company provides Fiji with $1m a week in economic value. Vinaka, that's much needed money. More people will be employed and families will benefit.

Once again vinaka Paradise Beverages, can you send some samples to Mulomulo for this professional to taste?


Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen 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.

Political Round Up for the End of May

There is a lot to report this week.

  Earlier we had independent candidate Roshika Deo protesting about the cancellation of a scholarship for one of her supporters; Mick Beddoes provided insights into the PM's "real" character; all opposition parties jumped onto the "disgraceful" conditions revealed by Biman Prasad after his visit to Nadi hospital; some parallels were drawn between the Thai and Fiji coups, and the new Fiji-Times Tebbutt Research poll showed the PM and Fiji First had the support of about two-thirds of those questioned — but nearly one-fifth had either not make their minds up or refused to answer.

More recent news sees an unusual statement from the FLP, a predictable one from SODELPA; a difference of opinion between chiefs; a chorus of objections by Opposition parties about Fiji First's registration; a plea from Mahendra Chaudhry that he's being got at; news from SODELPA and the NFP on levying their candidates to fund their election campaigns, support for Roshika's student from PDP's Felix Anthony, a possible loss of $22 million to the sugar industry in which Anthony is probably implicated; and a mixed ABC report on support for Bainimarama and Fiji First. The best rumour for the week is that two prominent lawyers are fleeing the sinking ship.

For weekend reading I'd recommend two thoughtfully provocative items, the first from Satendra Nandan on The enigma of being Indian; the second on Thai coups in which the author argues they are influenced by US policy in SE Asia.

Here are the main items published in the second half of the week:

YOU ARE ILL-ADVISED  TO FEED THOSE WHO BITE YOU. If items for this weekend's meeting in Lautoka are any indication, the Fiji Labour Party seems likely to contest the elections on unemployment and the inadequacies of the present government, normal practices for opposition parties; the high cost of living, a perennial of Labour parties world-wide, and, at first glance, the surprising praise for the Great Council of Chiefs and the statement that it would probably restore the GCC in the unlikely event it forms the next government.

In its quest for Taukei votes —surely the only reason to mention the GCC— the FLP seems to have forgotten the role the GGC played in the two coups, in 1987 and 2000, that removed two elected FLP-led governments from power, replacing them on both occasions with parties that it supported: the SVT after the first coup and the SDL after the second. The GCC even made the instigator of the 1987 coup, Sitiveni Rabuka, a life member!

The GCC has been a major (arguably the) major power broker in Fiji politics since Independence. With the collapse of Alliance and the victory of the Bavadra-led FLP, they supported the 1987 coup, the SVT Government and the 1990 Constitution that made Fiji a Christian state and embedded Taukei (read GCC) paramountcy.

The SVT lost support due to its accommodation with the predominantly Indo-Fijian NFP, an accommodation which led to the slightly more democratic 1987 constitution.

Cross-voting in the 1989 election resulted in Chaudhry's FLP forming government, but this lasted barely a year before the 2000 frontsman George Speight mounted the 2000 Coup, again supported by prominent members of the GCC. Witness the number of chiefs, including Ro Teimumu Kepa,  who arrived at the Parliament compound where George Speight held FLP and other government MPs hostage.

This is the institution FLP potential candidate Vjas Deo Sharma. is now applauding and referring to as:

"a much beloved institution in our country [that was] unceremoniously wiped off the books … The chiefly system of the iTaukei had endeared for generations, right through from the Deed of Cession until it's removal by decree.We value the chiefs' contribution in guiding Fiji and in particular the bulwark it provides for unforeseen social disintegration," 

But he confuses "chiefs" with the Great Council of Chiefs. One can respect the chiefly system ands individual chiefs but be opposed to the GCC interfering in national politics. And one can support a GCC whose role is limited to Taukei affairs. 

Vyas also seems to have missed the fact that many Taukei, including many chiefs, now have serious reservations about the interference of the GCC in politics. Advisers to Government on Taukei title successions, land issues, culture and custom, yes; but political interference, no.

REFORMING CHIEFS. The Roko Tui Ba has urged chiefs at this week's Ba Provincial Council meeting to re-visit title processes and chiefly roles and responsibilities at all levels, from the mataqali and tokatoka to the yavusa and vanua, so that all Taukei will be motivated by their example to "move forward."

A CHORUS OF OBJECTIONS. The Fiji Elections Office says it has received six objections from political parties complaining about procedures relating to the registration of the proposed FijiFirst party. FF applied for registration on May 5 and the process normally takes about 28 days. Time is nearly up before a decision will be made to uphold or reject the objections. UFDF's Mick Beddoes has also lodged a police complaint, saying Bainimarama was canvassing before his party was registered.

SODELPA leader and paramount chief Ro Teimumu Kepa continues to visit provinces asking permission to launch the party campaign.

She was apparently not campaigning when she told the Serua Provincial Council this week that, if elected, SODELPA will -

restore the Great Council of chiefs, remove the reference to Fiji being a secular state and bring God back into the Constitution, return all native land to the Native Land Trust Board that previously took 25% of rental money for administration (the Government has now removed this); restore Taukei-directed scholarships; and — continue the Government policy of providing free education from kindergarten up.

The Tui Serua supports SODELPA but says his people are free to choose the party they support.

DECREE TAILOR-MADE FOR CHAUDHRY. FLP leader Mahendra Chaudhry says he will defy the Elections Decree regulation that prevent a person standing for elections who has been convicted of a crime within the past eight years that is subject to imprisonment for 12 months or more. He says he'll stand in the elections: "This decree has been design to keep me out. Everyone can see that."

SODELPA RAISING MONEY. SODELPA will help finance its election campaign with a $3000 refundable levy from those who have applied to be candidates.Applicants that are not be nominated will have their levy refunded. Ro Teimumu reports the levies are coming in very slowly. The party will contest all 50 seats in the election.

NFP LEADER Dr Biman Prasad says the party is still to decide how much to levy candidates and whether it will contest all 50 seats. Much will depend on fundraising. In a further media release on policy the party says that if elected it will review the salaries of doctors, nurses and health workers and implement a new salary structure within six months of being in government. 

Recent polls show the NFP has between 1% and 5% support among those polled. At best, it is likely to be a junior partner of the government elected. To implement any of its policies, it should be thinking hard on which party is most likely to win the elections. Biman also said “fear still remains in Fiji’s societies today and this is preventing people from coming out of their comfort zones to campaign for the September election.”

NFP SAY COMMERCE COMMISSION POLITICAL. NFP General Secretary Kamal Iyer has accused Commerce Commission Chairman Mahendra Reddy of being political for correcting what he said were misleading statements made by opposition parties on the cost of living. 

But if the facts are wrong, one would have though it Reddy's job to correct them. Iyer needs to show Reddy has got his facts wrong before accusing him of being political. 

 

PFP SUPPORTS ROSHIKA'S PLEA. PDP leader Felix Anthony has called the cancelation of a Deo supporter's scholarship an "outright ... denial of political freedom and rights to students who wish to participate in the political process of the country. This Government has denied a large section of our community from actively participating in the political process including Unions, NGO’s and public servants. This is plain denial of fundamental rights and must be condemned."

He continued: "Where is the sense in this policy? Our young people must be encouraged to participate in the political life of our country. The PDP has a policy and rule that 20% of all its office bearers must be youth. It will also have youth candidates in its election line up." He called on the Chairman of the Tertiary Scholarship Board to explain why the scholarship has been cancelled and said the scholarship must be reinstated. He also called for more media freedom.

PDP ANTHONY IMPLICATED IN SUGAR LOSSES. The International Trade Union Confederation is lobbying stakeholders to stop a $22 million grant to the Fiji sugar industry, and Felix Anthony and the FTUC are at least indirectly implicated. Read  The Fiji Times article.

EU ASSISTANCE NOT CONDITIONAL ON GCC. The restoration of European Union assistance to Fiji does not hinge on the return or not of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), but rather a credible election and the return of Fiji to democracy, according to Deputy Head of the EU Delegation for the Pacific Johnny Engell-Hansen. Read the FijiLive report.  

VOTER EDUCATION. Electoral Commission chairman Chen Bunn Young has been stresing the importance of voter education for some time now and is on record as saying he would welcome contributions from NGOs. The response from NGOs that must submit their educational material to the Elections Office for approval, has been slow and only one unnamed NGO has applied to the Elections Office for registration so far.   Read more.

 JUDGES NOT LEAVING. A rumour circulating the anti-Government blogs at present is that Chief Justice Anthony Gates and High Court judge Paul Madigan are jumping ship, presumably because they fear the election outcome. Such unfounded rumours are not new and when found wrong, they are never retracted. . I assume their purpose is to create uncertainty and cheer their followers.

 

FINALLY, THIS FROM ABC. From Suva, ABC's Liam Fox reports "support growing for Frank Bainimarama's Fiji First party ahead of election" —and some opposition.  Listen to him here.