McCully's Carrot, Fiji's Response; MSG Meeting Update, Qarase Trial Date

N0275. AUSTRALIA- NZ, WHO'S LEADING WHO?  Hard on the heels of Kevin Rudd's statement that showed there was no change in the Australian government's position on Fiji (that is now even drawing criticism from former supporters such as Jenny Hayward-Jones of the Lowy Institute) comes NZ Foreign Minister McCully's statement that NZ would relax its travel bans against Fiji if the Bainimarama government would give a firm commitment to hold elections in 2014.

It is hard to know whether to take this remark seriously because Fiji has repeatedly said there will be elections in 2014. Their Roadmap, as readers will know because it has been stated often enough on this blog, set 2009-11 aside for physical and institutional infrastructure reforms, followed by constitutional reforms in 2012, electoral reforms in 2013, and elections in 2014, probably in September.

This is the Roadmap that was spelt out to Melanesian leaders at the "Engaging the Pacific" meeting at Natadola last year, and is being updated to Melanesian Spearhead Group officials this week in Suva (see N0277, below).  The Roadmap is based on the eleven pillars of the People's Charter and progress towards achieving the Charter goals is being monitored by the Strategic Framework for Change committee that was the subject of another posting in this blog last week.

There really is no excuse for the Minister not to know that 2014 is a definite date unless he chooses to heed  misleading media reports where Bainimarama has said some villagers are saying his government is so good, they don't want elections. The anti-government blogs and foreign media, bless them all, have put the villagers' words in Bainimarama's mouth and said they are the first signs that the government will renege on the elections. They have also speculated the military will not give up the "cushy" positions they now hold in government. 

The Minister, incredibly, seems to think that being able to attend "the Rugby World Cup would act as a carrot for the Fijian interim government to give a cast-iron assurance in return for lifting the travel ban in time for the Cup." We all know Bainimarama likes his football but it's more than a little condescending and patronising of the Minister to suppose Bainimarama would put a game ahead of what he is trying to do in Fiji.

There does, however, seem to be some change in NZ's position. McCully had previously demanded immediate elections. He now accepts 2014 as the election year. And in accepting this date, he acknowledges that the ban will have to be relaxed soon to allow the Fiji Government to appoint the people it will require to plan for the election. He notes they have "struggled to recruit for senior positions because the ban automatically applied to those people." In doing so, of course, he admits NZ policies have helped to increase the military presence in government, an outcome he presumably did not want.

The Minister said, "There's a point where it's going to be in our (sic!)  interests for them to be able to recruit heads of government departments that are not members of the military; that means at that point you have to look at the sanctions." Note "our" interests. I thought we were acting in Fiji's interests.

As the NZHerald notes "Mr McCully's views on softening sanctions to help Fiji appear at odds with the harder line taken by Australia." The Minister denies his approach is different from Kevin Rudd's. But why not? We are a sovereign nation, capable of our own initiatives. We do not need to follow Australia's lead all the time. And Dr Rudd has been far too preoocupied with Asia to have any firsthand knowledge of what is happening in the Pacific.


For a refreshing Aussie look at Australia and NZ's position, read this link to the Auckland University of Technology's Pacific Media Watch.


N0276. FIJI RESPONDS TO MURRAY McCULLY. Acting Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Ratu Inoke Kubuabola says the Fijian government is  committed to holding General Elections in 2014.

“Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has time and again emphasized his commitment to elections timeline in 2014. That timeline remains and nothing has changed as far as government is concerned. Government is committed to ensuring that good and fair election is conducted. What more cast-iron assurance can this be for New Zealand or any other country for that matter.”

“New Zealand just doesn’t want to recognize nor understand that Fiji needs to give its people a fair and just election system that makes up the multiracial country of Fiji.” said Ratu Inoke. He said these things cannot be achieved overnight, and the government has set the time to 2014. -- MOI.

Col. Pio Tikoduadua, permanent secretary to the PM's Office,  echoed Ratu Inoke's remarks by saying
Fiji remains committed to holding elections in 2014 as this is  government’s promise to the people.  Note, to the Fijian people, not to NZ or some other foreign power. He said he found Minister McCully's comments "interesting."

The sticking point, once the date is accepted, will be on how open and inclusive the electoral dialogue will be, and which people and which parties will be allowed to stand for election.  I suspect McCully will want the "old politicans" represented.  I doubt this will be allowed.  They created the conditions that led to the coup.


N0277. MSG FOREIGN MINISTERS WERE BRIEFED on the progress of the implementation of the Strategic Framework for Change this morning. The areas covered were: Good governance (progress on the constitutional, electoral, public service and public sector reforms); Infrastructural developments (progress on land reforms, enhancement of international relations, maintaining macroeconomic stability and raising investment levels); and  socio-cultural programmes (reducing poverty, developing a common national identity, improving health service delivery and social justice). The Strategic Framework is based on the pillars of the People’s Charter to which all Government ministries are working to achieve. PNG Foreign Affairs Minister Don Polye expressed his country’s support for the work being carried out to reform Fiji. -- Based on No.0737/MOI.

N0278.TRADE EXPO AT MSG MEET. Some 24 companies and manufacturers of food products, home furnishing, textiles, footwear, financial services and much more are showing what they can offer the region at the expo that will be open at the Vale Ni Bose complex for the duration of the MSG meeting.Visits by the public are welcome. -- Based on No.0735/MTC.

N0279. QARASE TRIAL. The trial of former PM  Laisenia Qarase and former Fijian Holdings Chairman Sitiveni Weleilakeba for abuse of office  has been set for September 12. They have been charged by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption with ten counts of abuse of office, forgery and issuing forged documents. There will be another pre-trial conference on June 10 when the two men will confirm their availability for the trial.

Namosi Visit QEB, Taveuni Road, Long Outdated Penalties, Child Labour, Education and Poverty, Wage Increases

NEWS SUMMARY. Today's news items show —  Namosi supporting Government, an appeal to Taveuni farmers to take advantage of a new road, the updating of exchange control penalties unchanged for 30 years, work to eradicate child labour and government's related efforts on education and poverty. There's also some good news for the police, nurses, builders and the economy.

Photo: Joske's Thumb and Namosi Highlands from Suva Harbour. Panoramio.com

NAMOSI GIVES PM 'CHRISTMAS PRESENT'. Some 200 Namosi people led by former SDL politician the Turaga na Tui Namosi, Ratu Suliano Matanotobua, visited the QEB yesterday to express support for Government and the military.

Receiving them, PM Bainimarama likened their visit to an early Christmas and New Year’s blessings. He thanked the vanua of Namosi for its continued support and took the opportunity to stress the importance of choosing the right people to lead the country after 2014.

“Everyone need to know the People’s Charter for Change Peace and Progress which entails government’s commitment towards a truly democratic government and elections process,” he said. “We do not want a corrupt Government coming in. We want every citizen of this nation to get the fruits of their labour in every little way they contribute.”

The PM also apologized to the vanua for government services that had been slow in reaching them. “We also would like to seek your patience if government services have not been to your expectations. He said government was people-focused and its intensions were directed at improving the living standards of ordinary citizens.  -- Based on 2010, Nos:2184 and 2182/MOI.

TAVEUNI, FIJI'S GARDEN ISLAND: INFRASTRUCTURE MUST PAY OFF. Government has been investing heavily in roading and other infrasture developments in the expectation that it will result in increased agricultural produce, especially from remote rural areas, and so bring jobs and regular income for the producers, increase marketable foodstuff,  and make Fiji less dependent on many food imports. The success of the plan rests on farmer outputs.

In opening the new $900,000 Ura–Soqulu Road on Taveuni island, Minister for Works, Transport and Public Utilities, Cde Timoci Natuva appealed to farmers to raise their efforts beyond subsistence level. The Minister said Government was playing its part. It was now up to farmers to perform their part by contributing more to boost the economy through greater farming efforts. To be commercial, attitudes on  proper time management need to change. “You need to use time better and that would mean that you will need to treat farming like any other job where you need to clock in on time. If urban workers leave for work at 6am or 7am farmers will need to behave similarly.”

Taveuni accounts for around 90% of Fiji's dalo exports worth about $21m last year, and the new road links communities in the main dalo growing area. It is hoped that huge container trucks can load dalo directly from farms in these areas for export. This should significantly reduce travelling costs and thereby farmer’s cost of production. -- Based on 2010, No:2177/MOI.

PENALTIES FOR EXCHANGE BREACHES.Government has approved changes to the Exchange Control Act that will see see fines and penalties that have not been changed for "more than three decades." The new fines of up to $500,000 and a maximum prison term of up to 10 years are expected to improve compliance, and will assist the Reserve Bank in reconciling export receipts. Exporters are urged to contact the Bank if they have any questions. -- Reserve Bank Press Release.


CHILD LABOUR: GOVERNMENT'S EDUCATION AND POVERTY EFFORTS. Government's aim is to eradicate child labour, said Ministry of Labour Permanent Secretary Taito Waqa speaking at the official launch of the Child Labour Research and Actions Programmes in Suva yesterday. He listed government initiaties taken towards this goal which included fee free education, the abolishment of external examinations in primary and lower secondary schools, free transport to students who qualify under a means test, provisions of education facilities to non-government schools and the creation of the parallel skill board for Technical Vocational Education Training in schools.

Child labour is often related to poverty and in this area government had several poverty alleviation policies in place. The Budget allocation for assistance towards poverty alleviation in 2011 had been increased to $70 million compared to $54m in 2010. The allocations of free bus fare and food voucher programmes are $12 and $11m respectively with a cash grant of $40 to $60 per child per month will be paid in respect of orphans.

This was in addition to Family Assistance Allowance of $60 to $100 per month, electricity subsidy of $3.5m, housing assistance of $10m and a tax threshold of $15,000 with Government’s commitment to establish a minimum wage for the first time by 2012.

 “These poverty alleviation policies and programmes are aimed at providing social protection and security for all categories of the poor, including children,” he said.-- Based on 2010, No:2192/MOI.

BUILDINGS AND ECONOMIC GROWTH. The value of building permits issued is an often used indicator of economic growth. Figures released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics indicate that economic recovery could be on the way. For the first six months of this year the value of permits issued was $61,804 compared with $48,754 for similar periods in 2009 and $13,114 in 2008.-- Based on 2010, No:2168/MOI.

POLICE AND NURSES have been given a nice Christmas present with increases in salary backdated to January 2009 for police and a 3% increase backdated to January 2010 for nurses. Increases for other civil servants will be considered later.-- Based on 2010, No:2188/PSC.

WEEKEND READING. ♦ Allen Lockington Column ♦ 'Eakalafi Moala and Baroness Onora O'Neill on Media Freedom ♦ Graham Reid's third and final article on his Fiji visit ♦ Fr Barr on NZ Aid and Neo-Liberalism  ♦ The intended article on the Budget will probably be again deferred due to an extra game of golf this week — and the celebration of my first hole-in-one!

My Re-Assessment of the Media Decree

        Opinion
         Crosbie Walsh

On April 12^th I published a list of ten items that I took to be people's general concerns about the Draft Media Decree, together with my comment where necessary. To read, click here.

Four months on, the Decree has been promulgated in its final form. The reaction of the international media, then and now, has been almost wholly negative which is not altogether surprising given that the existence of one of their own, the Fiji Times, is threatened. A closer and more open-minded examination of the Decree, however, would show that many of the concerns have been addressed, and for the most part the Decree fills the acknowledged longstanding gap in media regulation in Fiji. Indeed, in some respects, but particularly in its stated aims and code of ethics, the Decree could well be emulated by other countries.

The following discussion compares the ten areas of general concern noted in April with the Decree as it it now stands:

What County X Said About Cuba

Given all the negative publicity about Cuba that  has gone on remorselessly since I was a young man, I couldn't believe my eyes to read that a well-known politician said Cuba had  "world-class credentials in the medical training area" and that his country was thinking of co-operation.  Who was the politician? What else was said?  Click here to dispel some myths about another country that's had to ensure far worse publicity than Fiji.

Village "Floggings," Blog Vandals, IMF/ADB & the "Democracy" Lobby, Land Reform, Pubic Service Exhibition

Scroll down to see new Na Sala Cava questions. Which path forward for Fiji?

Click on "Comments" below to see what at least one person is prepared to do to disrupt dialogue between moderately-minded readers. See also below "Blog Vandals at Work Again."


VILLAGE FLOGGINGS? JUNGLE LAW? The Village By-Laws proposed by Government have produced much media misinformation.