The Answer to all Fiji’s Worries has been discovered. Marijuana is the new Sugar.

  If we believe the Police and Military recovered $1,200 million dollars worth of marijuana this year then Fiji has a bigger drug problem than Mexico or Colombia.

http://fijitoday.wordpress.com/2009/10/27/fiji-grows-the-best-dope-in-the-world-police-value-each-plant-at-17837-i-think-they-have-been-using-the-product/

http://fijitoday.wordpress.com/2009/08/14/more-police-bullshit/

 If we presume that the crop is less than 10% of the amount grown then Fiji has an untaxed $12 Billion drug business.  This would equate to the average Fijian spending $15000 per year on dope.

 Let’s legalize it and tax it. This would generate at least $700 million in tax revenue using standard accounting principles.  Add VAT and FNPF and we have a new goldmine to replace sugar.

 Other countries have toyed with the idea but have chickened out after pressure from their neighbors. We don’t listen to our neighbors anyway.

 Imagine the new tourists that we would immediately attract. We could develop new resorts based on the legally available marijuana. Internationally we would become the holiday island of choice for millions of users. The recent survey of tourism noted that we are failing to attract the younger tourists. This would solve the problem. Add millions more in revenue that no other country could compete with.

 We would have a suitable replacement for kava for the younger generation to keep them placid and unobjecting while their land is raped and pillaged.

 Even if this was not the answer to Fiji’s problems it would still sedate the opposition either physically or financially.

 Unfortunatly this all hinges on the $1200 million lie currently being promoted by the Police and Military.

$100 million marijuana bust in seven days’

December 01, 2009 12:16:18 PM

Fiji’s Police Force has uprooted and confiscated $100 million worth of marijuana plants from 26 farms around Nadroga/Navosa in the last seven days says Police Commissioner Esala Teleni.

Teleni told FijiLive in an exclusive interview that his team was now concentrating on conducting raids at various places in the Navosa/Nadroga area as part of continued action this year against marijuana cultivation.

“We are also doing the same in Vanua Levu and also some eastern parts of Viti Levu, Rewa Delta/Tacirua and Tailevu,” he said.

However, he said the main focus of the action remained the Navosa Nadroga area.

Police have also arrested three drivers for allegedly delivering drugs to parts of Viti Levu.

“Vehicles (are) going to villages in Viti Levu and that’s what the dealers are doing now. Deliver the drugs and come and pick the money after a few days and we have arrested a few drivers and vehicles,” he added.

“We are trying to reduce the flow of marijuana to towns and cities. We have identified the places and we are trying to get the police officers down to those places.”

He said police had only been able to raid so many farms with the help of the community.

VULANI Island Resort will remain undeveloped until outstanding issues are resolved, says Native Lands Trust Board general manager Alipate Qetaki.

Vulani Island Resort Ltd was established in 2006 as a joint venture between Hopper Fiji Limited and Hiway Stabilizer International Trust Co Limited.

The 650-acre integrated tourist resort had a plan to combine five star hotels, condominium and free standing residential living with dedicated marina and associated activities, retail development and 18-hole golf course.

The resort is located 6km North of Nadi Airport with a 2km beach facing Nadi Bay, bordered by the Sabeto and Natacola rivers.

However, Mr Qetaki said the board was also aware that there had been a lot of interest from investors over the years to develop Vulani Island as a resort.

The recent Domestic Violence Decree was obviously written by a man. Under the decree the perpetrator will no longer be charged with a criminal offence. The worst that can happen to a male abuser is a restraining order. He can beat his wife to a pulp free in the knowledge he cannot go to jail.

This much flaunted decree is a massive step backwards and is extremely sexist. If the husband assaults a neighbor he can go to jail. If he assaults his own wife he will be given a restraining order.  If he assaults a neighbors wife she is better protected by the law than his own wife.

While other provisions under the decree are a step foward what the wife normally needs is a stop to the violence. This encourages it.

Sarote  Visi

The brains of Forest Gump enforced by a Saddam Hussein. Fiji has become a dangerous Farce.

http://www.smh.com.au/world/the-quixotic-shades-of-bainimarama-20091129-jyud.html

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/politics/news/article.cfm?c_id=280&objectid=10612430

An email fowarded to us.

……………………………………………………………………………………..

Dear (removed),

Our Company   (name renmoved)  has recently had a team in Fiji looking at the options of being involved in the Dairy Industry. 

We currently operate 16 farms throughout Australia and upon hearing of the increase in milk payout to 80 cents per liter we believe that dairying in Fiji should be economic.

 Our team arrived back with a list of unanswered questions that we hope you can resolve.

We hope that you can answer in confidence as we found people were parroting the government line and we have some concerns we were being conned.

 What is the story about leasing land? We had various explanations about ALTA from FTIB and local landowners. No one could give us a clear answer. It also is up for review? What effect will this have if we have a lease?

 We are concerned about the government ruling by decree as we are unable to sell a deal to our board if we have no right of legal redress.

 We have been reliably informed that VAT returns can drag out for months and cannot be relied on in cashflow.

 What are your predictions on the Fiji Dollar as if they are going to devalue again the board must see a value return of more than the predicted devaluation.

 Our money men are nervous but if there is an opportunity for both our companies to capture the Fiji Dairy Industry then maybe we should have a discussion.

As you are already on the ground and running we would like to get alongside you and operate  wih a common agenda.

We would look to buy a large number (2000?) of local cows so maybe we can jointly end up the majority supplier of RCDC and quietly take over the board? Every cow we buy locally reduces the local votes?

Looking forward to hearing from you,

(removed)

………………………………………………………………………………………………….

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/news/3096388/Fiji-rugby-players-ordered-to-do-haka

http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/stories/2009/11/22/1245d43197c8

http://babasiga.blogspot.com/2009/11/problem-with-reading-blogs-in-fiji.html

The Fiji Government has admitted to numerous bomb threats recently.

The Minister of Defense said bomb threats and death threats were not something new as they had a lot since the beginning of the year.

This admission was only made after two high profile threats in Suva in the recent days.

These threats would have remained hidden under the  heavy censorship imposed by the military but TVNZ had caught on and phoned around Fiji looking for confirmation of the rumor.

There is also a second rumor that suggests one of the recent threats was to a tourism resort but the Military had refused to react and risked the tourists.

Normally such an announcement would come from the Police but as Fiji is a military dictatorship it was the Minister of Defense.

Ratu Epeli’s comment came following two bomb threats that occurred in Suva City this week.

Fiji strips licences from broadcasters

• Rowan Callick, Asia-Pacific editor
• From: The Australian
• November 21, 2009 12:00AM

Television and radio stations are broadcasting this weekend on a temporary basis, as the owner, managers, staff and audiences await the determinations of Mr Sayed-Khaiyum.

He is the second-most powerful figure in the government after military commander and prime minister Frank Bainimarama.

Mr Sayed-Khaiyum is also Minister for Justice, Anti-Corruption, Public Enterprises, Industry, Investment and Tourism, and Communications.

The action was carried out this week by decree – the chief tool of government since the parliament was scrapped and the constitution abrogated.

The decree states that no compensation can be claimed as a result of the cancellation or reallocation of a broadcasting licence, and that no court, tribunal or commission has the jurisdiction to entertain any challenge over the loss of a licence.

The Comparisons to date are Horrendous. Is this our future?

In Uganda in 1970 a rift developed between Amin and President Obote, worsened by the support Amin had built within the army.

Having learned that Obote was planning to arrest him for misappropriating army funds, Amin seized power in a military coup on 25 January 1971,

 Soldiers surrounded Obote’s residence and blocked major roads.

 A broadcast on Radio Uganda accused Obote’s government of corruption.

 Amin announced that he was a soldier, not a politician, and that the military government would remain only as a caretaker regime until new elections, which would be announced as soon as the situation was normalised and reiterated his promise to hold free and fair elections to return the country to democratic rule in the shortest period possible.

 On 2 February 1971, one week after the coup, Amin declared himself President of Uganda, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Army Chief of Staff  and Chief of Air Staff.

 He announced that he was suspending  the Ugandan constitution and soon instituted an Advisory Defence Council composed of military officers, with himself as the chairman. He ruled Uganda by decree.

 Amin placed military tribunals above the system of civil law, appointed soldiers to top government posts and agencies, and informed the citizens that they would be subject to military discipline.

Idi Amin blamed England and America for all the woes in the country and accused them of plotting the economic destruction of his country.

 The army headquarters at the Kampala suburb of Nakasero became the scene of torture  over the next few years.

 Amin’s victims includes other ethnic groups, religious leaders, journalists, senior bureaucrats, judges, lawyers, students and intellectuals, criminal suspects, and foreign nationals.

This could be Fiji up to the  present day.

Idi Amin nationalised all the major companies in the country and gave control of them to his close associates.

He expelled selected foreign nationals from the country.

Law and order broke down and  many other people were killed for criminal motives or simply at will.

The killings, motivated by ethnic, political and financial factors, continued throughout Amin’s eight-year reign.

 The exact number of people killed is unknown. The International Commission of Jurists estimated the death toll at no less than 80,000 and more likely around 300,000.

 Among the most prominent people killed were the former prime minister and chief justice the Anglican archbishop and the former governor of the Central Bank.

 Idi Amin finally fled the country and resided in Saudi Arabia where he was given a lifetime income in exchange for remaining in the country and not being incvolved in politics.

Readers Comments in the Sri Lanken Daily Post   Where else would these “yes men” get jobs other than under a military ruler! The experiance stated in their resumes would have been unmatchable.  Posted By: JP

Our country straggles due to serious lack of the core essence of the civilization as non compliance & non obedience, corruption of law & order. Whereas, our judges have been deployed to other countries in order to regulate & maintain their law & order. Why we can not utilize the potential of our own resources rather than other countries use ours. Posted By: Truth is always bitter

Everything is for sale in Sri Lanka to the highest bidder: including judges. Posted By: Calistus Jayatilleke

Well done judges, you cannot give right verdicts in Sri Lanka at least try in Fiji? Posted By: Rizni

This is a funniest thing!!. There are 1000s of cases pending /not yet started due to inadequate resources but we send our judges to FIJI. Think these judges may have answered “YES” to most of the questions during interview and the previous work experience is under a military rule. So obviously they got the job!!! Fiji will recruit more judges after seeing our ppl’s service!!! Posted By: Kurangu Kuppan

IMPORTED JUDGES TO GIVE A VERDICT DICTATED BY THE DICTATOR. Can award sentences as awarded to TISSA, without fear of any human rights charges by the international community. GOOD LUCK JUDGES. Behave well, if not you cannot come back to the PARADISE. Posted By: Thomas

TO JP:- I think still no millitary ruler in sri lanka after the war will face some unlike things it you can see what happen other rest of the world after the war or conflict. Well don Judges. Posted By: Saman

I think, this should be seen as profit of the investment on free education. In spite of having several flaws in our educational system, it does produce high quality products in many fields including science, medicine, law enforcements, and ect. Posted By: lalindapalliyaguru

When there is NO Law & Order you dont need Judges anyway. Posted By: PeaceKeeper

This is called econoic refuees.Poor Judges got paid under army government ,eventually they will settle in Australia not by boat . aj sydney Posted By: aj

  http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=68118

Greenpeace has failed to highlight the massive pollution occurring less than 300 kilometers from its pacific headquarters in Suva.

The Qawa river is the most polluted river in the South Pacific as a result of the actions of the Fiji Sugar Corp.  The FSC is a Government controlled enterprise.

  In 2006 there was a plan in place for Greenpeace to pressure the Qarase Government into cleaning up the Qawa River outside Labasa.

These plans have been dropped as Greenpeace is scared that the military would “over react”. and Bainimarama would expel them from the country.

Environment officials who visited the inky black Qawa River in October were appalled to find it totally devoid of river life.

Senior environment officer Aminiasi Qareqare said the trip was to establish complaints from the public about the state and foul stench emitted from the polluted river.

“The stench from the river can be smelt miles around and is unbearable for those living near it,” Mr Qareqare said.

The Fiji Sugar Corporation is responsible for the long-term neglect and pollution of the Qawa river in Labasa from the operations of their sugar mill there.

The Labasa mill has caused the death and loss of marine life, the foul stench of the river, the loss of recreational activities and water sports, and loss of subsistence livelihoods and economic activity from the river.

Batinikama Secondary School manager Mohammed Idris said up to four students in a class are absent daily.

“The attendance has been low – and the school only experiences this during crushing season,” he said. “Every crushing season we highlight the problem to the Fiji Sugar Corporation – but they have not responded,” Mr Idris said.

He said some days the students need to cover their noses and mouths with handkerchiefs.

“This is a health hazard as the pollution from the Qawa River ” Mr Idris said.

Fiji Times has tried to highlight the problem but were not allowed to publish a follow up story after sneaking the following past the censors.

—————————————————————————————–

Death comes every 6 months

Theresa Ralogaivau
Tuesday, October 13, 2009

THE crabs and fish are gone and no amount of prodding in the mangrove swamps or throwing lines into the Qawa River will reel them in.

This disappearance occurs every six months during the sugar cane crushing season.

It has forced Natokamu and Cawaira villagers into a desperate search for food in what was once a river thriving with life.

Advisory councillor Timoci Biroko said the toxic discharge from the Fiji Sugar Corporation mill destroyed life in the river.

Mr Biroki said little creeks and other rivers that branched off from the Qawa River had also been polluted.

“Year in and year out we suffer this problem for between six to eight months,” he said.

“As soon as cane crushing season begins, that’s it, all our river food is gone.

“Two weeks after the mill opens, dead fish, crabs, malea, everything living in this river floats to the surface, dead.

“After that the smell hits us. At night it’s like we are sleeping in the river. That’s how bad the smell is.”

The Rural Local Authority carried out tests on the river and discovered all the food villagers held dear was dead at the bottom.

Secretary Rakesh Kumar said the tests revealed that the problem was being caused by an effluent discharge from the mill nearby which had decimated all river life.

“There is sludge now at the bottom of the river. the tests were pretty alarming,” he said.

______________________________________

Greenpeace has bowed down in fear of losing the flash offices they occupy in the main street of Suva.

Our environmental heroes have shown they are happy to charge around the Antarctic trying to protect whales knowing they may end up in court but consider the Qawa River not worth facing Bainimarama’s soldiers.

http://www.fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=141109040d176545e68099382ce335

Visitors to Fiji dropped by 15%
14-Nov-2009 11:28 AM      Fiji Daily Post 

Visitors arrival in Fiji for the month of May 2009 dropped by 15 percent which is a lose for the nation.

The total number of visitors arriving in Fiji for the month of May was 37, 666.

The major decrease in the total number was recorded for visitors from Australia and New Zealand.

The two countries recorded significant decrease of 2,695 and 1, 350 respectively and other countries such as Canada, United States of America, Japan, Korea and United Kingdom were contributing decrease.

Last year the total number of visitors arrived was 44, 316 and for this year is 37,666 which is a great fall.

http://solivakasamablog.wordpress.com/2009/11/13/frank-bainimarama-approves-50million-x-mas-backpay-for-all-military-officers-to-keep-them-happy/

http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=23785

http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=23805