‘Book a chance to devise new Constitution’
Tevita Tuiwavu Saturday, January 28, 2012
Fiji considers switching Radio Australia back on
Fiji’s coup-installed military government has suggested it is looking at allowing Radio Australia to broadcast there again.
Power to the two transmitters, one in Nadi and the other in Suva, was switched off by the interim government in 2009.
But Fiji’s permanent secretary of information, Sharon Smith-Johns told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat on Friday that she is looking at reversing the policy.
“Well look, I want you to come back online because I have to listen to you through the Internet. We’re looking at that currently; we’d welcome having you back on our airways,” she said.
Radio Australia’s CEO, Mike McCluskey has welcomed her statement but says Radio Australia’s parent company, the ABC, will not make any deals about news coverage of Fiji in exchange for getting the transmitters back on.
“No, because the ABC already has arrangements in place to ensure fairness and accountability. We have the arrangements of our code of practice, we have the arrangements of our editorial policies,” he said.
………………………………………………………………………………………
FijiToday has been informed that Fiji’s permanent secretary of information, Sharon Smith-Johns failed to state that the policy is for the ABC stations to be given permission to transmitt only after the election. If content is deemed to breach the Decree then ABC will be prosecuted under Fiji law as the transmitters are on Fiji soil.
Fiji is engaged more fully with the global community, and we aim to uphold our place as a “vital element” of regional affairs.
Fijian progress muddied by the media
- by: RATU INOKE KUBUABOLA
- From:The Australian
- January 27, 201212:00
AUSTRALIA is not simply a neighbour of Fiji. It is a part of our family.
As such, Fiji will always hold Aussies close, same with Kiwis. But as Richard Herr and Anthony Bergin wrote earlier this month: “Fiji is getting on with new relationships that are less and less connected with Australia’s interests in the Pacific islands region.”
The reasons are practical, as well as personal.
Just this week, the World Bank has again warned developing countries such as ours to begin preparing for another global economic shock as a result of the debt crisis in Europe and weakening growth in other emerging economies.
This underscores Fiji’s move to grow and diversify its economy and relationships, which is what the Bainimarama government has been doing despite – and in light of – sanctions and restrictions imposed by Australia and New Zealand.
Our economic and diplomatic ties are now greater than they have ever been, an example of which is the first high-level visit to Fiji by the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, in the coming weeks.
So while many in Australia and New Zealand have become solely focused on personalities and the past, they have lost sight of the future and the bigger picture, and with what Fiji has been up to.
Standard & Poor’s recently upgraded Fiji’s sovereign debt rating. We have a net deficit position of 1.9 per cent (ahead of the IMF’s recommended target of 2 per cent). We are aligning more closely with free-market principles, and for 2012 have cut or eliminated taxes for 99 per cent of taxpayers (putting about $53 million back in the pockets of Fijians) and have significantly cut taxes across the board for businesses.
As a result, this year our economy is projected to grow, supported by traditional sectors and now enhanced by telecommunications, ICT, audiovisual and mahogany, among others.
Enabling this growth has been our focus on eliminating waste, fraud and abuse. Fiji unreservedly ratified the UN Convention Against Corruption in 2007, for which we have volunteered and undergone peer reviews by countries such as the US and France. New transparency rules will soon be put in place to ensure that all government officials disclose their assets and investments.
Sound fiscal policies and anti-corruption practices have helped encourage new trade and investment, which we have seen from private sector enterprise in Australia and New Zealand, but also China, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and the US, among other countries, and with new ones ahead.
In all of this we have sought to ensure that all levels of society are looked after: new roads, electricity, clean water and unrestricted internet access, most of which is being brought to places that never had them before; first-ever food voucher programs; subsidised bus fares; free textbooks; free public transport for the disabled; more legal protection for women and children; anti-discrimination laws; equal distribution of land lease monies; and more.
But none of this is representative of how the Australian or New Zealand media or policymakers view Fiji. To them, we are a land of coups, failed institutions and a military dictator. There exists a condescending and patronising tone to most every statement and media report that comes out of Australia and New Zealand – whether lack of acknowledgement about the divisive politics, ethnic and religious strife and corruption that Fiji faced over the years or the full dismissal of international context when viewing Fiji’s laws and governance.
Fiji is under no misguided assumption that if oil or gas was found off Suva tomorrow our neighbours would be singing a different tune. But because Fiji’s economy is based on tourism and sugar, the serious steps we are taking to realign our economy and re-establish our independence politically are not taken seriously by our historical allies.
The Bainimarama government has laid out a vision for what we seek to accomplish and a clear timeframe for getting it done. Our first priority, however, is to Fiji – ensuring Fijians have safe food and clean water, electricity, access to education and jobs, and the ability to take advantage of the opportunities afforded by our unique country. And so far the Bainimarama government has been able to deliver these services more efficiently and effectively than any previous one.
As Fiji continues to move forward to consultations for the new constitution and our first truly democratic elections, we would welcome the encouragement and participation of Australia and New Zealand.
Fiji is engaged more fully with the global community, and we aim to uphold our place as a “vital element” of regional affairs.
Ratu Inoke Kubuabola is Fiji’s Minister for Foreign Affairs
Book launch marks significant milestone towards Constitutional Development in Fiji.
The state of un-forgiveness and vengeance is a cold desolate place in which no one should linger for too long.”
Those were the words of former Vice President Ratu Joni Madraiwiwi at the launch of the handbook “Constitution: Making and Reform; Options for the Processes” at the Holiday Inn, Suva last night, hosted by the Citizens’ Constitutional Forum.
Speaking in front of over 80 invited guests, including the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum, former Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase, Fiji Labour Party stalwart Krishna Datt, High Commissioners and Ambassadors amongst others, Ratu Joni stressed that the handbook is timely as we are about to begin the process of drawing up a new constitution.
Ratu Joni outlined that if one accepts the need for a new constitution, the handbook sets out a number of options to be considered. He says if there is a real opportunity to devise a new constitution for which the process of public participation and consultation is thoughtfully and creatively devised and implemented, it may well be the best chance we have at laying the foundations for long term peace and stability.
In his review of the handbook, Ratu Joni highlighted the tasks involved in the constitution making process which include:
1. To think through and research the issues facing the country
2. To consider the choices of constitutional arrangements that will best respond to the issues
3. To educate and consult the people about the issues and the choices
4. To negotiate among the major political groups and those with powers of decision making about the legalized choices
5. To administer and manage the constitution making process
6. To debate and adopt a new constitution document
7. To make arrangements for implementation of the new constitution.
Ratu Joni stated that the focus of the handbook on constitution making as peace building is a relatively new and welcome concept. He says the emphasis enables the citizens of a state to come together with a genuine commitment and a passion to create structures, institutions, and systems that will be engaged in the betterment and welfare of society as a whole. He also stressed that the constitution is not only a symbol but to be a tool for building peace continuously.
The former Vice President stressed the need to search for and create the compromises necessary to healing and reconciliation as the past still weighs heavily on people’s minds and many find it difficult or impossible to forgive and forbear and it is true it cannot be forced, imposed or usurped.
Ratu Joni says he recognizes a new opportunity to build afresh and that this time there is a very real prospect of laying a foundation that lasts.
In his opening remarks, CCF CEO Reverend Akuila Yabaki also highlighted that it is by sheer coincidence that the handbook, recently published by Interpeace and co-authored by Professor Yash Ghai, Jill Cottrell, Michele Brandt and Anthony Regan, comes at a time when we are about to embark on our constitutional consultations.
Reverend Yabaki says the handbook notes Fiji’s various attempts at Constitution making and stressed not to leave the third time to chance and make sure that our third attempt will indeed prove to be a success.
He says drawing from more than a hundred constitution experiences including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, the handbook stands as a relevant guide for us as we prepare to go into constitution consultation. It also provides practical guidance on how to design transparent, nationally led and owned processes that are also participatory and inclusive and through the book launch last night, CCF hopes to generate constructive Discussion, Debate and Dialogue and find ways to reach consensus on the path towards Constitutional Democracy.
A copy of the handbook “Constitution: Making and Reform; Options for the Processes” can be accessed through the Interpeace website www.interpeace.orgor downloaded directly through the link: http://www.interpeace.org/constitutionmaking/sites/default/files/Constitution-Making-Handbook.pdf
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has described the military regime’s promises of an election in two years time as a pipe dream. I pray he is wrong.
Samoa PM says there will be no Fiji elections in 2014
Posted at 00:18 on 27 January, 2012 UTC
The Prime Minister of Samoa has vigorously attacked Fiji’s interim government, saying there no chance a general election will go ahead in Fiji in 2014.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has described the military regime’s promises of an election in two years time as a pipe dream.
He says the regime’s empty promises create deception and false hope among Fiji citizens and the international community.
Concerns have been raised about the militarisation of Fiji’s public service, a situation Samoa’s leader describes as unqualified army colonels occupying top-level positions.
While comparing the iron will of Samoan people to the situation in Fiji, Tuilaepa warns that Fiji could soon experience the Pacific version of the Arab Spring.
He says one cannot suppress people indefinitely because people power is mightier than guns.
Tuilaepa says if what is happening in Fiji occurred in Samoa, 100,000 people would march from the mountains, plantations and countryside into the streets of Apia – old women armed with brooms included.
News Content © Radio New Zealand International PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand
PM to conduct extensive tour of affected areas
http://fijivillage.com/?mod=story&id=260112c1f48513a0197ecb05b8d40e
Prime Minister, Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama who is currently in Nadi, is expected to conduct an extensive tour of the affected areas in coming days.
Commodore Bainimarama said the prayers and thoughts of all Fijians are with those affected by the flooding, especially the families of those lost in the tragic weather.
The Prime Minister said emergency services continue to be on full alert to support the affected areas and the government is closely monitoring the weather situation as they begin the recovery plan.
Commodore Bainimarama has also launched a flood relief appeal to assist families affected by the flooding.
People and interested parties intending to make donations to the appeal can make deposits to the BSP account number 4706578.
Story by: Vijay Narayan and Filipe Naikaso
…………………………………………………………………..
Those of us who have spent the last few days in the West and under water recognise this flood can quickly become another “Disaster”.
Health and additional people for a clean up are the first priorities.
A rapid well funded coordinated approach by both Dismac and the Health Department with military feet on the ground providing the labor could have this sorted in a rapid time.
We have the trained coordinated labor force in the military but there seems to be a reluctance to use more than a couple of hundred at a time. Lets use the assets we have as a country and the military is an asset.
NZ gives NZ$350,000 to Fiji flood relief
NZ gives $350,000 to Fiji flood relief
11:46 Thu Jan 26 2012
by
AAP
http://news.msn.co.nz/nationalnews/8409122/nz-gives-350000-to-fiji-flood-relief
New Zealand is giving the Fiji Red Cross $350,000 for its flood relief effort.
Foreign Minister Murray McCully says the situation in Fiji is still being assessed and further assistance could be considered.
“Sadly, six lives have been confirmed as lost and over 1500 people have been evacuated because of floods and bad weather affecting most parts of the country,” he said on Thursday.
“The western division, including Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua and Rakiraki have been worst hit by flooding and many areas have been left with no power or water.”
Mr McCully says the money will be used for the distribution of essential relief items and New Zealand is co-ordinating its aid with Australia and France.
Where is our “Leader”.
A good leader would be touring the flooded areas offering support and driving recovery effort.
He is quick to use his authoritarian powers to drive anything else that he wants.
The people of Fiji need more from a leader.
Show some sign that you care!
Those of us who have spent the last few days under water are hoping for a larger reaction from the miitary than the aiding of tourists that seems to be the only action to date.
Fiji is suseptable to cyclones. flooding and other natural disasters. An obvious use of the military would be in disaster recovery.
The only soldiers I have seen in the last few days were sitting around a grog bowl.
Is Fiji selling its soul? Nauru was reportedly given about $US50 million in aid in return for its support.
Fijian visit has Russia’s Pacific bid in spotlight
The Russian Foreign Minister, Sergey Lavrov, is due to met the Fijian military leader Frank Bainimarama on Wednesday or Thursday next week, at the end of a five-country trip through the Asia-Pacific region.
This is because of concerns that Mr Lavrov’s visit may be in part to lobby Fiji to accept the independence of the disputed territories of South Ossetia and Abkhazia – the scene of Russia’s 2008 war with Georgia.
This concern follows Russia’s actions last year, when it was accused of providing tens of millions of dollars in aid to the Pacific Island nations of Tuvalu and Nauru in return for their recognition of the Russian puppet states.
Nauru was reportedly given about $US50 million in aid in return for its support. Vanuatu also officially recognised Abkhazia, but later dropped the status.
At the time, the parliamentary secretary for Pacific Island affairs, Richard Marles, said the Russians were ”exploiting” some of the world’s smallest countries.
”This kind of cheque-book diplomacy undermines development assistance in the region,” Mr Marles told the Herald in October.
Full Story at http://www.smh.com.au/world/fijian-visit-has-russias-pacific-bid-in-spotlight-20120124-1qflx.html
