Wednesday, February 01, 2012

http://www.radiofiji.com.fj/fullstory.php?id=43312

The Prime Minister’s Flood Relief Fund has now collected over a million dollars.

Funds were committed to the Fund from various countries and local NGO’s to help in the relief, recovery and rehabilitation works.

Yesterday – $40,000 was donated to the Fund by the Fiji National Provident Fund, $10,000 by the Housing Authority of Fiji and $4,000 by the Public Rental Board.

The Fiji Times Limited and Namosi Joint Venture each donated $10,000.

The Permanent Secretary for Information Sharon Smith-Johns has acknowleged the the volume of support towards the relief fund and calls on the general public to donate generously.

Report by : Elenoa Osborne

Posted at 21:25 on 31 January, 2012 UTC

One of the architects of Fiji’s 1997 constitution, Bril Lal, says Fiji’s new constitution-makers must address the role of the country’s military in civilian life.

The Fiji interim government has promised that consultations for a new constitution will start in February in time for elections scheduled for 2014.

Mr Lal says the military is very much out in the community in Fiji and officers are serving in important civilian positions.

“And the question that has to be asked is what should be the role of a military force in a constitutional democracy? Should they be the servant of the state? Should they have a seat at the table of national decision-making? Should they have representation in Parliament?”

Brij Lal says unless Fiji people can speak freely during consultations, the issue will remain difficult to resolve.

Asked about the military’s role in the new constitution, Fiji’s Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has told Radio New Zealand International it is essential to get Fiji people’s views.

News Content © Radio New Zealand International           PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

Posted at 01:41 on 30 January, 2012 UTC

The Prime Minister of Samoa stands by his claim that there is no chance a general election will go ahead in Fiji in 2014.

A public relations firm hired by the regime, Qorvis, has complained to Radio New Zealand International about its reporting of Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi’s comments, saying the story was false and slanderous.

Fiji’s interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, reneged on a 2007 promise to hold elections in 2009, but has said since that elections will go ahead in 2014.

Tuilaepa says Commodore Bainimarama has taken no credible action to give the international community assurance that an election will take place.

“Instead he has recruited army people to occupy the administration’s ministries, he has again put in orders which restricted further freedom of expression, and he has done nothing to prepare the nation for general elections.”

Prime Minister Tuilaepa says Qorvis’ criticisms of his comments should be put into context.

Meanwhile the interim Fiji government has selected a Canadian firm to conduct electronic voter registration in the country.

News Content © Radio New Zealand International           PO Box 123, Wellington, New Zealand

Sunday, January 29, 2012

Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama has revealed Fiji National Provident Fund will assist certain flood affected families.

Bainimarama told villagers of Semo assistance would be available from the fund but to only those who were in the worst affected areas.

Fiji National Provident Fund had earlier in the week stated they would not provide flood assistance like they did in 2009.

However the revelation today by the PM will come as a relief for families devastated by the floods.

The Prime Minister is visiting flood affected areas in the western division.

Report by : Apisalome Coka

Tevita Tuiwavu Saturday, January 28, 2012

http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=191935

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

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

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