A quiet weekend in Suva has got Grubsheet thinking about the state of Fiji’s capital and the city where I was born at ten minutes to midnight far too many moons ago. The reflection stems in part from a couple of days in the company of a childhood friend who I grew up with in Fiji and who now lives in Papua New Guinea. We both recall a splendid city of razor-sharp manicured parks and gardens, airy timber tropical bungalows and stately public buildings worthy of the place billed at the time as the Crossroads of the Pacific. The bands played as the trans-Pacific passenger ships came and went, the Sunderland flying boats roared overhead into Laucala Bay and to our young eyes, no place was as magical as Suva. Especially if you lived somewhere else in Fiji and wandered around as a wide-eyed kai colo when your parents put on your “policeman” sandals and dragged you into town.
It’s become fashionable in certain circles to decry colonial rule and hold the British responsible for many of our national ills, especially the racial divide. But one thing is beyond argument. Suva was a much cleaner, more ordered and aesthetically pleasing place before Independence and it’s high time for a much bigger effort to recapture some of that grandeur. It’s not some form of neo-colonial kai valagi nostalgia on my part – as some of my critics are bound to portray it – but a simple belief that raising the tone of our capital will help raise the national tone and the spirits of all Fijians. A bit like a whole city putting on a clean shirt or skirt and hitting the hotspots – smiling and confident – with a bounce in its step.
Just as we need to be a lot more proud of ourselves as a nation for finally beginning to tackle some of our most entrenched problems and create a more equal society, we need to be a lot more proud of our capital. Suva deserves to set a civic standard not just for all Fijians but for our island neighbours. It deserves to be the best and most attractive city in the South Seas, not some pale imitation of its former self.
Its harbour – with the eye-catching Joske peak giving us a collective thumb’s up and Beqa looming beyond the reef – is certainly among the most dramatic in the Pacific. And is there a prettier sight in the whole world than when dusk draws its curtain on a perfect Suva Day? The point is that our capital has an unmatched canvass on which to paint a better picture and we should start doing it in earnest. Capitals like Noumea and Port Vila – which are outclassing Suva in Grubsheet’s view – do so with nothing like our natural advantages. And yet they have something we seem to struggle to achieve, a bit of old fashioned class. You don’t necessarily have to have money, although clearly the citizens of Noumea benefit from European largess. Poor cities are like poor women. With a touch of imagination and a bit of effort on top of what nature gave you, there’s nothing to stop you from looking your best.
In Suva’s case, improvements have already been made and the Suva City Council deserves credit, especially for its efforts to tart up Queen Elizabeth Drive. Grubsheet went for a stroll along the sea wall on Saturday and it’s in far better shape than it used to be. It was low tide yet it was still a pleasant walk. The old stench has gone, thanks to a concerted effort to clean up rubbish on the foreshore. The footpath is in great shape and now extends way beyond Veiuto. There are pleasant places to sit and all of the new covered picnic tables were happily occupied. And the seaside kiosk and bar in front of Suva Grammar School may not exactly scream French Riviera but at least you can stop for a drink.
All in all, a big improvement for which Suva’s Special Administrator and former Lord Mayor, Chandu Umaria, deserves to take a bow. But there’s lots more to do. Yes – I hear the collective cry – if only we had the money. The truth is we’re never going to have enough until the economy grows and a lot more ratepayers start coughing up a lot more loot. But perhaps in the meantime, we can start thinking of better ways to get the Council, the Government, the business community and civic organisations to form a stronger partnership to get things done. If a whole family can work together to spruce up a house, a whole city can work together to do the same. And as it happens, Suva already has an example of a poorer section of the city showing us the way.
Last Friday, something inspirational occurred when the Prime Minister opened the new Raiwaqa Rugby Club. It was a smallish event that went largely unnoticed by the media, which is a great shame. Because everyone in Fiji knows that Raiwaqa has had a sorry history. When low cost public housing was built there in colonial times, it was meant to be a model community but as the years progressed, it gradually degenerated into a slum. Raiwaqa became a byword for lawlessness, its young people caught in a vicious cycle of drinking, drugs, theft and violence. Yet now, it’s the young people of Raiwaqa who are leading this community back from the abyss and giving it a new sense of pride.
Commodore Bainimarama spent much of Friday at Raiwaqa celebrating its reversal of fortunes and revived sense of community spirit. More than two hundred new homes are being built which will house many hundreds more residents. And at the heart of the community is the new rugby club, which the PM launched on an ocean of kava and a jocular plea that it produce a Flying Fijian within five years. The function started at 9.00am and he was still there well into the afternoon. Because there can be few things more worthy of celebration than an entire community regaining a sense of purpose and hope.
The point is that if one of Suva’s poorest areas can improve its immediate environment, why can’t Suva as a whole do the same? Let’s make 2014 not only the target for restoring democracy but taking concrete steps to restore our capital, beginning with what Grubsheet regards as the city’s Golden Half Mile. One of the jewels of Suva – the Grand Pacific Hotel – reopens in 2014 bigger and better than before. Fanning out from there, to follow are just a few suggestions of improvements – some big, some small – that will add lustre to the revival of the GPH, the Golden Half Mile and beyond.
1/ The Chinese have an old saying: “To get rich, build roads first”. The Government gets this and has the Chinese, the Malaysians and New Zealanders all working on various national road projects. But the roads in central Suva badly need attention. Cakobau Road along the side of Thurston Gardens and the Fiji Museum on one side and Albert Park on the other used to be the venue for a famous billycart derby in the 1950s and 60s in which kids would race at breakneck speed down the hill. If they did it now, it would end in a disastrous pileup of blood and broken limbs. Because let’s face it. Cakobau Road has more craters in it than the moon. The same applies to Domain and Allardyce Roads. These were once among the most prestigious thoroughfares in Suva. Now they’re like bush tracks to Nadrau.
2/ The Suva City Council has announced that a number of trees along Queen Elizabeth Drive are to be removed for safety reasons after a Baka tree at the bottom of Cakobau Road fell down recently and damaged the Piccadilly Taxi stand and some cars. It says that it’s doing so on the advice of a tree expert at the University of the South Pacific. But this is an instance in which a second opinion ought to be sought before the felling proceeds. These trees have been a prized feature of Suva for many decades and their removal is bound to cause huge upset. If they are rotted beyond repair, there may well be no alternative. But if it’s merely a question of cost, then the decision ought to be revisited. Let’s start an “adopt a tree” movement in which business houses and individuals pay for the restoration, strengthening and maintenance of Suva’s old trees. There are signs up everywhere else. Why not small, discreet ones on the trees carrying the names of sponsors?
3/ Talking of signs, there are far too many of them in Suva. They have become an eyesore. We all know that there’s intense competition between Digicel and Vodafone. But their bright red advertising signs, billboards and shop fronts are a blight on the cityscape and totally out of control. Victoria Parade has more red on it than Moscow’s Red Square at the height of communism. Mobile phones are already a curse without the visual assault of the dueling telcos. The “Bonjour” gang at Total only compound the outrage. Painting the town red is strictly for Saturday nights.
4/ Albert Park is far too regal – the centre of our ceremonial state events – to have the yellow “Crest is Best” chicken sign on top of the tennis club. Whoever thought of this idea is a turkey. If the tennis club needs money, they should organise a tombola or raffle off some chickens. Can some benefactor come forward and offer to meet the funding shortfall and paint the roof dark green? Better still, can Crest Chicken pay for the makeover as an aesthetic gesture in the national interest? Having to stage the Fiji Day parade under “Crest is Best” is as cringe-worthy as the Fiji Miss World outfit. Yes, we know it was meant to be an owl but it looked dangerously like another Crest Chicken promotion.
5/ The restoration of the statues of Ratu Sukuna and Seru Cakobau in front of government buildings is a huge improvement. Can we now also start thinking about cleaning the complex itself so that it doesn’t look so mouldy? Don’t bother with the “New” Government Building because no-one can see it. But the grand old 1930s “palace” is a national landmark that badly needs a tart up and will set off the new GPH beautifully if the necessary funds can be raised.
6/ Suva’s “Big Ben” atop Government Buildings needs to work properly. Yes, tell the correct time and also chime like it used to, the deep bong ringing out over the city like Big Ben does in London. Someone seems to have got it going again but last time I looked, it was 25 minutes behind the real time and the famous chimes have been silenced. Punctuality is one of the great virtues and the key to success in life. We’ve all heard of “Fiji time” but there’s no reason for our most famous clock to keep it. Those civil servants need to be there on time and in real time.
These are just half a dozen ideas for Suva’s Golden Half Mile. Our readers will doubtless have many more and for the entire city. But let’s resolve to at least embark on a debate about how we can afford to put some fresh make-up on our grand old lady – the city we all love, in which many of us were born, and is the centre of national life. The old girl deserves it. And we’ll feel better for it too.
POSTSCRIPT 30/10: The clock atop Government Buildings has been fixed and is now showing the correct time. Let’s see if they can restore the chimes.
I can’t agree more with the current state of the roads, parks, buildings and general upkeep of Government assets. A result of maintenance programs under funded, public works departments under equipped and trades people under appreciated, culminating over the decades.
I wonder what Suva City Council officials have been doing about these issues.
I do know and very much appreciated what SCC officials have done for Suva but weren’t they the ones who suppose to be organizing things for the Suva community?
I wonder whether they do come up with some plans (like annual plans and long term 5-10 year plans) on their ideas of improving the image and services for the Suva community. These ideas and plans should be communicated to all Suva residents and business houses. And issues discussed in appropriate forums. Where Govt offices and buildings and various assets and town planning are involved I thought the Suva Mayor and Town Clerk/Administrator was suppose to be liaising with the proper Govt officials.
It seems insufficient planning, communication, strategies and vision are the key areas which SCC needs to seriously look into.
As a start perhaps they need to have a vision of the Suva they want.
Then maybe address all the questions relating to what, why, how, when who, where, etc. Some of the Govt offices they may need to liaise with are the Town Country Planning Dept, National Roads, PSC (as they look after Govt houses/buildings?), National Trust, Fiji Museum, etc. Maybe efforts are not done in a coordinated way and all stakeholders do their own thing for Suva.
I think business houses are willing to sponsor various community projects for Suva like Saving and looking after our old Trees and National sites,etc. Maybe the main obstacle with them is that they have not been informed and approached by SCC. The strategies employed by SCC needs to be re-looked into.
Then there is another issue of how SCC will acknowledge the contributions of these businesses house and various groups who contribute towards Suva.
SCC I think needs to go back to the drawing board and re-look into all these issues and plan and coordinate things for all of us. Of course they can organize ways of getting ideas from the public. But the onus is with them.
Anyway, thank you SCC for all you have done and I do hope you will be able to fly to greater heights in moving and beautifying our beloved Capital City to glorious status it once enjoyed in the Pacific region.
I totally agree with your article Graham, Suva is becoming the dirtiest city in the South Pacific, old buildings do not get painted they look the same when I was a little child, SCC is doing good work but they need to bust ass on these property owners that live overseas and don’t really care what state of their building is at..close them down if they cannot keep up the repairs. For the first time in my life as a local, I am just disgusted with the way our city look! and for the record am in my late fifties.
Hibiscus trees in front of sea wall gets chopped almost to the ground – no tree doctors around to do professional trimming – it’s usually a guy with a machete chopping everything in sight including our old baka tress given the chance.
Eileen
Couldn’t agree more with points you make in this article Graham, esoecially about those offensive billboards all aover the place.
But progess has been made in some areas as you point out eg QE Drive and GPH restoration etc. Thurston Gradens is another one. I recall that under the previous SCC administration when another Mayor was in the chair, Thurston ardens was badly neglected – the grass was knee high. Combined with the state of Cakobau Road, it was not a good symbol of two grea men who shaped Fiji’s fuitre i.e. JB Thurstaon and Rt Seru Cakobau.
One eyesore is the half finished War Memorial on Vuya Road. It is half finished and is falling into dereliction with sensitive (katikati) grass appearing on the lawn where the names of all our soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice in war and peacekeeping are carved into a metal memorial plate. The Government promised us a Museum and veterans clubhouse etc but the promise so far has only been partially fulifilled.
I suggest that plans for the place include an avenue of trees in a parkland setting – one tree for every name on the memorial roll of honour. That would make up about 200-300 trees!
Now wouldnt that contribute to the environment as well as commemorate our war dead in the way they deserve, and not in the way that the present state of Cakobau Road reflects poorly on our attitude to the great Rt Seru himself?
I request the PM and current government do something to move the War Memorial project forward. An avenue of trees dubbed the ‘national War Memorial Walk’ or Gardens, where each tree would have a metal plate with the name of a deceased soldier is the way to go.
Let’s be honest funding of new and existing infrastructure has been sorely lacking in Fiji for years and successive governments of Fiji since 1987 all need to shoulder the blame.
But Frank has been in charge for 6 years and the decline in infrastructure has continued. True bridges have been built in rural areas and there have been new roads built. But much of this work has been done at inflated prices and without following the Governments own rules on tenders.
But if we look at existing infrastructure it has just been allowed to deteriorate unchecked. Now we are in the position of 2 bridges closed in Suva. Another 30 bridges around the country in need of immediate repair. Roads have more and bigger potholes than ever before. Indeed Cakobau Road is the norm for Fiji and not an isolated case.
The only way the country can generate enough funds to maintain existing infrastructure is to encourage economic growth. This has eluded the Bainimarama regime and private investment is at record low levels.
We will not see growth in this country until we have a judiciary that is seen to be independent.
We will not have growth in this country until companies can challenge decrees in the courts
We will not get growth in this country until we have a Minister of Finance who understands finance
We will not have growth in this country until we have a free press so the problems and bottlenecks in the economy can be highlighted and not swept under the carpet
We will not have growth in this country until free speech is allowed and encouraged and businessmen are not scared of being victimized if they say the wrong thing.
We will not have growth in this country until Government entities such as investment Fiji give out true figures instead of making up them up
SCC will not have the funds to beautify Suva until we have a growing economy.
Well said SCC, very well said,
But I think you missed a lot of important points:
1. Let Shamima and the lot run riot in the Suva City.
2. Lets have unlimited marches by the nationalists to encourage investments.
3. Lets have more hot bread kitchens (that is investment) to feed the rioters and marches.
4. Let’s have Netani Rika publish and glorify the marches and the rioters …we will get a lot of investment.
5. Lets get the independent judges from Australia and New Zealand, two of our greatest neighbours and closest allies (friends in deed), No other countries in the world have credible judges…..oh and they all have to be white for judgenment by any other will be in doubt…
6. Oh and while in Australia, we should also do the following:
a) Beg Suli to come back to Fiji to head organising “keep Suva beautiful” campaign….after all his “jerico” was a successful one in Australia.
b) Plead with ABC (Shawn Dorney…!!) to cover Suli’s campaign and relay it to the world….resulting in even more investment….even Bob Carr may want to set up a PR firm here.
c) Ok let me see….what else….oh we can get Brij and Frggin Freinkel write up the charters for Suva City Council….but we have a problem. We can’t put the existing Charters in the bread furnace, can we…..???
Mr SCC I hope I have added to your most inspiring list of to do things.
I hope you will circulate this amongst your circle of annonymous friends.
Every time I walk in the streets of Suva and see the garbage bins with SCC written on it, I will remember you.
And I hope your most inspirational writeups don’t end up there in the SCC bins and I for one hope to see Shamima and the womens (whatever she represents) organisations run riot in the streets of Suva…
Oh…blymeee….living on hope is the wisdom of a fool
Graham, your article is very timely especially in view of the Council’s drive to collect outstanding rates which will hopefully leave it with sufficient funds to carry out work to further beautify the city in addition to its commendable programme of upgrading the walking path along the seawall between SGS and Muanikau. A few immature palms have recently been added there and I look forward to more substantial shade trees being planted.
Unfortunately recent advertisements in the press indicate that several sites which are important in the sense of retaining Suva’s ambience will shortly be leased to the highest bidder.
The mangroves next to Delainavesi have been cut and filling is underway for a new commercial development. The Walu Bay inlet at the bottom of Edinburgh Drive will shortly be filled and will become the site for more industrial development, instead of being a small craft harbour. The mangroves at Nasese are already being cut down – out of sight of the public eye, and will soon also be filled to disappear forever.
Development is a fact of life and, with the increasing urban population, it’ll happen at an ever increasing pace. However this is no excuse for the green lungs of the city to be filled in to satisfy developers or factory owners’ search for cheap land. I believe the problem is exacerbated by the lack of easy access to these areas. People don’t miss something when they didn’t even realise it was there.
With a small financial input, a State or Council programme could be put in place to employ youths from Raiwaqa/ Raiwai to build simple timber walkways through the mangroves at Nasese and the Walu Bay inlet, so retaining the areas as wetland, providing employment to unskilled labourers and making the mangroves more accessible to the public – all the better to allow them to appreciate what we have in the middle of the city.
That said, the Council has already made the effort to provide a walkway around the foreshore reclamation between Tiko’s and Holiday Inn. This would be improved with the introduction of seating and shade trees which could, as your other writers have suggested, be dedicated to the memory of loved ones.
The walk from Suva’s port to the CBD is a short one yet, given the potential, it’s unnecessarily unpleasant. Ports aren’t the most aesthetically pleasing places, but it would add immeasurably to tourists’ enjoyment if they were able to walk on unbroken footpaths and then along a tree lined Nabukalou creek boardwalk straight into the town centre.
There is presently a dearth of town planners in Council and Government which has apparently hampered a coordinated approach to the development of parklands and other green spaces. Until that shortage is remedied I suggest Council and the State approach willing local architects and engineers in Suva with a view to forming a small design board which could make design suggestions and recommendations for implementation.
SCC is like a car that can run on 150 km per hour but has chosen to only do 70. Good to see it running – perhaps SCC can consider running abit faster……….. please.
Hope the Ministry of Local Govt do have some form of performance measuring mechanism to gauge how effective and efficient our Mayors and Town Clerks are.
But to measure it will first need to have some basis – this can be the attainment of a Vision – if there’s one. There is also a need for a 10 – 20 Strategic Plan. And then an Annual and Business Plan.
Good planning and coordinating are two instrumental things SCC needs.
Problem is the SCC is virtually a one man show under Umaria!
Same too with other local government councils.
How can you organise a strategic plan with no inputs from the ratepayers?
If you dont give the ratepayers a say in the running of the affairs of the city (or any other local government council for that matter) many of them will not pay their rates. Why should they if they are denied a voice?
That, Sir, is the basic problem.
Chandu Umaria is an unfortunate choice for mayor, to put it mildly, as his own family in Toorak Road Suva will attest to.
Graham,
There is now an approval in place for foreshore lease and development in Draunibota Bay. This is the bay immediately around the point from Uduya Point, heading west, sunset. The Veisari River drains into this bay. It is part of the Bay of Islands.
Michael Fairfax is the developer of this commercial subdivision that will bury 36 acres of mangrove and coastal flats.
This past 2 years I have had the good fortune to have spent quite a bit of time staying with a friend who lives above and adjacent to the mangroves.
I have never experienced in my life before such a cacophony of sound from the throats of birds, bird song, at dawn and dusk. What a memory I will carry in my life, as you do of Suva.
Michael Fairfax will destroy all of this and he will take this honour with him to his grave .
He will not be aware nor will he have ever known, he will be a man ignorant of his deed and legacy, blind and deaf, for the approval of the Board.
Our society will heap praise on him for his astute business acumen and he will invite High government officials to the opening of his marine development, and they will in turn heap praise on Mr. Fairfax; a mighty baron of industry, to his ability, his vision and saviour of Suva and our country Fiji.
Birdsong gone.
There will be some old voices who will remember, they will pass, Fairfax Street will stand, black pitch under street lamp, cane toads tongueing moths, a number fed under lorry tyres, leather patches on the tarmac, dead.
@ Ian
Thats exactly the problem I have identified in my posting above. Everything in Fiji is now a ‘one man show’. There are no inputs from concerned citizens and ratepayers etc in the development of a long-term strategic plan for the development of Suva.
Democracy is about particpation, discussion, negotiation, mediation, compromise and all of those things. With no inputs from rightfully concerned citizens like yourself and other ratepayers of Suva on issues that affect our quality of life, how can we hope to develop a long-term strategic plan for our city?
Everything is short-term, a race against time for 2014. One man is calling the shots – from the very apex of government down to the local government level. There are no elected councillors or elected Mayors etc. City and town ‘administrators’ are aoopinted by the government.
Ratepayers have no say in their appointment, and no say too on the development plans for the city. Hence, one man decides that all the baka, vaivai and taruwau trees etc in Suva should be chopped down. And we have no formal or official avenue to voice our objections.
I am all for declaring heritage forst areas including mangrove patches in Suva. we can easily buoild pathways and bridges through these mangrove areas without destroying it. Just look at how they do it in Cairns airport precinct! We can do it the same with vision and commitment…and most of all with inout from all citizens and ratepayers.
Thats the the problem with the ‘oner man show’ we have going in Fiji at the moment.
Thats my two bob’s worth bro.
Chandu Umaria thinks he is a Bollywood hero.
He has no appreciation for trees.
Thinks they are a waste of space.
This is unfortunately the low calibre of administrators in Suva.
That’s why Suva has been going down the drain.
Lots of swindling, corruption, underhands deals going on within council.
Contracts up for sale, awarded on who you know basis.
Ask Chandu Umaria.
Exactly!
And thats why Graham should wake up to and acknowledge this simple and unassailable fact.
You cant remake Suva without the particpation of its citizens.
Umaria does not have the mandate.
He is an arrogant shitbag!
Like the rest of Fiji, Suva will continue to spiral into decadence with this ‘one man rule’ idea that has gotten hold of our country since 2006.
Wake up folks!.
I am in small time business and the future does not look good with the current regime in place.
We seem to be going nowherre!
Kick Chandu Umaria out.
he is unfit for thepost.
Spends too much time drinking at Merchant’s Club.
We need some1 to wipe out corrupion at SCC.
Not smeone who is partof the system.
So many problems in Suvaand this idiot is busy looking for trees to cut down. What a joker of an administrator.
Is this the best Suva can do?
The mangove in and around Suva and the bay of Islands, walubay areas is diminishing because no n eseemings to be too worried about its importance. It appears developement is rated higher than preservation of the environment etc. Suva just needs a bit more work and more concerned rate payers and things will get under way. It is still a gem in the South Pacific no better place to see a setting sun than to be standing there next to the sea wall in Suva near Sukuna Park looking across the bay towards Veisari as one of the photos above testifies to, to realise the beauty of this City!
My mother god bless her was an avid tree lover. I remember some years ago she was on the phone to SCC when she heard them sharpening their axes to chop down a tree(s) some where in Suva. As it turned out the 123 she gave the recipient of her call saved the tree. I am reminded of that popular song some years back – cant remember the singer I think it was Burl Ives and I think the title was Woodman spare that tree. The words go like this “Woodman woodman spare that tree cut not a single bough for years it has protected me and I’ll protect it now” The public out cry has certainly saved the Ivi tree. By the way there has not been a mention of the beautiful perfume the Ivi flower gives off when in bloom.
I just wish to say something about Conservation.
I think our Environment Department also has a part to play in identifying which mangrove areas that needs to be conserved and those for semi-conservation where villagers can harvest for firewood and catch crabs, etc.And those that can be used for commercial reasons like cutting firewood for resale and those that can be reclaimed for industrial purposes.
It seems there are communication and coordination breakdowns between our Town/City Councils and the Environment & Town & Country Planning Depts.
The Environment & Town & Country Planning Depts. needs to map out our islands and demarcate these areas for all of us to know. So people can also voice their concerns on the areas which had been identified to be reclaimed into industrial areas. Perhaps what we lack is a holistic approach to our beautiful Fiji. Also collaboration and communication between important stakeholders may also needs to be improved.
Important stakeholders are:
Lands Dept, Survey Dept (they make maps and demarcate areas by using satellites?), Environ Dept, Town & Country Planning, Min of Agriculture, Min of Forests & Fisheries, National Heritage, USP, FNU, SPC and our Ratepayers and citizens of Fiji.
All these parties needs to collaborate with each other and public discussions perhaps through some Official Blog. Important information can be posted into these blogs, esp maps and statistics and research for everyone use.
Just a little thought from my side.
As with Communication and Coordination.
In my limited view, there perhaps is also a breakdown where Ministries and Departments and various stakeholders are not linked to the Greater Vision by Govt.
Everything relating to developing our nation should be linked to Govt’s Vision for a Better Fiji.
This Vision should also include a Charter that talks about our National Heritage and its conservation. Also its development. Then down to various level within Town & City Councils.
There seems to be a serious breakdown somewhere down there and coordination is really needed.
Perhaps a missing important element too are statistics and maps and ideas and research all put into one area for the benefit of all stakeholders. I agree the blog or website idea will help all stakeholders with better information and come up with good ideas.
But the onus is on on Town/City Councils and the related Ministries.
I believe SPC can assist on this regards (esp with technical knowledge) and funding assistance from Organizations that care about our Environment. But the main thing is we all need to come together and do all these things for our beloved and beautiful Fiji.
Dont cut the tree just teve umaria.
Anyone wanting to see the Fiji of 20 years from now. Find a picture of any city in China and you will see the Fiji of the future. No trees or nature around but a complete concrete jungle.
Thanks Graham, this is timely article and constructive. It has been one of my issue of concern for many years but my concern relates to the Suva Market and Suva Bus stand. The litters, oil spills, toxic gas, and whole unhealthy environment of these icon structures of Suva is a lot to be desired. It is bad reflection of our Fiji to the thousands of tourists flocked to Suva city viz. tourist liners. Sadly, these are the first icons that always greets them when they arrive. Something must be done to bring Suva Harbour immediate environment including the Market and Bus Stand to the standard of Nadi Airport concept, facilities and environment. Suva city is advertising and selling Fiji to the world. If I compare Suva and other Pacific nations capital, Suva is not there in my list. I will add on this issue later.
The simple point is if you cut, you must replant at the same spot if necessary. Cut if its necessary. Cut if public or buildings are in danger or at risk. Its not about election or the past government or current govt, politics etc. It is very simple idea taken all necessary interests into consideration before action is taken. There are landmarks of Suva which must be preserved at all costs if necessary.
Lastly, I like what Riverside said :”In my limited view, there perhaps is also a breakdown where Ministries and Departments and various stakeholders are not linked to the Greater Vision by Govt. Everything relating to developing our nation should be linked to Govt’s Vision for a Better Fiji”.
This is good point indeed. I raised this in my written constitutional submission. I wonder if its somewhere there. One way to promote and build a new and better Fiji is to encourage all governmental, religious, political, traditional, businesses, educational and sports institutions to have a vision apart from their own vision link to our national vision of building a new and better Fiji. For example, all the actions and developments proposal of city councils, investors, businesses must be in line with our national vision of building a new and better Fiji. If they cut trees, they must replant or leave portion as many as possible for the sake of new and better Fiji.
Lets all look forward to the future but remember the consequences of our decisions and actions to our children and future generations. Money or profits must never be paramount consideration. Blessing.
There is a need for greater civic education. People need to stop littering/ stealing scrap metal/spitting in public places. Even the graveyards are not safe from thieves and vandals.
Good point about civic education and country pride and all that Go Govinda. Try telling that to a guy who earns $100 a week and is barely scrapping by in life just trying to put dhal and rice on the table. The reality in Fiji is that 80% of our people are just earning enough to get by. With our cost of living being so high and wages being disproportionally very low no one really has any time to worry about civic pride etc. I have lived like that for a few years and let me tell you all you think about is how to save a few dollars so that maybe you get to feed your kids chicken once a week. When one lives like that you are almost in a zombie like state with survival the only thing that matters. Civic Pride and tree hugging be damned.
Let me tell you being poor ain’t fun and sadly this is the reality for a vast majority of Fiji’s people. It is very easy for someone with a decent disposable income to have the time and money to be concerned about other things that matter. It is not so easy when all you can think about is how to fit in the next meal for the family with your budget while keeping the water and electricity running,
That’s true, Ali, but to fix that problem, the tax rates for big corporations should increase, and those at the lower end of the scale need higher wages and more tax breaks. The profits made in Fiji by banks, insurance companies, telecommunication companies, realtors etc are obscene; and this exasperates the problem of poor distribution of wealth.
Problem is Ali, the majority of those who fill our prisons and who go rob graves and steal manhole covers etc, are those with access to LAND! They chose to leave their villages and come live on the fringes of the cities to try and eke out a living; leaving behind fertile land that could be easily cultivated with cash crops etc.
Their poverty is self-inflicted. They could easily go back to utilise the mataqali land that is readily available to them. Many have done so successfully.
If they chose to come live on the fringes of our cities then they must learn to respect the ways of city living. Thats where civic education kicks in. Any form of education that advances the quality of life in society is worthwhile.
What do you think the answer to this problem is then?
I agree that the i-Taukei youth are asset rich and getting off their backsides and working the land will pay big dividends. The problem is this solution does not apply to the other landless Fijians who have to live in the cities to earn a living. Those who have no choice in the matter are also living in poverty and that is a fact. I will give you my example. My father was born to a Girmitier. He was born into a poor home thus had to leave school and find labor jobs to help his family. He subsequently married my mother and my siblings and i were born. All this while he struggled to feed us on a labors pay at that time being about $35 a week. We made ends meet by planting on what ever land we had and basically struggled under the yoke of poverty. I did make it to form 6 and was lucky enough to land a job with a major Bank (they only hire graduates now even for the most lowly positions) which eventually helped shape mine and my families future for ever however for the most part of my younger years i had to survive on one good meal a day. This is the story in a lot of homes in Fiji and they do not have the luxury of mataqali land. One size doe not fit all Luvena.
I really envy those who went through a difficult life in becoming what they are today. To become the one who they dreamt to be! Oh dreams……………
Anyway, ‘Suva, the City of Dreams’ – this title really makes me dream – yes really dream away of opportunities we can have here in Suva.
If there was a request for all Suva residents to propose just one major upscale project they think SCC can do in the long term that can assist SCC financially, assist in SCC’s image in conserving and protecting nature and helps improve the quality of life and events in Suva and perhaps expand ‘the image’ of Suva – what project would you propose?
For me, it’s an easy one because I just love water and the forests.
I would propose an ‘Eco Aquatic & Forest Park’ (perhaps somewhere in Colo-i-Suva) which will have the following:
– Water falls and pools
– Water Playgrounds & Slides – yes, big enough to accommodate hundreds of school children and families – something better than Sydney’s Olympic Aquatic Center. ( http://www.aquaticcentre.com.au/attractions ). A minimum fee to be levied to assist in upkeep costs.
– Allocated spaces for families to have B-B-Ques in and also to sun-bath in.
– Also rooms and spaces where we can organize meetings, classy parties and functions.
– And a place full of attractions where tourists can also hang out in – like cable cars to various spots down the mountain, forest tracks to see the various trees, place where various orchids and unique flowers of Fiji are planted and cared for, places for bird watching, etc.
– A hotel that may like to be situated in the Colo-i-Suva forests.
– Shopping and entertainment areas that might interest companies like MHCC, Tappoos, Jack’s Handicraft, Prouds, Pizza Hut, Wish Bone, Bad Dog Cafe, O’Reilly’s, Sports World, etc.
– Theaters for movies.
– Etc.
This major project can really boost Suva and also turn it into a major tourist City where there’s full of fun and activities and very much to see and experience.
Perhaps some day! Oh my Suva dream………….hahahaha………..
Cheers mate!
O’Reilly’s ?????……
Otherwise a great idea…
@Kathy
Perhaps a spot for those who prefer something different than what 5 Star hotels may offer. And a good place to mix around with locals and perhaps those back packers who frequent Rain Tree Lodge.
I’m not sure what teenagers prefer nowadays but perhaps O’Reilly’s can integrate their services with the environment there – like those thundering waterfalls and natural pools with orchid flowering the sides and maybe a little Koi/gold fish pond somewhere on the side – there’s lots of pictures of Orchids & Koi Ponds in goggle.
O’Riellys can also have a TV for those dad’s who prefer to leave the kids with mum in the pool and join the others at the pub watching 7s.
Just my little thought.
@ Riverside
I hope Dad doesn’t get naughty watching those at the pool whilst enjoying his beer………….. hahaha.
By the way, the scenery you describe can really auger in well with the needs of Fiji Fashion Show to stage their fashion shows beside those thundering pools and orchids. Very exotic! Just what World Fashion shows need -very exotic places to showcase some of their products.
Even those coming for conferences organized in Suva can bring the whole family to enjoy themselves. As for Fiji delegates living in Suva it would mean a huge cost cutting measure. Conferences held in Suva can be different from those at the West in the sense that delegates can easily visit Fiji HQ Offices.
The much needed supporting facilities are all in Suva like good hospitals, Post Office, Western Union, Rental Cars, IT pubs, Embassies, Banks, etc.
Tourists can also enjoy other adventure services that can be offered inland in the Naitasiri areas like hiking, rafting, etc. Jet boat rides on the Rewa River.
For our FNU Hotel & Catering students in Suva this would mean easy excess into a major hotel for attachments at very minimal costs to the hotel owners. For our music students this would also mean opportunities to showcase our bands and orchestra at these hotels.
The opportunities are enormous ……………….. but it boils down to the $$$.
It would really be a good long term project for SCC to get into and in partnership with overseas investors and perhaps some Pacific Govt Provident Fund organization.
I like what Graham has done – putting his article in ‘Invest in Fiji’ – thanks for advertising Fiji, Graham.
I love the dream Riverside.
Can also boost economic activity in the Deuba to Nausori areas. Imagine the benefits farmers and the various entrepreneurs can also gain from this fabulous dream.
Developing our forests and related environment in Suva while the West focus on our white sandy beaches. Varieties not only tourists can enjoy within one country but more importantly us – we the citizens of the great country.
Suva indeed has alot to offer.
Readers, please take heed of the requirement not to defame anyone by suggesting that they warrant investigation for corruption. One such comment has been excised and I will not hesitate to uphold the law in relation to others. Vinaka.
Graham,
When does one draw a line in the sand?
When does one say, enough?
I say, lets save the Bay of Islands and Environs. Draunibota needs to be the line in the sand. It is part of the Bay of Islands, and a part of Suva harbour. The second best harbour in the Pacific, after Savusavu 😉
What can a group of concerned residents do?
I suggest
– to immediately start to LOBBY, LOBBY, LOBBY! to save Draunibota Bay. THERE IS NO TIME TO SPARE.
Another Rokobili is not necessary. We have thousands of acres of land available for industrial sub-division on good old terra firma.
Space for wharf, jetty, barge landing facilities is already available just 5 minutes from the proposed headquarters for PBS. The present site owned? by basic industries and used by a number of companies for their shipping operations could do with improvement. I think some vision and co-operation could work wonders for this site.
-INCORPORATE!
To be taken seriously and to get funding this must happen. To that end I will donate $1,000.00 towards the incorporation of an NGO that has its objective the preservation, conservation the Bay of Islands and Environs.
Who will drive this NGO?
I don’t know, but there are many families, and businesses that have made Lami their home, and from what I have seen, Lami has been good to them.
I would think they would all have an interest in conserving their home.
I first experienced a walk-way through the mangroves at Richard Evanson’s Turtle Island, in the Yasawas. So many years ago, yet still impressed.
Many evenings with Paddies speciality in hand, Bounty rum with a twist of lemon , ones mind imagining , walkways, people, birdwatchers, cameras in hand, directional microphones extended. Bus loads of squealing school kids disembarking for their obligatory, annual mangrove forest walk. All here, to enjoy, THIS, birdsong.
Who bags naming rights? Basic Industries. Twisties. Vodafone. Coca Cola. Novotel. Tradewinds Marine. Digicel. Fiji Coffee. Williams & Goslings, CJ Patel
Pacific Building Systems?
Graham, this is a potential challenge for a recently returned kai Viti and resident of Suva. Sharon is a resident of Uduya point, she may care, she knows.
Wait a minute Bro.
Where can we find more info on this Draunibota development?
I have never heard of it before…..am not surprised….where do we get this type of info?
@ Kathy
Ministry of Lands
You would be amused to read, (if the consequences weren’t so bloody dire)
The EIA report determines that the boto, manupussi and kalavo and wait for it……..the lulu (barn owl) are vectors for disease, are present in the proposed development, and I suppose we can all presume with a sigh of relief that if we bury 36 acres of mangrove we can all sleep well.
Now if these geniuses have found barn owls I reckon we have a good use for Miss Worlds costume after all, for a “Save the Lulu” campaign.
If l’l ol’ owls can stop logging , surely it is reason enough to stop ‘Burying the swamp”.
As far as I am aware, there has never been a plague of rats, mongoose or boto that brought about any sort of public health incident. Anyway, it is obvious that the template for these reports are cut and past and the local company has not chosen to remove what is not appropriate to our situation.
There is more of this bullshit in the report.
I think the failure of the system is that the developer hires the company that does the EIA. There needs to be another system.
Maybe a % of the project cost is set aside for EIA.Qualified EIA consultants names go in a hat, and a consultant is picked and paid by government from the fee collected for the purpose.
Another requirement should be that all applications should be on line and available for the public to view, with appropriate notice given.
The way I see it, all development projects get approved as long as they have the EIA box ticked. So lets just get rid of the pretence and save the developer some money.
Thanks Bro.
I am reading your email three times already…trying to grasp where the issue is..no offfence bro….but I still dont understand……..all those boto’s, kalavo’s, cikenovo’s, viritalawalawa (spiders) etc…..their relevance to the issue at hand!
Loloma levu to my bro Reg McComber…Komai Rogorua…I understand he is back there is the country! Great fellow he is …back in our Veiuto days
God Bless bro
@Kathy
If you ever get to read the EIA report you will understand.
Cut and past, drop in guff to fluff up a report , and everybody is happy.
All boxes ticked off.
Approved.
Bro Reggie is here at Rogorua for a few weeks.
He lost his wife and sister Lorraine, both to cancer. Back home to re-charge.
Lorraine and I enjoyed the traquility of Drauniboto Bay before she passed, and I subsequently spent some time healing at this place.
I share with many others the vision of this being a place for the residents of Suva to also find serenity.
@ Ian
Am so sorry about your loss and that of Reg. God comfort you always.
Well, now it’s up to us to take this opportunity and get our acts together a find a solution to get BACK our City spick and span just like how it once was or even BETTER,lets not cry over spilt milk, (”hold your heads up high, belly in chest out” Harry Charman saying)
@ Ian Simpson
Thanks for the updates on Draunibota bay.
Your description alludes to some degree of regulatory capture in the Government Environment Department (has always been a toothless tiger, using watered down legislation, overseen by dumbed down careerist ) and so called independent EIA consultants.
If work done by EIA consultants are not regulated properly then maybe Env Dept needs to come up with mechanisms of ensuring consultancy being done does meet some sort of standards and are fair and can be seen in a court of law to hold water.
If Env Dept has officers who are not even Environment Experts then perhaps they need to identify a process in which the work of these consultants do go through some due-diligence process done by qualified people/committee so that standards are met and in order.
EIA Consultants themselves too should be worried and assist the Env Dept identify a due-diligence process which they would both agree too.
Those who deal with investments in the public sector may like to also voice their opinions so there are not too much red tape in Govt.
Just a little thought that may help. Anyway, hope a good solution can be identified.
Suva is indeed a great city by any standards—– well if those concerned allow it to be. They should start off by fixing all our roads, get rid of all the pot holes, set up proper footpaths, bicycle lanes, walkways, access ways for the physically challenged, safe bridges, good bus shelters at all bus stops, smoke free bus terminals, etc, etc, etc.
The maintenance and the upkeep of our roads have been vey poor to say the least. Our road engineers do not seem to be capable of doing the right job- in fact they do not know what to do. Just imagine filling up pot hole with loose gavel, ram it a bit and, walla——– the job is done. I mean do these so called road engineers think the public are stupid.
What say Graham?????? What do you think???
What do the learned patrons in this forum think ??????
To Chand @ 2.43pm. Bula! Interesting comments! As a first timer I have been confounded by the myriad of hypotheses proffered in this blog. Question: Is Chandu elected or Nominated like Carr? What mandate does he have? You see we live in a state where the supreme law has been abrogated and decrees are the order of the day. There are no avenues for challenging or appealing autocracy. Most of the people who once had dreams similar to those envisioned my most of you left many moons ago. Suva does not even have a decent five star hotel man, and is GPH resurrection a Fiji Government or foreign project? There is no money-we have forfeited the benefits of Commonwealth largesss. The events of 1987 saw the sacred pillars of democracy shattered and the loss of civic pride. Fiji must be the only place where youths play soccer on a professional tennis court-go up to Knolly Street on a weekend and observe the stupidity; and Albert Park, where Sir Kingsford Smith landed his Southern Cross and the venue for manynoteworhy sporting and historical evenys, now resembling a paddyfield. I too dream of being able to drive to a nice little nook with my family and use a public BBQ facility and cool drinks from my eskee without thugs harrassing us and making off with my lamb chops-oilei! And if small Ben cannot keep time, lets replacr it with a modern Digital clock-story khatam. Also no offence, but it is Cor Blimey (Gawd Blind me) first appearing in print circa 1889. Shalom.
@ akashvani,
oh blymeee…..no offence but who gives a shit on what is politically correct.
akashvani…oh blymeee…..no offence but shouldn’t it be “aakashvani”….but who gives a shit…
You maybe in the wrong forum for many blogs ago the idea of democracy/BOB Carr/Australia/Newzealand/coup 4.5 have been discussed and to us folks is a waste of time.
While many of us enjoy a jolly family time along the Nasese seafront without harrasment or fear, there are still many the likes of you insult the mainly itaukei from your high and annonymous pedestal….what a shame……
Yesterday I saw many groups of rugby training sessions through out Albert park..(I believe they are preparing for the Services tournament)…many champion players have been made on those grounds and many have gone abroad earning, supporting their families and the nation through remission……and you still like to insult them……..no wonder most of you come in as annonymous….and you’re worried about your lamb chops and esky.
How dare you insult the youths of Fiji who enjoy a game of football or Rugby..and whereever they play….how dare you….you annonymous friggin slob.
Yeah Suva City has a long way to go as contributed by the various bloggers and I am no fan of Chandu….don’t forget the past elected reps. did bugger all…just got their arses fattened up for party at the Merchants club. Having said that, the happiness and the vibrancy of our youths takes precedence over your lamb chops, your friggin esky and your cool drinks and maybe your stay in this country.
Oh blymeee….did you say “professional tennis court”…..
Albert Park……………….. a paddy field ?????????????????
Piis off you bugger and go back to that same slum you came from.
This forum demands intelligent discussion from intelligent people. And we surely have many inteliligent people gracing this forum.
But not you. You sound like Suli the semi matured embryonic bovine.
@ Chand,,,,,,,,,,,,,, you are spot on bro. We do not need foul mouthed aliens to trying to beliitle our people here.
Good one pal!!!!!!
You know mate Jukebox, this guys intention was to deceive and create a mischief and this is what cowards and the devils do. This cowards message was in his writing….start of as an “indian” and sign off as shalom..”jewish”….but the devil has many forms as well…..
As we get closer to 2014, we will see a lot of these guys trying their best to bring a rift between the two major communities…….these scums will be identified, make no mistake about that and together we will defeat them…
Kind regards
http://youtu.be/8S7Qf4r-LX8
Video of FBCL news reports (23/10/12) on Uduya point development plans, that was brought up in an earlier response by Ian Simpson.
Thank you Tom ( I bvelieve that was you on the you tube as well) and good going. Some of us get to miss important news because of committments and directions such as your helps a lot.
I think the naysayers should note that constructive questions and concerns about city and national affairs, will make those in authority listen….now that was free speech……a genuine concern……
Now to those annonymous buggers and advocates of free media/speech….go to Nabua barracks to see if the three ladies and the 2 gentlemen (appearing on the youtube) have been paraded and beaten up for expressing their views….
If not than you all need not go any further to look at who you are and reflect …..and this is how you do it…..: stand with your backs in front of the mirror, drop your pants down, bend down and look at the mirror from between your legs….now say “hooray” and “e nai jai”. Now post your results on who you are on Coup4.5 and don’t come back to this site unless you have some positive things to offer.
One of the key palyers in the building industry is PBS (Pacific Building Solutions) and in their website, it is stated that “Pacific Building Solutions (PBS) began constructing luxury homes in the South Pacific in 1991” and that is approximately 21 years. Their management team has 11 expatriates and “employ over 750 personnel”
and have completed quite a number of projects here in Fiji.
My question is this: In 21 years of operation, why isn’t there a single person of local origin in the management position.
How much money is taken out by this “Australian” team…Do they have a board…who sits on them……
And then this:…”PBS recently upgraded the operating theatres at the CWM Hospital….$2 million…. much-needed, high-tech renovation. As part of our commitment to corporate-social responsibility, we donated a new $20,000 surgical lighting system”..
I don’t earn as much, but over my lifetime I have provided much more in cash and services for the needy.
PBS…we know you are reading this: how about more social responsibility in providing for the needy….how about management training for the locals….21 years is a long time mates and just don’t show tokenism responsibility…
Dear folks…Fiji is a great country and its people with big hearts. Simple people who love life and don’t get involved with the complexities of buy and sell and the con jobs that come with it (please note I am not saying that PBS or any other).
Many a people have come here and set up businesses…some with honest intentions and some simply to con the ordinary folks and make money…
In the coming month, I intend to set up a name and shame website and of course with “evidence” collected, post for people to see…of course legally done…believe me it is effective (some months ago a hardware shop conned me in a suburb of Sudney…and refused to refund me. The following day I went across to the news agency and bought a large piece of white cardboard and thus wrote ” SUPER (company name) SUPER THIEF
DON’T SUPPORT CHEATS AND THIEVES” and stood outside the shop for approximately 4 hours. I had 99% support of the people in that area with cars tooting and normal folks giving high 5s….some taking pictures for facebook and what not. Yes that was me and in that period only 1 individual got into the shop….finally 6 cops came and asked me to leave and go to Fair trading….
Why support businesses who don’t support the local community….yes we can boycott..yes we can and there are ways
This is precisely my point…..enough is enough.
I will be supplying gadgets so folks you wanna get on board…….keep up your posts and watch….keep Fiji Honest
Kind regards to all
I think the sorriest looking building is Rugby House…its in a serious need of a renovation…
Guess what they (FRU executives) keepin the upstairs rooms for?
Tiddlywinks?
😉
I thought Chandu Umaria had once declared on national television that his officers will be going around the bus terminal in Suva to ensure that all parked buses had their engines switched off.
You go there on any given day since that declaration……………… no enforcement officers around, parked buses belching smoke and revving their engines at will.
Sometimes I just wanna spell Chandu’s name with a big capital “G”.
Something’s ought to be done very quickly about this never ending health hazard.
I mean………… does the SCC know anything about OHS?????
Sorry Guys…………………….. wrongfully posted under Anonymous.
It’s my post.
Here it is again………..
I thought Chandu Umaria had once declared on national television that his officers will be going around the bus terminal in Suva to ensure that all parked buses had their engines switched off.
You go there on any given day since that declaration……………… no enforcement officers around, parked buses belching smoke and revving their engines at will.
Sometimes I just wanna spell Chandu’s name with a big capital “G”.
Something’s ought to be done very quickly about this never ending health hazard.
I mean………… does the SCC know anything about OHS?????
Graham,
One suggestion if only 2 to 5% of the money allocated to the military annually can be used for a major clean up campaign wouldn’t it be nice? I don’t even want to take my children swimming to Suva point because of the pollution !!
The military is setting standards now in just about everything in Fiji.So wouldn’t it be a bad idea if they extend those standards into major cleaning up say get out their engineering and navy corps to embark in all these rather than holding guns and marching around etc etc
@ Wilson,
Oh wilson ..wilson …jeez man what happened to your great revelation of 6 months ago…still waiting man….
No sooner did you open your mouth…well lets say put your pen to paper…
oh blymee….it is like akashvani….
Ok we pay high rates to the council for the the military to do the clean up…
It’s like …well….to milk the cow you would have to tie the dogs leg….I dunno
@ Wilson
Come on man….why dont you ask the military to give you a run down on what their engineers have done so far this year out in the rural areas? They have built rural roads, school builidings, nurses quarters, levelled new village sites because of climate change etc.
By their nature the military have weapons to safeguard our security…you cant have a military without weapons. They are serving in various troublespots around the world. Fiji is punching way above its weight in promoting international peace and security.
You are obvioulsy complaining about the Fiji Day Parade at Albert Park where the soldiers were marching as part of Fiji Day celebrations. What wring with that? We have been doing that since 1874!!!
What a whinging little soul you are. You have no positive comment to make. Just whinge…whinge…whinge….
Suva……….our City of Dreams.
Its really nice to see that we all care about her, her state and opportunities.
We really care that some of us have come up with a degree of critical comments – perhaps unpleasant to hear – but maybe just to show how much they really care and love our beloved our City.
We really need to work and live in the dream that we aspire to.
SCC in my view has done tremendous work with the very limited resources that it had been offered with – in these trying times. I believe SCC officials may have sacrificed alot just to show Suva residents that its working very hard for all our benefit. The journey they have took has had alot of challenges and there were times that they were down on the low and times walking on a high and shining radiantly. Thank you SCC – we are indeed thankful to you for all that you have selflessly offered.
On the other hand, I really hope that SCC will be able to note that while we respect and appreciatively acknowledge the great efforts that they had put in there are so many rooms for improvement.
‘Lighthouse’ said ‘SCC is like a car that can run on 150 km per hour but has chosen to only do 70’.Maybe what SCC needs to realize that it has what’s needed to make Suva a more developed place than it currently is. It can run more than 70 km/hr!
Suva has the needed resources to repair our roads, footpaths, potholes, etc and even clean polluted areas and beautify our City.
SCC needs to understand that Suva’s upkeep and development is not just theirs – the officers working within SCC – its our responsibility together. They are just the head that needs to plan things and involve all of us – although they collect rates from all of us. Various parts of the body cannot operate in an orchestrated fashion if the head does not allow it to move in that manner – its the head that controls!
We are many but one.
There’s the various Youth Groups in Suva, the various religious Groups, the various business companies looking for great projects and efforts to sponsor, various Embassies who also want to contribute to show that they are Suva residents too and this is also their City of residence and they do care, even the various organizations that I cannot count them all that really love to be involved and even our school children, Universities and civil servants and military/navy personnels. Even the various political parties – the current Govt, SDL party, FLP, NFP, Generals and others.
Upgrading Suva is one of our priorities as we all love our City and this is our home.
If only SCC involves all of us – and do understand that we need to come together and make our dream become a reality.
SCC of course needs to communicate this well and ‘sell’ their ideas and views in a very ‘attractive’ manner to all concerned to please care about our City because this is your City – your home – your pride. And is asking you to please join in the big family and pitch in to make her a grand lady that stands out among the best.
I really wish SCC can involve us all in a structured manner through various appropriate mechanisms and allow the spirit of Suva to rise and shine like a star she really is.
And for me personally, an ordinary person with very limited knowledge of how things are – just to be given an opportunity to at least help in planting some flowers in some parts of Suva to beatify some little paths that our Suva children may trod on.
God bless you all and really hope we’ll be given various opportunities to be instruments of making our Grand Lady shine someday before the good Lord calls for our return.
A couple of days ago I saw Chandu on one of the channels proclaiming success on 80%?? of outstanding rate (millions) collected and literally shouting about “what you want for your city..tell me”.
Well Chandu, you spent a lot of money to get that millions and just a 10 second clip on a channel asking for our input won’t do…..
And we’re also talking of proportionality contribution here…….we all love a beautiful city…the sea side, the gardens and the lot…it attracts locals as well as tourists…
The larger benefits of a beautiful city goes to the business houses…..more people coming to the city and the surrounds and are likely to spend…….
Should the business houses be made to pay a lot more for the benefits…..this is the proportionality contribution I am talking here…..or should my folks in Samabula, living in pot holed street with stray dogs running and shitting wild all around be made to pay for the benefit of the business houses….
Does anyone know if we have a “sister city” relationship with a foreign country??
Oh blymee….cleanliness is just common sense….get your broom out Chandu
Kathy,
As you well know the RFMF overspent its budget by 10’s of millions of dollars between 2003-6. Every year since then it has been given more money in the budget and it now one of the biggest single items in the budget.
We also don’t know if the RFMF has managed to live within its increased budget because there have been no Auditor Generals reports to confirm RFMF spending.
Even if SCC was given just 10% of the recorded RFMF overspend between 2003-6, they would have had over $5m to spend on these much needed projects outlined by Graham.
Maybe our security was top priority between 2003-6 hence monies going the RFMF’s way. They were in power and they may have seen that with the situation we were in this action may have been prudent.
RFMF was being given a significant amount maybe to enable our country follow a direction that will bring a prosperous Fiji for all. A Fiji we can all be proud of and wholeheartedly love to be associated with.
Of course these monies could have benefited not only Suva but our nation as a whole – but spending it on an inclusive vision back then was perhaps a better alternative.
Perhaps when the dust settles then Govt can reduce RFMF’s budget – but for now – our security and having a sense of order in my view is more important.
As for the future -that is 2013 and beyond – the issue is, given the current situation we are in, and stuck in it and whether we like it or not, can we look for ways to improve our beautiful home called Suva.
I have given my little thought with my very limited knowledge and experience – maybe you would be able to think of some answers to our situation here at Suva.
God bless
By the way, Kathy is a different person – Was the comment for me?
Maybe you were referring to Kathy’s earlier email.
@ Wilson masqauerading inder ‘Army Overspend’
You are reading only the debit side of the ledger my friend…perhaps you are cockeyed?
Let me ask you; how much has Fijian soldiers earned from international peacekeeping over the years?
I recall reading a paper some years back which proved that Fiji was making a profit from its various peacekeeping endeavours i.e. the money earned or paid to Fiji by the UN under its reimbursement formula far exceeded the outlays.
Add to that the ‘multiplier effects’ of that investment and you begin to appreciate the big picture.
You cant sucessfully argue your case if you only choose to read just one side of the ledger. Your biases against the military are clouding your judgement.
Chand
Are you just a made up character created by the dark and evil imaginings of Graham’s employer’s Qorvis? Do you really exist?
http://fijimediawars.blogspot.co.nz/2012/11/whowhat-is-qorvis-communications.html
@ Chand is just a figment of imagination ,
My name is Chand, a proud indentured son and what is yours.
I remember an old Indian joke where the village bully would come and thus pronounce:”May sher ke baccha hoon…koia hai…”…read as “I am the son of a lion…is there anybody to challenge..” and thus the enlightened chorus would then say….” did the lion come to your home or did your mother go to the forest”
…..oh blymeee…..sher ka baccha….afraid of some genuine conversation????
I don’t blame you if you don’t have the basic intellect for a meaningful conversation and maybe this place is not for you….why torture youself…give it up and go back to your hole you call a lion’s den.
Oh blymeee…qorvis don’t worry about little pricks like you.
And thus folks the story of the sher ka baccha ends here.
@ Chand………….. oh no matey Chand. The sher ka bacha story doesn’t end here. This sher ka bacha end up in Labasa.
And you know what happens there to all the shers and bakdis.
And thus folks the story of the sher ka baccha ends there in Labasa.
Kathy,
call me cockeye,call me whatever.Try and do some maths.Since Rabuka’s coups of 1987 the military has spent more than a billion dollars.What have they got to show for that?And you show us the other side of the ledger that you are barking about.I know some people who are commanding the engineering corps.They only go and build projetcs which are funded,in other words the materials must be ready before they go and do the building,in other words they only provide labour. Back in 1990 I had a chat with the late Dr Jona Senilagakali and this was before he joined the military.He said he went to a country in Africa ( one of those coup riddled countries like Fiji ) he talked to one of the leaders there,and that leader told him and I quote ” All I can smell in this city is the smell of antiseptics ” meaning the government has spent all resources on their military and all they have left to clean up hospitals and everywhere are the antiseptics.Dr Senilagakali was indirectly referring to the problems in Fiji.To my surprise he joined the Fiji army a few months after our talk to set up the army hospital and their medical insurance.The rest is history !!I I remember how he used to tell me the level of abuse etc,in terms of stock level in the army hospital etc
When you talk about security spending you base it as a percentage of GDP Kathy as I said do the maths on this and go back to 1987.
I am not anit military etc.I have some very close relatives and frineds there in the army,both retired and currently serving,they all get it from me during family and village meetings
As for you Chand,Happy Diwali and may your light keep shining !!
@ wilson,
Aare bhai, thanks for the greetings albeit sarcastic. Diwali or no diwali…let there be light always to everyone.
I’m still waiting for the big revelation….or should I……but here’s how your story always begin:
I am sorry but once you did mention that your wife whilst working in PNG (mine??) said !!!!!???
Than the good doctor told you ??????
Than your families in the military tells you ??????
Than your book keeper tells you about the budget measures on ?????
Than someone told you that the problem in Fiji was because the Indians refused to intermarry for integration????…and no wonder your sarcasam on diwali….
And than someone once told you something about SCC and you were going to make a big revelation about?????
Aare yaar wilson…where is your head man…..as they say in the itaukei language: sa levu na kakase yaar…..get positive yaar or as they say you will be left behind the back
Oh blymee…did you smell the antiseptic.
@ Wilson
You do the maths and present it as part of your argument…you are making the claim that the Army is overspending…not me. You mention the Army expenditure as a percentage of GDP. So what it is that percentage? Caan you tell us?
Talk to me about real soldiers Wilson…..Jona Senilagakali was not a regular soldier…he was an opportunist who jumped on the bandwagon after the 1987 coup and like a limpet (do you know what that is) sucked on the system ….my father served in Lebanon..he served there four times in the 1980’s and early 1990’s…my brother has served in Iraq…so I know what I am talking about…I am a mother of three kids if you wanna know more.
Come on Wilson…do the maths and tell me what percentage of GDP does the military use up and how does this compare to other developing countries.
Also do the maths and tell me how much has the military spent over the years viz a viz how much they have earned through (1) remittances by individual soldiers and (2) through reimbursments made by the UN and MFO to Fiji for use of Fijian military units.
This is all big picture/macro-economics stuff that you should be presenting to substantiate your claims. The onus is on you to ‘do the maths’ since you are the one who is making e claim that the Army is overspending.
All I am saying is that in the greater scheme of things you have to establish whether in terms of input and outputs, military spending represents a net loss or gain to the country?
You made the cliam that they are not…that they are overspending….I am questioning the basis of your claim…where are the facts?
Or is it just BS?
Wilson,
Please repond to Kathy’s queries. They are pertinent questions that goes to the substance of your claims that the army is overspending. Unless we are presented with the facts, your arguments remain BS (to use Kathy’s words)
How do we put a price on the ‘peace & security dividend’ that Fiji under FB and the military is provding at this time? I think that was the question Jukebox was alluding to.
Has Fiji’s involvement in international peacekeeping been a cost to Fiji? If so what is that cost? And how does that cost stack up against the overall reimbursemnets made by the Un and the MFO to Fiji all these years? Are we in a position of a net loss or a net gain?
All fair questions by Kathy. According to her findings Fiji has indeed made a net gain from all their financial outlays over the years. So in net terms, the military expenditure over the years has been outweighed by financial and other gains.
Unless you are prepared to provide the facts your posting is worth nothing.
And please leave Chand out of this. He is a good man who has substantial business interests in Fiji, more than you and your father and grandfather put together. If you have any doubts call into Bobs Electrical in Ono Street, Samabula.
Let me know when you plan to be there because I am currently up in the hills in the West (Nadarivatu etc) and will make a point of being there should you rock up.
Meantime do some sums and let us know
May be we get Kathy to get the ball rolling by giving us her sums and maths and all her findings.Well done to you and your family for serving dilligently in the army And to Komai yes Fiji and especially the families of soldiers have had to pay in all our involvements in peace keeping etc.Where in my argument did I say the military is overspending?My claim is based on the military spending relative to other areas like health,education,infrastructure etc.Go back to my initial argument,they are setting the standards in every facet of life in Fiji now not just security.So whats wrong with asking them to extend that standard into environment clean up etc rather than just cleaning up corruption etc
Chand the problem with you is when I raised some genuine issues we can talk about which would be good for nation building as we move forward you immediately became very sarcastic.Komai not a problem we can meet at Bob’s electrical any time for a bowl or two.I am not questioning Chand’s business accumen,thats his bread and butter.
Wilsoni
Answer the question. You raised the issue of Army overspending in the first place, so you have an obligation to explain yourself with facts.
I am sure Kathy can quote her references. can you do the same to support your claims of overspending?
kakua na ‘step’ tiko
All we want is for you to tell us what is the Army’s expenditure as a percentage of GDP.
can you tell us that?
“Go back to my initial argument,they are setting the standards in every facet of life in Fiji now not just security.So whats wrong with asking them to extend that standard into environment clean up etc rather than just cleaning up corruption etc” (Wilson)
Where were you when the Army was cleaning up Nadi and Ba after the most recent floods?
Pull your head out of your arse you silly twat!
Stop being a one-eyed dickhead!
Kathy,
I would love to see the report you are talking about or even know when it was written. I can assure you of one thing it was not written in this century. It might have been in the last century when Fiji had sensible spending on defence.
In 2006 when the RFMF overspent so wildly and cost the tax payers of Fiji nearly $100m the UN contributes just over $20m. So about one fifth of the cost of the military is covered by the UN. Indeed the UN contribution did not even pay for the overspend of $38m.
The Army budget has continued at between $100m to $110m ever since and the UN contribution has not gone up significantly.
So you tell me is the RFMF in the black or the red.
I also find it quite shocking that you think it is fine for any government entity to overspend its budget so carelessly.
I don’t know what you do Kathy but could you imagine just over spending your budget by $38m and no one saying anything.
@ Army Overspend
Go read the 1993 Fiji Government ‘Report of the 1993 Peacekeeping Review’ that was led by Jioji Kotobalavu.
Also read a working paper titled ‘UN Peacekeeping, UNIFIL and the Fijian Experience’ by LtCol Jm Sanday, published by the Strategic & Defence Studies Centre of the ANU, Canberra, in 1998.
You may also wish to acquaint yourself with another publication – the 1997 Defence White paper titled ‘Defending Fiji’ that was led by Brigadire ian Thorpe. Also other Defence Reviews that followed, especially the one written by Roger Lowry & Stewart Firth.
Unlike Wilson and yourself, I am basing my comments on actual studies undertaken into the issue of military spending.
By the way you only refer to UN payments. What about the MFO in Sinai? They have been there since 1982 and are regularly reimbursing Fiji more than Fiji outlays.
Go read and educate yourself on these issues before commenting
Riverside,
The comment was addressed towards Kathy but let’s talk about the level of military overspending.
In 2006 the military was given a budget of $68m dollars. They managed to overspend that by 56% or $38,080,000.
Since then their budget has increased dramatically and they are allocated over $100,000,000 per annum.
In 2010 Fiji spent $10m US more on defense than PNG. That is a far bigger country with 10 times the population, 40 times the land mass. In addition they have to cope with gun crimes on a regular basis where as in the Fiji the only people who ever commit gun crimes are the military.
So back to the main point 10% of the military overspend would have given SCC nearly $4m to spend on beautifying the Suva instead it was taken by the army to spend on God knows what. And I don’t mean Bainimarama is God though I am sure he thinks he is.
@ Army Overspend
The PNGDF is about the same size as the RFMF and it does not have troops deployed on international peacekeeping missions. Its equipment is outdated and morale is low because of poor standards of housing etc, the result of inadequate funding.
The RFMF involvement in international missions means that we have to give our soldiers the best equipment for their own security and protection. You cant expect to send soldiers into volatile areas and issue them with .303 rifles from WW2!
Get real
Luvena,
I was in Suva when the soldiers went and helped with the clean up.
They were only 200 soldiers involved in the clean up; less than 7% of the total numbers in the RFMF. They also only started to help 4 days after the flooding. All the rescue work had to be handled by the police, Red Cross and the civilian population. Where was the army then?
So you think it is good value to spend $100m a year for 200 soldiers to do 1 month’s clean up after a flood.
So ‘Army Overspend’, would you have everyone – cooks and bottlewashers, hospital orderlies etc in the Army turn out to clean up Suva?
Obviously the army worked out what tasks they had to do and worked out the manpower required to carry out that task. So waht if its only 7%!!! Thats the ammount of effort that was required to complete the mission.
Go do some reading into military subjects. The first item you should acquaint yourself with are the so called ‘Principles of War’ aroud which an Army organises itself and its tasks. an important principle which applies in business as well, is the principle of ‘Economy of Efffort’. You find out what it means then you will probably understand why the Army committed 7% of its manpower to the clean up task.
So dont try and be a smart arse. Go read and educate yourself before commenting
So the army is full of bottle washers and nurses. lol
I say get rid of the army because their a waste of tax payers $$$, anyway their only over payed security guards.
@ Mac,
There is nothing wrong in being uneducated. Many of us didn’t get the opportunity for one reason or another. I don’t have a degree or what not but I did learn from observing good people, being in the company of good people of all castes and creeds.
That does not mean I can not stand and debate with your idol Wadan or that guy from ANU……that Friggin Fraenkel or warty Manning….
You see “mac”, truth and individuality give one courage and do you have one?
I don’t wait and sit for handouts and 80% of the times I take a bus ride or walk/jog and along the way I get my education from the ordinary folks. Folks in the settlements off Gaji Road or Grantham Road Raiwaqa….or a Friday and Saturday yarn with the Farmers from Tailevu and the interior of Viti Levu who would come down the hills to sell their produce….I get my education from them…..this is real education.
Mac, you can’t even get your name right leave alone your train of thoughts. And there is no guessing on the kinds of people you associate with.
@ Army Overspend
Thank you Sir for your comments. I humbly respect your views and its really great to see our citizens really caring about how our monies are spent.
Spending Govt monies for Fiji and its interests in moving towards a more prosperous future is what we all want and need.
Please allow me to ask this question: What kind of Fiji do we want?
I want a Fiji where all our interests are adequately addressed and we feel we all belong and one that can ensure we have a prosperous life and future.
Perhaps this extra monies given to the RFMF is the cost of this big dream. But I dare to dream this beautiful dream.
I am thankful that our previous Govts had done some things for our iTaukei brothers and sisters between 1987 to 2006 – in order to adequately address their interests. Now our other Fijian brothers and sisters are not happy and their interests too needs to be adequately addressed. Perhaps its now time to change the direction we had followed so all our citizens are not forgotten and are also well looked after and we come up with a good solution that we can all be proud of.
The direction we take is important as we need to review our past and how it has affected us and come up with a new solution to mending our problems and differences – so that we don’t all sink as a nation.
Yes the overspending is actually alot of monies but we are still floating and have not sunk.
I believe our people in various important positions are taking care of our finances and we have good people too who are watchdogs to how and where we spend our monies.
But the attainment of this dream – A Prosperous Fiji for All – is a good dream for our nation.
We are now on a journey to a new Fiji – where all our interests will be adequately addressed. And I’m thankful for that opportunity.
Kathy,
I was very specific when I said none of the reports you referred to were written in this century. And as you so rightly point out they were all written in the 1990’s.
In the twentieth century the Fiji army was professionally run and could live within its budget. The massive overspend by the military only began in 1999. It is no coincidence that the time the RFMF starts to overspend wildly is when Bainimarama assumes command of the military. Ever since Fiji’s own little megalomaniac has been in charge, the army has not answered to anyone, least of all the people of Fiji for their massive overspending.
Thank you for correcting me and I was not specific enough in the earlier response. The $20m Fiji received for peacekeeping in 2006 included payment from the MFO and the UN. Thank you for highlighting that.
Please just accept it the RFMF is not a profit centre and it costs the people of Fiji about $80m net.
In return the military remove democracy and carry out coups at will.
@ Army overspend ,
Another annonymous and shall we then call you a sher ka baccha…you have given us no choice….
Get this: With changing times and circumstances, the military don’t have to reveal its spending.
During these trying times, we have come to know who our “real” friends are….Do we need to tell our neighbouring “friends” (big brothers) how much we spend on our military and what we buy…..
Here’s an example: how do we know the white guy in the Australian Aid van parked at the eatery opposite Centrepoint is not listening to conversations…say at the Nabua barracks…fiction?????..and why do we have a lot of these vehicles on the streets…fiction????How do we know he is not gathering data about time/ movement/numbers/pattern of military personnel…
And now sher ka baccha, we need to tell the world that the army is buying counter surveillance equipment to monitor these guys….????
You see baccha, when we have people like you (hello wilson) why do we need enemies….
You see if you reveal who you are than maybe we can have a real debate..otherwise…oh boy
Here’s an idea…you want democracy Aussie style…well go there…not qualified…don’t worry go as a tourist…change your name to Ratu xxxx. When you get there, obtain a bridging visa…get in touch with Suli…bad mouth Fiji and lo…you get the visa….(the bigger filthy loud mouth the more chances).
If by any chance you are there, than happy Maccas time.
@ Army Overspend
You say that the $20 million Fiji received for peacekeeping in 2006 included the MFO.
Can you please explain where you got these figures from? i.e. quote your authority in the same way Kathy did to back up her assertion.
It would help give credibility to your assertion in the same way Kathy did (many thanks kathy for that reference….something I will look up).
@ Army Overspend
I gave you those references so that you would get a grip on the rationale that lay behind military spending in Fiji. You have not bothered to read up on the strategic basis of Army spending…so really you are wasting my/our time.
You showed your bias by by referring to Frank as a “little megalomanic”….etc…..you are so full of bias and prejudice..so why should we take you seriously?
Please quote me the basis of your calculations.
Most of all, please explain to us what is the UN and MFO formula for reimbursing ‘Troop Contributing Countries’?
And present us with facts that allow to judge whether Fiji is making, in a national/strategic sense, are we making a profit or a loss?
Cut the bullshit my friend…give us the basis and authority for your conclusions.
My background? I am a mother of three with a postgraduate degree. My husband and I run a business here in Suva and we employ six people. My Dad served in the RFMF in Liban, Sinai and Timor. That explains my passion.
PS: I also lost a dear cousin in the Iraq through the British Army…and we had to bury him here in Fiji…..my gandfather served in WW2 and my great-grandfather went to France in the 1914-1918 War. My father served in Liban.
Those of us who have had to suffer the supreme sacrifice in Fiji do not share your sckeptism and smart arse comments.
Thank you Sir.
I am one whose menfolk have served Fiji from WW1 to the present…so I do feel I have the right tondefend their service and the military spending asociated with it.
Your attempt to put down Fijian servicemen is contemptible!
@ Jone……. so you think you are some sort of smartie here with all your sarcasm and innuendos? Do you think the honourable PM is going to give a hack about what you are on about????
You are trying to diguise yourself from your real self——- Suli !!!!
Ohhhhhhhh no, no, no Suli,,,,,,,, stop being a spoilt kindy child.
No this is way beyond Suli….the guy cant string two coherent sentences togther
@ Army Overspend
I think you’ve lost your case my friend.
Anyway, that’s OK. We all make mistakes. Don’t worry.
But I humbly invite you to come and join the hundreds of thousands who share the dream of a prosperous future for all our citizens. A new Fiji that will be more democratic and equal and respect all our citizen’s concerns. Where division caused by ethnicity, gender, colour and creed will be no more.
This is the new Fiji VB and the RFMF wants for our nation. A nation built on rock solid foundations that can whether any storm and any test of time.
We all want a better Fiji. Other parties have not come up with solid Visions of the Fiji they’re taking us to. Only the urge of taking VB and this dream out the window. They will continue to divide us and play politics with our people and not come up with a roadmap or charter that will bring us hope.
My friend and others reading this ………….. this is our chance to make a better Fiji.
Come my friends………… come and be part of our great family. The road before us has alot of challenges but we will be patient and we will continue to fight this good fight for as long as it takes. 2014 is just around the corner and we need a nation that is enlightened and just and will stand by principles that brings us together.
@ Lighthouse,,,,
Well said bro. There are some here who just cannot fathom the idea of a peaceful, united and a prosperous Fiji. To be Frank mate, I just dunno what the hell is wrong with them.
And let me tell all here now that i hold dual citizenship. I have a substaintial business interest in Fiji. I live in brisbane, Australia and i have a business here as well.
With the current situation in Fiji and the no nonsense incentives offered by the current government, I have already decided to invest a few million bucks back home which will provide perhaps 350-400 full time and well paid jobs to all Fijians. And also inject my fair share of taxes to the government.
And it is not just me here Lighthouse…………. I have been in contact with many other former Fijians conducting their businesses all around the planet and, seriously, many of them are also contemplating doin the same.
And guess what……………….. some of us are now in the process of giving up our foreign citizenship, go back home and live there.
The government of the day has mapped out a very well planned strategy wherein the nation will prosper through increased economic activity in harmony with it’s populace, corruption is being weeded out, the population is being made aware of patriotism and unity, infrastructure is being improved, civil service is being reformed, a new constitution is in the process of being formulated, ethnicity based politics will be done away with, etc, etc (I can go on & on & on & on……)
Just what is wrong with the would be distractors?
As far as i can see things…………. they are losers, pathetic individuals who have no sense of shame, let alone any patriotism in them.
So…… Lighthouse……….. i am with you here bro.
Sheez Shazzer
How many times do I keep telling you – don’t say Holiday Inn, tell me the TraveLodge! That’s how I think of it. My memory’s not what it used to be and if it’s the usual 5pm meeting I’ve probably consumed a few Aussie Journalistic Medicinals by that time as well. Because of the confusion, I ended up in some joint on Robertson Road. I have to tell you Shazzer, that is not the sophisticated end of Suva the City of Dreams and not the sort of place for a Walkley and Logie-award winning journalist (that’s me). When I asked for a Cab Sauv they called a taxi. So I asked for a Pinot Noir and the man said “she’s off today.” It wasn’t going well and I was getting a bit irritated, especially when they brought me some terrible thing called Tribe to drink. I said “Do you know who I am?” and the man said “just wait until you sober up, then we can help you find out.” I was getting very angry by now and told the man, “do you know that I have a Walkley AND a Logie?” He said “me too, but the girls don’t mind.” The company on offer didn’t seem to be of a fixed gender and I have to say Shazzer, in my mind’s eye you were looking like Miss World Fiji in comparison. Then I started getting hallucinations about the Red Crested Owl of Government Buildings and knew it was time to get out of there.
Cash Guy…Cash Guy – who are you talking about Shazzer? There’s quite a lot of Cash Guys in our government after all. I mean the PM and the AG don’t mind the folding stuff, half the Cabinet’s on the take…who could this be?
As for Crazy Welsh. I got that one, you are a clever minx the way you use these secret codes, lucky I am also clever. Did you know I won a Walkley once? It could have been worse. It’s a good thing you gave him that government vehicle. So when some old white dude jumps out of a G-plated Toyota Land Cruiser at Suva Market and says “tell me totally objectively and confidentially what you think of Frank’s government” at least people know what to say. But be careful when you pay old farts who left the country years ago to come back to say nice things about your government. You never know how it will end. I mean, with some of them, not all of them. I mean, don’t get me wrong. And don’t stop sending the cheques.
So you saw our latest strategic move on the scrap metal? It was all getting too hard and the task force was getting bored and there was no budget to pay us allowances so we decided just to ban the trade altogether. A brave official asked us ‘where is the logic in that?’ Silly man, we said. Because we can. Then we sacked him.
Anyway, on to more important things. Following the rave reviews I got for “Suva City of Dreams” I am going to turn it into a book. I thought it could be one of those coffee table books but then I remembered that no-one in Fiji can afford a coffee table so I’ll try something different. I had this clever idea (did I tell you I won a Walkley once?) that all the chapters could rhyme with the main title.
I’ll start with “Suva the City of Ice Creams” and talk about the MH Milkbar where I used to sit with my one-shilling Cup O’ Joy and perv at the girls who went by. Of course I was quite multiracial in my youth. While my friends would only perv at the white girls I took a multiracial approach and I think it is this experience that has made me into the multiracial man I am today, which is of course why I back Frank’s government – that and the weekly cheques.
Then will go onto a chapter called “Suva the City of Jim Beams” because, I confess, Shazzer, I did not always have the refined tastes I have today and I did go on a few drinking sprees back then. I think the last one was after I had won my Walkley and I told one of the girls ‘you know I’ve got a Walkley?” and she said “don’t worry, my boyfriend gave me one and it plays all the latest hits”. It was an innocent time in Suva back then.
The next chapter will be called “Suva the City of Regimes.” I would be explaining in that chapter how Suva was taken over by a military junta which was for indigenous rights and engaged in thuggery, censorship and dictatorship. Of course Shazzer I know what you’re going to say, and don’t worry. I will be careful to say that in 2006 it was a military GOVERNMENT, not a junta, and its thuggery, censorship and dictatorship was all so Fiji could be multiracial.
Then I thought (and because we are running out of things to rhyme) we could move on to Suva’s powerful families so the next chapter could be called “Suva the City of Shameems”. By the way, where is that blonde one (or was she green? It’s like the girl with the changing hair in that Harry Potter movie) who was in the Human Rights Commission? I thought she was quite tasty. She produced that excellent report on how the last elections were rigged. I nominated that for a Walkley prize for fiction but it didn’t win. Pity. Anyway, wasn’t she with us? What happened? Did her cheques stop?
The next chapter could be called “Suva the City of Khaiyums” (that will rhyme if you’re onto your second bottle of Travelodge house Merlot). Isn’t there another one who runs a TV station? (It has a good coffee shop – maybe if they send me a cheque I can put in a chapter on “Suva the City of Gloria Jeans”?). I hear he’s borrowed $20 million from the development bank. I’ll check to see if there’s a Walkley for ‘Most Taxpayers’ Money Spent on Nearly Nothing’. I can probably get him one if he asks nicely.
Great, that’s about an hour spent on my Fiji fantasies. That’s what you pay me to write about so the invoice is in the mail. Oh, I finally get it – Cash Guy is Yash Ghai? Very funny. But I think we should look for another codename for him because of the confusion with the other Cash Guys in the government. What about “Pad Thai”? He looks a bit noodly. And very soon he’s going to get dumped in hot water.
Smoocheroos
Grubby XX
@ Shazzer or whatever,
Ok 2006 – 20112….6 years in the making of your agony and it took me only 5 seconds to skim through….you need help ok….this coming from “old fart” ex-Fijian now in Fiji……
Oh how I enjoy the cool and refreshingng change of the Fiji atmosphere…and the breeze….yes the breeze.. and may my fart travel the breeze into the cab with you to the holiday inn……
Oh and sit at MHCC and watch the white girls with your hands in your pocket counting your fingers agonisingly……while the rest of us “breeze” by and if you notice by mannerism an “ex Fijian” passing by, look at his arse and just feeel the breeze….enjoy for that may stimulate your brain.
Happy sniffing shazzer happy sniffing, for you were born to do that.
No posting for over 2 weeks is worrying Graham.
Are you OK?
Let there be light in the hearts and minds of all peoples of this great nation as we move forward togather.
Best Wishes to all
Chand
Excellent Piece GD,
Suva is the epitome of two worlds colliding. We cannot judge history. History is just that. If I had no forgiveness and understanding, I would still be bitter over what the British did to my forefathers at ANZAC cove.
Suva is a wonderful mutli-cultural city. My favourite city in the world. I mourn that I will not see her for many years to come. Such as life……
Graham……………. no postings now for more than 2 weeks !!!! You ok mate????
Hi to all,
No new postings , what’s up,
Hope things are ok down under for graham , or is he still in Fiji .
Any ways . Moce mada.
Here’s an idea…..recently Bhika was in the news…remember the suncourt guy doing time. He is in charge of the prison shops…apparently “teaching” guys how to run the shops…and according to the news has been provided with a mobile to purchase stuff…..
Here’s the thing…how about him becoming the mascot for suva city….i mean if you guys have seen his picture….he would make a perfact mascot
It is like this…him with a can of APCO paint with Vinod Patel logo in one hand and a paint brush with MAnu Bhai logo in the other….
Put his picture all around suva…..
Oh hack this is the work of an idle mind…..gimme edgeee someone…
I am one your most virulent critics on the matter of Fiji’s politics but on this one topic, I believe you have captured everything I have always wanted to say and more. And you have said it much better than I could have as well.
Thanks Graham.