There’s elation in Fijian Government circles over the highly successful outcome of this week’s visit to Papua New Guinea by the Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, at the head of the biggest Fijian trade and investment mission ever to visit another country. The original aims of the visit were ambitious enough – to lay more of the foundation for the creation of a single, integrated market for the countries of the Melanesian Spearhead Group. Yet the results exceeded even the most ambitious expectations of the PM, his Foreign Minister, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola, and the trade delegation of 65 Fijian business leaders from 47 companies.
Commodore Bainimarama described himself as being “on a high”. And the normally ultra-calm and measured Permanent Secretary for Trade and Industry, Shaheen Ali, said he was “overwhelmed” by the “marvelous” outcome of the visit. Within hours, some of the Fijian companies were already receiving orders and entering into agreements with PNG suppliers and distributors. And by day two of the mission, two more Fijian businesses had registered as foreign investors in PNG. This is in addition to the F$180-million investment by Fiji’s national superannuation fund, the FNPF, in Bemobile – a major telecommunications provider in PNG and Solomon Islands – and the management takeover of its operations by Vodafone Fiji.
The Fijian Government sees itself as equal partners with PNG in ultimately leading the other MSG countries into an economic union to improve the lives of every Melanesian. There’s a notable absence of rivalry of the sort we’ve witnessed over the years in Europe, where Germany, France and Britain have consistently maneuvered for advantage in the European Union. As Fiji sees it, Papua New Guinea has the biggest market – seven million people compared to around 900,000 here – plus the massive wealth that flows from its minerals and energy sectors. And Fiji has an established manufacturing base, a skilled and educated workforce and is positioned at the crossroads of the Pacific. In other words, their assets are complimentary. Each country has its particular challenges – Papua New Guinea with corruption and lawlessness and Fiji still grappling with finally putting to rest the divisions that have hampered its development since Independence. Yet there’s a strong feeling on both sides that working in tandem in a joint leadership role is the best way to improve the lives of their own citizens and their Melanesian brothers and sisters in the smaller MSG states.
There’s no doubt that Melanesian solidarity generally was a big beneficiary of this visit. As Commodore Bainimarama put it, PNG -Fiji ties go way beyond the mutual respect and cooperation that is the traditional benchmark of diplomacy. The peoples of both countries genuinely like each other, enjoy each other’s company and share a vision of a stronger Melanesia building a common economic and political future for all its citizens. And of course, both Governments bear significant grudges against the most dominant power in the region, Australia, which they regard as generally arrogant, overbearing and indifferent to Melanesian sensibilities. The same applies to New Zealand, albeit to a lesser extent.
As Grubsheet has written before, Australia’s mishandling of its Pacific neighbours – and especially Fiji – is a mistake of historical proportions. Its failure to fully engage with them, let alone comprehend their challenges, and its propensity to prescribe and even hector, has driven influential Pacific countries like Fiji and PNG further into each other’s arms and the arms of others outside the region. The Australian trade union heavies and their stooge of a Prime Minister who currently determine Pacific policy – and the foreign affairs establishment which implements it – seem to have little concept of Melanesian sensitivities and protocols. It’s well known in Suva than even the mention of Australia can trigger a surge of anger in Prime Minister Bainimarama, who feels sorely aggrieved that Canberra chose not to even sit down with him, let alone try and comprehend his reforms. During this visit, the PM kept his counsel, adhering to the diplomatic convention of not criticising another country on someone else’s soil. In fact, it was the Papua New Guineans who made unflattering public comments about Australia. PNG’s Trade Minister, Richard Maru, accused Canberra of using his country as a “dumping ground” for its goods and said it wasn’t in Australia’s interests for the Melanesian countries to become self sufficient in anything. If that was what was being said publicly, then we can be sure that the language behind the scenes would have been a lot more colourful. The shared grievances of both governments about Australia would have been fully aired.
Certainly, there was general astonishment about the way in which this visit appeared to have been downplayed by Australia’s national broadcaster, the ABC, which also has a significant presence in PNG. Aside from one story that correctly cited a series of “historic” agreements, the rest of the visit was generally ignored. Indeed on the first day, Radio Australia’s current affairs program, Pacific Beat, chose to lead with an item criticising Fiji’s constitutional process rather than give weight to the region’s two biggest and most influential island countries forging closer ties. It merely reinforced the notion in Fijian minds of the ABC’s chronic bias against the Bainimarama Government and Radio Australia as a lapdog of Canberra’s foreign policy. By any normal journalistic standard, this was a big Pacific story of significant interest to the populations of PNG and Fiji and, to a lesser extent, those of Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and the Kanaks of New Caledonia, who make up the rest of the MSG. It was buried.
Is Australia sensitive about the fact that its so-called smart sanctions against Fiji haven’t turned out to be smart at all? You bet. American diplomats report that far from modifying their policies in the face of defeat, the Australians have stepped up their efforts internationally to isolate Fiji. Was Commodore Bainimarama’s visit a collective two-finger salute to Australia? Well, maybe just a little. Yet the overriding sentiment in official circles in Suva nowadays is that Australian attitudes are irrelevant. In any event, Blind Freddy can see that Julia Gillard’s Government is toast -with a 29 per cent primary vote in the most recent opinion poll – and that Australian policy towards Fiji is bound to be more realistic, if not more favourable, when the Coalition’s Tony Abbott storms into power in the Australian election in September. A full year out from the promised Fijian poll, Abbott and his likely foreign minister, Julie Bishop, will have ample time to end Labor’s vendetta and rebuild the relationship.
There were many highpoints of this visit, not least the Bemobile signing -Fiji’s biggest foreign investment on behalf of all Fijians through the FNPF in one of the most dynamic sectors of the global economy- telecommunications. The Government’s critics continually harp on about the FNPF putting the retirement savings of ordinary Fijians at risk. Yet with Vodafone Fiji running Bemobile, the potential to grow that investment seems rock solid. In Fiji, there are more mobile phones than people – a penetration rate of 105 per cent. In Papua New Guinea, the penetration rate is 35 per cent. That’s a lot of potential customers and a lot of mobile phones.
Among other highlights of the visit:
· The announcement that citizens of both countries will no longer require visas to visit each other. This is on top of existing plans to achieve a seamless flow of labour between the MSG countries.
· The provision for retired Fijian civil servants – who are obliged to vacate their jobs at 55 – to work in Papua New Guinea to boost the local skills base.
· The plan for a permanent Fiji Trade Mission in Port Moresby and the continuation of the joint effort to break down the remaining impediments to trade and investment, with a view to developing a common market.
Most important of all – at least in the shorter term – is the financial support Papua New Guinea has offered Fiji to conduct its election in September 2014 and introduce the first genuine parliamentary democracy in the country’s history of one-person, one vote, one value. According to officials travelling with Commodore Bainimarama, the PM couldn’t believe his ears when the amount of the PNG contribution was announced out of the blue by his opposite number, Peter O’Neill. “What did he say?”, he asked. At first, the Ministry of Information flashed a media release that the amount was 15-million Kina. But it soon became clear that the fifteen was actually FIFTY. A sense of astonishment, delight and gratitude swept the Fijian delegation and text messages lit up in the corridors of power in Suva. More than 40-million Fijian dollars! By any standards and especially in the Pacific, it is an astonishingly generous amount.
This contribution has sealed the Fiji-PNG relationship and laid to rest the concerns of some that PNG was more intent on cementing its own interests during this visit than pursuing a genuinely equal partnership. It means that Fiji no longer requires other outside assistance to finance the poll, and especially from those countries or groups of countries like the European Union, which appear more interested in using the money as political leverage than in assisting Fijians to determine their own future. Instead of having election observers from the EU – as happened controversially in 2006 – the Prime Minister wants election observers from PNG and the other MSG countries. He accused the EU observers of endorsing a “flawed” election in 2006 and said Fiji wanted an observer group with “integrity”. This will not be music to the ears of Fiji’s voluble EU Ambassador, Andrew Jacobs, who before the PNG announcement, was telling people that Fiji would need to approach the EU for assistance and accept certain conditions that are now decidedly moot.
With Commodore Bainimarama having now travelled across the world to New York to chair a meeting of the G77 Plus China and the rest of the Fijian delegation making its way home, it’s clear that this visit has been an outstanding success. History may also judge it as the week that Fiji and PNG cemented their common future and came to realise more fully the potential they have – working together – to establish the MSG as the pre-eminent regional grouping and its integration as the best way to improve the lives of all Melanesians. One thing is certain. The axis of power in the Pacific is gradually shifting, whether Australia, NZ and their Polynesian client states such as Samoa like it or not.
This article has subsequently appeared on Pacific Scoop NZ.
Apologies for the formatting problems with this posting. WordPress has gone haywire. Investigating the issue and hope to have it rectified ASAP.
Graham, I could not agree more with you. Having secured PNG’s assistance for the elections is a wonderful achievement. We do not need these arrogant Europeans who believe that they are the smartest people in the world. We do not want their aid Euros which they shamelessly tie to following their idiotic Cotonou agreement. We should close down their lair in the FDB building and give these flash office to our MSG friends. Would it not be nice to see the MSG flag grace Victoria Parade? With respect to the election monitors, we are lucky that our brothers from PNG will help us. PNG is world renowned for the integrity of its politicians and civil servants and I am sure that those observers will bring to our elections the transparency and credibility that our government deserves.
Malcolm Millis Beddoes, widely known as Mick Beddoes, is a Fijian politician and businessman from Nadi:
“… told Radio Australia that Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu were “unstable” countries that had “embraced dictatorship” through their support for Fiji.
He said “a newly-elected democratic government in Fiji” should “review its relations” with the three countries, calling into question Fiji’s future participation in the MSG.” Fiji Live and Fiji Sun.
Ok, here are the reasons why he would say this:
1. He doesn’t look like any one of us.
2. er……. umm…
3.
4.
Damn…can someone fill this one for me please
Predictable belligerence from an old politician- Beddoes and his actions and words can be metaphorically summed up as, cutting off his nose to spite his face.
Beddoes is a puppet of LQ and MC. He was opposition leader by default, was in parliament thru inheritance from Ted. His credentials are questionable, as he does not have a mind of his own. The vacuum between his ears echoes the sentiments of Chaudhary and Qarase.
Mr Davis, thank you for putting this into your usual way in which it is easy to understand it all.
I was very interested to see you mention the ABC of Australia ignoring the visit.
The Fiji Times also did not think it was worth Page 1 and did not publish very much at all about the very exciting developments…
But Mr Maika Bolatiki’s reports from Port Moresby in the Fiji Sun kept us very up to date on history in the making.
Thank you, Mr Davis and Mr Bolatiki.
Fiji times gets its content from credible overseas media and if they won’t print this this then FT won’t print either.
Credible overseas media? They are a joke here too by the way.
‘…..introduce the first genuine parliamentary democracy in the country’s history of one-person, one vote, one value….’
Thats odd, I thought that prior to 2006 Fiji did have a genuine parliamentary democracy. The voting mechanisms and the power sharing arrangements may have been unique to Fiji but the system of government certainly appeared to be a parliamentray democracy. Was it something else?
Cin Cin, the system was racially weighted in favour of the i’Taukei and you know it. Their votes had more value than the votes of other Fijians, who couldn’t even be called Fijians. They were Indians and later Indo-Fijians and “others”. So it is simply undeniable that this wasn’t a genuine parliamentary democracy at all but a creative means to deny other citizens true equality. Hasn’t there been enough rewriting of history already without you and other government critics trying to continue the pretence?
No one denies the system – particularly post 1987 – was weighed in favour of Fijians. The 1970 constitution wasn’t perfect but given the context of the era in which it was written, was probably the best document that its framers were going to produce.
The pretence at play here is this mantra that you and the regime trot out of ‘ one person, one vote, one value’. The evidence to date suggests that it is the regime who will decide what value any vote attracts. And oddly, neither you nor the regime speak of ‘ a level playing field’ when wriiting of any future election.
@ Cin Cin
You seem to beholden the past. The 1970 Constitution et al were premised on the idea of the “paramountcy of Fijian interests” which, when transposed to the post 2000 era under Qarase, meant the paramountcy of the privileged classes in indigenous Fijian society. Go check out the list of Class A shareholders in Fijian Holdings to see what I mean!
Come on man, dump all the ideological baggage you carrying from the 1970’s. The 1970 constitution was virtually foisted upon Fiji by the departing Poms. Move on bro. Embrace the new Fiji
Maybe ‘Cin Cin’ is an aggrieved Class A shareholder?
Which explains his an angst, whilst the rest of Fiji has moved on.
He joins the ranks of Sakiusa Raivoce, Pio Tabaiwalu, Jone Yavala, Teimumu et al who are all part of the ‘Class A’ shareholders who feel aggrieved that their snouts have been removed from the trough!
Komai & Kathy,
No sorry, no snouts in the trough, nor any shares. Not beholden to the past either. Besides, I doubt if theres any spare room around the current trough. I know, its all in the name of breaking the shackles of the past yada yada yada………
@ Cin Cin
“Breaking the shackles of the past”..yada…yada…yada (your comments)
Isn’t this what progress is all about?
Mate, you seem to be trapped in the past!!!…and you don’t want to let go!!!
You sound like one of them pro-democracy people who want a return to a quasi-feudal system where feudal chiefs, aided and abetted by a Methodist theocracy and government handouts, rule the roost.
You should be peddling your views on C4.5
Cin Cin,
When we say that the past constitutions have failed us as a nation, you said yada yada yada.
When we say that there were known benefactors and hangers-on of the past systems, you said yada yada…diddle diddle diddle
When we said that generations of I-taukeis have been hoodwinked by the great divide and rule of the neos, the scamsters, the so called Indo bogeys, the pulpit masters, the mickeys and the mouses, you said yada yada ….diddle diddle…….dil dil ……doo doo doo.
Now when you say…….who gives a F@#k what you say….we say
yada yada yada….here’s a dildo
There was no democracy in Fiji prior to 2006. The country was run by the Australian Secret Service through its agents at the Forum Secretariat. We all know that. In 2006, the unelected government was removed by our patriotic Commodore who installed the first true democracy in Fiji. Now we have one man, one vote one value (his).
Paul you must be mad! Prior to the takeover by Bainimarama, the country was governed by a coalition government of FLP and SDL. The PM was a convicted, corrupt criminal called Qarase. He was just discharged from a well deserved jail term that he received in an independent court of law.
Mickey mouse Badose the only one man party leader in the world is just jealous of the PMs success and achievements on the recent state visit to PNG. Something he will only dream about in whatever is left of his miserable life.
I hear the $40million “gift” towards the election is a bribe to Fiji for taking over struggling Bemobile phone company by network. The Bemobile is run my Michael Ah Koy family – Miichael is the son of Sir Jim Ah Koy, a Frank supporter and the knighthood was bestowed on Jim by Sir Michael Somare
Come on man…there is a site on the web that you should go visit..its called ..conspiracytheories.alt.com
The believe that everything in this world is the result of a conspiracy theory of some sort…..sigh
Are you saying that in signing on to this deal with BeMobile in PNG, the FNPF did not carry out ‘due diligence’ checks etc? Do you know theses checks are about?
Ulukau!
I mean the network from Fiji – Vodaphone
May I ask 2 questions about your comments on Fiji’s elections:
1. You say that the FJD40m offered by PNG means Fiji won’t need other outside assistance for the election. Do you know what the forecast budget for the 2014 election is? If I recall correctly, the 2006 poll cost around FJD140 million. Looking at all the reforms proposed for 2014, I suspect it may cost more, as well as probably needing some international expertise in various technical areas not now available in Fiji’s civil service or OSE. Can you offer any insight?
2. You describe the EU’s observation in 2006 as “controversial”. What is the basis for this description? Three independent international groups observed the 2006 election – I co-ordinated one of them – all were welcomed and accepted in Fiji, including by the government, opposition parties, and even by the Commander RFMF. From my recollection, the only body that questioned the credibility of the observers’ reports, when released after the election, was the FLP. The current criticisms of the EU’s conclusions were only made by the present Attorney-General – who played no role in 2006 – within the last month. Is your description of the “controversy” therefore based solely on the AG’s recent comments?
Vinaka.
Look at the Cakaudrove East Fijian Communal seat in the 2006 election. Total registered voters 7587, actual votes cast 7639. How is this possible? More than a 100% turnout in never heard of. Not that it would have made a difference to the final result, but is there a possibility that a similar situation may be the case in other seats, not necessarily over 100% but enough to skew the final result, eg the seat of Lavinia Padarath. I think the UN observers were in Fiji for a holiday.
Here’s part of the Peter Foster interview:
Monica Attard: Don’t you think it’s a real shame that while you have the ability to use your notoriety to bring attention to Fiji’s problems like you are right now, that really at the end of the day, you can’t be taken seriously because of your chequered past?
Peter Foster: This is why I said at the time. I worked for Fiji military intelligence and I wore listening devices and I had these tiny little video cameras on me and I videoed three top people who said that the elections were rigged.
And when we came out with this, I said “I don’t expect anybody for one minute to believe one word Peter Foster says, I’m just a silly bugger who wore the video camera and listening device. Listen to what they say.
Monica Attard: The AFP says it doesn’t believe your footage, it doesn’t believe those tapes.
Peter Foster: Oh they’re trying to say it’s staged. Now while the silly old United Nation inspectors are being led around like only Fijians can lead the white man around. Whilst they’re over looking in one constituency at the ballot boxes, you know the Fijians like stealing coconuts are changing it at the other end.
Shenqow, this amount is clearly greater than anything provided before by a single donor and is a substantial war chest on which to build the total election spend. It is cash, rather than kind, and is given with no strings attached. The Government has invited every country with a resident ambassador plus the major Non Government Organisations to come forward with other offers of support and doubtless that will happen.
My point was that the PNG Grant has obviated the need for Fiji to go as a supplicant to potential donors like the EU for the election to proceed. If the Europeans continue to insist on prescribing how Fiji will conduct the poll – which is what their ambassador has been saying – they will be politely rebuffed.
As to your second point, it is surely reasonable to describe the 2006 monitoring process as controversial when the Prime Minister gets up in Port Moresby and attacks the EU mission for being flawed and lacking in integrity. You seem to be arguing that because little or nothing was said at the time, everyone was happy. Evidently not, especially when criticism has since been voiced by the PM and the AG on one side and Mahendra Chaudhry on the other. Smacks of controversy to me.
@Kathy
How does questioning questioning the motives of the regime or offering up a view on past systems imply a desire to return to the past?
Stop parroting the regime line that anyone who criticises it merely wants a return to the ways of pre-2006 – its becoming a bit cliche.
KATHY is an idiot, little brain too much talk.
And Sam you have a bucket load.
@ Sam
Have you anything constructive ideas to offer?
Stop wasting oxygen
@ Cin Cin
Stop dwelling on the past. We all know what happened back then…and it did not work for us….so why waste our time revisiting and moralizing about the past?
The challenge is to provide us with a coherent vision of the future that we can all support. Unless you can do so, you are wasting our time Cin Cin.
It seems you cant let go of the past!!! Move forward man!!! Toso, toso tiko ki liu
Thats my point
Yup , oz gov has no idea at present, i am embarrassed. We are supposed to to be more than this to our neighbours.. Julia, crawl under a rock and dissapear u muppet..!
Here are the Recommendations from the EU’s Final Report on Fiji’s 2006 General Election:
RECOMMENDATIONS
The following recommendations to improve the electoral process and related areas are offered for consideration and action by the Fijian authorities and the international community:
Electoral system
Reforms of Electoral System: The combination of 46 communal constituencies and the ongoing use of the Alternative Vote system have not had the desired effect of diminishing the stratification of Fiji’s electorate and political parties, which reflect divisions between the country’s two main ethnic groups, indigenous-Fijians and Indo-Fijians. Informal round table sessions involving all political parties, independent candidates and civil society groups could provide an opportunity to examine the shortcomings of the current electoral system and explore other systems which might facilitate more cross-ethnic political representation.
Increase Open Constituencies: A gradual increase in the number of open constituencies and a corresponding reduction in the number of communal constituencies, as originally proposed by the 1996 Constitutional Review Commission could promote more intensive inter-ethnic cooperation by political parties.
Review Constituency Boundaries: An immediate review of constituency boundaries is recommended after the planned new census is completed. This should aim to redraw constituency boundaries to ensure a more equitable numerical balance of voters per constituency. The guiding principle of this exercise should be to guarantee adherence to the principle of equal suffrage, which prescribes that no vote should carry proportionally more weight than another.
Electoral Administration
Strengthen Electoral Management Bodies: The Electoral Commission and the OSE could enhance their effectiveness and independence by acquiring adequate staff and sufficient budgets. The establishment of an electoral management body on a permanent basis would help develop institutional knowledge and improve its planning, training and preparation capacity. Under the current system, the Supervisor of Elections is frequently not in a position to establish his authority over the four divisional Returning Officers due to their normal institutional status as Division Commissioners. At the very least, the appropriateness of Division Commissioners being automatically appointed as Returning Officers during election periods should be reviewed. An explicitly established chain of responsibility and the introduction of clear procedures governing the grounds for the removal from office of the Supervisor of Elections would help clarify working relationships within the electoral management bodies.
Enhanced Societal Representation: The electoral administration management and executive bodies should introduce equality measures in their recruitment procedures to ensure a better representation of women and ethnic groups at all administrative levels. At a political level, steps such as quotas or temporary affirmative action could be taken to enhance the participation of women in municipal bodies and the national parliament.
Regular Meetings with Political PartiesOSE should establish a permanent timetable of regular meetings with political parties to provide timely information on election-related issues. The frequency of meetings could be increased in election years.
Finance Regulation: The Electoral Commission should propose that parliament considers a regulation on political party finances. Such a regulation would provide accountability to voters on how parties and candidates acquire the financial means to run campaigns.
Political Parties’ Code of Conduct: The Electoral Commission should put forward a code of conduct for political parties to strengthen respect for common rules and standards during the electoral campaign.
Development of Voter Education: Effective voter education programmes should be developed and implemented well ahead of elections to increase the level of understanding of the electoral process, thereby reducing the number of invalid votes. The involvement of non-governmental organisations would contribute to the effectiveness of such campaigns.
Annual Updates of Register of Voters: Implementation of the annual update of Register of Voters in accordance with the Electoral Act requirement, and the institution of a permanent and public voters’ database would improve the quality of
the electoral roll. Political parties should be given the opportunity to observe all stages of the updating of the register.
Procedural Improvements: The numbers of forms used by election officials during voting and counting should be reduced and procedures simplified in order to develop a more straightforward and accountable system.
Voter Intention: The Electoral Act should be amended to strengthen the provision on voter intention by accepting a tick below the line as a valid selection. This would also help reduce the number of invalid votes.
Ballot Paper Design: Ballot papers should be redesigned with a simplified layout to reduce voters’ mistakes. One approach might be to abolish the system of above and below the line marking. Instead, voters could either mark a single box for a party or indicate their order of preference for candidates by ranking their selection with numbers. The use of the three main languages on the ballot papers, instead of just one, would also facilitate better voter understanding.
Postal Voting Reforms: The application for postal ballots and the postal voting in person should end before the first day of normal polling. The postal voting procedures should be improved, particularly in relation to reconciliation and security, to achieve a more transparent and accountable system.
Reduction in Polling Days: The number of polling days should be gradually and substantially reduced to eventually allow voting to be concluded in just one day. This should mean improved efficiency and accountability. By diminishing the number of transport days and the need for overnight storage of materials, security would also be improved.
Polling Station Reforms: Voters should be able to vote only in an allocated polling station which should be located only in public buildings. This would reduce the number of ballot papers needed, reduce the number of ballot boxes and increase the accountability of the process. The OSE could display all relevant data in each polling station at the end of each polling day. This form could also be distributed to party agents and observers.
Training of Electoral Staff: The introduction of more effective training for polling and counting staff would lead to a more uniform implementation of procedures. The adoption of accurate and user-friendly training manuals would allow staff to develop an improved understanding of procedures.
Transparency
Handling of Election Complaints: A clear procedural set up for the handling of complaints is essential to establish accountability of the Electoral Commission and the OSE and could be implemented at all levels of the election administration. A register of complaints in concert with a timely settlement of formal protests from the level of polling station up to the Electoral Commission is crucial to promote transparency of the process.
Public Information Policy: Decisions and minutes of the Electoral Commission and OSE meetings should be published and made easily accessible and available on an official website. Election results should also be published on the web page as soon as they have been announced. In addition, the transparency of the counting process would benefit by the distribution to voters, political parties and observers of a list of the ballot box numbers, along their seal numbers, before the formal start of counting.
Electoral Campaign Period: The introduction of a specific day and hour for the start and end of the electoral campaign would allow political parties, candidates and media to know when campaign rules take effect.
Training of Party Agents: More effective training for party agents on voting and counting procedures would increase their efficacy. Non-governmental organisations and the OSE should be more involved in providing electoral training to political parties.
Domestic Observers: The involvement of national observers from non-governmental organisations would enhance voters’ confidence in the process.
Security
Ballot Boxes: To increase security, the old wooden ballot boxes need to be replaced with translucent environmentally friendly plastic ballot boxes sealed exclusively with numbered plastic seals.
Storage Facilities: Polling and counting agents should be able to observe at any given time the transfer of ballot boxes and the storage facilities.
Media
Media Guidelines: The OSE’s guidelines for media coverage of electoral campaigns should be issued well ahead of the start of the campaigns.
Media Training: More effective training for journalists is advisable to improve the quality and accuracy of reporting and develop more analytical coverage of the electoral process.
Media Legal Framework: A revision of the Broadcasting Commission Act 1953 is required, as well as the introduction of an information law to regulate more extensively the electronic media.
@Election Observer: What do you want to say? That the EU has taken note of irregularities in the 2006 elections? What you forgot is that the EU has fully embraced the results, stated that the Qarase mob was a legitimate government and has piled EU aid on this mob. Then, when the unelected Qarase government was removed by the legitimate leader of Fiji, guided by the doctrine of necessity and supported by the country’s best legal minds the EU froze all aid citing an agreement with the African state of Cotonou or Benin or whatever. Why would we want those foreigners observing our next free and fair elections when we can have election observers from a country that is sympathetic to our Melanesian way to do things? I can only say, welcome to the politicians and civil servants from PNG. We will treat them well and they will make sure that elections in Fiji are held in a transparent, free and fair way!
Are you Melanesian – Fiji is not Melanesian ONLY – so stop the nonsense. If we want a race-free Fiji, then we should not be part of a club – Melanesian Spearhead Club which is made exclusively of Fijians. You talk of Doctrine of Necessity – go and ask Musharraf in Pakistan. Pakistan’s former leader Pervez Musharraf has been remanded in judicial custody for two weeks over claims he illegally detained judges in 2007.
Mr Musharraf, who ruled Pakistan between 1999 and 2007, was arrested on Friday.
The High Court ruled that the allegations amounted to an act of terrorism and ordered him to appear at Islamabad’s anti-terror court.
MSG – which is made exclusively of Melanesians
What I am saying is that Bainimarama deposed an illegal government that came to power in rigged elections. Next year we will have free and fair elections in which we will confirm the benevolent rule of our PM. Our Melanesian brothers will help us to give this process integrity and credibility. After our PM has been confirmed in these elections the EU can no longer hold the aid money back and there will a massive inflow of aid.
Thank you Graham for this article. I am also excited for this development between PNG and Fiji. However, I have only two little comments to say. First, is my little regret to ask why such venture was never pursued by past governments. Why we were so concerned to pursue trade beyond our shores and overlook our backyard partners. Leaders had to travel million miles in the past with little returns and ignore general rule i.e love thy neighbor, peace with neighbor and do trade with neighbor” I just want to give credit to this current govt to see this and pursue it. Well done.
Next is my little sadness. Both government failed to acknowledge that the foundation of this venture were laid by our forefathers who took the Gospel of Jesus 200 years ago to PNG and made impact to what is PNG today exactly the same British Wiiliam Cross and David Cargill gave their lives to Fiji and made what Fiji is today. Sadly, some laid their lives there. Fortunately, my great grandfather came back alive. I was expecting this to be highlighted and honored. I was very sad to note this was missing. I want the govt of Fiji to correct this in the next visit. We must give credit to where credit is due.
I expect to reap some benefits or fruits because of the seeds my Grandfather planted in PNG through trade activities with PNG. I shared this also to fellow kaiviti to pursue the same as our LORD liveth.
@ Joseph, Vinaka Vakalevu,
@ Joseph
The sacrifices those early Fijian missionaries made are deserving of our highest respects. My own great-grand uncle was also one of those who went and returned with a PNG wife…unheard of back in the 1900’s.
Some of those Fijian missionaries were killed and eaten by the PNG folks back then.
Curiously, none of these i’taukei missionaries who gave their lives (some were killed and eaten by PNG people) have their names recorded anywhere!
In Fiji, a white fellow by name of Rev Thomas Baker was killed and eaten, and the Methodist Church has the Baker Memorial Hall in Davuilevu to commemorate his service.
But nowhere can we find a similar memorial to those Fijian (i’taukei) missionaries who went to PNG and perished there at the hands of PNG cannibals.
Why hasn’t the Methodist Church in Fiji put up a public memorial in their memory?
As a Methodist, I have never seen any benefit flowing to the community from all the annual “soli” etc conducted annually by the Methodist Church.
Why not a marble plaque somewhere listing all those missionaries who went to spread the Word in PNG?
Its time the hierarchy at the Methodist Church start thinking of others rather than themselves.
Thats all from me on this subject
We erected a memorial stone for Sukanaivalu in Bouganvillie and also for Rev Soututu who was awarded a Silver Star for his part in diverting the Allied Force and the locals undetected by the Japanese, however our Solomon brothers and sisters still vividly remember our fathers who took the Good News.
GOD Bless them all!!
Before I forget friends, what our the MSG ( Malenisians Solace to GOD ) is not a new thing….our fathers took the message through Good News, it is our responsibility as Malenisians to stay focus on the Good News it will breakthrough any power Economical power in this world.
Vinaka
Quote of the month:
“I am only an accused whereas he(Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum) has been convicted by the 2009 ruling that found the 2006 coup was illegal!”
~ Jagath Karunaratne
And your point is? (In relation to the article in question)
Yes, a Sri Lankan national….claims to be a NZ Citizen and in some blogs, a Fiji Citizen with a business in Fiji.
A bit of a va tera tera kind of guy ……went around Suva with some blokes writing anti-government stuff on billboards………in case folks do not know who this guy is….. A favourite with c4.5.
Ok just google his name and you will get the picture.
Here is the question: Can you do the same thing in Sri Lanka? Ok here is the thing that pisses me of more than any : …..because he is a Srilankan national and possibly a NZ citizen (and maybe Fiji) he thinks he can get away with mischief making.
We should kick his arse nice and proper and this MF and his vuluas want to give us the quote of the month…!!!
Oh yes this also applies to another so called leftie, an Ausie Citizen by the name of Rajend Naidu….a some time nuisance maker from the Fiji Times letters and now a regular contributer of c4.5…….this grub thinks sitting down and watching ABC and quoting morning news to the rest of us……wtf. Now get this you bugger……the mongrel wants to grab you by the nut and there is so much I can do to restrain him….
I know you read this column and I challenge you to come here for once………..with your smart ass write-ups……don’t hide behind c4.5 cos they won’t do our response…in any case most of us on the bright side do no longer respond to the grubs on c4.5.
Quote of the month..my ass…this reminds me of the Japanese sailor in the submarine.. looking through the periscope and on seeing the ass of the naked white American girl swimming, he shouts to his mates:”Hollywood”
And folks we know what happened to people with such judgements.
Chand, you are spot on. This mongrel from Sri Lanka challenges our Honorable AG. He should be given the angle massage by Frank’s boys and then the Ballu Khan treatment for good measure. Have you heard anything from this low life Ballu since he got a good bashing on his thick head? You see, here is my point.
So Peter this is how things are done in Fiji! Angle massage? So typical of thugs.
Hi Fred, have you watched the angle massage video? It looked pretty much like Fiji to me. And Ballu Khan’s skull was broken several times when he was arrested by a mixed squad of military and police. There were also a few deaths in custody and then the killings of the mutineers in 2000. In a nutshell, this is indeed the way things are done in Fiji. If you have any doubts, start a little squabble with Francis Kean and you will find out the hard way.
“Karunaratne believes he should also be covered in immunity section” during a submission in Nasinu..
……this is the headline in Fijivillage…time13.01.today.
Ok this guy is in Fiji……and he just back slapped us…….now my blood is friggin boiling…some mf….not born in Fiji…what’s his contribution in the country…….does anybody know what business interest he has in Fiji.
Chand,
I fail to see the reason behind your tirade concerning the recent JK mentions.
Whilst I certainly do not condone his graffiti defacing of public property or childish cockiness with statements to the AG if you read his views within the C4.5 article he sais what many of us are thinking, and I’m not referring to anti government views.
So he’s Sri Lankan born, does that mean he can not have an opinion ?
@ Alby
The guy is not even a citizen of Fiji, for heavens sake!
You have your head so far up your asshole you cant even smell the roses!
If we use your logic, the Boston bombers too, have an opinion that we should respect!!!!
JK could be a closet Tamil Tiger…those low life terrorists who killed and maimed thousands in SL.
What gives JK the right to come to Fiji and engage in terrorist type of behaviour?
I beg the authorities to kick him out FIJi ASAP as he has nothing positive to take Fiji forward.
Kathy
You certainly have one hell of a foul mouth but lets ignore your lack of manners for now. Whilst I have no respect for your behaviour I will respect your comments and views and reply to them as follows;
“”The guy is not even a citizen of Fiji, for heavens sake!””
Are you suggesting that an individual must belong to a certain, race, ethnicity, citizenship, religion e.t.c to be able to give an opinion or view pertaining to that ?
“”You have your head so far up your asshole you cant even smell the roses!””
Can you explain the reasoning for this comment based upon the content of my above post ?
“” If we use your logic, the Boston bombers too, have an opinion that we should respect!!!!””
Do you not understand the difference between respecting someone’s right to voice a view, whether you agree with it or not compared to respecting an individual ? As a clue, there’s a major difference.
“” JK could be a closet Tamil Tiger…those low life terrorists who killed and maimed thousands in SL.””
Yes he could, but then again he might not. Do you know the percentage of Tamil Tigers in Sri Lanka ?
“” What gives JK the right to come to Fiji and engage in terrorist type of behaviour? “”
If you are referring to the act of defacing public property with anti government propaganda absolutely none. What terrorist type of activity are you referring to ?
“” I beg the authorities to kick him out FIJi ASAP as he has nothing positive to take Fiji forward. “”
If I was in authority in Fiji I would have kicked him out immediately (if he was not a citizen) purely due to the act of defacing or inciting the defacing of public property. How do you know that he has nothing positive to take Fiji forward ?
@ Alby
You are so esoteric in your response…so…so…cool….as if you are sitting on the right hand side of God!
We live in a new world…get a grip old fella…I can say what I want and what I feel…I don’t care what you think…..being “foul mouthed” is your opinion… not mine….welcome to the 21st century and the 4G world —do you know what that is all about?
If you don’t like the heat in the kitchen, then buzz off!
Alby,
I agree with Kathy i.e ..you fail “to see the reason behind …(the) ..tirade etc ” ……coz, as Kathy puts it….your head is to far up your arse your fail to see the logic of your own position!!!!
Great call Kathy.!
Whoo…oooooo!!!!.
Forgot to say bula to my bro Chand.
All the best bro..to those “mixing” it big at the verandah at Ono Street.
Talo !!
Komai
Not really worth replying to your comment other than to suggest you read the reply I posted to Kathy who I can only assume is the one who’s pulling your strings.
Alby,
You…. :”fail to see the reason behind the tirade and ….. graffiti defacing of public property or childish cockiness……” I’d like to see his lawyers tell this to the court..
Oh boy….sometimes I wonder if we really have to deal or respond to you guys…..
But I’m always thankful to people like Komai (bula brother), Kathy and others on the bright side who may not totally agree with the current government but have the wisdom to see that in the least this country is heading in the right direction.
2 weeks ago when travelling back to Sydney I had a casual chat with a family who usually comes to Fiji for a holiday……..and he said…”I could come out of the safety of Denarau and my teenage children could walk the streets of Nadi and Lautoka without fear…..” and he asked me if Suva is the same.
I said that all you have to worry about in Suva is the traffic and taxi drivers from LA.
Oh…..and talking about the LA’s…can we now send back some of those nuisance makers from the outskirts of Tacirua and Nadawa to the backyard of Mahendra Chaudary? Wasn’t it MC who gave them $28 grand to resettle in Suva and Navua.
Chand
I note you have not answered my query as to why JK should not be allowed to have an opinion but instead have provided cryptic comment and reference to a lawyer but lets overlook that. If you read my reply to Kathy it may give you a clue as to where I was and am still coming from.
What I find surprising is you comment “” Oh boy….sometimes I wonder if we really have to deal or respond to you guys…..””. I’m intrigued as to what you mean by ‘you guys’ ?
Have you attempted to put me into some sort of easily distinguished category perhaps as simplistic as someone who wants to assist the country moving forward or reversed ? I come to this conclusion based upon what you say about Komai and Kathy, the bright side and the country moving forward.
Your example of the holiday makers comments is good but this is nothing new as there have been improvement in many areas over the past few years under this government. I always look on the positive side but also assess the negative impacts and at present in my opinion the positives outweigh the negatives.
This nation needs to move forward. we are doing well. The EU and ANZ can keep their boomerang aid, we can survive on our own. We are a small country and we have enough resources to survive. We will grow and become a strong independent nation. God bless everyone working to improve this nation. I care not if you are itaukei or not because my children are going to have a better future. As for the opposition squealers, they can squeal all they want because the changes are evident. MSG is just the icing on the cake. We will make sure the past does not blind us again. Onward Fiji… we look forward to the elections!! Dont forget your submissions- deadline is Tuesday!.. Godbless Fiji..
Patriot you have a strong point here. Fiji should be independent from external aid, should clearly state towards the EU and the other sugar daddies around that they should take their money to Vanuatu, Solomons, Samoa and Tonga.
This is a great development in terms of breaking the shackles of our past which the PM has always mentioned. With the MSG election observers we will have people who are educated in the sense of culutural and traditional democracy. Fact that they’re our neighbours means they’re familiar with our culture, tradition and religious make up i. e all races.
The one thing that will always separate us from the western democracy of EU, Aus and NZ is our social and traditional values. For example our villages and provinces are made up of traditional societal levels. The different tribes have different specifications in terms of social responsibilities. From chiefs, warriors, builders etc all of which are inter connected right up provincial level all the way nationally. The terms of “Tau” NAITA”and “MATAQALI”are the respectable way we address each other.
Add to this our fellow Fijian of Indian decents different cultures, tradition and religion. And then you have our fellow Fijians of western and other descent and their specific cultures, tradition and religion. And slowly you realise that we have a very multi diverse system that requires specific attention. Now the EU observers in my opinion just don’t have the experience to be able to fully understand the true Fiji way. They may have the professional academic qualifications and experience but when you’re overseeing something this diverse and your decision may affect generations I’m sorry but we need a little bit more than that.
Even if they were clean and not tainted with accusations of mistrusts I still wouldn’t hire them for the sole reasons I’ve pointed out. As educated professionals they will know that there is a limit to their capabilities and in these case their limit doesn’t stretch too far enough especially when in MSG observers we have a better option. Its nothing personal its just the way it is.
GD – Thanks for another exceptional article.
Our journey looks more brighter these days!
Thanks to all you hard working people …………. all you in Govt, public and private sectors of our dear nation…………… and especially to our PM.
We are really blessed – thank you Lord!
And of course – thank you PNG.You are a real friend and family.
And of course too to EU and the AusAID – thank you too to you guys – we have been receiving your help in other numerous areas and our nation is grateful to you. Thank you so much – and we still love you. Perhaps our relations at the higher level will become stronger soon.
God bless you all and God bless Fiji.
Don’t go overboard here with your thank yous! The EU, Australia, NZ, USA etc push their own agendas with their aid programmes. In Bolivia, USAID has just been kicked out of the country for exactly this reason. What we should do is close down all these offices around Victoria Parade where a lot of foreigners sit and mull over how they can undermine the rule of our beloved PM and AG. Our Melanesian brothers on the other hand are genuinely interested to help us moving forward. We should have MSG observers at our elections and nothing else. Only our brothers will be able to ensure that elections are not manipulated by old politicians.
My humble apologies Peter if I painted a picture of ‘going overboard’.
Actually I agree with you that Fiji needs to move forward. And the idea of involving our MSG brothers in our elections is really a good one.
Yes I agree Fiji needs to depend less on aid; and on this important issue of elections no foreign nation should be dictating conditions we believe will affect our good vision of a Fiji for all – a Fiji that respects and cares for all its citizens. A nation that believes in equality for all.
However I believe Fiji still needs all the help it could get from foreign nations that are willing to help in whatever sectors they are prepared to be engaged in. Hence the idea of closing down their offices on Victoria Parade perhaps is a rather an extreme one in my view.
I believe we should give credit where its due and also give thanks where its due. In this regards, I believe ‘thanks’ is also due to our generous brothers from EU, Aust, US, NZ, etc for all their help in the various sectors (like health, environment, education, agriculture, etc) they have been engaged in.
I only hope that in our quest to determining our future on our own terms we do not forget all the generosity we have received – and also give thanks for all these.
So thank you also EU, Aust, US, NZ for all Fiji has received.
I only pray more of those PNG-like generosity and goodwill will be coming in our way – as Fiji needs to determine on its own accord the future prosperous nation it wishes to become.
So Peter – hope my ‘thank yous’ have not gone overboard.
By the way – thanks for your comments.