WALKING THE TALK: COMPARING THIS GOVERNMENT WITH PREVIOUS GOVERNMENTS. A well known Bua chief has praised recent Bainimarama Government work in
the province. The Tui Nadi, Taukei kei Naitauba, Ratu Peni
Rasigare said the development work had improved their way of life and
that the Voreqe Bainimarama-led government should be supported in its
work.
“This government walks the talk and delivers the best services to rural communities and urban as well,” he said. “As the 2014 elections approaches, my people and I will stand for the government of the day, not so much because of the initiative done by the Republic of Fiji Military
Forces engineering team but because of the services delivered,” Ratu
Peni said.
“We will vote for the government of the day because it is
a non-racist government and they reach out to the grassroot level
people to deliver their services,’’ Ratu Peni added. Ratu Peni said the new blueprint of the nation would steer the country to a bright and a stable future.
The past governments have done their bit for the people of Fiji but no
government can be compared to the government of the day, says Ratu Peni. “Many changes have occurred regarding developments in the rural areas, we as ordinary Fijians are always neglected”.
NEW PROPOSED MINIMUM WAGE, Fiji’s poor wage rate has been blamed for the high level of poverty in the country. And many stakeholders who been lobbying for some years now for the establishment of a minimum wage rate have welcomed the new proposed rate. Based on the findings of the National Minimum Wage Baseline Survey $2.32 an hour is now the proposed minimum wage.
Social Activist and a strong advocate of a proper rate Father Kevin Barr says the new proposed rate is a good start. “This is a transitional arrangement and I think it is a good start, I think it is excellent but hopefully it is not the final one. And as he(survey consultant) envisaged every two years – this will be re-visited and the formulas will be used again and perhaps strengthened a little bit.”
The Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation chief executive has also welcomed the announcement.
“We said that the minimum wage should take into fact the productivity levels of this country, the economy levels of this country and where we are at this stage and his (Dr Mahendra Reddy) survey did take this into account.”
However, all stakeholders have stressed that better monitoring mechanisms must be put in place to see that all employers comply with the proposed rate of two dollars thirty two cents.
Similar consultations will be held in the western and northern division to seek people’s views on the findings of the survey.
ALL ELECTION LAWS IN PLACE BY DECEMBER. The government will ensure that all elections related laws are in place by December this year. Acting Prime Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said two technical experts from New Zealand, two from Australia and two from the EU will also assist the Elections Office in working out all the logistics for the polls. Sayed-Khaiyum said they are targeting to have voting for a day and to have 3,000 polling stations around Fiji.
BAINIMARAMA DEFENDS COUP IN UN. Click for link.
RABUKA'S VIEWS ON THE PARTY COALITION. The 1987 coup leader and later elected Prime Minister, thinks the idea of forming a coalition for the 2014 elections is practical and practicable. However, the mechanics must be properly thought out first, he said.
Recently at a National Federation Party meeting, Attar Singh, of the Fiji Islands Council of Trade Unions, had proposed to form a coalition in order to be in Government after next year’s elections.
The idea has been well received by the predominantly iTaukei party, the Social Democratic Liberal Party.While they will first listen to what their supporters want, general secretary Pio Tabaiwalu said they will be keeping their options open regarding a possible coalition.
Collective platform
Mr Rabuka said: “Before the parties form a coalition, there must be a collectively agreed platform which all the parties subscribe to, so that they keep their political party support from the voters.
“The platform must be for Fiji and NOT just to defeat Bainimarama’s group – that was the case in 1999 when the Nationalists, Veitokani ni Lewenivanua Vakarisito and others only wanted the Soqosoqo ni Vakavulewa ni Taukei defeated.
“The result? Another winner – not of their choice, but one they had to quickly swallow their pride, change their colours and join for personal political expediency.”
Mr Rabuka was referring to politicians like Poseci Bune and Adi Koila Nailatikau.
Lessons from 1999
The coalition of the so-called ‘moderate’ parties including the National Federation Party, the United General Party and Mr Rabuka’s SVT party before the 1999 polls was a disaster.
Mr Rabuka said: “We could have formed a Multi Party Cabinet in 1997 and run with it to 1999 as a demonstration of our good will and confidence in the system contained in the new 1997 Constitution, and given us a better starting platform as a Coalition in the 1999 General Elections.
“When we did not do that, we should have had a better Constitution and Voters Education Programme from 1997 to the Elections in 1999.”
Failing to do the latter, Mr Rabuka said: “We should have fought the elections separately as two parties and joined forces after the elections in the multi-party cabinet which was mandatory anyway.”
Is the Fijian population ready for a coalition?
“Our politics is too bi-polar to form workable coalitions – race, urban, rural, employed, unemployed, Christian, non-Christian and sexual orientation polarise us into non-negotiable postures on national issues.
Mr Rabuka said this is something those in the 2014 poll race should be wary about – bipolarity in our socio-political ideologies.
To the registered parties
“Be objective and not destructive – promote what to do for Fiji rather than simply getting rid of Bainimarama and military expedition-ism in national politics.
“The latter must be evolved over time of stable political leadership,” Mr Rabuka said.
BLOG AIMS, ITS PUBLISHER AND USE
■ Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)
Monday 30 September 2013
Saturday 28 September 2013
Biman Prasad: His Ideas are Always Worth Reading
Challenges for Principals of secondary schools and colleges in Fiji: Leadership, Integrity and Excellence1
By
Professor
Biman Prasad
Professor
Economics
The
University of the South Pacific
- Introduction
The
President of Fiji Principals Association, School Principals, invited
guests, ladies and gentlemen. I thank you for the invitation to
address you on your conference theme on leadership, integrity and
excellence. All three are very important attributes for the future of
education and the well-being of our nation.
I
feel very much honored to have been invited to the Principals
conference. As a secondary school student, I had the privilege of
studying under three very fine Principals: the late Valekuta Mateni,
Mr. Setareki Delana and Mr. Amraiya Naidu. These three individuals
showed great dedication, selflessness and passion for the welfare and
development of students. They were role models for many of us. The
way they led the school had a lasting and significant impact on the
lives of many of us students. In fact, my dream when I was in
secondary school was not only to become a teacher, but also a
principal.
I
did not have the opportunity to become a principal, but today I feel
very proud that my brother, Anil Prasad, is a Principal of a
secondary school.
The
role of School Principals in fostering leadership, integrity and
excellence in our school children, and the community at large, is
vital. It cannot be underestimated or downplayed. I will expound on
this theme later on. But first, let me say a few words about how we
have fared since independence in 1970, including its implications for
education.
As
we all know, Fiji has been caught in a coup cycle since 1987.
Economically, we have stagnated in the last 26 years as a result of
four coups. This has resulted in an increase in poverty from a low of
7% in the 1970s, to an estimated current high of more than 40%. In
other countries like India and China, poverty has generally declined.
It shows Fiji is regressing while others, like Singapore and
Mauritius for example, are forging ahead. These two latter countries
are somewhat comparable to Fiji. At one time, Fiji outranked them in
terms of growth indicators. Now Fiji is well behind both of them.
In
the last 6 years, Fiji has gone through various challenges
characterized by uncertainty and poor economic performance, although
since 2011, the economy has shown some sustained improvements. We
have reason to be cautiously optimistic. We now have a new
Constitution in place. Government has outlined plans for elections
before September 30, 2014. While the process of arriving at this
Constitution may not have been the best, the fact is that we now have
a Constitution which has been implemented. We need to move forward
with urgency. We have a lot of catching up to do. We can’t afford
any more coups. We need to ensure that we provide the leadership that
builds on the positive aspects of the new Constitution. This is where
the theme of your conference – leadership, integrity and
excellence – could not have been more timely. As I mentioned
before, these values not only relevant to your work in schools, but
to the nation as a whole.
Earlier
this year I talked about the status of teachers at the Fiji Teachers
Union conference. I highlighted how teachers can provide leadership
to promote democracy in our country. I revisit this crucial theme in
my talk today before I talk about leadership.
- Democracy in the schools and classrooms
None
of us as parents would want to send our children to a school where
they cannot freely express themselves through debate and discussions.
This would be counterproductive to their personal and professional
development. I believe that our society dreams of democracy for its
children. We want our children to grow up in a free, open, and
transparent democratic framework.
This
is not the least because creativity and innovation in education is
best promoted through democratic teaching and learning.
Indeed, it has been established through research over so many years
that a creative person must have autonomy. He or she must be
connected to the wider society, both locally and internationally, for
ideas. He or she must develop a delicate balance between obedience
and disobedience.
Therefore,
the environment in which our children study can determine whether
they become conformists, or creativists. Principals therefore have an
important role in creating a school environment and moulding our
students to be creative and equally crucially critically minded.
Creativeness, innovativeness and critical thinking are the bedrock of
success at the national and international levels. Principals must
create the right environment in their schools to release our
children’s creativity so that they, and their country, can
flourish.
By
creating such a school environment, we will avoid creating a
‘nation of sheep’.
As
Gandhi once said “Democracy is not a state in which people act like
sheep. Under democracy individual liberty of opinion and action is
jealously guarded”. School
Principals and Teachers have an important responsibility in this
regard to uphold academic freedom, to articulate different views,
engage in free discourse, reason without rancor and debate important
issues affecting the country and the world.
So
what can Principals do to educate our children in democratic norms?
For one, they can instill democratic values by having elections for
school prefect. This will help students at an early age to understand
the process of elections and of the value of choosing their own
leaders. It will also teach accountability and transparency.
- Status of Principals
Let
me now make some remarks on the status of Principals. The School
environment is an important democratic space. Principals and teachers
therefore play a crucial role in the cultivation of democratic
imagination.
In
Fiji we can safely say that as a country we have been able to
continuously improve our educational objectives, policies,
programmes, curricula, text books, and physical infrastructure.
However, principals and teachers remain the single most important
factor in determining the quality of teaching. The ability to attract
highly motivated, skilled and committed individuals, and retaining
them in the profession, is absolutely vital for improving the quality
of education in the increasingly challenging global environment.
The
retention of principals and teachers is linked to their economic
status in that they need to be fairly rewarded for the important work
they do. Principals as leaders have a significant responsibility in
managing the finances, staff, students and facilities. Additionally,
they are required to play and active community role. To attract good
leaders, the government ought to review the Principals salaries to
bring it to the level of responsibilities that Principals have in
schools.
There are only175 secondary schools in Fiji. If we were to increase the salaries of Principals next year by $10,000 across the board, we would have raised the starting salary of the lowest level 4C principal’s salary to $38,304 and the starting salary of $49,529 for the highest level 1D Principal. The highest level Principals salary after a $10,000 increase would still amount to less than 25% of the salary of the highest paid permanent secretary as of now. The total extra budget that the Ministry would need to raise the Principals’ salary by $10,000 across the board would amount to $1.75 million. This is a small price to pay for the benefits that will be returned. This is a small, but wise, investment that will bring us good returns. I would urge the government and the Ministry of Education to look seriously into this matter.
Secondly,
the social status of Principals is also important. All my three
principals in the 1970s and 1980s had very high social status. Back
then there was public recognition and acceptance of Principals as
leaders and leading opinion makers in society. They were respected by
students and communities alike as promoting moral and ethical
standards in society. That status might be less evident today, and it
may be because of the erosion of professional pride and professional
commitment. It is also due to the deteriorating moral and ethical
standards amongst some of our Principals.
The
status of Principals and teachers has also been affected negatively
in an environment of political instability and uncertainty. This has
been the case since 1987, with no end in sight as yet. Many
experienced Principals and teachers and school administrators had to
leave the service abruptly to migrate as a result of the
discrimination they perceived in the civil service. To make matters
worse, the Bainimarama government implemented an ill-conceived
retirement policy, which effectively shuts out productive and
experienced Principals after the age of 55.
I am
pleased to say that this policy, which was included in the draft
Constitution, has now been removed and it is no longer part of the
2013 Constitution. However, government should immediately change its
teacher retirement policy of 55 years to 60. It does not make any
economic or educational sense to have a retirement age of only 55 in
the civil service and least of all in the teaching profession where
experience is vital. It is misguided that reducing the retirement age
will help reduce unemployment and provide younger people more
opportunities. All it will do is deny us the benefit of quality
principals, teachers and administrators.
The
public service in Fiji should not be considered as major generator of
employment. Employment for young will be generated through better and
sustained economic growth led by the private sector. The sooner
government does away with the 55 retirement age policy in the civil
service the better. In Papua New Guinea, the Public Service
Commission is thinking of increasing the retirement age from 60 to
63.
- New Leadership in Schools
Let me
now turn to leadership, integrity and excellence by highlighting that
there is a difference between a leader and a manager. According to
management expert, Peter Drucker “Management is doing things right;
leadership is doing the right things” My view is that most
Principals are good managers but I am not sure if they are also good
leaders. Management is about operational issues, managing the day to
day affairs but Leadership is about providing and having a vision to
lead an organization. As you can see, the distinction is very
important.
Once
you define and articulate the vision for your schools you will need
to build a team to take the organization forward. Leaders would not
be able to do this if they have too much pride, greed, anger, hatred
and an excess of ego. Good leaders have humility, integrity, self
reflexivity and honesty at all times.
Integrity
is vital for good leadership. What is integrity and how can we build
that in our leadership? Gus
Lee & Diane Elliott-Lee, in their book, “Courage: The
Backbone of Leadership”
define integrity as follows and I quote:
“Integrity
is acting for what is right. When we do this, we feel whole and
uniquely powerful.”
It
is always important for Principals to differentiate between the right
and wrong. As leaders, if we are not able to do that, than we would
be sending a wrong signal to our students. Equally important is to
cultivate not just a moral but an ethical sensibility.
When
your colleagues and students; your school management and your
community trust and respect you, it is because you as principals
possess and embody certain admirable qualities that inspire them.
These qualities include humility, understanding, and tolerance of
others’ points of views rather than being dictatorial and
unapproachable in your dealings with students.
Any
form of
dictatorship
in school leadership is not going to work in this day and age.
Principals should be able to create an environment of collegial
debate, allow different view-points amongst students and staff and
nurture dissent and respectful disagreement to move towards
innovation and excellence.
Some
Principals complain about the lack of student, parent and community
support. These principals have to question why. They must also look
within. Could it be because of the failure of Principals to engage
effectively with the parent and community? Principals should find
innovative ways of engaging parents. It is not enough to have a
parent-teachers meeting once in a year. Parents could be engaged at
different levels. Principals could, for example, organise informal
talks, discussions, social events and workshops at different form
levels with teachers and parents. Parents could be involved in
organizing sports events, debates, school bazaars, talents quests,
gardening etc. Such collaborations can build and strengthen
school-community ties. The community becomes part of the school.
Another
dimension that is adding to the increasingly complex role of
Principals is the increasing rate of urbanization. The future
communities in our country and elsewhere around the world will be
urban communities. While urbanization will bring with it new
opportunities it will also present special challenges for education
or children. With more freedom of choice and exposure externalities
such as drug, truancy, crime and urban poverty, Principals will have
an even bigger challenge to deal with these issues in schools.
Let
me add innovation to your sub-theme of excellence. Innovation and
excellence is what is going to define the success of our education
system. It is excellence in what we do as a country will determine
our place in the world. In this age of globalization we have to be
competitive. We can only compete if we promote excellence in our
people.
We
can no longer rely solely on traditional social institutions such as
families, churches and other religious and social institutions to
inculcate the virtues of good leadership, ethics and integrity and
excellence. In fact many religious organisations and leaders have
failed miserably in the past to deal with issues of integrity, ethics
and good leadership amongst their members, especially amongst youth.
Since 1987, we have seen the ‘immorality of silence’ amongst many
of the religious organisations and leaders.
Many
of them allowed politicians and public officials to diminish the
office they occupied by succumbing to their immoral, unethical
leadership roles in our society. Many of these self-serving religious
organisations leaders have a lot to explain when it comes to
addressing the social and moral decline in our societies and in our
children. Given the failure of many of these religious
organisations and their leaders, I am convinced that the only
effective social institutions that can promote the virtues of
excellence are the schools. It is therefore vital that Principals
understand this role and become role models for students. I urge you
all to rethink your roles, go beyond the normal bureaucratic ministry
of education laid rules in the school to build effective
collaborative strategies with parents and the community to serve the
students. As principals you can leave lasting legacies for our future
generations.
I
now turn to another subject in relation to excellence. In many
countries excellence is actually measured against global rankings.
Benchmarking and measuring against global standards is important for
us as a country. The most widely used measure of excellence is based
on the OECD introduced Programme for International Student Assessment
(PISA) in 2000. Creating an identity of excellence in our children
and in our teachers can take us far. But too often we have
concentrated our energy on other forms of identity – ethnic,
religious, provincial and regional. What we should focus on is our
children’s capacity to excel in positive endeavours and exploit
this to the full.
The
McKinsey 2007 report on “How the World’s best performing school
systems come out on top” identified three issues in relation to
high performing schools:
- The quality of an education system cannot exceed the quality of its teachers;
- The only way to improve outcomes is to improve instruction, and;
- Achieving universally high outcomes is only possible by putting in place mechanisms to ensure that schools deliver high quality instruction to every child
Additionally,
in its 2010 report, “How the World’s Most Improved School Systems
Keep Getting Better” it concluded that a system could become
better, no matter what its starting point, given a sustained
leadership and a focus on key interventions necessary for systematic
improvement. This report highlights the important role of principals,
who have to be not only managers, but also leaders.
As
you are aware, our economy and our society are constantly influenced
by the vagaries of global issues. No longer can countries and
societies isolate themselves from international imperatives and
needs. We have to therefore produce global citizens. We have to steer
our student’s abilities and behaviour in a way that they are not
only able to deal with their own cultural and national contexts, but
they also develop skills and knowledge that will be applicable beyond
their national boundaries.
Let me
conclude by saying that in the last 13 years, several reforms have
been implemented relating to the curriculum and assessment management
of schools. Many of them were perhaps long overdue. It is important
to import and adapt new systems that have been tried elsewhere. But
we need to be mindful of the context and the readiness of our
infrastructure to support changes.
- Time for another Education Commission in to Fiji’s Education System
The
last Education Commission report on Fiji’s education system was
done 13 years ago. Another inquiry is long overdue. It is now time
for another Education Commission. The next Education Commission
should be based on a detailed analysis of the outputs and outcomes
that has been achieved through our education system in the last
thirteen years. Fiji’s future economic and social progress will
depend on the kind of excellence we can bring out from our
educational systems. Fiji’s national productivity compared to many
other similar countries is much lower partly because of lack of
excellence in the educational system which has suffered due to coups
and political instability.
- Concluding Comments
In
conclusion, let me say that Fiji is again on the cusp of another
critical juncture and that is the next general election. It should
not matter much who wins the next election. What should and would
matter is how those who win lead the country. Leadership based on
greed, destructive envy, exclusivity, racial discrimination, lack of
moral consciousness and leadership devoid of any ethical sensibility
will not serve the country well. What we will need is leadership
based on integrity, excellence and inclusiveness. Fiji’s misfortune
over the last 27 years has been that democracy- whatever its
shortcoming- was not allowed to function because of military coups.
The democratic deficit is huge and will require leadership,
excellence and integrity in all our institutions including our
military to reduce that. One hopes that after the General Elections,
we would have all learnt our lessons to strive towards sustaining
democracy, rule of law through good leadership.
As
Principals you are leading children who are mainly aged between 14
and 18. In twenty years’ time these children will between the ages
of 34 and 38. They constitute a critical demographic bank as future
voters. By then many of you would have retired. Imagine the legacy
you can leave behind in terms of leadership qualities with these
students if you do your part. When you look back from your rocking
chairs, you will have reason to feel satisfied.
Students
respect their principals a lot. Take it from me that they all look
upon you as role models. Their expectation of you as a leader is that
you will give them lasting influences that would help them develop
their skills, knowledge, and cultivate attributes such as integrity,
leadership and excellence. Their parents put great faith in you. They
expect you to have the welfare of their boys and girls in your
hearts. Do not let students, parents, and this country down.
I thank
you all and I do hope that in the next two days you will have some
serious discussions about your roles and we can improve the
opportunities for good leadership not only in schools but build a
foundation for excellence and integrity in leadership at the national
level. I thank once again for the invitation and it is my pleasure to
declare your conference open.
1
Keynote address delivered at the Fiji Principals Conference held on
25 September, 2013 at the Labasa Khastriya Hall.
Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On
Cane farmers near Nadi. |
Next time a business/government delegation goes to China, the US or whatever country that's holding a business showcase, include a few farmers.
If the showcase is about vegetable farming, take a few vegetable farmers. If it's about dairy farming, take some dairy farmers, and if it's about sugar, take a few cane farmers. Then there is fishing, poultry, beef , seafood and much more.
Take the people on the ground to visit the places with Government funding everything. It will be a good investment. Civil servants often come back from these trips and sit on their experiences and the very people who should be informed are left wanting.
I know these people on the ground will come back and take the news to their various rural areas and inform the people during religious gatherings and even grog sessions.
Taking all civil servants and rich businessmen is good, think of the consumer next time a government delegation goes.
The people selected need not even speak proper English as long as they know what they're doing farming. These are the unsung heroes of Fiji who have been keeping the agriculture sector alive.
Let me know if a delegation is going soon. I have huge network of farmers who I have been working with and I know the capable ones. We usually converse in my broken Hindi, but we get the message to and fro. Anybody game?
Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.
Thursday 26 September 2013
PM Bainimarama Addresses UN General Assembly
Click here for the full address.
Fiji's interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, has used his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to defend the coup that gave his regime power.
Fiji's interim Prime Minister, Frank Bainimarama, has used his address to the United Nations General Assembly in New York to defend the coup that gave his regime power.
Commodore Bainimarama led the military coup against the government of Laesenia Qarase in December 2006, and was appointed as interim prime minister in 2007.
He's told the UN prior to the coup, Fiji was struggling under 'elites' that sowed the seeds of division and undermined independent institutions.
He says the previous coups, in 1987 and 2000, were expressions of the dysfunction.
"Tens of thousands of Fijians suffered and many made the decision to leave their home forever, to leave Fiji," he said.
"This is one of the most shameful episodes of our history and I determined that this must never, never happen again.
"We must never allow a fellow citizen to be second class, to be less than an equal of his neighbour."
Commodore Bainimarama also used the address to recommit to elections next year.
He says with his country's new constitution, which came into law this month and replaces the charter scrapped by the military-backed regime in 2009, "our national compass has finally been reset".
"43 years and three constitutions later, we finally have a Constitution that is worthy of the Fijian people," he said.
"It is a Constitution that meets the test of a genuine democracy that upholds the legal and moral basis of a common and equal citizenry without denying anyone's individuality or culture."
Commodore Bainimarama also expressed disappointment that Fiji has lost some of its traditional partners in the wake of the coup.
He drew parallels between the coup in Fiji and the US civil war, the French Revolution and Australia's Eureka Stockade.
"Regrettably, and to our great disappointment, some of these oldest friends had no faith in us," he said.
"They abandoned us and sought to punish us with sanctions - we sought their assistance and understanding, but they turned their backs on us.
"They chose to support a form of democracy, governance and justice in Fiji that they would never have accepted for themselves."
International role
Commodore Bainimarama says the isolation from their traditional friends has led Fiji to seek more independence and a stronger international standing.
He highlighted Fiji's role as chair of the G77+China and its position on the UN's Decolonisation Committee.
Commodore Bainimarama also pointed to the deployment of 500 peacekeepers to the Golan Heights this year.
"Fiji's commitment to UN peacekeeping remains unwavering," he said.
"It is a source of great pride that for a nation of our size, we are able to make a meaningful and significant contribution.
"For the last three decades, we have always responded to the call of the UN to serve, including in the most difficult circumstances around the world."
Commodore Bainimarama also pointed to his country's achievements in improving access to telecommunications.
And he's called on the UN members to follow through on commitments to sustainable development for small island states, and sustainable management of the oceans.
Source: This account by ABC
Source: This account by ABC
Editors,
Good Morning. Attached is the amended version of the Prime Minister’s address delivered this morning (Fiji Time) at the 68th session of the United Nations’ General Assembly Debate in New York.
To access the video of his statement delivered in New York, please visit http://www.youtube.com/user/minfofiji to access this.
For more information, photos and other media materials related to this event, please visit Government’s page at www.fiji.gov.fj or the Ministry’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fiji-Ministry-of-Information/207532522613024
Vinaka,
MINFO News.
Wednesday 25 September 2013
ROUNDUP FOR Wednesday 25 September 2013
"Look North Policy." I don't
know what to make of Government's reach into the Middle East, with
the PM meeting the Iranian President and Ambassador Robin Nair
meeting the Emir or Ajman, one of the seven emirates that make up
the United Arab Emirates, but if they keep going, I'm sure the USA
and Fiji's former traditional allies will experience mounting
concern.
Development for Women policy. Six new
women's centres will open before the end of the year. Eleven women's
resource centres have been built and 12 extended since 2011. Each new
centre will have a business plan and focus on core products such as
handicrafts, embroidery, jewelly, virgin coconut oil, tailoring, wood
carving, catering, baking, salt making and seeweed production. The
purpose of the centres is to help mainly underprivileged or rural
women generate income for their families.
Election Registration. Registration of
overseas Fijian with valid passports and eligible to vote in the 2014
elections started this week in Auckland and Wellington. It will then
move to Australia, the UK and the west coast of North America. Some
540,000 people have already registered in Fiji.
Elections to cost $40 million. This is
the A-G's estimate. Australia, NZ, the EU, and PNG are working
closely with Government in preparation for the election, and PNG has
said it will contribute $20 million towards election expenses.
Supervisor of Elections. The post has
been advertised, and the person chosen with by appointed by the
President of the recommendation of the Constitutional Offices
Commission and and Electoral Commission. This procedure is fine for
the election after this one when the Leader of Opposition will a
member of the COC, but for this election all seems to be in the hands
of the PM and the A-G. A bridging arrangement is needed to ensure
that opinions outside the inner Government circle are consulted.
Otherwise, anti-Government groups will maintain the whole thing is a
jackup between the PM and A-G.
But who to add to the commission in
the interim? A prominent and well-respected lawyer, professional,
businessman or community leader, or one or more of the country's
university Vice-Chancellors?
The Commissioner of Police. The same
criticism can be made about the appointment of the next Commissioner
of Police, whose position is vacant with the expiration this week of
Brig. Ioane Naivalurua's contract. The current Constitution Offices
Commission is not the transparent and balanced commission detailed in
the Constitution.
Monday 23 September 2013
On Archbishop Chong's Criticism of the Constitution
I am more than a little perplexed on
two counts by Archbishop Chong's criticism of the 2103 constitution.
First, by the criticism itself which I think misplaced, and secondly
by its purpose that leaves me rather worried.
The Archbishop agrees that the
constitution upholds religious liberty, but it also states that religious
belief is personal. He sees this as preventing the church from
publicly stating its beliefs.
If religion is limited to personal matters, he says, "you are infringing on people's rights to freedom of expression. If the church wanted to speak out about human rights in the pubic sphere, it would be seen to be violating the constitution."
If religion is limited to personal matters, he says, "you are infringing on people's rights to freedom of expression. If the church wanted to speak out about human rights in the pubic sphere, it would be seen to be violating the constitution."
Thus, according to the constitution, he continued, the church cannot be involved in
party politics; it cannot support a party or tell a congregation
which party they should support. "Our role", he says, "is
to make people aware of the current situation in Fiji."
I had to read this several times. Does
the Archbishop really think it is the church's role to make people aware of "the situation"? Does he think he, or the church, has a special
insight about what the current
situation is? Surely he cannot be
claiming that priests should use the pulpit to tell their
congregations how to vote?
If so, it is no wonder the Methodist
Secretary-General Rev. Tevita Nawadra, agrees with him. I'd
hoped the new Methodist leadership had turned its back on political involvement after supporting the 1997 and 2000 ethno-nationalist coups. But this is apparently not so. Nawadra looks to
the future. "Maybe, when we have a new constitution", he
mused. And the Archbishop has given him a leg up.
I wonder where this reasoning may lead.
Will other Christian denominations also wish to engage in party
politics? Will the Methodist Church tell its members to vote for the old SDL party in its new guise? Will the Muslim League and the Arya Samaj form their own parties? Where will it stop? Is Fiji to replace a divisive political
system based on race by an equally divisive one based on religion? Stressing differences will not help much-needed national unity, or Fiji's path towards democracy.
This leads to my second question: why
has the Archbishop made this statement at this point in time? The
church in Fiji —or, indeed, in any other commonwealth country to my
knowledge— has never previously supported a political party or
shown any wish to do do.
It has publicly supported some
policies, particularly in the area of social justice, and opposed
others, most notably on abortion, gender orientation and
contraception. But it can be argued these policies lay
within the orbit of the church's traditional mission in matters of
"faith and morals." Thus, former Archbishop Petero Mataca's co-chairmanship of the People's Charter dialogue and Fr Kevin Barr's chairmanship of the Wages Council demonstrated the church's concern with social justice. Supporting the yet-to-be-formed Bainimarama party or the United Front for a Democratic Fiji will do nothing of the sort.
Does the Archbishop's statement herald
a change in church policy? Is he using one section of the
constitution (that I will argue he misreads) to attack the
constitution as a whole, and in so doing, attack the Bainimarama
government and cast his lot in with Bainimarama's opponents?
I hope not because this is not the role
of the church; there are too many shades of grey to paint the situation in blacks and whites, and the Archbishop has misunderstood what the
Constitution says about religious rights.
The Government's "non-negotiable"
principles when it set up the Ghai Commission stated that Fiji must be a secular state. This means that the state would
have no role in promoting or impeding any particular religious
belief. Several submissions to the Commission, including an early
submission by the SDL party —but not including, it should be
stated, by the Catholic Church— favoured Fiji becoming a Christian
state. Had such a provision been included in the Constitution, an
injustice would clearly have been done to the 30-35% of the
population that is not Christian.
So what does the Constitution say on
religious belief?
The relevant section reads (with my
highlighting for emphasis):
"Freedom
of religion, conscience and belief
22.
1)
Every person has the right to freedom of religion, conscience and
belief.
(2)
Every person has the right, either individually or in community with
others,
in
private or in public, to manifest and practise their religion or
belief in worship,
observance,
practice or teaching.
(3)
Every person has the right not to be compelled to—
(a)
act in
any manner that is contrary to the person’s religion or belief;
or
(b)
take an oath,
or take an oath in a manner, that––
(i)
is contrary to the person’s religion or belief; or
(ii)
requires the person to express a belief that the person does not
hold.
(4)
Every religious community or denomination, and every cultural or
social
community,
has the right to establish, maintain and manage places of education
whether or
not
it receives financial assistance from the State, provided that the
educational institution
maintains
any standard prescribed by law.
(5)
In exercising its rights under subsection (4), a religious community
or
denomination
has the right to provide religious instruction as part of any
education that
it
provides, whether or not it receives financial assistance from the
State for the provision
of
that education.
(6)
Except with his or her consent or, in the case of a child, the
consent of a parent
or
lawful guardian, a person attending a place of education is not
required to receive
religious
instruction or to take part in or attend a religious ceremony or
observance if the
instruction,
ceremony or observance relates to a religion that is not his or her
own or if
he
or she does not hold any religious belief.
(7)
To the extent that it is necessary, the rights and freedoms set out
in this section
may
be made subject to such limitations prescribed by law—
(a)
to protect—
(i)
the rights and freedoms of other persons; or
(ii)
public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or
(b)
to prevent
public nuisance."
Section
1 establishes the general position on freedom of religion.
Section
2 deals with the Archbishop's concerns about the private and public
spheres.
Section
3 protects individuals against coercion.
Sections
4-6 concern religious organizations and education.
Section
7 places limits on religious rights and freedoms.
Similar
limitations are mentioned in other parts of the constitution for
obvious reasons. PM Bainimarama, replying to the Archbishop's
statement, said the limitations were to prevent "hate speech and
incitements to violence". Those who recall the actions of some
Methodist leaders in the 2000 Speight Coup will be well aware that
such limitations may again be needed.
Bainimarama
also said that section 22 (2) could not be more clear, and I must
agree.
I
remain perplexed about Archbishop Chong's statement. Earlier, he said
he had not read the Constitution, but surely he must have read it
before making this recent statement. He cannot possibly have misread
its meaning. Why, then, did he speak as he did of the Constitution,
and claim for the Church the right to engage in party politics, which is quite a different matter altogether? I really do not know.
But, whatever
his reasons, his commnents will thrill those who, for many different
reasons —some honourable, others less honourable— oppose the
Bainimarama government.
And they will leave many Catholics really puzzled.
Notes
The
Archdiocese
of Suva includes Fiji and Rotuma and the suffragan sees of Rarotonga,
Niue, Tarawa and Nauru.
Catholics
in Fiji
Second
largest Christian denomination, about 15% of Christians and 10% of
the population.
Membership
(%): iTaukei 75; Indo-Fijians 5; Others 10.
Geography:
Over-represented in Namosi and Serua provinces in Viti Levu and
Tunuloa (E.Cakaudrove) and Wainikeli (Taveuni).
Saturday 21 September 2013
The Australian Federal Election and the South Pacific
By
Scott
MacWilliam
Visiting
Fellow
State,
Society and Governance in Melanesia Program
ANU
Prior
to the September 7 election, there were some, even high, hopes that
the anticipated victory of the conservative Liberal-National Party
Coalition would bring major welcome changes to Australian foreign
policy toward the South Pacific. These changes included a reversal of
the stance toward Fiji’s military regime initiated by the previous
conservative government headed by John Howard and maintained during
the six years of centre-left Labor Party headed coalition rule.
Indeed
shortly before the election the shadow foreign minister Julie Bishop
signalled an intention to more closely engage with Prime Minister
Frank Bainimarama’s government, easing sanctions in the run-up to
the promised 2014 elections in Fiji. Soon after the Australian
elections, NZ’s conservative government welcomed the release of the
new Fiji constitution and also announced that some sanctions would be
eased, while planning for the elections continued. Change looked to
be in the wind.
However
the experienced and astute Fiji foreign minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola
immediately placed the significance of the proposed ANZ shift in
context. In an interview Kukuabola indicated that, 'while Fiji
welcomed the incremental changes in the New Zealand stance, it was
regrettable they were of little impact at this late stage of Fiji’s
progress towards a return to democracy'.1
Expect much the same once the now foreign minister Bishop is sworn in
and makes a similar pronouncement to that coming from NZ Minister
McCully.
Kubuabola
has been around long enough to know the long-term drivers of ANZ
foreign policies towards Fiji and other South Pacific countries. He
would be well aware that soon after Bishop trumpeted her greater
sensitivity to the region at a conference in Fiji, the conservative
treasurer-to-be Joe Hockey announced a AUD4.5 billion cut over the
next four years to the aid budget. For reasons outlined below, I
expect this to be only the first such cut. AusAID for Fiji, which has
increased substantially since 2006, is unlikely to be spared major
reductions UNLESS the government feels it can be used to exert
further leverage on the military regime.
Kubuabola
would also know that a central if not publicly stated plank of the
Australian foreign policy toward Fiji is the re-installation of the
former SDL (Soqosoqo
Duavata ni Lewenivanua)
party, now SODELPA (Social
Democratic Liberal Party)
in government.
On a recent visit to Fiji, I was informed by a
normally reliable source that the Liberal Party in Australia had
provided for two SODELPA officials to watch how that party conducted
its election campaign. While I have not seen written evidence to this
effect, it did not surprise as AusAID support has previously been
forthcoming for the training of SDL and Fiji Labour Party officials
at the ANU’s Centre for Democratic Institutions.
The
opportunistic United Front which consists of SODELPA, the Fiji Labour
Party and the National Federation Party is likely to also receive
support from Australia in the form of assistance for the FLP.
That
is, Kubuabola and the regime would know that lifting sanctions is
code for back to the future. Propping up the bloc that led to the
military takeover is aimed specifically at whatever party PM
Bainimarama establishes to run in the elections. When the PM’s
bitter opponent ex-PM Laisenia Qarase is the principal adviser to
SODELPA, which currently has a largely token figure at its head, the
domestic Fiji battle lines are becoming sharper each day. What
Australian foreign policy hopes to achieve is equally transparent.
While
much has been made of the previous ALP-Greens-Independents coalition
government’s internal divisions, there is now a pronounced campaign
under way in Australia to claim that the conservative Coalition is a
united team. Indeed so consistent have been the efforts by senior
party figures to proclaim a cautious, common front as was shown when
in opposition that this suggests divisions needing to be glossed
over. Already there have been the much publicised attacks on the
presence of only woman, Bishop, in the Cabinet. Less noted have been
the very public criticisms of proposed policies in areas which point
to the inherent tensions between the Liberal and National parties.2
Similarly the handing of Trade and Investment, the former
traditionally a National Party sinecure, to a Victorian Liberal who
previously held the shadow Finance portfolio is likely to produce
major disagreements between what might loosely be called the
`economic nationalists’ or `agrarian populists’ and the `economic
rationalists’. Resolving these disputes, with more funds poured
into agriculture and rural infrastructure – both ministries held by
National Party politicians – can be most easily resolved by further
cutting foreign aid. Both sides are in agreement with this direction,
with the new National Party agriculture minister being an especially
vociferous critic of giving to others money which he believes is
needed in Australia.
And
then there are climate changes, the effects of which are so critical
for nearly all South Pacific countries and highlighted at a recent
regional conference. For all the attempts to suggest an incoming
government which is trying to be get closer to the governments of
other South Pacific countries, the new Australia one will be forever
branded by two phrases. One of these is `climate change is crap’,
with the second being `stop the boats’.
On
the first, one of the earliest signs that denial is still a central
belief of the new PM Tony Abbott is the appointment as consul-general
in New York of former Senator Nick Minchin. A South Australian party
hard man and extreme conservative, Minchin shares his leader’s view
on the predominant scientific position regarding global warming.
Minchin, an Abbott promoter in internal party tussles, is famous or
infamous depending upon one’s respect for medical knowledge for
proclaiming that the documented links between passive smoking and
various illnesses are not proven. In the mid-1990s he was described
as holding `troglodyte’ views on the subject and there is no
evidence that he has changed since. So for the people of the South
Pacific concerned with the effects of rising sea levels, don’t
expect this government to bring climate science to the table in
discussions on Australian foreign policy toward Pacific islanders.
On
`stop the boats’ little more needs to be said except that the
initial stance does not show any change from the heralded Opposition
position. Don’t expect much greater sensitivity from the government
or the foreign minister to the views of regional governments on this
internationally difficult issue. The suggestion that Australia would
buy boats which might be used for transporting asylum seekers and
destroy them has not been given much credence. Bishop has already
declared her position regarding Indonesian opposition to such
proposed measures as paying informers to gather information about
proposed people smuggling activities in Indonesia. To the critics who
point to the possible implications for Indonesian sovereignty, Bishop
has stated `"We're not asking for Indonesia's permission, we're
asking for their understanding". 3
Indonesia’s foreign minister almost immediately spoke against the
payments proposal.4
Papua New Guinea’s PM Peter O’Neill too is clearly on the alert
regarding attempts to redefine the deal signed with the previous
Australian government.
Over-all,
for those who looked forward to a change of government in Australia
as one which would bring greater benefits to South Pacific countries,
all the initial signs are for the need to be cautious rather than
optimistic. Being in opposition allows grandiose promises: being in
government of a relatively minor and not very important country in
world affairs means having to bend to major storms which blow across
the globe. An attempted muscular foreign policy from such a minor
player is unlikely to convince too many in the region or elsewhere.
Alternately, whether this government can instead sway and bend in its
dealings with neighbours is yet to be tested.
1
Fiji Sun September 13, pp.1-2
2
`New Nats threaten to rebel over CSG’ (Coal Seam Gas) The
Australian September 10 2013, p.5
3
`Julie Bishop says
Coalition's policies would not breach Indonesia's sovereignty’ The
Australian
September 17.
4
`We will reject
Abbott’s policy on asylum seekers: Indonesia Foreign Minister
Marty Natalagawa’ Sydney
Morning Herald
September 13
Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On
Jaywalking at Uni
I went to the FNU campus in Natabua, Lautoka and witnessed something that should be addressed by the university. When classes are finished students mill around in the middle of the road like it was okay. These students are there to earn a high level of education, yet they disregard road safety. Cars have to wait for them them to move to the side at their laid back rate. One student even had the audacity to scowl at me when I stopped to let him pass, and he had on earphones and wouldn't have heard the purring of my automobile.
If we have to get rid of jaywalkers from the main streets,can we start with private roads, like the universities. I wonder if any of the students can stand up and talk about road safety and the dangers jay walking.
False Pretences
An old timer went to collect his social welfare cheque and was told a whole bunch hadn't come from Suva. He then asked to see the boss who was unavailable. Then he asked to see the assistant and he too was unavailable.
In his frustration the man said, these people should be here to speak to us and earn their pay. What they are doing is obtaining money by false pretences.
Take Care
Now that gold is being bought easily (as per advertisements) , may I encourage Fijians of Indian origin to take more care on who they invite to their homes. The lady who was killed by an alleged miracle worker should be an indication. We are surrounded by people who prey on the poor and desperate. Please don't talk about how much jewelry you have at home because these people could go on to tell others, and your home could become a target.
Those who prey on the poor and vulnerable should be given lessons that they will never forget.
Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.
I went to the FNU campus in Natabua, Lautoka and witnessed something that should be addressed by the university. When classes are finished students mill around in the middle of the road like it was okay. These students are there to earn a high level of education, yet they disregard road safety. Cars have to wait for them them to move to the side at their laid back rate. One student even had the audacity to scowl at me when I stopped to let him pass, and he had on earphones and wouldn't have heard the purring of my automobile.
If we have to get rid of jaywalkers from the main streets,can we start with private roads, like the universities. I wonder if any of the students can stand up and talk about road safety and the dangers jay walking.
False Pretences
An old timer went to collect his social welfare cheque and was told a whole bunch hadn't come from Suva. He then asked to see the boss who was unavailable. Then he asked to see the assistant and he too was unavailable.
In his frustration the man said, these people should be here to speak to us and earn their pay. What they are doing is obtaining money by false pretences.
Take Care
Now that gold is being bought easily (as per advertisements) , may I encourage Fijians of Indian origin to take more care on who they invite to their homes. The lady who was killed by an alleged miracle worker should be an indication. We are surrounded by people who prey on the poor and desperate. Please don't talk about how much jewelry you have at home because these people could go on to tell others, and your home could become a target.
Those who prey on the poor and vulnerable should be given lessons that they will never forget.
Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in Fiji. I thank Allen for permission to reprint some of them in this political blog. They remind us that life goes on, whatever the political situation. And it's good to know that.
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