(+) When What's Not Good May Be Not So Bad: Some Thoughts for Minister McCully

When National became Government in NZ many hoped to see a more realistic and helpful policy towards Fiji, and or a while things looked promising. But now, having restored minimal functionality at the Suva High Commission, the relationship looks substantially unchanged.

Speaking recently  to RadioNZ International  Foreign Minister Murray McCully  said there was a lack of "good news out of Fiji" since its suspension from the Pacific Islands Forum a year ago.  He added that "the [Pacific Islands] Forum leaders  unprecedented step of suspending Fiji's membership was more about punishing Fiji for failing to comply with the organization’s democratic ideals." He hadn't expected the suspension "to prompt changes by the interim regime" but it was needed to uphold principles. [It could also have been used to warn other Pacific nations not to support or follow Fiji's example.  What was not said was that, in international politics, stability is often more prized than principle.] 

I have commented elsewhere about how the "punishment" (that had no expected outcome!) has unintentionally heartened government opponents, strengthened the hold of the military in civil government, and adversely affected the livelihood of ordinary Fiji citizens, and I'll say no more on this, or comment on what the choice of a word like "punishment" tells us about NZ's attitude to Fiji. Instead, I'll focus on the word "good" that means different things to different people.

The Word "Good"
For the Minister, it probably means no restrictions on the Fiji Times, no Public Emergency Regulations, no detentions for their breach, engagement with the old political parties, "freedom" for the Methodist Church hierarchy,  and, most of all, "democratic" elections yesterday. I doubt he would extend "good" to include a flash assassination or a quick mutiny but many of those whose company he keeps would think these drastic measures "good."

Unfortunately, the Minister's apparently worthy democratic aims are not quite what they seem in the Fiji context (hence the need to place so many terms in speech marks), and none will be realized anytime soon because what the Minister sees as "good," Bainimarama sees as "bad." For Bainimarama their adoption would mean jettisoning the Roadmap and the People's Charter. He would have allowed the coup to fail, dozens of policies and schemes would be left up in the air, and  nothing "good"  would have been achieved after nearly four years of sacrifice and effort.

Many people sympathetic to what Bainimarama says he seeks to achieve share Minister McCully's concerns about a number of actions by the Fiji Government. Many have been spelt out on this blog, most recently in the ten serious concerns I expressed about the draft Media Decree. We have also frequently noted that the Fiji Government too often reacts excessively to situations, and seems quite unconcerned with its poor PR.

But we have also noted the many good things government is doing, or is trying to do, and noted that none of them (not one) is ever mentioned in the so-called independent mainstream media, or acknowledged by the Minister's government.

Here is a short list of some of the things they could have reported and acknowledged:

• The Corruption Clean-Up Campaign, a major reason given for the Coup, continues. The Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC)  investigated and laid 161 charges against 47 individuals in 2009.Some 4,365 complaints were received, of which 44 percent were resolved without going to court. Government audits and accountability reports continue to reveal irregularities. Department and Ministry annual auditing is now enforced. The huge backlog of complaints against lawyers is being addressed as are accusations of transfer pricing.

• Structural Reform and a more efficient Civil Service. The IMF recently complimented Government on  these measures, and many citizens have noted a more polite and helpful civil service.

• The Economy.  IMF also commended Govt on its fiscal and monetary policies that have done much to counteract the severe effects of the global financial crisis and the massive destruction to infrastructure after the January 2009 floods. Low interest loans have been obtained from new sources -- China, India, Malaysia -- to fund development. Micro-credit is being advanced to encourage small local businesses.

• Development initiatives. An improved and social physical infrastructure is another of Government's Roadmap goals. This includes work on roads and bridges, rural and outer island development (Rotuma now exports food to Tuvalu; nursing stations and small business initiatives in several areas), more emphasis in food security, and agriculture (rice, dairying, vegetables, copra use for biodiesel), and land reform. Some two-thirds of the 6,406 cane farms where leases expired between 1997 and 2010 are back in use. Most leases have been renewed with existing tenants, others with new tenants, a few leases have been subdivided for subsistence and cane farming, 1,670 have reverted to the landowners, and 374 leases were still in the process. Land leases are no longer a political weapon and lease money is being paid to the actual owners, not to chiefs and others in the former gravy train.

• Race and racism are not longer political weapons. Government has started the long uphill road to create a common "Fijian" indentify for all citizens. All citizens will be treated equally while respecting their ethnic differences. Race-based parties will not be allowed to stand in the 2014 elections. This situation must not be confused with NZ where the Maori ethnic minority has its own party. Some critics have questioned Bainimarama's sincerity because of continuing dominance of ethnic Fijians in the Military. I think this will continue in the short-term for strategic reasons. 

• Government measures to tackle poverty in a hostile economic environment include retaining VAT (GST) at 12.5% and excluding basic food items; food vouchers for the most needy; introducing minumum wages levels; assistance with school tranport, school fees and textbooks; help for squatters and more low-income housing, and many rural development measures, some of which are noted above.

• Social justice. Elections that do not bring social justice are not truly democracy. The one-man one-vote elections planned for 2014 will prevent repeats of the legislated racial discrimination practices under the Qarase Government.

• Meanwhile, Government has taken a number of steps to produce social justice, in addition to those noted concerning the poor and rural dwellers. The New Women's Plan of Action (WPA) 2010-2019 will see women enjoy equal participation at decision-making levels that are especialy important to women. The five areas include: employment; decision-making;violence against women and chldren; reproductive health issues; basic services such as housing, water, sanitation and transport; and women and the Law. 

• A Decree has been passed to prevent children abuse and child trafficking; the UN has commended another Decree on HIV/Aids; the backlog of legal cases and complaints against lawyers is being cleared; an estimated 1,200 public servants injured  during working hours will be paid all outstandingcompensation claims backdated to 2001. That's right, 2001, five years of the Qarase Government! The latest compensation to be paid is to a widow of a Fijian soldier killed in Fiji's UN engagement in Lebanon 31 years ago. And our Government has complained about cuts to Qarase and Rabuka's parliamentary pensions!

• The People's Charter. I doubt Minister McCully would disagree with any one of the Charter's stated aims or with Bainimarama's Roadmap other, of course, than with the timing of elections in 2014. Public dialogue is occurring and progress is being made on the Charter, but not as much and as fast as many would like.

• Meanwhile, grassroots (if not elite) support for Bainimarama is clearly growing,  most especially among ethnic Fijians. He is being judged by deeds that affect ordinary citizens, and he continues to receive matanigasau (traditional apologies) from villages and tikina all over Fiji  that had previously opposed the Charter, on the advice of their chiefs and Methodist church ministers.  This is not the usual route to democracy and things could still go wrong, but success would be more assured with the Mininter's understanding,  if not actual support. 

•  Finally, although cut off from its traditional friends, Fiji continues to receive international recognition, soft and low interest loans and technical assistance from non-traditional sources. NZ and Australia's influence in the Pacific could be eroding. The Minister should not underestimate the possible erosion of New Zealand influence.

Disclaimer:  This material is not covered by copyright and may be used without acknowledgement by the media.          -- Crosbie Walsh

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(o+) Tuilaepa is No Fool...

 Opinion: Which puppet is on 
Whose String?

Crosbie Walsh

First, Tuilaepa  said that with Fiji suspended from the PI Forum, its Secretariat should be moved from Suva, hinting only vaguely that Apia was "available." Then Bainimarama replied saying the Samoan PM was trying to whip up a regional outcry so that the Forum Secretariat would be moved to Apia. But no, says Tuilaepa. New Zealand or Australia could be possible locations. Clever!

If the Secretariat is moved from Suva (which would be a logistical disaster given the physical and human investment in the Suva Forum headquarters, Suva's international diplomatic representations,  and Fij's central location), Tuilaepa is now assured of Australian and NZ support for Apia if the Secretariat is moved. And if not, he's surely earned Samoa enough new development aid brownie points to see him re-elected. 

It doesn't seem so long ago that Pacific Island nations were questioning whether Australia and NZ should even be full Forum members. It is significant they weren't invited to any sort of membership in the Melanesian Spearhead Group, despite their aid support to MSG countries.

Readers who think that aid comes without strings  should read  what happened to Peter Ellis, AusAid head in Timor Leste, when he refused to lie about why aid was cut to NGOs which spoke out against Australian ambitions in the country's oilfields in the Timor Sea. They may also care to ponder Australia's more recent role in pushing the "free trade" Pacer Plus   discussions from which Fiji, conveniently, has been excluded.

But for now, we'll wait to see whether Tuilaepa has tempted Australia or NZ to change roles with an Island nation, and become, for one dizzy moment, a puppet on his string.

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Blog Ostrich, Ro Teimumu, Dorsami Naidu, Policeman Jailed, Tax Officer Defrauds, PM Blames SVT, SDL, Constitution on Track

Ostriches Bury Their Heads in the Sand. One of the more extreme anti-Government Blogs RealFijiNews has a confession to make.  "We have not[it writes] as a matter of principle read this illegal government’s 'Peoples Charter' since the purported abrogation of our Supreme Law last April which presumably this Charter was founded upon." Actually, the Charter preceded the Abrogation. The blog then goes on to ask where the country is heading. I suggest they read the Charter! Or this blog!

High Chief Ro Teimumu Kepa, head of the Burebasaga Confederacy that includes most of Viti Levu's south coast from Rewa westwards, parts of Ba and the island of Kadavu, was in court on Monday charged with breaching the public emergency regulations. The charge relates to activities last year when the High Chief allegedly conspired with Methodist Church ministers to host the annual Methodist conference in Lomanikoro in Rewa even though a directive was given by Prime Minister Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama not to hold the conference. The case as deferred until 4 May at the request of the defence.

The President of the Fiji Law Society, Dorsami Naidu, is  due to appear before the Legal Services Commission again today on charges of professional conduct. Four of the original seven charges are not being actioned at this stage. The three remaining relate to alleged misconduct by a legal practitioner and cover matters such as billing, speed in resolving an estate and a planned land purchase. If found guilty, the maximum penalty is a fine of up $500,000 or suspension from or being struck off the roll of lawyers.

Policeman Helps Robbers. A former police officer Saimoni Rokotunidau, who used a police vehicle to escort robbers away from the scene of the crime, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail by the Suva High Court today. The former officer had 31 previous convictions prior to his seven year robbery spree, which ended last year.

Tax Officer Defrauds Tax Office. Former tax general manager Vimal Krishna yesterday withdrew his application for a stay on conspiracy proceedings against him after his lawyer conceeded the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption's case against his client had "some merit." Krishna is alleged to have conspired with three others to defraud the Fiji Inland Revenue and Customs Authority of $10,000.

Government is Laying the Platform for Elections in 2014 and No one can stop that. This is what PM Bainimarama told villagers in Sawaieke, Gau. He also the PM  said he has brought in Army Colonels to hold the top posts in the Divisional Commissioner's Offices  because he he knew they would carry out their jobs efficiently. When elections came in 2014 they would know who to elect into Government from the work that is being carried out.

The PM told villagers in Lamiti, Gau, that the SVT and SDL parties had set Fiji back for over ten years. They had used racial discrimination to hold on to power, and this was one of the main reasons why indigenous Fijians rushed to Parliament House to support the Speight-led coup in 2000, without fully understanding what they were doing. A problem with indigenous Fijians, he said,  was that did not speak their mind, or be up-front about issues, allowing politicians to manipulate them.

Constitution On Track. The PM's Office confirms work on the new constitution will start in 2012, to give everyone ample time to hear Government’s views and contribute to discussions on the country’s new supreme law ordered by former President Ratu Josefa Iloilo in April last year. The Constitution will be promulaged in 2013 in time for the General Elections in 2014.

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Short Briefs: Air Pacific, Support for Bainimarama Grows, Reforms, Rural Development

Air Pacific Expects a Substantial Loss for the 2009-10 year due mainly to the severe flooding in 2009, the devaluation of the Fiji dollar as they had to purchase goods and services from abroad,  and discount air fares because of competition in the market, whichi is now the the biggest challenge. Among positive developments, the airline has doubled the number of passengers carried over the last 9 years, from 415,000 in 2001 to over a million.

Bainimarama's Increasingly Popularity. A little bird in Suva tells me the "PM is so popular now he would likely win an election were one to be called." There's no way to confirm this, of course, but the list of government actions helping ordinary people continues to grow, as does the spate of traditional apologies and support for the People's Charter. 

Public Sector & Land Use the Most Important  Structural Reforms. Fiji’s EU Ambassador Peceli Vocea, in a meeting with EU President Herman Van Rompuy in which he updated the President on the Government Roadmap, said public sector and land use reforms were the two most important structural issues facing Government. Other matters discussed were last week's IMF visit, EU-funded assistance with Fiji’s fish exports, the signing of the interim Economic Partnership Agreement that ensured trade with the EU, particularly on sugar, continued without disruption. Rompuy said EU dialogue with Fiji would continue. He was hopeful an earlier resolution of the political problems could be found.

New Nursing Station for Nawaikama, Gau. The PM opened the new station during his tour of Lomaiviti-i-Cake last week. The station,  that includes accommodation for nurses, is a  a self-help project supported by AusAid. The village contributed $10,000, AusAid $54,774 and Government will take over running costs. Tourists wanting something special when they visit Fiji are invited to check out http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog/katetravel/fiji_project/tpod.html this Nawaikama blog.

Also on Gau, Bainimarama accepted the traditional apology from the people of the Tikina Narocake. He  said a Government priority was to bring about "change" to those that really need it. Life had come to a standstill for most of them, as no one brought about the changes they needed. Only two [of five?] villages in Gau, namely Sawaieke and Vione, accepted the People's Charter. It is hard to change the mindset of elders who have lived through past Governments and do not accept change as they listened to the Church and the Chiefs.He stressed that  Government is willing to work together with the leaders of the Church and the Chiefs, to work out ways to bring about prosperity.

New Handicraft Centre on Kioa Island. The island, off south-eastern Vanua Levu,  and  the home of Polynesians resettled from Vaitupu in Tuvalu at the end of World War II, now has a  centralized location where all villages  can trade their handicrafts to tourists. The initiative was funded by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation. Minister Dr Jiko Luveni said the "dream project" will provide a big boost to local people’s economic requirements. Other centres are being constructed at other places such as Tacirua village near Suva, Lomaivuna in Naitasiri, Waikubukubu village in Ba and Nayau in Lau.

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Short Briefs: Lomaiviti-e-Cake Apologies, Somare, Corruption, Transfer Pricing, Roads

Lomaiviti Methodist Minister Supports PM. Rev.Mitieli Rokolacadamu, who serves Lomaiviti-e-cake (the islands of Batiki, Nairai and Gau) has  thanked PM Bainimarama for the steps taken to  "put the Church back to it’s right path." He said some actions by church leaders had not been in the best interest of the Church.

Sir Michael Somare  spoke at the University of Auckland last week.  Here's what he said on Fiji:
(1) His continued dialogue, criticized by some, was because of his concern for “the people of Fiji and their welfare. ”
(2) He again criticized the imposition of a timeframe on Fiji to hold elections, calling it “counterproductive”, adding that he “commends the efforts New Zealand and Australia are making in dealing with the interim government and the people of Fiji.”
(3) “We’ve tried in MSG [Melanesian Spearhead Group] to have talks with Bainimarama, chaired by Vanuatu. We’re keeping dialogue open; we want to keep our contacts very close.”
(4) He thinks that with “constant dialogue,” there could be a change of mind [on earlier elections] by Bainimarama.

Comment on:
(2) Note the "Pacific-speak" in  both  criticising and then commending NZ for almost the same thing, and his prudent distinction between the government and the people of Fiji.
(3) The next MSG Summit, to be chaired by Bainimarama, will be held in Suva in July. It will be interesting to see which non-members will be invited to attend.
(4) I doubt Bainimarama will change his mind on elections in 2014. He is working on major changes in the administrative and political landscape. And I think Somare knows this, too. He's urging NZ to dialogue.

More Traditional Apologies.  As the PM's tour of Lomaiviti continues,  Nairai has joined the growing number of vanua to apologize for not initially accepting the People's Charter. Villagers took the opportunity of the PM's visit to complain about illegal fishing in their tradition fishing grounds (qoliqoli). Commissioner Eastern Colonel Ifiremi Vasu promised naval help when cases were reported. They also asked that fishing wardens be appointed,a move earlier mooted by the Qarase Government.

Corruption Exposure Continues. A Government audit  shows misappropriation of funds by officers in the Western Divisions’ Accounts section within the Department of National Roads that involves three staff members. In addition, the Department overspent its budget by over $2 million dollars, over 200% over of the allocated budget.

Government Watches for Transfer Pricing, a mechanism which involves the pricing of goods and services at an inflated price to enable exporters and importers to transfer funds to offshore entities. The Reserve Bank, the Financial Intelligence Unit and the Revenue and Customs Authority are working together to clamp down on this illegal activity that results in lost revenue, lower reserves and the reporting of a worse-off picture of economic growth rates.

People's Charter. For readers who have not read the Charter, here's the  link.

Save the Children Fiji is mounting a campaign to combat the trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children in the country.

Kings and Queens Road improvements will start in June thanks to a $60 million Malaysian Gvoernment loan.

What's Happened to the eGovNewsletter? Eight issues were  published to 30th September last, and then no more.

France Fingers Pacific Tax Haven Islands as  Cook Islands, Nauru, Niue and Marshall Islands. Note, Fiji is not the bad guy this time, but two of those mentioned have "special relations" with New Zealand.

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Why Did it Take So Long?

FijiSun Newspaper Daily E News
The widow of a soldier killed in Lebanon in 1979, leaving her to raise four young children, finally receives some compensation for her loss and sacrifice. Why did it take so long?

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(B) Land, The Emotive Issue

"Jon"   posted these thoughts as a comment on another posting. I 've re-posted it here because I think his thoughts  merit more  prominence.

So, the government is now going to change the existing land lease law to ensure the NLTB Act doesn’t apply if it is seen to be getting in the way.

There’s the usual justification for this selective abuse of process, ignoring a law which, despite some faults, has worked pretty well for the past 70 years and which has prevented the undoubted anarchy that would have prevailed if developers had been allowed to do their own negotiations with landowners in the past.

That justification is ‘Change the law to allow for the landowners to reap the best possible benefit from the land that belongs to them.’ This is laudable in principle but will, I’m sure, be shown to be derisible in practice since it potentially throws open the gate to anyone (or is it only government ones …?) to negotiate direct with landowners.

Land is the most emotive subject in Fiji and the obvious end result of selectively ignoring the law or rewriting it to suit certain circumstances at certain times is going to be the anarchy that has been staved off by general regard for the sanctity of NLTB leases.

As an example, in the late 80’s the developers of Denarau Island (EIE and its contractors) tried to ignore the law and, in negotiating terms for land fill with very willing landowners, sidelined the NLTB. Several months later this was rectified but by then the landowners (who had pocketed some of the 25% administration fee that would otherwise have been paid to NLTB) found that they had lost huge amounts of topsoil since no EIA had been carried out. Short term gain for long term pain.

If the laws which were enacted to safeguard the landowners in the first place are now selectively ignored, landowners run the risk of being done down in future negotiations. Equally, the more militant landowner units, advised by bush lawyers will cause untold grief for developers, resort owners and private householders to the long term benefit of no one.

By all means streamline the NLTB, investigate and prosecute corrupt practices that its officers might have been guilty of, but don’t throw the baby out with the bath water.

It’s all very well to try to set the stage for the FMF political party to successfully stand for election in 2014, but the misguided and ultimately ignorant comment about law change made by Tikoduadua is going to resonate far beyond an immediate populist appeal to landowners.

It could well put further doubt in the minds of potential investors of the security of leasehold land and that will kill any future gold egg-laying geese.

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Lockington's Everyday Fiji ... Life Goes On

Allen Lockington is a self-employed customs agent and business consultant who has regular articles published in www.connectme.com.fj/news/opinion. I thank Allen and Connect 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.

Employment Centre

We have encouraged our children to go to school. Government subsidizes some kinds of payment that enables parents to send children to school. (I hope.)

We have three universities, hundreds of secondary and primary schools run by government, the various religions organisations and private institutions. We also have special schools for the handicapped and the blind. Education is the key to success, it has been said. But that’s debatable.

Another thousand citizens will have graduated from USP. The Fiji National University just churned out round about 2,000. We put emphasis on education yet a report says that not all will have a job. Can we remedy this?

 One way would be to gauge the market and then advertise for places in tertiary institutions so that we don’t over-populate a certain field. For instance, computer science is popular. I know of many people who have academic qualifications and are unemployed because the market is flooded. We have so many analysts in Fiji who can gauge the market and tell the institutions and schools to prepare students for particular fields. If we have a flood of applications for a certain field, we can tell students to choose another because that particular field is full and jobs will not be guaranteed.

In fact,  Fiji should set up an employment centre where all companies, private and government, list vacancies. Likewise unemployed or people seeking other jobs can send in their resumes. The employment centre will have all vacancies and a list of all unemployed people in Fiji. 

 How the centre will operate is obvious. Let’s do it.

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Short Briefs: Govt Appointments, Charter Update, Small Business, Melbourne Storm, Gender Equality, Corruption, What Hassan Khan Actually Said on Poverty

Musical Chairs. The New Acting Permanent Secretary for Information is  Sharon Smith-Johns, former CEO of the Telecom subsidiary  Connect Ltd. She replaces LtCol Neumi Leweni who has been moved to the Ministry of Lands and Mineral Resources. The PS position will be advertised soon. Sharon is the current chair of the Fiji Audio Visual Commission. The on-off moderate anti-Government blog Coupfourpointfive says she was "dumped" from the Connect position, despite her presumed pro-Coup status, amid claims of poor performance. Others said expatriates were being replaced by locals wherever possible. (Photo: FBL)

Third Meeting of National Charter Advisory Council: Update. Chairman Josefa Serulagilagi revealed that 23 ministries and departments had submmitted  reports on their progress towards meeting targets of reforms as required in the draft People's Charter, but four government departments have failed to do so.

The NCAC is currently focusing on three sectors -- Good Governance, Growing the Economy and Social and Cultural issues -- up to 2012. It is tasked to be a watchdog for government to ensure there is real progress on the reforms mapped out in the People's Charter.

The Council Secretariat will now conduct investigations to verify whether departments have actually carried out the work claimed in their reports, and brief the PM on their findings sometime next month. A Monitoring Centre has been established which will grade ministries and departments on their progress. Those graded in the red or amber zone will have to explain to the PM why targets were not met.

Small Business Expo. About 100 small businesss enterprises will display their products and services in Suva's Sukuna Park next Wednesday and Thursday. The Expo is organized by the National Centre for Small and Micro Enterperise Development. Government, in several ways, is supporting small enterprises. These include access to microcredit, technical support for food production, general support to buy local products, and of course support for the small enterprise national centre.

News Limited's Melbourne Storm in Trouble.  Three blog comments: Scandal monger said..."One thing is certain right now about the Fiji Times. The top echelon of its parent, News Limited, will have little time to devote to its problems given the rugby league scandal that has rocked the company this afternoon. The disclosure that the News Limited-owned Melbourne Storm have been deprived of two previous premierships because they paid their players secret amounts above the NRL's salary cap has rocked the whole of Australia. And if you think I'm exaggerating, check out the major Australian news websites. For the sports-mad Aussies to find that the top team in their beloved rugby league got there by cheating is devastating. News Limited is embroiled in a major crisis that will make the prospect of losing the Fiji Times seem like a minor inconvenience."
  
Proud Fijian said ..."Just saw that - Melbourne Storm's stripped of its title in 2007 and 2009 and cannot accrue points this year. Prize moneys retrieved and fines. Just shows the ethics of these corporations." He was corrected on one important detail by Fair's Fair who pointed out the owners, News Ltd., knew nothing of the deception. He advised Proud Fijian and all readers not to be taken in my biased coverage. "Unfortunately your derogatory, throw away remark will only go to foster the media’s evident belief that we’re all unthinking idiots who will accept whatever they chose to put in front of us."

Corruption in the Post Office. The case against three senior Post Fiji executives heard in the High Court yesterday has been adjourned to June 21. They are charged with aiding and abetting, abuse of office and conspiracy to defraud. All have plead not guilty.

FICAC - The Rot Within. Tui Turaga Vunibola, a former officer with the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption [sic!], was found  guilty in the Labasa Magistrates Court yesterday of using $8,000 belonging to the Kavugalei Youth Club, earmarking to start a prawn and piggery business, to renovate his house. He was sentenced to 18 months jail.

Women, Gender Equality and Political Governance. UNIFEM Pacific is hosting a ten-day workshop in Nadi on Gender Equality in Political Governance. The workshop, from 19-30 April, has participants from Fiji, Niue, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. UNIFEM is the women’s fund at the United Nations. It provides financial and technical assistance to innovative programmes and strategies to foster women’s empowerment and gender equality. Placing the advancement of women’s human rights at the centre of all of its efforts, UNIFEM focuses its activities on reducing feminized poverty; ending violence against women; reversing the spread of HIV/AIDS among women and girls; and achieving gender equality in democratic governance in times of peace as well as war.

Poverty: What Hassan Khan Actually Said.  The media has been quick to pick up the FCOSS CEO's comment that poverty could be as high as 60%, more than Government's estimate of 45%  but it failed to include all he said. Speaking on RadioAustralia's PacificBeat, he said the situation was "serious but not desperate" because of "a number of measures put in place by Government" such as food vouchers, the family assistance programme, and by civil and religious organizations.

He thought there were probably some "pockets of poverty" that help has not reached, but Government and the CSO's were doing "as much as possible to relieve the situation."  The media "omission" would have left many readers thinking the dastardly Government was responsible for the increase in poverty, when in fact it has done more for the poor than any earlier government, and plans (I think, rather unrealistically) to reduce poverty to 15% by 2014. Photo: FijiVillage.

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