Blurring the line between Church and State in Fiji.

It is nothing short of total embarrasment for Fiji Government departments owing taxes.

The land issue is at stale mate situation and only deprives Fiji and her people a way forward. The solution to Fiji's land woes are being restricted by partsian politics and resistance to change by native instruments of administration.
The idea to create an anti-corruption agency in Fiji is welcomed by STUCK IN FIJI MUD.

However the agency must also scrutinize Fijian framework of native administration and also facilitate the passage of Freedom of Information Laws in Fiji. Nothing else will suffice.

Fiji Council of Churches attempt to
lobby their role as gatekeepers to outside religous organizations only impinges on the rights of Fiji citizens to associate and choose their religon.


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Re-cycling Untruths by Fiji Prime Minister.

Fiji Prime Minister is quite adept in mis-information and should be embarassed about the alarming rise in poverty statistics in Fiji, that were brought about by the policies of his Government.
Yet that fat cats in Fiji society continue their exuberance in overspending.
Fiji Public Service are sure taking their time in determining the facts in this Corruption case. The absence of trained professionals in detecting and convicting white collar crime is a growing concern in a talent pool that is plagued by skilled migration.
Institutions are also guilty in negligence of duties, by not detecting obscene abuses says Academic.

University of South Pacific's decision to lease a portion of the controversial land in Yaqara Studio City only underlines the motives
of these leading institutions of Fiji whose actions are a strong sign of approval in actions propogated by the abusive Native Lands Trust Board. This development by U.S.P is due to the pressure created by the new kid on the block of learning institutions in Fiji and is already moving in leaps and bounds.

Fiji Village's Yellow Bucket has their weekly take on Fiji Politics.

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Jumping on the Band Wagon of Abuse in Fiji

Fiji Labour Party in Parliament.
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Fiji Members of Parliament intending to cash in with Cost of Living Adjustment must also face the
same calibre of Conduct.
Fiji Methodist Church is continuing to dabble in political divisive issues, instead of tending to their flock that have gone astray.

Prosecutors recent sympossium in Fiji re-hash issues tht are already identified without getting into the details of combating nepotism.

Funny things that happen only in Fiji is encapsulated in this case of a convicted felon intending to apply for a vacant position of Director in Fiji's Legal Aid Commission.


Fiji Trade and Investment Board- Chairman.
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Gearing up for Elections.

Mediocre results from World Trade Organiaion talks is a clear signal to stakeholders in Fiji for immediate reform in the various organizations.
Value Added Tax should have been removed from retail prices, soon after the decision was announced. Sadly, nobody seems to have the impoverished in mind.






Monasavu Landowners have another uphill legal maze till they finally get their money.

Where is the Great Council of Chiefs, who are the self proclaimed guardians of Fijians?

Precisely why other commercial platforms for Fijians are looking increasingy lucrative for commoners. Case in point:
The proposal to have the Traditional Fishing grounds managed by Native Lands Trust Board is being challenged by the President of Fiji Tourism Resource Owners Association.

Lack of Maintenance of Fiji medical departments is another serious concern. Lack of resources, is the result of lack of planning from the echelon of Fiji Government who are obviously disconnected with reality on the ground.
Fiji Election Commissioner needs to get his contingency plans in order and not issue excuses later.

Remote village finally gets hooked with electricity, is probably a sign of upcoming elections by politicians seeking brownie points. There are villages in Monasavu area right next to a 80 Mega Watt Power Station, who
are still not connected with power.

Letters to Fiji Times Editor-Dec. 12th 2005.

Merchants of malice

IT is only fitting that such a well-written and topical article (Merchants of malice 7/12) invite much reaction but I notice hardly any from those who really should.

In societies, we have misrepresentations of all sorts, some of which become entrenched unless corrected.

Our country has faced the same for decades, the bogey of the kai India. The onus is on us to rise above such triviality and seize the day with facts and truth, so we serve our nation better. We have relied heavily on these hardworking sons and daughters of Fiji.

One of our last knighted citizens, Sir Vijay Singh, who served the country for decades in many roles and who reaped as much praise as controversy in some circles, has spoken the truth based on truth and nothing in the article can be further from the truth.

For that, we are grateful as a whole, for that understanding can set us free.

Twice before, we missed the golden opportunity to steer our nation back to the straight and narrow when the 1987 and 2000 coups took place.

But the honourable house of the Great Council of Chiefs in both cases took a different path.

The commoners and others had looked for guidance and wisdom but instead received blinkered partisanship which has not done our republic any credit.

Being the topmost indigenous institution, one would expect higher level of leadership than mere rhetoric or nationalism.

Another GCC meeting has passed and though there were promises from the opening speeches of the chairman, the meeting soon became mired into who to blame for the lack of more ready cash from the resources of the indigenous-held properties.

The coup culture that permeated us with a "handout mentality" is visible even in the highest Fijian circles — what with scams and affirmative actions.

Great leaders should exhort their citizens like the American pioneer days of "Go West, Young Man" or the famous JFK quotation of "Ask not what your country can do for you ..."

Vast swaths of our islands remain idle and untapped with promises of resources rich.

Once productive tracts of agricultural lands revert to fallow while so-called "reserves" remain blocked "assets" for everyone, least of all the future generation of the indigenous.

Jonetani Rakivi
Nadi

Fiji Entrepenuer-Nora.
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Lowering the Wool over the eyes, of Voters in Fiji.

Fiji Prime Minister's Office C.E.O is quite comfortable in hiding behind the skirts of national security and defeats the purpose of Freedom of Information Laws. This comment is already under fire by some Politicians.

Fiji's financial future is indeed bleak, taking into account real statistics.

The wedge issue of Land in Fiji politics will only be resolved by revelutionary thinking by all stakeholders who want change.


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Stale-mate for Fiji's future.

The landowners of Mahogany plantations in Tailevu are up in arms again, due to non-payment of leases only underlines the end-game situation for frustrated landowners.

It is obvious the land tenure system in Fiji must change.

Fiji landowners block roads in protest.
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Added to the loggerheads over land, is this legal conflict between Fiji Labour Party Head, Messr Mahendra Chaudary and Fiji Prime Minister, Laisenia Qarase that must end somehow, for the betterment of the nation of Fiji.

The 2006 election campaigning is officially underway in Fiji when you hear speeches
that are sabre rattling and often border on incidiary like the words of Assistant Minister Nanise Nagusuca, who is guilty of scraping words from the bottom of the cultural-hate barrel.


Cultural Entrepeneurship.
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Muddy influence of Chiefs in Constitutional Debate.

Fiji Nursing Students online. Welcome to Cyberspace!
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Convicted and released Senator Dimuri is at it again, trying stir up the pot of racial hatred, in order to get mileage prior to the 2006 elections.
WIth all due respect to Fiji's Vice President, However Stuck in Fiji Mud believes in the legal principle of "Stari Decisis" and has the perception that; It is unbecoming for the Vice-President to raise the issue of dual court system for customary laws. He advocates the setting up of a dual court system, but the Vice-President's reasons are convoluted and lacks substance.

For instance, the V.P seriously glosses over the abusive land tenure system administered by Native Lands Trust Board which hampers the social mobility of landowners. That same system has forced land into the political sphere.
Wasn't that was a catalyst for Fiji's calamities in 2000?

The only alternatives that Stuck in Fiji Mud advocates; is the unbundling of Native Land Trust Board. Everything else in Fiji politics will align to this new equilibrium.


Kids in Fiji's capital: Suva.
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This model envisioned by these nationalist legal scholars is as follows:

The success of the Fijian Courts will depend on the commitment of all villagers. The Government supports the idea of the Fijian Court system or the dual court system.

The Fijian Court, abolished in 1967, was the enforcement arm of the Fijian administration and consisted of the Tikina Courts and the Provincial Courts.
They were respectively established under section 16 and 18 of the Fijian Affairs Act cap 120.

They administered the Criminal Offices Code, Lawa i Taukei, the Fijian Affairs (Appeals) Regulations, the Fijian Affairs (Courts) Regulations, the Fijian Affairs (Extramural Punishment) Regulations, the Fijian Affairs (Provincial Councils) Regulations, the Fijian Affairs (Interpretation) Regulations and the Provincial (Public Health) Villages) by-laws of each province.

Each tikina had a court with a native magistrate. Compliance with the regulations was overseen by the administration head of the tikina (Buli), supported by provincial enforcement officers (ovisa ni yasana).

The abolition of the regulations and dismantling of the Fijian Courts in 1967 followed changes in policy concerning the Fijian Administration.
It was decided that the entire system needed to be reviewed to allow Fijians to be part of the mainstream rather than developing separately.

It was also apparent that social changes among Fijians such as improving and increased levels of education and urbanisation had brought different attitudes no longer content with quiescent communalism.

The Cole Report of September 1984 (Parliamentary Paper No 56 of 1985) recommended the consideration of the revival of the Fijian Courts and the Regulations.
The basis of the review was that:

“If there is to be more effective provincial administration down through the tikina to the village this must be reflected not merely by the structures of representation in the councils of the people and the administration but also in the system by which law and customs are communicated and maintained.”

Stuck in Fiji Mud maintains the position that creating such a system is duplicitory. This model is tediously slow to gain returns and distracts attention away from the root cause of indigenous frustrations.

On another note the Fiji Media Council hosted Forum on Poverty raises the theme of Attitude Adjustment, which the Fijian Native administration, have yet to adopt.

Qarase launches Fiji's newest Internet Service Provider: Unwired.
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Uphill battle against Corruption in Fiji.

Fiji Government bans International Evangelist screams the headlines of most dailies. The decison to
ban Rev Sun Myung Moon is probably related to fears of having patrons of his church in Fiji. A form of religous segregation with terrorism laced purposes that obviously impinges on the constitutional rights. Nothing new especially when Parliamentry proceedings of investigations take the slow boat to China. The financial position of Fiji's only super annuation scheme ( Fiji National Provident Fund) has relinquished the fiduciary interests of their registered members and has superceeded those rights with Fiji Government's unbridalled thirst for money and corruption, within the ranks. This Fiji Live article explains the reason of how the income of a nation via taxes will require greater scruntiny, as such attracts internal resistance.

FIRCA stands by tax secrecy provision
Tuesday December 06, 2005


The Auditor-General does not override the secrecy provisions of the Income Tax Act and the Value Added Tax decree, says the Fiji Islands Revenue and Customs Authority.

The authority today set the record straight saying that the assertion was rejected by FIRCA and this decision had been made known to the Auditor-General.

FIRCA chief executive Tevita Banuve said the Auditor-General did neither in the past or present have such a right, having regard to the provisions of the two acts administered by the authority.

"Taxpayers confidentiality is at the very heart of the tax system and without the strict maintenance of same, the very foundation of the tax base is imperiled," he said.

"This is the pattern in every civilised state. FIRCA, which forces taxpayers to divulge sensitive personal information, is under a strict duty to maintain confidentiality of same.

"The entire basis upon which the revenue laws are administered is undermined if taxpayers cannot rest secure that FIRCA will respect the secrecy of their personal affairs," Banuve said.

Referring to statements made by the Auditor-General Eroni Vatuloka in public that the situation was same with Reserve Bank of Fiji, Banuve said RBF access, such is specifically provided for within the Income Tax Act itself and the collaborative statutory arrangement between FIRCA and RBF, is essential to the functioning of the tax system.

Banuve said the authority was not obstructing access.

Fijilive

It was about time, some of these Senators from Fijian dominated constituencies raise the issue of Native Lands Trust Board and their litany of
abusive power over the Fijian landowners in Parliament.

This letter to Fiji Times Editor rationalizes the depth of the mud, which Fiji and her people are stuck in.

Parliamentary debate

I AGREE with S. Tuiteci's suggestion to televise parliamentary proceedings on a dedicated channel (FT 3/12).

In the US, there are two cable channels C-SPAN and C-SPAN 2 which run daily proceedings of the US Congress.

They also run proceedings of the British House of Commons, book reviews and public speaking engagements in educational programs.

I think the benefit from such a channel would be tremendous. People will be able to follow the proceedings, the conduct and contribution of elected officials and judge for themselves.

When Parliament is not in session, the station could buy and run tapes of the US and UK parliamentary debates.

It will help students of politics and politicians learn from the eloquent techniques of their overseas counterparts.

As for funding the station, political parties can buy time slots to advertise their messages for the coming election.

Book reviews on the channel could help generate interest in reading and raise the standard of literacy. It will also give authors a platform to advertise their work.

I sincerely think the government should invest in such a worthwhile venture, since it owns much of Fiji TV.

Praneet Singh
Sacramento

What a week

WHAT a week we had the chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs correctly pointing out how many Fijians wrongfully live below the poverty line. We have seen our elected representatives on both sides of the house acting more like performing seals than the politicians we elected them to be.

We have a stalemate on the land issue which benefits no one, least of all the landowners.

The Leader of the Opposition wants more Talanoa talks, even though he appears to have reneged on agreements that were made in past Talanoa sessions.

The Prime Minister continues to place ads in the newspaper to justify his position, which probably pleases the newspaper owners and his professional speech writer, but achieves very little in real terms.

Frankly, the people's representatives on both sides of the House should be ashamed of themselves.

Only a few of them are worth a fraction of the salary and expenses they draw.

They spent the past four years looking after their own interests first before the country and we will benefit if they sought alternative employment.

It is probably futile to hope that the next government and Opposition party will understand the value of land management and that land which lies fallow, like the 6000 terminated leases and surplus land the PM refers to, is worthless.

It benefits no one and does nothing to lift people from below the poverty line.

The Government should realise that a country's most important asset is the people and it is impossible to spend too much on education, starting at home and at pre-school.

It is the only way to lift a race out of poverty.

It's a pity that leaders of today do not realise that being driven at high speed in a four-wheel-drive with tinted glass gives them little vision.

But then, the four-wheel-drive is the status symbol they all aspire to a shame, really.

Rick Rickman
Lautoka

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Treading water in Fiji's morality.

Fiji's layer of Incompetance.


Fiji Auditor General is getting the support from others to get more legislative muscle, to assist them in fighting corruption.


Fiji Navy Personnel


As always, those who reject such changes are afraid of being under the spotlight. Qarase's failure to pass any new Bill due to the lack of suport from the opposition in Parliament, is a failure in consulations.
Another failure of gross magnitude is the delays in court hearings, that contribute to justice denied.

Fiji's Foreign Affairs Minister.


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Rotten State of Fiji.

The much awaited R.T.U Bill Committee has recommended minor changes that won't go down easily with Labour Party officials or the Fiji Army. Fiji Law Society's initial
response is sign of the de-sensitizing of immorality. This culture of abuse has spread to utilities like Fiji Electricity Authority in trying to wriggle out of the compensation ruling.

It is quite clear that any more Laws will have the same fate in Parliament as the Land A.L.T.A Bill.
Traffic Laws in Fiji are out of step with technology which the proposed accident database hopes to provide insight.

Fiji Sun's fantastic Editorial only echos the sentiments of Stuck in Fiji mud. Kudo's for finally getting enough courage to state the facts of this socio-cultural mud, that Fiji and her people are stuck in.

Friday 2nd December,2005

The chiefs’ dilemma

Questions posed by one of the nation's leading churches on the ability - or willingness - of the chiefs to influence the behaviour of their people point to the slow but very sure creation of a gap between the chiefs and everyday Fijian life.

For while the Great Council Chiefs addresses what it conceives to be the great issues of the day, the primary concerns of many of their people may very well lie elsewhere. This is not to say that the issues addressed by the GCC are not grave. Of course the Unity Bill, the poverty level among indigenous Fijians and the land issue to name but three are extremely important to the future of the country.

But there is a growing perception that these issues are matters for the Government which will no doubt take on board the advice of the council but at the end of the day will make a political decision. The chiefs can advise. They cannot decide. And therein lies the dilemma for the chiefs.

They need to remain relevant to the daily lives of the people but find it difficult to do so without the decision-making power to influence those lives. We are trying to run a semi-feudal system in tandem with a modern democracy. The two are not necessarily mutually exclusive but there are great obstacles to be overcome.

Ethnic Fijians - and most people of non-indigenous backgrounds - admire and respect the chiefs. They look to them for wisdom and guidance especially in times of national turmoil. However, they rarely look to them for action, possibly for the simple reason that the chiefs' room for movement has been eroded over the years, not so much by law but by practice.
That can change. The chiefs might do well to consider a more practical role in the affairs of the people.

For example, there is widespread concern at the level of break-ins and violent crime most of which are committed by young Fijians. The police do a good job of rounding them up and many end in our jails which, through neglect, have become little more than finishing schools for budding criminals.

But all of those young men owe allegiance to a chief or chiefs. Yet the public rarely hears to voices of chiefs raised in favour of ending or at least curtailing this dangerous trend in society. A concerted campaign by the Great Council of Chiefs would have the dual effect of making the people feel safer in the streets and in their homes while affording the chiefs an opportunity to make a real difference to people's everyday lives.

Stuck in Fiji wishes the Fiji 7's team well in the I.R.B sanctioned Dubai International 7s Grand Prix.

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Muddy Excuses Galore.

The indirect cost for Rape is astronomical, however when compared with the Corruption related costs, it is a drop in the bucket.

Yet Qarase has chosen to defend the words and actions of convicted chief and Senator.
Neglecting the bigger log of financial abuse in his own political eye and is arrogant to point out flaws in others.

While the 500 pound Gorilla issue of land and it's lack of development is gathering dust in the national discourse.

Finally the matter of investments reports by native Fijian instruments of abuse, who routinely disguise their poor performance and unbridalled spending spree with more excuses for their faults. While the real landowners and other individuals of less influence are dis-enfranchised.


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Unlevel playing fields in Fiji.

Great Council of Chiefs Chairman's comments, attempts to distance themselves from the alarming statistics that they have known for ages, about the abuse.

Yet what can G.C.C really offer
the people of Fiji, besides empty talk?

Added to the woes of Fiji, is the rotten stench of corruption in Government owned companies like Fiji Pine Ltd and Tropic Woods Ltd, by individuals who are suppose to be pillars of society. The matter of the Supervisor of Election who is on study leave, raises serious questions on the approval process for his leave.

The efforts to enhance I.T education is a nice gesture that is piece-meal approach lacking more incentives and changes to the national curriculum.


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Twist and Shout in Fiji Politics.

Stuck in Fiji Mud wishes to welcome the Fiji Police into cyber space by the launch of their new website.

Finance Minister is quite quick to point out the hesitation of the Private Sector to participate in the growth of Fiji's economy because of the lack of incentives that motives people.



Yet Fiji Government has the money to fly the Foreign Affairs Minister across the globe, so he can get promises of trade- neglecting the untapped wealth of potential existing in the former Fiji residents living abroad, who can drive the demand for Fiji products.


Mahogany Landowners threaten to shut down plantations is joining the chorus of other landowners frustrated with N.L.T.B, like observed during the Monasavu Land Claim which now has a new twist that only places more heat on the need for a national enquiry into the whole affair independent of N.L.T.B, despite denials and counter-accusations by Forestry Minister. The flawed wealth distribution formula in Fiji, has forced Provinces to develop their own plans.

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Muddy rhetoric from Qarase.

Qarase is launching another campaign to use land as a political football.

This is a reprehensive statment by Fiji's Prime Minster that glosses over the Monasavu debacle, Mago islanders, Yaqara landowners and Vatukoula landowners.

Yes, you have forgotten them Mister Prime Minister. Don't use the landowner's name for your pathetic policies or political agendas.

Fiji 2006 Elections has incorporated Identification Cards to ward off impersonators, highlighting a new way to conduct business.

Finance Ministry says Government will have to reduce capital investment spending. State of perpetual borrowing is now rapidly becoming the only option available to them because of the lack of imagination in Accounting.

Members of Parliament wanting an upgrade in Parliament buildings, need to remind themselves of the squalor that their own constituents live in.

It is quite in-sensitive to keep spending on the institutions especially when there is no money for the public services.

Fiji Panoramic
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This Kava, is for you. Cheers!
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Rising Aspirations of Fiji.

National Alliance Party Chairman, Ratu Epeli Ganilau.
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Fiji Government officials have now set in stone the obvious, despite the rhetoric of affirmative action, the reality is that things have not changed much. 2006 Elections will force these institutions to remember the little people.

Auditor General's demands on access receives suport from Members of Parliament.

The COLA ruling is another false promise that keeps getting churned out by a Government seeking re-election.


Making your own destiny.
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Qarase is resorting to petty attacks on his opponent just highlights the desperation in S.D.L political party prior to 2006 Elections.


Valley of the Brave.
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Rolling out incompetance in Qarase's circle.

Qarase is returning to build bridges with Fijian party S.V.T is an indication that all is not well in S.D.L political circle.

It is apparent that that voter's respect for the S.D.L political party could not get any worse due to the record of corruption and disdain for law and order, seen in their bulldozing the controversial R.T.U Bill through Parliament.

This has prompted Fiji's crooked Attorney General, to create new Code of Conduct Rules for Members of Parliament and other Immigration restrictions that contravene the 1997 Fiji Constitution.

Resources Owner Association President calls for a transparent enquiry into Fiji Forests Industries.

Outlining the track record of lip service using trickle down wealth distribution to the landowners. Done with Fiji Government's blessings!

Fiji Mercernaries operations is being looked at closely by Fiji media after the incident in PNG.


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Water rights in Fiji is a rising issue.
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Indian Snacks in Fiji
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Nadi Town Main Street
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