Fiji Police for U.N Sudan Mission
Posted by PicasaMonasavu Landowner's lawyer, Messr Isireli Fa
unleashes a full frontal verbal attack on Native Land Trust Board's history of dis-enfranchising Fijian Landowners, creating that legacy of frustration, that Politicians have used for their own advancement. Visiting American Judge drives home, certain
legal concerns of constitutional infringement and perils, of any Government playing favorites with organized religous groups.
It these violations of Human Rights that is the cultural norm in Fiji Governance, which Fiji Human Rights Commission intends to rectify, once it
can
confirm sustainable and direct funding from Fiji Government to demonstrate that it can meet their obligations ratified under international signed treaties.
It is alarming that, of all the law experts in Fiji Government, they have
not placed any urgency to rectify the deplorable living standards in Fiji Prisons.
Precisely the justification, Judges give in releasing convicted Prisoners on bail. Maybe it's a retaliation to the actions of Fiji Prison Commissioner releasing the convicted participants of the 2000 Fiji Coup.
Recently donated
Audio-Visual equipment to Fiji Ministry of Information's TV & Film unit, is only
a small quotient in creating a viable Fijian and Rotuman Ethnic TV programs.
Fiji Government must create incentives to lure creative core to Fiji's shores, if not it is fighting a uphill battle in competition with overseas T.V programs, Music imported by Fiji's broadcast media.
Here are selected letters to Fiji Times Editor.Television deregulationI REFER to the article where Minister for Communications Marieta Rigamoto claimed she asserted government support for freedom of expression and reiterated its commitment to deregulate the television industry.
That, she said, was evident in the awarding of a TV licence to Western Broadcasting Services Limited. She said the Government planned to establish a Fijian language channel with $70,000 of equipment from Japan.
If the industry is so deregulated, when will the second free station be licensed? — When major shareholders of Fiji TV say it's all right? — Never. When FLP returns to government — yes. The awarding of a licence to WBS is not deregulation of the TV industry. WBS will have the Australian-owned and operated PBS pay channel but it will be available only to a few viewers — those who can afford $50 a month subscription.
The majority of Fiji viewers will never be able to see it.
A donation of equipment worth $70,000 by the Japanese government is about 0.5 per cent of the $10million to $15million needed to set up a fully functioning, Fiji-wide TV service. At least that's what Ken Clark of Fiji TV said years ago.
What is $70,000 of equipment? — One digital video recorder or one camera?
How will the Fijian channel be broadcast? — Free to air as Fiji One or carried on Sky and PBS?
If it is the former, where will the millions come from for the towers, transmitter, transmission facilities, etc?
Why is the Government spending taxpayers money for a Fijian channel?
The Government will better serve everyone's interests by saving expenses and legislating to force all broadcasters to carry X amount of Fijian programs each week.
Other countries such as Australia and New Zealand maintain their localism that way.
Rani Sadler
Pacific Harbour
Education systemFIJI'S education system was imposed by the colonial powers. When the colonists left, it should have been modified to serve the needs of the people.
The changes would benefit many people. The system is failing, as proven by the high dropout rate.
Instead of having a long school break, the break should be optional. That would enable students who failed a subject to repeat it during optional break and enable them to graduate on schedule.
Students who wish to graduate early could take additional subjects during the optional break.
Because of a rigid and slavish following of obsolete rules set up by the colonial powers, a student who fails a subject is required to repeat all the subjects taken.
That is stupid, oppressive and serves no purpose. A student who fails a subject should be permitted to repeat only that subject and continue with the other subjects.
Why divide students into forms? Why not have a list of subjects that need to be completed before graduation and not be concerned about forms at all?
Students who need to work part-time should be able to do so and take fewer classes even though it will delay graduation.
Evening classes will enable working students including parents who were not able to complete school, to take classes.
It is unfortunate Fiji's school system is still following rules imposed during colonial times and fail to meet people's needs.
Frank R. Eggers
Albuquerque
USA
Already paidTHE Government might be attracting praise from some sectors.
It did a favour for the people by removing VAT from some items. In my view, the Government has not performed a miracle.
One will remember that when the Government came into power, there was no VAT on items and the rest was on 10 per cent.
For four years it collected 12.5 per cent tax on basic items. That is 2.5 per cent more than what we would have paid if VAT remained at 10 per cent.
What that meant was that by paying 2.5 per cent more for four years we have paid VAT for the next year at 10 per cent. The Government would have done better to refund what was already paid.
It could defend its action by saying that the increasing cost of living prompted the reaction but if I remember, the costs were quite high in 2001.
In those days, the justification for VAT was that the rich were benefiting more than the poor and that the Government intended to re-divert the money collected to poverty alleviation schemes. So what has changed now?
It is either that only few remain rich or the poverty problem has been solved. It could be that the Government failed in its plans.
At best, it can be described as four bad years of rule and one good year of campaigning. The reasons could be many but the bottom line remains that the wool has been pulled over our eyes and the Government is getting the credit for the things we paid for.
Ashneel Sudhakar
Ba
Club Em Designs
