Sergeant Saiasi Nuku VONO, The Royal Regiment of Scotland

The bravery of a Fijian NCO who went to the aid of nine colleagues caught in a fatal roadside bomb blast in Afghanistan has been recognised.

Sgt Saiasi Nuku Vono, of the 2nd Battalion, The Royal Regiment of Scotland (2 Scots) has been awarded a Queen’s Commendation for Bravery.

His citation says he had shown “inspirational leadership” following the explosion in Helmand Province.

36 year old Sgt Vono was on his way back to base after a patrol in the District of Helmand, when an improvised explosive device (IED) was triggered by a Mastiff vehicle.

The vehicle was behind Sgt Vono’s vehicle and the blast caused serious injuries to all nine of the soldiers it was carrying.

Three of them were later confirmed as having been killed in action.

The apparent absence of debate, particularly among the Taukei, is attributed by commentators to ‘a culture of silence’. Open, vigorous public discourse is not yet a feature of Taukei or Fijian society at large. It has been explained in terms of a cultural milieu in which authority and communal structures coalesce to muffle expression. While media controls and self-censorship have not helped, it is the epistemology, ways of thinking, of the Taukei that invites closer scrutiny.

‘Silence’ does not necessarily mean consent. It is the lack of oral and written expression about issues passing for acquiescence. From the colonial era to the present, Taukei took refuge in silence until the political climate improved. Social media (Facebook, Twitter, blog sites etc.) represent a contemporary variation, allowing disaffected Taukei to express opinions anonymously.  An assertive few, on opposing sides of the divide, eschew such inhibitions in that virtual world. Safe haven notwithstanding, it is outside the wider public domain. Sanctuary afforded by ‘silence’ comes at a price: uncontested interpretations of issues and events become historical truth and received wisdom.

Reluctance persists among Taukei to ventilate issues of interest openly whether the traditional system, sustaining Taukei culture, the Taukei language, qoliqoli, the protection of land or the status of indigenous people post-December 2006. It is compounded by several factors. Blood and kinship ties remain significant. Personalities matter more than issues. Opinions are an extension of the person and difficult to separate. And the ubiquity of connections renders security in numbers of larger societies meaningless. Continue reading →

Election Issues, Bulletin 6: Gender, Sports, Indigenous Fijians in Business, Music, National Identity”. 19 March 2014

Click the following link for a list of pertinent questions posed by Professor Wadan Narsey that all political parties should be prepared to answer, and that you might wish to ask the candidate of your choice:

http://narseyonfiji.wordpress.com/2014/03/19/election-issues-bulletin-6-gender-sports-indigenous-fijians-in-business-music-national-identity-19-march-2014/

There can be do doubt that lack of transparency facilitates corruption and incompetence, which leads to a waste of taxpayers monies, increased national debt and an ever increasing burden on future generations.

It is also true that Franks administration and period of government could have been much more successful had he fully endorsed and supported transparency in all aspects of government business.

The following is one mans view, which is supported by statistics provided by him and as yet is unchallenged by the administration.

We welcome the administrations response in the comments column of this article.

http://narseyonfiji.files.wordpress.com/2014/03/ellection-issues-bulletin-5-gdp-jobs-income-and-public-debt-17-march-2014.pdf

MORE RIPPLES IN FIJI’S RULE OF LAW

Townsend claims Pryde’s statement misleading.

Former Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions, Ruth Townsend is claiming that she did not resign for further opportunities,Townsend said that the statement by Director of DPP, Christopher Pryde that she resigned for other opportunities is misleading. (what a surprise)

Townsend said that she was only unhappy with certain things at the DPP’s office.

Got to learn to kiss a lot of legal posteriors if one wants to succeed in that office, so could it be that Ruth Townsend is a woman with principles?

Promotion to Rear Admiral ensures you receive the maximum military pension for your retirement Frank, a very smart move. But considering the treatment you served out to the FNPF pensioners, it seems that there is one rule for you and bugger the rest.

To make matters worse your administration has permitted a split off of monies belonging to FNPF members and the FNPF is now a major shareholder in a new local bank that is doomed to follow in the footsteps of the National Bank of Fiji.

Don’t worry Frank you will still get your taxpayers funded Rear Admirals pension, even if you lose the election, even if the FNPF goes broke, you will be OK.

FNPF Pensioners, their children and their grandchildren should
REMEMBER THIS WHEN THEY VOTE.

The Social Democratic and Liberal Party has made it’s stand clear that it will re-instate the itaukei and multi ethnic based scholarship programmes if it forms the next government after the elections.

When SODELPA was questioned on why it wants to bring back the race based scholarships, senior party official, Doctor Tupeni Baba said SODELPA will not change this stand.

Doctor Baba said although SODELPA has decided to contest the elections under the 2013 constitution, the party does not accept the new scholarship and student loan schemes brought in as they have not been approved by an elected parliament. 

Doctor Baba said it does not matter that the previous scholarship programme which SODELPA wants to bring back was race based.

It appears that SODELPA also prefers and wants to encourage race based voting, if so they should be registered under the name : “Social Destructive and Liability Party”

REMEMBER THIS WHEN YOU VOTE