Monthly Archives: October 2014

More Coals on the Fire

27 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in Articles & Reports

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STATEMENT

[No 5/10/2014]

Ro Teimumu has called on the Government to exercise good sense and sound judgment towards the Pacific Islands Forum. “The Opposition would be happy to work with the Fiji government in the re-building process for the benefit of the region and all its peoples

Opposition Leader Ro Teimumu Kepa has welcomed the decision by the Pacific Islands Forum to lift suspension of the Fiji government’s membership of the Forum. She urged the government of Fiji to apply its fundamental policy of inclusiveness in its approach to the Forum as the leading regional political

Ro Teimumu said that preconditions set by the Fiji government for rejoining the Forum were unacceptable These are based on a demand for banishment from the Forum of Fiji’s major friends and partners Australia and New Zealand. This demand is because Australia and New Zealand, as Forum members, strongly

objected to the military takeover by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama of Fiji’s elected government in 2006. The takeover broke the rules of the Forum. All the other Forum member countries also objected to Prime Minister Bainimarama’s actions. These were widely condemned by the international community.

Ro Teimumu said the current government cannot erase the illegal actions of 2006. These will forever remain part of Prime Minister Bainimarama’s legacy and he has to come to terms with that.

“We have concluded our elections, flawed though we believe it was, and we have a Parliament with an elected government. A clear democratic priority must be the reconstruction of our relations with our traditional friends and partners in the Pacific, including Australia and New Zealand,” Ro Teimumu said.

“Quite aside from substantial aid and humanitarian support, both are the largest sources of tourism for Fiji, and major providers of foreign investment. Close proximity, people-to-people relationships and historical connections are also important. Australia and New Zealand are genuine friends of our country.

“For the Fiji government to link its re-entry into the Forum to unreasonable terms designed to punish Australia and New Zealand, is nothing but mean spirited and wrong. It will also create unnecessary divisions and tensions in the immediate region.”

Ro Teimumu has called on the Government to exercise good sense and sound judgment towards the Pacific Islands Forum. “The Opposition would be happy to work with the Fiji government in the re-building process for the benefit of the region and all its peoples,” she said.

Authorized By: Leader of the Opposition

Opposition Chambers Parliament House

Tel: (679) 322 5657

A Very Bad Move Frank

27 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in Articles & Reports

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Leader of the Opposition
Parliament House
SUVA

STATEMENT
[No 6/10/2014]

‘SODELPA Shadow Minister for iTaukei Affairs, Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu, said in a statement today that less than three weeks after the first sitting of the new Parliament the Prime Minister, who promised to take care of all, has for the second time threatened the cancellation of government development for those citizens who did not vote for him.’

Reacting to the front page stories of The Fiji Times and Fiji Sun [Oct 26th] Ratu Naiqama said the comments attributed to Prime Minister Bainimarama are in breach of the constitution.

They violate Sec 1 (a), (d), (e) and (f) covering Common and equal citizenry, and Sec 26 of the Bill of Rights (1), (2) and (3) covering Right to equality and freedom from discrimination.

“This latest and outrageous threat by the Prime Minister gives people a real sense of the type of government now in office,” Ratu Naiqama Said. “It is consistent with what he did in early 2013 with the Tui Vitogo and his people. It is similar to the threat he made to Hon Niko Nawaikula’s supporters. Are we to assume the provisions for equality in the 2013 constitution have been abandoned?

By his utterances in the North, the Prime Minister is effectively putting Fiji First voter’s interests ahead of all other citizens creating two classes of citizens. What I want to know Ratu Naiqama said, was how does he know who did not vote for him? What does he have from the Elections office that will allow him to identify who did or did not vote for him? No names or numbers were on the ballot papers?

“Development funds come from all taxpayers of Fiji as well as foreign donors. These are not the personal funds of PM Bainimarama to do with as he pleases. He should understand this by now. Taxpayers include many who did not vote for Frank Bainimarama and his Fiji First Party. They have equal rights for their tax dollars to be used for their wellbeing.”

Ratu Naiqama called on all foreign aid donors to take heed of the stated position of the Prime Minister and be sure to secure guarantees that the funds they give to Fiji for the benefit of all the people, are not used primarily to benefit only Fiji First supporters.

Ratu Naiqama said foreign countries would do well to tread cautiously when re-establishing relations with the Government. It appears to be following the same path of bad and vindictive governance that marked the last eight years.

Ratu Naiqama has called on the Attorney General and Minister for Justice to take appropriate action against the Prime Minister for his breach of the constitution. The Opposition will be following up in Parliament on this extraordinary threat from the Prime Minister.

Authorized By: Hon Ratu Naiqama Lalabalavu

Opposition Chambers
Parliament House

Cancer Cure Stem Cells

27 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in Articles & Reports, Health Hints

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brain_tumour-spl

Cancer-killing stem cells engineered in lab

A stem cell expert said this was “the future” of cancer treatment.

Chris Mason, professor of regenerative medicine at University College London, said: “This is a clever study, which signals the beginning of the next wave of therapies.

“It shows you can attack solid tumours by putting mini pharmacies inside the patient which deliver the toxic payload direct to the tumour.

“Cells can do so much. This is the way the future is going to be.”

Go to the following link for the full report:

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-29756238

Politians of today

21 Tuesday Oct 2014

Posted by in Daily Humour

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turtleWhile stitching a cut on the hand of an old farmer, whose hand was caught in the squeeze gate while working cattle, the doctor struck up a conversation with the old man.

Eventually the topic got around to politicians and their role as our leaders.

The old rancher said, “Well, most politicians are ‘Post Turtles’.”
Not being familiar with the term, the doctor asked what a ‘post turtle’ was.
The old rancher said, “When you’re driving down a country road you come across a fence post with a turtle balanced on top, that’s a post turtle.”
Seeing the puzzled look on the doctor’s face so he explained.

“You know he didn’t get up there by himself, he doesn’t belong up there, he doesn’t know what to do while he’s up there, he’s elevated beyond his ability to function,and you just wonder what kind of dumb arse put him up there to begin with.”

Best explanation of a modern politician I’ve ever heard.