Does Fiji Really Need Four More Years of This

“An NFP Government will ensure Clause 24 of the Parliamentary Privileges Bill will never see the light of day…The Fiji First Government has become arrogant and out of touch. Its Ministers are surrounded by bodyguards and drive around in motorcades (and NFP will ban those too). Now Fiji First is so scared of criticism that it would put people in jail and fine them up to $100,000 if they spoke up against Parliamentarians. Politicians who cannot accept criticism should leave Parliament – or the voters should throw them out!”

Monday 01/05/2017

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama (right) and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull.

The Australian assistance for Fiji’s COP23 presidency has been the subject of talks in Sydney between the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull.

The Prime Minister is in Australia for a four day visit and left soon after arriving to meet Turnbull at his home in Sydney’s eastern suburbs.

Bainimarama told Turnbull that it was critical to preserve the multilateral consensus contained in the Paris Agreement for decisive cuts in carbon emissions to arrest the current rate of global warming and reduce the impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events such as Tropical Cyclone Winston.

He says Fiji had deeply appreciated Australian assistance in the wake of the devastation caused by Winston last February.

The PM also asked Turnbull to use his influence with countries like New Zealand and Japan to fully support Fiji’s leadership of the ongoing UN climate change negotiations in Bonn, Germany, in November.

During his visit to Australia, the Prime Minister will deliver the keynote address at the 4th Australasian Emissions Reduction Summit in Melbourne today.

How About some action at Home Frank….

Heavy fuel oil is considered the most significant threat to the Arctic. So why isn’t it banned yet? | International Council on Clean Transportation

THEICCT.ORG

IT IS WRONG TO USE THE INTERNET OR ANY FORM OF MEDIA TO GENERATE HATRED ON ETHNIC OR RELIGIOUS GROUNDS.

IT IS ALSO WRONG TO CONTROL THE PRESS BY COMMERCIAL MEANS, IT IS WRONG TO ABUSE POWER AND PERPETUATE CRONYISM AND CORRUPTION.

WE SHOULD ALL BE CAPABLE OF BETTER THAN THIS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT PUT THEMSELVES FORWARD FOR PUBLIC SERVICE.

http://fijivillage.com/news-feature/PM-speaks-about-the-increasing-misuse-of-social-media-2ks5r9/

A MOVE IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says they deposited $9.7 million lease money in the HFC bank last week.

This was highlighted by the Prime Minister during a public meeting with sugar cane growers in Ba today.

Bainimarama who is also the Chair of the TLTB says the money was deposited following their meeting last Thursday.

He says this is the money that belongs to those who are 18 years and below and are registered in Vola ni Kawa Bula.

Bainimarama says the money will be equally distributed and they will be only able to withdraw the money when they are 18 years old.

http://fijivillage.com/news-feature/97M-lease-money-deposited-for-youths-18-and-below—PM–ksr592/

Sometimes it’s the little things that are most telling.

In Switzerland it has long been customary for students to shake the hands of their teachers at the beginning and end of the school day. It’s a sign of solidarity and mutual respect between teacher and pupil, one that is thought to encourage the right classroom atmosphere. Justice Minister Simonetta Sommaruga recently felt compelled to further explain that shaking hands was part of Swiss culture and daily life.

And the reason she felt compelled to speak out about the handshake is that two Muslim brothers, aged 14 and 15, who have lived in Switzerland for several years (and thus are familiar with its mores), in the town of Therwil, near Basel, refused to shake the hands of their teacher, a woman, because, they claimed, this would violate Muslim teachings that contact with the opposite sex is allowed only with family members. At first the school authorities decided to avoid trouble, and initially granted the boys an exemption from having to shake the hand of any female teacher. But an uproar followed, as Mayor Reto Wolf explained to the BBC: “the community was unhappy with the decision taken by the school. In our culture and in our way of communication a handshake is normal and sends out respect for the other person, and this has to be brought home to the children in school.”

Therwil’s Educational Department reversed the school’s decision, explaining in a statement on May 25 that the school’s exemption was lifted because “the public interest with respect to equality between men and women and the integration of foreigners significantly outweighs the freedom of religion.” It added that a teacher has the right to demand a handshake. Furthermore, if the students refused to shake hands again “the sanctions called for by law will be applied,” which included a possible fine of up to 5,000 dollars. Continue reading →

“Apart from this [dangerous driving causing death] charges against PRAVEEN BALA the Attorney-General AIYAZ SAYED KHAIYUM very well knew of his illegal activities because I had personally briefed him. I had also briefed the former CP Teleni and his deputy and had showed evidence against PRAVEEN BALA and others for their involvement in 2000 Coup and the attempt to kill the Commander Bainimarama…I was stopped from directing the investigations” – former ACP Nasir Ali, on his Facebook posting, 13/6/2016

We Pensioners know we cannot trust the writer and instigator of Decree 51, so that eliminates one of them.

Update: 11:39AM THE title ‘Minister of Economy’ is an appointment used in Arab and Islam countries says Opposition Whip Ratu Isoa Tikoca.

The Opposition Whip made these remarks while responding to the 2016-2017 National Budget debate in Parliament yesterday.

He termed the change as “unprecedented” for Fiji saying it would make the “Minister of Economy” the most powerful man in Fiji.

“A promotion of no separation of powers under the false pretence of a Democratic Fiji,” he said.

Ratu Isoa said: “This was clearly demonstrated in the removal of two Opposition MP’s through the total disregard of their own Constitution and Standing Orders. The Prime Minister must understand that such action promotes ill will or hostility between communities in Fiji.”