- Fewer services will be available at the High Commission now the acting High Commissioner has left
- Civil unrest cannot be "ruled out"
- Check your insurance policy
- Fewer services because there's one staff member less?
- To my knowledge no visitor or tourist has ever been injured, harassed or had travel plans disrupted as a result of civil unrest during any of Fiji's four coups
- Insurance policies may not cover all eventualities directly resulting from civil unrest. Neither do they insure against strikes but no advisory mentioned this -- nor were the strikes mentioned on the main TV News -- during the recent New Caledonian strike when stikers barricaded northern towns and troops were employed in Noumea suburbs.
But someone could have put the advisories into a more honest and less scary format.
My advisory? Go and enjoy the warmth and sunshine.
4 comments:
Australia and New Zealand would be better positioned increasing the capacity and resources of the Fiji Justice System. That would have benefitted all who live, invest in Fiji and all who visit (tourists can require due process as I myself have witnessed. Millions are owed to the Fiji Justice System: around F$23m. There is still no court recording system in place. Yet, Australia and New Zealand, our nearest neighbours, chose to turn a blind eye to the courts and their administration. This is the test that should be applied. Their 'favourites' Qsrase et al played games with Fiji's Court System, almost daily. This fundamental institution of good governance must be put right. Three years on from December 2006 the policies of these two countries demeans them and not those who endeavour to provide justice on the ground to the people of Fiji. There is no "brighter future" with no properly functioning court system. To suggest otherwise, to indulge in perfidious jousting disguised as a ' courtesy call' is an exposure which merits our justified anger. There is nothing 'courteous' in denying independent and impartial justice to those less well off than yourselves, in obfuscating one's true intentions through revealed perfidious ruses. There have been ruses enought since May 19 2000.
Your comment is a little disingenuous. The NZ Herald article in which Mr McCulley is quoted refers to the decline in staff numbers at the High Commission since December 2008. In this time there has been reduction of 5 staff, or 40% and this would have an effect on the ability of any organisation to carry out its work properly.
High Commission staff numbers now: Total 7
3 Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff: a policy officer and two administration staff.
2 NZ Aid managers (one for Fiji/NZ projects, one regional).
2 Immigration managers.
Until December 2008: Total 12
5 Ministry of Foreign Affairs staff: High Commissioner, Deputy High Commissioner and as above.
2 NZ Aid managers.
2 Immigration managers.
1 Defence Force attaché.
1 Police attaché.
1 NZ Trade Commissioner.
In addition, you mention that ‘to my knowledge no visitor or tourist has ever been injured, harassed or had travel plans disrupted as a result of civil unrest during any of Fiji's four coups’. In fact, many thousands of people - locals, expatriates and tourists alike, had their travel plans disrupted by the road blocks that were erected by civilians around the country from May to July 2000.
However, aside from your gentle digs and selective memory, you’re quite right. Fiji and all who sail in her carry on as normal through this latest storm in a teacup.
Kiwis will still come to Fiji because it's cheap and the people are friendly.
Can you imagine the furore at home if a Kiwi is stranded or doesn't get help because NZ cuts back its consular services?
All this is utter crap and just more bluff from a country that once had its finger on the Pacific pulse but now has that finger up its fundamental.
Innocent foreign nationals are deliberately targeted in places like bali, mumbai, pakistan etc. because these gun trotting bullies choose to kill innocent women,children and the elderly in places like afghanistan,iraq etc. This act of murder is given a colourful name, they call it "colateral damage" and in rare cases a "friendly fire". Our neighbours are more than welcome to come to Fiji for holidays. Nowhere else in the world will you find a friendlier person than a Fijian.
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