Cogito, ergo sum. I think, therefore I am. (René Descartes, mathematician and philosopher,1599-1650)

Tuesday 23 November 2010

Money Laundering, Teachers to Need Fijian and Hindi, Police Name Tags, PM Back This Week, Maritime and Land Registry

APOLOGIES FOR LATE POSTINGS.  I usually manage to publish the daily postings before 4:30 in the afternoon but this week domestic chores have taken precedence. My apologies for any inconvenience caused by the later publication.

CENTRE FOR FIJI FINANCIAL INTELLIGENCE UNIT
. The Unit yesterday opened a National Anti-Money Laundering Learning Center which will provide electronic computer based training (CBT) to financial institutions and stakeholders.FIU director Razim Buksh says the AML Learning Center and the CBT courses will be of tremendous value to Fiji’s law enforcement agencies as their officials will be trained without any cost. CBT courses will cover topics such as money laundering, human trafficking, precursor chemicals, search techniques, control deliveries and basic intelligence analysis.

“The main reason for providing such a training forum to law enforcement agencies is basically the nature of crime is quite complex, this is a new era, and we have seen emergence of complex crime in Fiji. Therefore we need to equip our law enforcement agents – so that they are at par with the new methods and techniques. These include coming up with a matrix, linking information through flow charts and link charts and undertaking better management of information if this relates to financial record.”

The Learning Center has been established through a partnership between the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime, the British High Commission in Suva, Reserve Bank of Fiji and the Fiji Intelligence Unit.

TEACHERS WILL NEED FIJIAN AND HINDI.
Trainee teachers enrolling at the Fiji National University next year will have to learn Hindi and Fijian to be able to teach the language in schools to be awarded their graduation certificate. FNU Vice-Chancellor Dr Ganesh Chand said the level of competency in both languages would need to be at Fijian and Hindi Newspapers "Nai Lalakai and Shanti Dut" level.

He said the move is a response to the number of challenges before Fiji, and in particular one that emerged for teachers in regard to the Peoples' Charter for Change and Development.  He said without language understanding there is not much of a chance for the society to be united. He hoped the FNU initiative will motivate other sectors of society to play their part in ensuring a diverse society that also encourages unity.

POLICE TO WEAR NAME TAGS. The new Commissioner of Police Brigadier Iowane Naivalurua  has announced that all  uniformed police officers will now be required to wear tags, with their name, rank and number.The directive was issued so people can easily identify officers if they have complaints or if they witness their involvement in corruption. It can also be used to commend officers. The directive comes into effect in seven days.

PM BACK LATER THIS WEEK. The PM returns from China later this week after a series of successful meetings with Chinese officials and business leaders. He is expected to announce the 2011 Budget on Friday. Key topics discussed at the meetings included streamlining of Government processes, the need to be pro-active when evaluating investment proposals and ensuring that investment provides employment and training opportunities for Fijians.

The PM  said “These meetings have been important in assuring investors that the Fiji Government is committed to providing an environment where business can prosper, It is important that Fiji has the right platform, infrastructure and a program for fast-tracking quality business investment into the country

MARITIME ZONE AND LAND INITIATIVES
. Two current initiatives by the Ministry of Land and Mineral Resources are the proper demarcation and mapping of Fiji’s Maritime Zone and work on a National Land Register, a high priority for Government. The State Land register will be completed in December and it is hoped the whole National Register will be complete by December 2011. The Register will compile information on all land issues,  for instance land tenure, boundaries, ownership, value, land use infrastructure and biophysical features. The data will be stored on GIS (Geographic Information System) which links data to maps which will enable the Department and relevant others to keep track of all land transactions in Fiji.

The information is also needed for Government's proposed Land Reforms and the the identification of land designated into the Land Bank for the issuing of 99 year leases. The reforms are intended to promote good husbandry practices with rewarding returns for both tenants and the landowners. -- Based on 2010, No:1971/MOI.

18 comments:

Chinese Medicine said...

Croz,
Can you tell me any other occasion anywhere in the world where the Minister of Finance will have spent 2 weeks out of the country only to fly in the morning he delivers the budget.

Normally a Minister of Finance would be working solidly on the budget for weeks if not months before he presents it.

There are a number of different scenarios which might meet this scenario.

1- He is not really the Minister of finance and the Minister of Everything or the AG is actually the real minister of finance and writing the budget.

2- He is about to sign a deal so big with an as yet unknown Chinese company that it was more important than the budget. Must be huge.

3- He did go to China for medical reasons and has had complications that have necessitated a delay.

The only reason that is not logical and does not make sense is the one put out by Sharon.

Anonymous said...

@ wearing of Police Identity tags....

This is one of the best reforms brought in by the Commissioner of Police. It becomes mandatory within seven days. One of the highest number of complaints concerning Police Officers' conduct is their failure to make themselves easily identifiable. They are paid by the taxpayers and a failure to identify themselves fully in or out of uniform when asked has been inexcusable. A number of investors to Fiji have complained of harassment and of being visited by Police at odd hours who were rude and hectoring. These same officers were failing to attend to properly lodged complaints including to repeated complaints of perjury taking place in Fiji Courts. Now we shall see an end to this impunity and all Police will be readily recognised and known by their names, rank and number. That is as it should be. The PER are in place while this transition takes place. Taking off the PER coud not occur while such fundamental reforms are implemented. Safety and security of the public requires that the Police are performing professionally and consistently. This must become evident over the Christmas Festive Season.

PERrrrrrrrrr said...

What ever is happening we don't know the half of it. One thing is certain and that is their really is a Public Emergency - has been for a long time. The Military and Goverment are a big part of the emergency - they caused it.

meeow said...

Croz, in this technological era of IPad,e mail and net, one does not have to be in a nation's capital to prepare a paper. This is a working PM

sulgo said...

Croz,

Do you think about just giving up ? I do.

This site is balanced and even pro-coup and pro-military government yet ever little bit of advice is ignored.

I wonder if the PM and military just not smart enough to win the hearts and minds of people or alternatively they just don't care.

M>B>N said...

You have to admit the PM's recnt trip to China is a strange one. No media while he was there, no word from the Chinese Ambassador who is normally ready for every positive headline and the PM was due back last Friday according to his own minister of information.
Our acting PM resigns and the only hint of a reason is one line about David Roth who is subsequently removed from the country. None this adds up and the only thing we an be certain of is the Military/PM/Government is not being up front, transparent or honest about what is happening.

More unanswered questions said...

@ Chinese Medicine

I think we all no the PM is no more a ative fianance minister than he is the sugar minister.

The big question is why he continues to hold both portfolios when he does not have a clue what is happening in either.

Another question is where is Sada Reddy. He worked hard on the last budget with the AG but seems to be on leave still. He did a huge amount of work to get IMF money and then the PM turned around and said we don't need it now. Lots more questions to be answered.

what is the emergency ? said...

Our PM loves to complain about the travel warning from various countries. Before he opens his mouth next time I suggest he remove the PER. Either there is a real public emergency and the PM should shut up, or there is no public emergency and the PM should drop the PER.

He did promise it would be removed many months ago but I guess no one anywhere takes any of his promises seriously anymore. Problem is 2014 is we have to wait another 4 years to see if he breaks that one too.

Very frustrating still said...

Quoting FBCL "Fiji PM will not deliver budget"

It seems pretty obvious now that the ministry of information has no idea what is happening with the PM in China or has been deliberately covering it up. The idea that the finance minister will not make the budget address because of a 'couple of meetings' is just crazy.

Anyone remember the PM who couldn't go to PNG for because of important matter at home coming first ? What could be more important than the budget given Fiji delicate economic state and governments debt problems ?

Will this government and this PM ever start telling us the truth or are we forever now doomed to spin, cover up and decisions behind closed doors ?

c4.5 not always wrong said...

Croz,

With all your posturing against 'rumours' and with so many of them turning out at least partially true you might need a apology to the folk over at coup 4.5.

TheMax said...

@ Chinese Medicine

So what exactly is it so big a concern to or for you? Are you going to lose your life if you don't know where the PM is? Will it be the end of time for you if you do not know his exact location? Do you want to know how many steps Bainimarama takes to reach his desk when he gets on the lift at New wing government building?

today said...

Can't wait to see what positive spin you put on todays news that the PM is not in Fiji and will not deliver the Budget on Friday....although he will be back Friday just not in time !

Where is our PM ? said...

"I'm still alive says Fiji PM"

I have visited most of the usual blogs and no one was usggesting he was dead. Most where suggesting he was ill or at least seeking medical treatment in China. In the absence of any other good information on why the sudden trip to China, No Photos, a longer than expected visit etc I'm going with the other anti-government blogs on this one. He is most likely sick or at least having some form of treatment.

me me me said...

Maybe our PM is just taking some leave as he has every year. Wonder if he will actually record it as such this time ?

sara'ssista said...

i have nothing much to addd, all the other comments speak volumes. Fiji.... beautiful one day , ruled by a military junta the next.... oh an to the folks at the (mis) information ??!! ministry...you guys are doing a great job.

Chinese Medicine said...

@ TheMax said...
My concern is that the economy of this country is in very poor shape. The minister responsible for running the economy has not been seen for 2 weeks and now we hear he will not be delivering the budget address.
Please TheMax tell me when can you ever remember, in Fiji or in any other country, where the Minister Finance is absent for 2 weeks before the budget and will not even be in the country to deliver it.
No single deal can be bigger than looking after Fiji's economy for the next year.
He is either sick, not needed to help formulate the budget or grossly irresponsible.
I don't want to know where he is, I don't care where he is. I do care about the economy. I do care if I have a job next week, I do care that Education gets a fair share of the budget, I do care about this country. I am not sure the Minister does, or he would be here now.

4.5 cents in the dollar when it comes to credibility said...

I'm sorry. I must have missed something. Which reports emanating from Coup 4.5 have turned out to be true? That Frank Bainimarama is seriously ill? I've just heard him saying he's alive and well enough to play in the Rugby World Cup next year. That the so- called new order is crumbling and Frank's fellow officers are preparing for the next? Oh yeah, plenty of evidence of that up at the camp. Not. That Frank and Aiyaz have been arrested? Oh, that was a beauty. That Frank is too scared to go to India because of what he did to Mahen? Wow, amazing. And today, that Suvavou House is on fire? Oh, but sorry, just one office on the second floor and it's not as bad as we thought. And so it goes on. Can someone tell me one thing that was true? Oh, Harry Dugdale called Frank a dickhead. Oh, David Roth had lunch with Roko Ului. Just so much yabber, yabber, yabber and blah, blah,blah. They should give up over at that miserable cyber dump and so should you. Fancy having the cheek to come over here to say "we told you so" and demand an apology. More front than MH's. Coup 4.5. Natural home of the unsubstantiated rumour and propaganda lie. Certainly - after Solivakasama - the most dodgy reception on the Coconut Radio dial. Credibility? Zero. Deserving of an apology? #*#* off!

Friend of Fiji or Not said...

@ Chinese Medicine...

Your throwaway remarks betray your failure to appreciate the "Big Picture". Of course the economy is in a difficult place: so are the economies of: Eire, Greece, Spain, Portugal and...even the almighty (or formerly almighty?) US of A. Ten per cent unemployment still in the US? What does that tell us? It tells us a great deal. It tells us that China now holds the purse strings in US bonds. If you were to be helpful and constructive, you would make it your business to be in the business of assisting Fiji to restore its economy. In lieu, you appear to be open to sabotaging it by nefarious comment and rumour.