NEW QUOTE FOR THE WEEK. See right sidebar. Scroll down for Weekend Reading.
'NADAN' BLOGGERS THE IMAGINATION. The Blogs FDFM copied by Coup4.5 wrote:
" Quoting the work of Nadan (sic!) Warsey (sic!) ... the military will have busted its annual budget by $700,000,000 if it's allowed to continue until 2014."What Wadan actually wrote was: "Roughly, between 2000 and 2010, the military has illegally overspent by $225 million ...If the present trend continues ... the military will have taken ... some $700 millions over and above their normal pre-2000 allocations between 2000 and 2014."
There are four elements: 1) Wadan's "normal" pre-2000 allocation of $50m a year; 2) the increase in the military budget that started under Qarase, 3) the over-spending that has continued after Qarase, and 4) the expenditure guestimate from now until 2014.
The anti- blogs attributed all the increase and overspending to the Bainimarama government, choosing to ignore the Qarase period from 2000-2006. Their $700m does not mention the pre-2000 "normal" expenditure. And a less than careful reader could assume the $700m is annual.
Wadan was also a less than honest. He made no allowance for inflation, the 20% devaluation, and the troubled times since 2000, blaming the military, and no one else, for the 2000 and 2006 coups. Of course military expenditure will increase in a country where race is used to create civil unrest that could — and did — threaten other citizens.
He also made no allowance at all for the extended work of the military since 2006 in the administration of the country from district to national level, or the civic work now being done for example by Army engineers. The engineers have always performed civic tasks but the magnitude of the tasks has increased in recent years. In the last three years, for instance, they have worked on hurricane evacuation centres, school buildings, church repairs, the Fiji School of Nursing, bridges, river embankments, the Nukulau and Naboro prisons, the Quarantine Station in Rotuma and the Sigatoka Hospital.
In planting his flag so firmly in their camp, Wadan should look very carefully at his new comrades. They only partly understand what he is saying (and misuse what they think they understand); they are likely to want a very different Fiji from the one he wants — and they don't even know his name!
BAINIMARAMA WELCOMES TWO NEW PM's. In his congratulatory letter to the new Vanuatu PM Sato Kilman, the Fiji PM said, 'I am confident that your appointment will provide a new momentum and marks a new impetus in the ever growing close bilateral relations between Fiji and Vanuatu.” And to new Cook Island PM Henry Puna he said, “With your leadership I believe that the existing warm and friendly relations between our two countries will be further strengthened in the years to come.” A third Pacific nation Tonga is expected to announce its new PM in the next few days.
BOLE THANKS TEACHERS. School ended for the year on Friday, with Education Minister Filipe Bole extending his "sincere gratitude and heartfelt appreciation to all 9,826 of the country's teachers for their immense contribution to education in Fiji." The Minister hoped they will enjoy their Christmas break and be refreshed when schools reopen on January 24th. -- Based on 2010, No: 2073 /MOE.
DEPT OF MULTI-ETHNIC AFFAIRS. As announced in the 2011 Budget Address, the functions, staff and assets of the Department are to be "devolved" to relevant line ministries. Public Service Commission permanent secretary, Parmesh Chand, said the proposed devolution "is in line with provisions of Peoples Charter for Change, Peace and Progress to remove ethnic bias in government programmes and [is] also commensurate with reforms in the Public Service to remove duplication, maximise use of resources through rationalisation and bring about improvements in service delivery." -- Based on 2010, No: 2065/MOI. [The general aim is a worthy one but in some matters each of Fiji's ethnic groups needs special attention. It is to be hoped that they will not be lost in the devolution.]
AUSAID IN FIJI. Australia has allocated $F37.2 million to its its volunteer aid programme in Fiji for 2010-2011. There are currently 35 volunteers working in areas such as education, health, disabilities, poverty reduction, protection, climate change/environment and humanitarian emergencies.
DEBT REPAYMENTS. Representatives of overseas funding agencies are in the country to work out a plan with government on extending the time frame of paying back debts left by past governments. government is also negotiating with India to extend the time frame of the repayment of the $86m loan for the upgrade of the sugar mills.
FNPF RETURN $198 MILLION.The Fiji National Provident Fund's fixed income portfolio FYE June 30 was recorded at $198.3m. Earnings from the portfolio make up 87.9% of the Fund's investment portfolio and 90% of the total investment income. Fund CEO Aisake Taito said total investments in government bonds for the financial year were $317.30m, compared with $268.82m in the 2009 year
FIJI WATER: ONE OUT, FIVE IN. I didn't know that Fiji Water had "paid less than $F1 million in total corporate tax since its inception, and received up to $F5 million UNDERLINE a year in value-added tax refunds for its export sales." Hamish Macdonald tells all in this article in the Sydney Morning Herald. http://www.smh.com.au/world/bainimarama-shows-hes-the-full-bottle-but-challenges-await-20101203-18jvg.html
19 comments:
Croz your link to the Fiji water article in SMH is incorrect.
Here's the right link
http://www.smh.com.au/world/bainimarama-shows-hes-the-full-bottle-but-challenges-await-20101203-18jvg.html
Croz
If the military is not responsible for the 2006 coup who is? Was I imagining men in military uniforms entering parliament with guns?
A liilt less posturing and a litle more honesty on your part might lift your credibility?
Well done, Croz, for pointing out the shortcomings in Wadan Narsey's work. His camp followers keep pushing him forward as the oracle on all matters yet his analysis is invariably selective and frequently flawed. You're also absolutely right to caution him about the true nature of his anti-regime bedfellows. The fact that they can't get his name right shows that this is merely a liaison of convenience for them. Narsey's academic lustre is being added to their tarnished cause in a way that doesn't reflect well on his powers of judgement. He doesn't seem to realise that if he has any belief at all in a multiracial Fiji, he's sleeping with entirely the wrong people. But then flattery often blinds even the most gifted people to the ugly reality around them. These people aren't going to be quite so attractive the morning after the night before.
"Ratu Inoke to push Fiji’s Roadmap to Democracy
Monday, December 06, 2010"
I don't know about everyone else but I am growing really really tired of headlines like this. Sure go to a international meeting but FIRST HOW ABOUT SHARING SOME DETAILS AT HOME !
I suspect Ratu will just give another (yawn) broad speach. If this government wants support at home or abroad for it's "Roadmap to Democracy" then it needs to publish it and explain it. There are way to many questions remaining and absolutely no detail apart from speaches.
And it's the PM who should lead explaining the detail. This should be his primary purpose not touring the villages and stroking his ego.
Heavon knows if there is a real plan with real detail, real milestones....then perhaps WE COULD ALL PUSH FOR ACCEPTANCE OF IT !!!!!!!!!
From FBC...
Ratu Inoke to push Fiji’s Roadmap to Democracy
Monday, December 06, 2010
Fiji’s Foreign Affairs Minister Ratu Inoke Kubuabola will be pushing for Fiji’s Roadmap to Democracy when he addresses the 3rd Bali Democracy Forum (BDF) in Indonesia on the 9th and 10th of this month.
Ratu Inoke will be among leaders from 50 countries in the Asia Pacific Region including 15 Heads of States as well as 40 countries and other international organizations – at the Forum.
Ratu Inoke says he hopes to highlight that Fiji is no different from most countries that believe democracy is the best form of government.
Ratu Inoke says sustainable democracy is Fiji’s goal, and government is calmly and progressively working forward within its reform agenda under the Strategic Framework for Change.
He says government, is in full adherence to the Presidential mandate to ensure true democratic, non-communal, equal suffrage based elections for parliamentary representation in 2014.
Ratu Inoke was invited by the Indonesian government to be part of the Forum.
Croz,
I rarely see you critize government speaches and comments...which also are almost always less than honest. Try looking at governments spin on the economy vs RBF. Try 'presidents mandate'. The PM and his miliary teams bull goes unchecked eveyday.
Croz, further to your comments about Fiji Water, to follow is an extract from the magazine Wine Spectator that proves the Resnick's outfit is hardly skint.
----
Fiji Water, one of the largest brands of imported bottled water sold in the U.S., is expanding into wine. The company has closed a deal to purchase Justin Vineyards and Winery, a family-owned winery that focuses on Bordeaux varieties and Syrah in west Paso Robles.
----
Doubtless being a private company, we won't find out the terms of the deal. But I bet it makes the F$22-million in annual tax in Fiji very small beer by comparison. Or should that be small wine.
Dear Croz,
Today’s post really does show your bias.
On the one hand we have your critique of Wadan’s thoughts on the borrowings of the Government and the overspend by the army. You do everything you can to justify this overspend stating.
He made no allowance for inflation,
Devaluatioon
The extended work for the military. Bridges they built, Church repairs etc. etc.
All fine but one of the reasons we can’t account for the extended work is because we do not get to see the Auditor General’s reports any more. And this is from a government which preaches good governance and transparency for business at every opportunity.
But let’s put that in contrast with your piece on Fiji Water. I know you are pointing us to an article in the Sydney Morning Herald
You start it with I didn't know that Fiji Water had "paid less than $F1 million in total corporate tax since its inception, and received up to $F5 million UNDERLINE a year in value-added tax refunds for its export sales.”
A valid point but you do not bother to mention that they were given a 12 year corporate tax exemption when they set up. A common practice by Governments the world over when they are encouraging a new industry. Look at the relief new resort development have had in this country.
You do not mention that the reason they get their VAT back is that they are the country’s most successful exporter and they are complying with one of this very Government’s policy to encourage exports. A plan that has worked spectacularly well in the case of Fiji Water.
You do not mention the royalty they pay to Yaqara, you do not mention the millions in duty they pay, you do not mention the millions in PAYE they pay, you do not mention the millions they make in FNPF contributions.
You just quote from the PM’s statement without any editorial comment.
I believed in what you were trying to do with your blogsite. I agree with you we have the Government we have and so we need to get along with it and encourage it to do the right thing.
However, you have gone way past that. You blindly repeat everything that comes out of the Ministry of Information as if it must be totally true and they are giving us the full and true picture. Anything that comes from any other source is thoroughly questioned and denigrated. You are no longer objective.
You should at least put Sharon’s picture up beside yours so that we can all see the source of the majority of your stories.
@ Role of military ... Read more carefully. Wadan's dates, as I pointed out, are from 2000 to 2014. He held the military responsible for both the 2000 and 2006 coups. A section of the CRWUnit supported the 2000 civilian coup, and later a section of the army were responsible for the short-lived mutiny against Bainimarama, but the 2000 coup was essentially a civilian coup. Don't you agree? Of course, the 2006 coup was military.
Unlike many of the people who supported the 2000 but not the 2006 coup, Wadan is against both coups.
@ Simple (Simon) ... My bias, as you call it, is clearly stated in the blog description under its title.
My comment on military expenditure were a response to the inaccurate use of Wadan's work by the anti-blogs. Do you think their use honest? I also commented on Wadan's figures? Do you think it is honest to make comparisons taking no account of inflation and the other factors I mentioned. Wadan, is no research chicken. He knew the figures he used were not strictly comparable.
Our media presents only one side of the Fiji story. If I lean too much to the other side, it is to restore balance. If you criticize me and not the media, are you not also being biased? I also criticize the Bainimarama government but always in a realistic and hopefully helpful way. Join me.
Your point about the Auditor General’s reports is well taken. I will publish you comments on Fiji Water. You appear to know the details that I do not. If you wish to publish a fuller piece along the lines you've indicated, I'd be pleased to publish it.
Croz
what part of 'when you are a member of a junta that has deposed an elected legitimate government by force and therefore you have travel sanctions' do gates and khaiyum not understand? It is very clear and straightforward. Gates will NOT get a visa to travel to the US. Full stop. Neither will khaiyum. It is getting very boring having to repeat the same message over and over.
@ Same, Same ... I agree, and have said so many times. The Roadmap and the Strategic Framwork for Change should be published. There is, however, no doubt that the documents exist, which some people seem to doubt. My feeling is that like so many other things, the documents are in a form that is not yet ready for publication, and the people who can do the work necessary have been too busy doing other things. Let's hope we see the documents soon.
@ Beasture ... Please elaborate. I don't fully understand what you are saying.
@ Dream on ... There's nothing in this postings about travel bans so I assume you're making a general statement. I also can see why the leaders of the various branches of government have travel bans. But I think it less than helpful that the bans apply to career public servants and people way down the pecking order? Why are bans imposed against them? And the families of these people? And the Fiji soccer team's goalkeeper? And ...
Croz,
"Our media presents only one side of the Fiji story. If I lean too much to the other side, it is to restore balance. If you criticize me and not the media, are you not also being biased?"
You are right our media does only present one side of the story the same as yours. The difference is they are under censorship and you are not.
The Fiji Sun prints every press release verbatim from Min info and cannot print the other point of view because of Min info's reps in the newspaper.
Perhaps you mean by "our media" you mean the NZ media. In which case you have a point. But as most people in Fiji do not have access on a daily basis I don't think you can use it to justify your approach.
You do occasionally criticise the Government Agreed. However, more often than not you print their version unquestioningly. Whereas other points of view are always subject to rigorous scrutiny. I wish you would apply that same rigour across the board.
Croz, you really do deserve to be commended for your practice of engaging the village dogs with encouraging pats after they bark at you so loudly. Why you bother to do so is quite beyond me. But perhaps you really are a saintly figure whose recent recourse to biblical quotations was more than just cheap opportunism. Your reward will be in heaven.
Having been a student of the learned Wadan Narsey, the one over-riding thing I came away with was Economists have an overwhelming propensity and ability to arrange or hide numbers to back up whatever presupposed bullshit they already have in their heads.
If the GFC has taught us anything, it is that 99.9% of Economists know f-all about how markets actually behave, or are likely to behave in the future.
As with that old adage of never believing everything you read in the newspaper, I would highly recommend that one take everything an economist says with a grain of salt... especially one who teaches it.
Crosbie
In reply to Simple Sharon, you write “Our media presents only one side of the Fiji story. If I lean too much to the other side, it is to restore balance…”
Several points give lie to your comment: 1) the censorship restrictions prevent any media leaning too far away from the military government’s line, 2) the innumerably pro government articles in The Sun are not matched by articles critical of the government, 3) The Fiji Times, whilst slightly less insipid than it has been in the past year, neither produces pro-, nor anti-, government articles in any great number, 4) Fiji One is not critical of the government.
I understand that those points are specific to Fiji’s media and not of other countries. However I hope (perhaps wrongly) that you are mostly concerned about the flow of balanced information to Fiji’s people, not to residents of other countries.
If so, then it is hardly surprising that some correspondents in Fiji should find the majority of your comments ‘pro government’ and therefore not balanced overall.
Your statement of your blog “…Reports, opinions and comments that aim to help Fiji move forward to the election of a truly representative government...” is a description is one that few would disagree with. However many do disagree with your method which appears, with very few exceptions, to be of unquestioningly following this unaccountable government’s dictates for Fiji’s future.
Crosbie
You wrote that “…2000 coup was essentially a civilian coup.” I disagree since although the coup garnered unconscionable civilian support it was, as you noted, instigated by elements of the military.
I believe that what is known as the ‘Speight coup’ ended up in fact, being the first of the Bainimarama coups since the Commodore was instrumental in both ensuring President Mara stepped down and to the decision to install an Interim Government, rather than reinstate the Labour government once the hostages had been released.
Given the political climate at the time, the Commodore was undoubtedly well intentioned at the time he made the decision to install the Interim Government. However, good intentions or not, he did not authorise the reinstatement of the elected government and therefore, by definition, carried out the coup.
An entirely speculative question here, but one now wonders whether your rights under the visa waiver programme still qualify... you have, after all, and no doubt noticed by Washington, become a lobbyist for a military regime to whom they do not give visas for.... tried visiting the US recently? It is actually a serious issue - you will have been noticed and reported upon. Lobbyist for undesirable regimes is something Washington takes note of. I'd check if I were you; detention at LAX is very tedious. You might even share the facility with an Australian woman from MinFo.
@ Global Citizen....
Your comments are threatening and entirely 'out of order'? You seem to think that you will stifle private and valid opinion in this way? Get lost! You lost your argument before you began with your unconscionable posture.
Dearest Esteems,
We are Offering best Global Financial Service rendered to the general public with maximum satisfaction,maximum risk free. Do not miss this opportunity. Join the most trusted financial institution and secure a legitimate financial empowerment to add meaning to your life/business.
Contact Dr. James Eric Firm via
Email: fastloanoffer34@gmail.com
Best Regards,
Dr. James Eric.
Executive Investment
Consultant./Mediator/Facilitator
Post a Comment