Confirmed: Fiji's Economy Is In The Toilet

Nasdaq reports that our economic outlook is looking pretty shabby.

Well with (military?) officials scurrying illegally all over the place on obviously unbudgetted expenses and unclear objectives, it's hardly surprising now is it?

Fiji Economic Outlook Bleak, To Contract Sharply - Analyst

CANBERRA -(Dow Jones)- The economic outlook for Fiji is bleak, with the gross domestic product to contract by at least 5%, Renuka Mahadevan, a senior academic at the School of Economics, University of Queensland, said Tuesday.

Three factors underpin the "very bleak" outlook for Fiji's economy, including the impact of the global financial crisis, which has compounded the dire consequences of the political situation, and ongoing unstable and sluggish growth since a political coup in 2000, she said.

It isn't far fetched to think that GDP growth could be "negative 5% or even lower," she said

"But that's very conservative," Mahadevan said in an update on Fiji for the Australian parliament organized by Australian National University.

GDP grew 0.2% in 2008 after a contraction of 6.6% due to the impact of a political coup in 2007, she said.

Fiji is a small island-based nation in the South Pacific with a population estimated at almost 950,000 in 2008. It has suffered a series of political coups over the past two decades. Main industries include tourism, sugar, fisheries and garment manufacture.

In a brief run through of key economic indicators, Mahadevan said the annual inflation rate is "pretty low" for now at 0.8% but a 20% devaluation the Fijian dollar on April 15 will cause inflation to accelerate to an estimated 9.5% annual rate by the end of the year, a disappointing return to last September's annual inflation rate of 9.8%, which was a 20 year high, she said.

The devaluation was undertaken to improve the export sector but its timing poor as the global financial crisis meant demand for exports was going to fall anyway, moderating the impact of the devaluation, she said.

Moreover, the devaluation approach to solve economic problems shifts focus way from a need for domestic economic reform, she said.

As for the impact of the global financial crisis, "Fiji banks are fairly well insulated," with the indirect impacts of this of greater concern, such as export demand for garments and tourism, both of which are major contributors to the economy, she added.

Government revenue will decline also as a result of the global financial crisis, with export revenues and remittances declining, so a government budget previously estimated at 3% of GDP this year "is going to be squeezed even further," Mahadevan said.

But this will be financed raises potential problems, with internal borrowings potentially pressuring interest rates upwards. While external borrowing is possible with external debt quite low at 7% of GDP, Fiji's ongoing political problems have caused Fiji's credit ratings to be downgraded so it isn't clear if external borrowing will help, she said.

A coherent, holistic reform process must be put in place increase efficiency and productivity in areas of governance, agricultural and nonagricultural industries and trade, Mahadevan said.

By Ray Brindal, Dow Jones Newswires; 612-6208-0902; ray.brindal@dowjones.com

Human Rights Violations Continue in Fiji Courts

Here's a media release we received from Jagannath Sami affirming that the respect for human rights is non-existent in our courts, thanks to the illegal and treasonous Actg Chief Registrar of the High Courts in Fiji, Major Ana Rokomokoti.


FIJI’s INJUSTICE DECREE
Civil Action No: HBC 12 OF 2007 IN THE HIGH COURT OF FIJI AT LAUTOKA.CIVIL JURISDICTION
Jagannath Sami VS Army Commander Voreqe Bainimarama, The Royal Fiji Military Forces, Ministry of Home affairs and Immigration, The Attorney General of Fiji, Ratu Josefa Iloilo Uluivuda, Hon. President of Fiji Islands and Sugar Cane Growers Council.

Last week my legal counsel, Mr. Shalen Krishna of Krishna & Co. Lautoka, Fiji handed over to me the “Certificate Of Termination Of Proceedings” signed by the Acting Chief Registrar of the High Courts in Fiji.

In essence this means that the High Court in Fiji will not proceed to hear my (Jagannath Sami’s) Civil Action for damages against the Army Commander Commodore Voreqe Bainimarama (1st Defendant), The Royal Fiji Military Forces (2nd Defendant), Ministry Of Home Affairs and Immigration (3rd Defendant), The Attorney General Of Fiji (4th Defendant), Ratu Josefa Iloilo Uluivuda, Hon. President Of The Republic Of Fiji Islands (5th Defendant) and Sugar Cane Growers Council (Third Party).

The Registrar in issuing the Certificate of Termination of Proceedings states and I Quote:

TAKE NOTICE that pursuant to the powers given to me under the section 23(3) of the Administration of Justice Decree 2009, I hereby CERTIFY that this proceeding is wholly terminated pursuant to section 23(3) (e) (g) of the Administration of Justice Decree 2009.

It is a sad day for Fiji and its people that the Registrar of the High Court did not see fit in allowing the Plaintiff his day in Court before terminating the proceedings and thus making mockery of the Fiji Judicial System. No Law is a just law if it deprives the right of justice to a citizen. In this instance what is laughable is the fact the defendents in this action itself decides to terminate the Court proceedings. Is this the equality that the Interim Government brags about.

Indeed, the above action was brought after my unlawful and forceful removal from office as the CEO of the Sugar Cane Growers Council (SCGC) on 02 of January 2007 and subsequent order by the High Court of Lautoka on 16 January 2007 for me to return to work. The High Court had also ordered an injunction against the Royal Fiji Military Forces not to interfere with the Council and its CEO. However despite the High Court Order and the injunction the military and police on 17th January forced me out of office once again.

It’s almost two and a half years now since my removal from office and I have been patiently waiting for the Courts to set a date for the hearing. Instead, the Interim Government by its own naïve actions has produced evidence that the Fiji Judiciary is no longer independent and impartial. There is no respect for human rights of individuals as demonstrated by this action. The Interim government by Promulgating the “Administration of Justice Decree 2009”, which rightly should be named the injustice Decree, has deliberately hijacked the due process of the Judicial system of the country.

I therefore call upon the International Community and democratic societies all over the world to condemn the abuse of Human Rights in Fiji and demand that the country be returned to an elected democratic government and rule of Law and Order as soon as practicable.

Jagannath Sami
Former CEO, Sugar Cane Growers Council

What the Pacific Islands Forum said about Fiji

The latest PIF Communique has this to say about Bainimarama's military regime:

FIJI
44. Leaders noted activities carried out under the Biketawa Declaration in relation to Fiji and reaffirmed their unanimous and resolute support for the January 2009 Port Moresby decisions.

45. They noted the implementation on 2 May of the Port Moresby decisions. Leaders took note of the Ministerial Contact Group (MCG) report and its recommendations. They took careful note of the grave concerns about the situation in Fiji, as expressed directly to Leaders from respected individuals and organisations in Fiji.

46. Leaders strongly condemned the actions of the Fiji military regime which have led to a severe deterioration in basic liberties and democratic institutions in Fiji since Leaders last met, including the abrogation of the Constitution, the imposition of media controls, restrictions on freedom of assembly, and the ongoing erosion to the traditional pillars of Fijian civil society, including the churches and chiefs. They deplored the recent detentions of church Leaders by the regime.

47. They welcomed the clear solidarity and support for Forum positions shown by the Commonwealth, and by other members of the international community, for a prompt and credible timetable for the restoration of democracy. They expressed their deep concern at the rejection by the military regime of the Commonwealth’s call for elections.

48. Leaders reaffirmed the importance of continued strong solidarity for the region’s position on Fiji from the United Nations, the EU and across the international community.

49. Leaders expressed their deep concern for the people of Fiji in the face of Fiji’s deteriorating economy as a consequence of the military regime’s actions, including the undermining of the private sector and the negative effect on business confidence in the absence of the rule of law.

50. Leaders called again for political dialogue in Fiji between parties on the principles of genuine, inclusive dialogue without preconditions or pre-determined outcomes.

51. In this context, Leaders reiterated a commitment to engage Fiji on an early return to democracy so that Fiji could again take its proper place in the community of the Forum. They noted that the MCG and the PIF-Fiji Joint Working Group remained important mechanisms for continued dialogue and called on Fiji to re-engage.

Ah Yeah. You're STILL OUT Bainimarama and your tantrums are getting boring.

Overseas Fijians keep watch on Fiji at Pacific Islands Forum

Radio NZ International has this story on the watch being kept by democracy loving Fijians in Cairns, and maintaining the pressure on the military regime.

Australia-based group calls for Forum to increase sanctions on Fiji

A group of protesters is calling for the Pacific Islands forum to keep Fiji high on the main agenda of tomorrow’s meeting.

A small handful of people are camped outside the convention centre where the Pacific Islands Forum is being held in Cairns.

The Australia-based Fiji Democracy and Freedom Movement’s Usaia Waqatairewa says they have a ten-point submission to give to the leaders.

“We want to cut off the lifeblood that continues to exist in Fiji, like returning all the soldiers that are serving for the United Nations in Sinai. We’re asking that the Pacific Islands Forum countries accept all the travel ban that’s been given by the Australia, New Zealand and the United States so that they wouldn’t even be able to go to Vanuatu for that MSG meeting last week.”

Usaia Waqatairewa says he believes the people of Fiji are prepared to experience some short-term hardship in the form of sanctions for long-term benefit.