A regional storm brews

While Fiji slowly recovers from its recent devastating rainstorms, the nimbus clouds from the 4 winds of the South Pacific region are gathering for another spate of storms headed our way.

Yesterday’s international publicity over Bainimarama’s Radio Tarana heart-to-heart on Monday and subsequent cover-up domestically on Tuesday afternoon, have led to this brewing storm. Today, the IIG mouthpiece Neumi Leweni attempts to downplay the unpopular decision by suddenly becoming a HR expert on "leadership styles".

The reactions are to be expected. The current Chair of the Forum is disappointed, New Zealand is keen to see more sanctions on us in place, Papua New Guinea despite being Frank’s Melanesian-when-convenient ally has some questions for Bainimarama, while Australia's views remain consistent.

Unfortunately Bainimarama cannot yank other leaders chains anymore and they will proceed to have the party without the neighborhood pest. Clearly this is an ominous sign of what the meeting outcomes will look like. What happens inside the 4 walls of the Crowne Plaza hotel room could be a contrast to the recent statements from Tonga, Samoa and even PNG, as Kevin Rudd’s frank radio interview after Niue last year clearly shows.

This is politics at the regional level after all.

Unsurprisingly an unknown, unelected, minority political group, some outfit called the People’s Movement for Political Reform (PEMPOR), that has no constitutional power dares to pose thinly veiled threats against sovereign and democratic Forum States with visa bans, and trade embargoes should leaders discuss Fiji (and possible expulsion). It is incredulous that such a group believes they actually speak on behalf of sane people they are in a position to be threatening the region.

Fiji’s immediate lifeline at this juncture is foreign AID and lots of it. The pockets of every individual, entity and organisation in this country are simply not deep enough to cough up the estimated FJD$54mill that is required to get us back to decent normalcy.

There are requests to the IIG by the day to assist in the disaster rehabilitation more/faster/better. Most vociferous of the voices are the commercial retailers with their rehabilitation costs despite the fact that when in business, having reserves and insurance for unforeseen circumstances (especially natural disasters in the tropics), should be second nature-- just like ringing the cash register.

Having dismissed Pacific leaders who can provide that lifeline once we are truly on the road to elections, it is no wonder Bainimarama is now begging commercial banks for help. Commercial banks are not charities. Banks are in this business to make profits, and hand-outs will never be part of their organisational goals. Whatever objectives this initiative hopes to achieve, the IIG appears to be ignoring the ever increasing gap in budget revenue for successive years. While the national coffer guardians announce today an abrupt revenue surplus, we remain light-years away from jumping out of the red because of the recent disaster. The IIG is merely delaying the inevitable and the tax-payers will pick up the bill one way or another, without being consulted.

Anyhow. Despite the gloom in this part of the world, we take a moment to also applaud the United States of America’s 44^th President Barack Obama.

We too hold firm to the dream that Fiji can also usher in Change, in the not too distant future.

Bainimarama doublespeaks again

The Dominion Post on Stuff NZ reports that Frank Bainimarama will not be gracing the presence of other Forum Island leaders next week. Should this prove true, it will be the second time that Frank has spat on outstretched hands of cooperation and compromise in the spirit of The Pacific Way.

This meeting was scheduled for Fiji's benefit and graciously hosted by Frank's wantoks-when-convenient in Melanesia. By not turning up he would have wasted other pacific countries taxes, a feat that he is exemplary at in his stolen little corner of the world.

The communication of this decision is owed first and foremost to the people of Fiji. Not non-tax paying listeners of Radio Tarana.

The Rudd Government, while considering lifting the travel ban just this once in order for him to get was caught mid-way of this latest doublespeak episode.

Bainimarama's attempt to show leadership during this emergency is late as well as a farce. After all its not him out there in charge of the front-lines. What is worse is that it smacks off "we'll take your money but we won't give you the time of day" arrogance to Tonga, PNG, Samoa, Australia, New Zealand and even New Caledonia.

Our neighbours deserve better and it should be no surprise if the "neighborhood" decides to kick the neighbourhood pest out. They would be well within their mandate to do so, they don't need Fiji's permission and they certainly don't have to give Frank a third opportunity to kick them in the guts.

This latest stunt is no surprise. He never had any intention to 'fess up to his lies to other leaders. Frank Bainimarama is adept at scorning decorum and trampling on opponents and as always lacks the courage to face up to his actions.

The good news is that the world is becoming acutely aware of the big manic bully who is into his 3rd year of storming an otherwise peaceful and secure Pacific.

What the?

We interrupt our brief halo-blogging moment to
blow
off
some
steam
at this news from Fiji TV tonight:

Kean to return as Navy Commander
16 Jan 2009 02:48:40

One National News can report tonight, convict Francis Kean is to return as the Navy Commander on February 9th.

This was confirmed by the Military Spokesperson Major Neumi Leweni.

He says the appointment of commander Kean was based mainly on merit, him being the right person for the right job.

He adds there is no nepotism involved in this appointment.

One National news has been told officers at the Naval base have been informed of Keans return to his old job.

He was found guilty of manslaughter by the High Court and served one third of his sentence exta-murally.

Many will recall that Francis Kean is Frank Bainimarama's brother-in-law who was convicted of murder and sentenced to 18 months imprisonment.

Mr Kean was very privileged to have been able to serve part of his sentence extra-murally and was even accorded an honorary send-off under the Prison Department's almost convenient "Yellow Ribbon Programme". Kean was also privy to full pay while serving his sentence.

The current Prisons Commissioner is also a military man and his Yellow Ribbon initiative found favour with the IIG because inmates benefitted and their numbers on the inside reduced.

While the country is in ruins, a murderer is let loose on the streets and the high sea's. Joy to the world.

As appropriate reactive words evade us right now, we believe it only fitting that we respond to Frank, Leweni, Kean and all those that made this possible in the tried and true, good ol' fashioned universal sign-language:

With heartfelt gratitude…

There is not a more appropriate way to put this but to acknowledge with sincere gratefulness, countries who despite the current global economic crisis, have reached out regardless to the people of Fiji.

We honour the citizens of Tonga, Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, China, Red Cross China, France and the United Kingdom.

Vinaka Vakalevu, Shukriya and Thank You for remembering us during this crisis. May prosperity rain down on your steadfast nations.

We also gratefully acknowledge the hard-working efforts of the Fiji Red Cross, the Rotary Club, DISMAC and the multitude of other individuals and groups who have placed the plight of others before themselves. May your compassion be rewarded.

We pay special tribute to the selflessness of the many unnamed organisations and faceless people of and from Fiji. Those who without a second thought ignored their own burdens, opened their hearts and freely gave of and from their talent; prayers; minds; kitchens; wardrobes; homes; wallets and time. May your cups run over.

Continue to reach out to each other, monitor the weather and keep others informed.