(o+) The Australian Criticizes Hard Stance on Fiji; New Promulation Protects Women, Road Map, Mindpearl

Before taking a breather from the tense and disputed happenings of the past few days, I invite readers to reflect on the insight of today's NZ Herald one-eyed editorial in which it claimed "With every such incident, the regime becomes more malodorous to the people of this country." I suggest the anonymous editor talk around a little and ponder why NZ tourist numbers are up.

 Across the "ditch" The Australia-Fiji Business Council has called on the Australian Government to soften its hard-line stance saying it's bad for business and hurting ordinary Fijians.

Greg Sheridan in The Australian takes the matter further by accusing his government of "a classic case of moral grandiloquence producing absolutely rotten outcomes."  "Now," he writes, "we don't have a high commissioner in Fiji and they don't have one here. Congratulations, Canberra, a brilliant result.We are in grave danger of making a very bad situation much worse. We can certainly isolate and punish Fiji with unique effectiveness, if we want to.God knows why anyone in Canberra thinks it's a good idea."

Meanwhile, in Fiji five new Sri Lankan judges have been sworn in, and the new Crimes Promulgation makes an assault on a woman no longer a reconcilable offence; a woman will be able to give evidence against her partner; the past sexual history of a rape or sexual assault victim will no longer be an admissable defence, and men hiring a prostitute will also have committed an offence. The promulgation is expected to come into effect in February 2010.  At least women's "human rights" are being protected.

The Government's Roadmap is also progressing, albeit slower than might be hoped. Priority is being given to physical infrastructure -- roads and electrification -- in rural areas and other needy communities. But work is also underway on the
National People's Charter Advisory Council. Members Dewan Chand Maharaj, Ratu Filimoni Ralogaivau and Peni Mua have been respectively appointed to deal with economic, social issues and governance issues.

Government will soon add another 24 items  food and essential items to price control.

It is far from a rosy picture in Fiji. Everyone know that. But some credit should be given to the Government when it gets things right. That way, it may be more willing to listen to outsiders' comments when they think it's got things wrong.

(o) Fiji Next Global Call Centre Hub?
Global customer care services Mindpearl opened its first call centre at Kalabu near Suva yesterday, and over the next three years is expected to create 2,000 jobs. "We're excited to be part of Fiji's commerce and industry development in what we believe is the next global contact centre hub,"said CEO William Pattison at the opening. The development is expected to relocate many jobs presently in Australia and New Zealand to Fiji.

Cartoon: cartoonstock.

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