Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum has accused NZ of denying a medical entry visa for Hon. Anjala Wati (photo), a judge in the Family Court, who is seeking to bring her 20-month old child to New Zealand for an urgent eye operation to prevent the permanent loss of eyesight in one eye. Arrangements had already been made with Auckland's Starship Hospital for children. Khaiyum said she was advised of this decision in an "undignified and disrespectful manner."
But a spokesperson for NZ Immigration said the visa was lodged late last week and a decision is yet to be made. My understating is that it normally takes at least 14 working days to issue visas, so Khaiyum could be jumping the gun. Let us hope NZ will show good sense and compassion in this case. Fiji needs a family court no less than a women's crisis centre (see story below). Even the Aussies could work that out.It would be ironic indeed if NZ forestalled help for this child. New Zealander Fred Hollows spent a lifetime providing free eye surgery in the Pacific and other developing countries. His Foundation still carries on the good work.
FWCC and AusAid
The Fiji Women's Crisis Centre will receive A$5.3m ovesr the next six years thanks to AusAid. FWCC Co-ordinator and longstanding critic of the Interim Government, Shamima Ali said the money will be used for counselling, legal advice, advocacy, training, education, awareness and other support services for women survivors of violence.
Unanswered Questions about Fiji Journalism
The special issue the Journal of Fijian Studies is on democracy and journalism over the past 20 years. The Pacific Scoop review of the issue by Thakur Ranjit Singh raises several unanswered questions about the racial compositon of newsrooms and the dearth of Indo-Fijian editors; the failure to investigate corruption leads; the derailing of the Labour-led Government; support for the SDL party; and the lack of support for the USP journalism course. He also asks what foreign aid sense it makes for the Australians to support a new journalism programme at the Fiji Institute of Technology when a well-established but under-resourced programme already exists at USP
Another review titled "The Politics of Fiji News Media Under Scrutiny" is posted on David Robie's Cafe Pacific together with a clever, mischievous cartoon of Bainimarama and the media.
Two End of the Telescope
The Australian Association for the Advancement of Pacific Studies website includes its 2009 annual report that focuses on "a national strategy for the study of the Pacific ... designed to revive and enhance the excellence in teaching and research that had once marked Australia as the leader in the field [although we say so ourselves]. AAAPS also acknowledged the increasing concern in Australia about security, good governance, stability and development assistance in the neighbouring region."
Meanwhile, rumour has it that a group of eminent Pacific Islanders are planning a regional programme to study Australian and NZ -- with courses on security, good governance, stability and development assistance!
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