Comments

Big thanks to the authors for discussing the matter. The obvious reform required is a partial or a total sale of PPL. The same can be said about the telecommunication and the water sectors. One may argue that many Papua New Guineans would face affordability issues as private companies focus on profitability. However, these can be addressed through the establishment of price regulation, where possible.

In addition to my earlier comment I wish to add that the Fiji Ministry of Health has just confirmed that a 15 year old girl died of covid-19.

While I find that it is important that Fiji makes further progress with vaccination it will not achieve herd immunity. In New Zealand scientific calculations assume that herd immunity can be achieved only if 97 percent of population is fully vaccinated. All over the world many scientists even doubt that herd immunity is possible. Israel, which had been the first country that was considered to have achieved herd immunity, has a new wave of cases now with hundreds of new infections daily. Restriction that were relaxed / abolished were brought in again. . In Fiji in the end some 65 percent of the population will be fully vaccinated, this is about in October. 35 percent will be unprotected (all those under 18 years). Once vaccination drive has been completed fully and successfully children and teenagers will still be exposed to the virus. So far nobody appears to bother about this huge challenge exposing young people to a severe health risk. Vaccination is certainly important, but other restrictions as well and here the Fiji government appears too negligent. I have seen pictures from European lockdowns. Streets were empty, people were keeping required distancing. I had asked my wife to bring me some photos from Suva market last Saturday and it appears like a 'normal' Saturday, heaps of people, no required distance and the only thing authorities seem to bother is, if people are wearing face marks. This is certainly important, but more needs to be advised. The force to get vaccinated appears to me to be against the Constitution. I am against such violation of constitution, also because it does not help to create herd immunity. Vaccination provides personal protection, but does not appear to be a strong measure to secure public health (protect the public from covid-19). In my reading the Constitution is clear. I know that politicians with the help of lawyers can water down the clearest rules, so I would not wonder, if this can happen also here. The constitution says (among others): 11. [...] (3) Every person has the right to freedom from scientific or medical treatment or procedures without an order of the court or without his or her informed consent, or if he or she is incapable of giving informed consent, without the informed consent of a lawful guardian. This cannot be changed easily. Also OHS law cannot be above the constitution. 2.—(1) This Constitution is the supreme law of the State. (2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, any law inconsistent with this Constitution is invalid to the extent of the inconsistency. (3) This Constitution shall be upheld and respected by all Fijians and the State, including all persons holding public office, and the obligations imposed by this Constitution must be fulfilled. (4) This Constitution shall be enforced through the courts, to ensure that–– (a) laws and conduct are consistent with this Constitution; (b) rights and freedoms are protected; and (c) duties under this Constitution are performed. (5) This Constitution cannot be abrogated or suspended by any person, and may only be amended in accordance with the procedures prescribed in Chapter 11.

Mereoni I think the best response I can make to your request for assistance is to suggest that you contact the National Employment Centre in Suva. You should ask to speak to a NEC staff member involved with the Pacific Labour Scheme to find about jobs for aged care support workers in Australia. The job opportunities in Australia may be limited at present due to COVID-19 border restrictions and the COVID-19 outbreaks in Sydney and parts of Fiji.

Hi Aunty Michelle!!!!! It's me Hana-Dawn. I loved reading your article <3

As a APTC graduater and been looking throught the post iam a fiji citizen i was graduated last year with certificate 3 in individual support aged care and community-worker who are willing to work in Australia Iam a mother of 3 which i looked throufh this web site trying to seek for oppotunities most of us are here not employed please we need your assitance ans as for me Sir am looking after my daughter who is studying in university y doing neutical science

Thank you very much Ashlee for this clear statement. I was trying to ask for a load to study in Australia but you made it clear so I'm grateful for you.

First off, we keep Fiji and all other COVID-19 affected areas in our thoughts and prayers as we continue on with our fight against this pandemic. Let us not lose hope and remain vigilant! I wanted to thank you for this article, which I think highlights a very important fact that Pacific communities need to understand - that many of the challenges faced by governments and especially public health institutions across region in response to this (and any other) pandemic, are not merely clinical or biomedical in nature - but rather also include political, social, and economic influence. During the past 18 months here in my native Palau (as also faced by many other Pacific health authorities), we've had to deal with many issues indirectly spawned by the coronavirus pandemic including economic recession, political pressure to re-open borders, and community hostility and stigma against repatriated travelers and persons suspected of being COVID infected. These are indirect consequences of the pandemic that only add more to the complexity and uncertainty of the pandemic and should also be realized and addressed if we are to expect effective and timely mitigation efforts. I think it is these types of articles that should be heeded by mainstream media, and citizenries alike as they provide important insight into these issues that are often left in the background, and are arguably the key drivers of governments' actions and inactions against this unprecedented global health threat. Thank you.

Thank you Dr very well spelt out. I only hope this govt to listens to economists like you and many who have been voicing out for so long. But it falls into deaf ears or simply because of pride and egoism.

Hi Holly how long does it take for the recruitment process to take ?

Thanks Nick, the 'invisibility' of mining operations and their local impacts is an interesting part of how mineral governance landscapes are changing during the pandemic. Your paper with John Owen and Deanna Kemp is instructive here - and a little prophetic given that it was written early on in the pandemic. The invisibility observation connects to some of the other themes in our report including: (1) Giving and receiving—corporate philanthropy and lobbying in pandemic times (which you also discuss in your paper); (2) Shrinking civic space, digital engagement contested (which we profile in this blog); (3) Stretched oversight—Regulator capacity and pandemic distractions; and (4) Border closures and restricted travel—Mediating and dislocating social relations. Of course, complexity: These and other trends are playing out in different ways, for different actors, across different geographies, in different mining jurisdictions.

Thanks Stephen. The race in Fiji is between the virus and the vaccine. The virus is ahead in the sprint, but will be beaten in the marathon when vaccinations are complete in the next month or so. It will greatly help if the leaders of or religious organizations - the churches, temples, mosques, gurudwaras, etc. - stood up, stepped forward, and rolled up their sleeves for vaccination of their entire congregation. PNG could give vaccination a head start by doing the same.