Comments

It's the very good action taken by the ATTORNEY General We are proud of the hero of Fiji

One Pacific sounds like a good idea, but I'd suggest that there is racism within and between some peoples of the Pacific States. Sharing the SG position between 'peoples' of the PIF is a way of respecting each other to overcome this. To build on our common heritage whilst recognising our distinct qualities.

Thanks Geejay, for this well balanced piece. Ours is a perception problem, coupled with poverty of opportunity. You clearly discussed some of the common perceptions which is more harmful than good, like 'yu man ya noken cry olsem meri na go boksenim em'. We have a moral responsibility to teach our children about empathy, love and care for fellow man. What happens on the streets are basically opportunist look for the weak to prey on, and unfortunately solo riders are mainly targeted. But when they are unlucky they become the 'prey'. I recalled this story, a taekwondo instructor was returning home after training and a bunch of boys attempted to hold him up and you can guess what happened to the boys? Way forward, in the interim, police to patrol common places and respond to incidents quick. Better still, do not travel alone! Sector response in Lae Metropolitan seems to bear better results with petty crimes going down, and similar approach must be adopted in other centers. Apart from training children, the government must create opportunities, in the long run, to capture potential talents which are wasted on the streets.

Thanks so much, Samantha! Agree 100% on rapid feedback loops - maybe they are so influential that we don't want to acknowledge them as such! Thanks so much for the support - next episode 'drops' tomorrow at 6am

Further to the Special Leaders' Retreat, the Forum Secretariat has been tasked to review the process by which the Secretary-General is selected/appointed. Hopefully this will lead to a bit more clarity and certainty next time around

Can we formalize the Gentleman,'s agreement and also legalise it. As it is now, a very typical Pacific way.

Thanks Chris, I agree. However, we can't trust the PNGEC's roll because of roll inflation which I've written about https://devpolicy.org/improving-the-roll-will-be-crucial-for-fair-elections-in-png-20200805/ And the PNGNID has been a failure. The census is hoped to provide a baseline that line agencies can use and work together to update - especially civil registry and immigration department. The DPLGA would carry this out at the ward level. A good baseline and a revamping of PNGNID would improve data collection in PNG.

Well said, Biman. It's hard to stay reasonable and focused when faced with such grossly partisan and immoral behaviour on the part of the government and some on USP Council. But, you managed it. USP, its students, staff, alumni, and especially, its mission mean so much to us both. USP deserves consistent, competent, visionary and moral leadership. Not too much to ask, surely.

Definitely interesting.

As Tess knows from her time as Deputy Director the Pacific Institute of Public Policy, PiPP raised both this issue and that of USP almost exactly 11 years ago and this was part of the reason for its demise. Once again we are witnessing the abject failure of antipodean statecraft. The main beneficiary from this split is China who no longer has to worry about Micronesian States aligned to the US and who recognize Taiwan. A few half-wits in Canberra will see leadership from the Cooks as a partial win until the US essentially consolidates the Micronesians in order to protect its turf and then turns its wrath on yet another failure by Australia and New Zealand in their backyard. pacificpolicy.org/2010/12/island-dreaming/

In the concern for the recent expulsion of USP's VC, it needs to be remembered that the clause in his contract used for justification, is in all expatriates' employment conditions at USP. Further, given that Australia, New Zealand and other countries are involved in the governance of USP, that clause is obviously acceptable to not only SP goverments which have members on USP's Council, but also the donor countries with a presence at that table. Because of this clause and others in employment contracts at USP, the idea of academic freedom is highly qualified at all times. I was employed at USP between 1999-2001, and for some of that time Vice President of the Academic Staff Association. Not only was I involved in getting international union support for USP and others in Fiji during the Speight-led takeover of parliament, but also in the Staff Association's opposition to the USP VC's shutdown of the Student newspaper Wansolwara. Showing exemplary bravery and initiative, student journalists kept collecting information and publishing it at a time when less courageous and better paid journalists and academics were silent or even supportive of the rebellion. Fortunately, David Robie assisted in having their stories published internationally so the VC's censorship was partly thwarted. It was pointed out on numerous occasions to both David and myself that as expats we were breaking our employment conditions and could be deported or worse. Fortunately, attentions were focused elsewhere and we little fish were too unimportant in the scheme of things to get the boot. Neverthless as long as such a clause in employment contracts exists, there will be VCs and others able legally to be expelled from Fiji and other countries without any day in court or even a hearing.

Need for an urgent PIFS Leaders meeting to resolve the saga and save the Forum and Pacific regionalism.