FLYING COP 26 Bainimarama: Next stop, to watch Fiji v Wales Rugby “Loss and damage” is the phrase for the destruction already being wreaked by the climate crisis on lives, livelihoods and infrastructure. It had become a critical issue at COP 26, with the potential to make or break an ambitious deal in Glasgow. Vulnerable and poor countries, who claimed that they did little to cause the climate crisis, arrived with a determination to win a commitment from rich nations to compensate them for this damage. It had become perhaps the most bitterly fought-over issue of all, with the low-income nations believing they have a moral right to this money – some call it compensation or reparations. Rich parties such as the US and EU are very reluctant to comply, fearing exposure to unlimited financial liabilities. Fijileaks: Thankfully, with no accountability or transparency of FFP government finances, and the hiding of Fiji Airways and other annual reports, we should count our lucky stars that the rich nations didn't fall for Fiji's "LOSS AND DAMAGE" fishy kawakawa financial bait for more cash freebies at Glasgow COP26. They were RIGHT to COP OUT on Loss & Damage BRITISH COP26 President ALOK SHARMA 'fought back tears' and said he was 'deeply sorry' for the change. What about KEROSENE, Khaiyum? |
As of today, however, there have been no studies undertaken of how the regulation of political finance could be improved in Fiji. The dearth of literature on political finance in the country has left policymakers and other electoral stakeholders with very little to refer to or rely on in evaluating the effectiveness of legislative controls or implementation approaches, or when proposing reforms to the regulatory regime. This report, which is the first of its kind, has undertaken a systematic study of the political finance regulatory framework in Fiji using an internationally developed, and tried and tested, analytical framework. The analytical framework, developed by the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA), has been used internationally in other jurisdictions, most recently in Mongolia, to make similar assessments of regulatory frameworks. The study is part of a larger International IDEA initiative to review political finance systems in selected countries in order to advance an evidence-based global policy debate on money in politics. |
The Fijian Elections Office has this afternoon revealed that it is terminating a Memorandum of Understanding with Sweden based International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
This is the result of a report by International IDEA on political financing in Fiji.
Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem says given the political nature of the report, the FEO can no longer maintain official links with the international body.
“Unfortunately this report appears to have placed overemphasis on the reactions of some political parties and used that as the penultimate source of information. An independent and apolitical research would obtain data from all sources, but verify and evaluate all before publishing it”.
The organization in response to questions from FBC News says by nature, any research on political finance is political, but stresses that its report on Fiji is not party political, nor leaning to any ideology.
International IDEA goes on to say that there is lack of significant literature on political financing in Fiji and in some cases, researchers referenced media reports.
It adds that Saneem was also provided an opportunity to review the draft report several weeks before publishing, but the FEO did not respond to that opportunity.
Saneem says it is not the job, nor the core role of the FEO to correct errors of other organisations.
This is the result of a report by International IDEA on political financing in Fiji.
Supervisor of Elections, Mohammed Saneem says given the political nature of the report, the FEO can no longer maintain official links with the international body.
“Unfortunately this report appears to have placed overemphasis on the reactions of some political parties and used that as the penultimate source of information. An independent and apolitical research would obtain data from all sources, but verify and evaluate all before publishing it”.
The organization in response to questions from FBC News says by nature, any research on political finance is political, but stresses that its report on Fiji is not party political, nor leaning to any ideology.
International IDEA goes on to say that there is lack of significant literature on political financing in Fiji and in some cases, researchers referenced media reports.
It adds that Saneem was also provided an opportunity to review the draft report several weeks before publishing, but the FEO did not respond to that opportunity.
Saneem says it is not the job, nor the core role of the FEO to correct errors of other organisations.
CLICK BELOW TO READ IDEA'S FULL REPORT:
https://www.idea.int/sites/default/files/publications/political-finance-assessment-of-fiji.pdf
"It says this should be taken up elsewhere and not at COP 26 and says it has other meetings to attend at COP 26 and cannot add an agenda to do with oceans." FBC News
UK's Chief Scientific Advisor, Sir Patrick Vallance, in a stark warning to the Cop26 climate change conference in Glasgow: | "I am sailing, I am sailing..." with the notorious ALCATRAZ in the background, and where criminals used to be LOCKED UP |
Antigua and Barbuda pulled out of a proposal on Oceans made by Fiji at COP 26 during the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) coordination meeting.
The Caribbean nation is also the chair of AOSIS.
This has not gone down well with Fiji, which says it does not believe this position is in the long standing collaborative approach of AOSIS.
Antigua and Barbuda had emailed before the meeting saying it does not agree with any program on oceans at COP 26.
It says this should be taken up elsewhere and not at COP 26 and says it has other meetings to attend at COP 26 and cannot add an agenda to do with oceans.
It is believed that the last minute change of heart has come about due to talks and agreements with some bigger nations, which saw Antigua and Barbuda pull out.
Fiji has suggested having another briefing with the chair of AOSIS.
The Caribbean nation is also the chair of AOSIS.
This has not gone down well with Fiji, which says it does not believe this position is in the long standing collaborative approach of AOSIS.
Antigua and Barbuda had emailed before the meeting saying it does not agree with any program on oceans at COP 26.
It says this should be taken up elsewhere and not at COP 26 and says it has other meetings to attend at COP 26 and cannot add an agenda to do with oceans.
It is believed that the last minute change of heart has come about due to talks and agreements with some bigger nations, which saw Antigua and Barbuda pull out.
Fiji has suggested having another briefing with the chair of AOSIS.
"One of the great failures of Fiji's climate action campaign has been the missed opportunity of not linking up with arguably the world's foremost climate crusader and inarguably the biggest star at COP26 - the young Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg. And the blame for that rests squarely with Fiji's Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Dr Satyendra Prasad. As part of the communications team at the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2019, we put a lot of effort into developing close ties with Greta Thunberg and her team to try to link her with Fiji's overall campaign and benefit from her immense appeal with young people the world over, including Fiji...A time and place were set - in the forecourt of the UN headquarters building by the East River - and everything was set to proceed. But then on the eve of the meeting, Satyendra Prasad used his influence with the Prime Minister to shut it down. We sat there stunned as he dismissively said: "We don't need Greta Thunberg. We have our own youth climate champions". "
GRAHAM DAVIS, Grubsheet
GRUBSHEET: One of the great failures of Fiji's climate action campaign has been the missed opportunity of not linking up with arguably the world's foremost climate crusader and inarguably the biggest star at COP26 - the young Swedish activist, Greta Thunberg. And the blame for that rests squarely with Fiji's Permanent Representative at the United Nations, Dr Satyendra Prasad.
As part of the communications team at the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2019, we put a lot of effort into developing close ties with Greta Thunberg and her team to try to link her with Fiji's overall campaign and benefit from her immense appeal with young people the world over, including Fiji. One of our team members spent several weeks getting close to the Thunberg camp with a view to setting up a meeting and photo call between her and Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama - the former COP23 President - and Thunberg's people were keen for this to happen.
A time and place were set - in the forecourt of the UN headquarters building by the East River - and everything was set to proceed. But then on the eve of the meeting, Satyendra Prasad used his influence with the Prime Minister to shut it down. We sat there stunned as he dismissively said: "We don't need Greta Thunberg. We have our own youth climate champions".
While that was true, Thunberg was already a global star whose celebrity could have added lustre to our young Fijian campaigners and Fiji's overall campaign. But Dr Prasad ( the "Dr" is a PhD in sociology) had other ideas and we were forced to go back to Thunberg's people with an apology and the excuse that Frank Bainimarama didn't have time in his busy schedule to meet her. He did but she wasn't important enough for the PM or Dr Prasad.
A lost opportunity that ought to niggle both of them at COP26 now that Greta Thunberg is an even bigger star and bigger than either of them will ever be. But as strangers to shame - and with barely a passing acquaintance with self awareness - don't bet on it.
As part of the communications team at the UN Climate Summit in New York in September 2019, we put a lot of effort into developing close ties with Greta Thunberg and her team to try to link her with Fiji's overall campaign and benefit from her immense appeal with young people the world over, including Fiji. One of our team members spent several weeks getting close to the Thunberg camp with a view to setting up a meeting and photo call between her and Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama - the former COP23 President - and Thunberg's people were keen for this to happen.
A time and place were set - in the forecourt of the UN headquarters building by the East River - and everything was set to proceed. But then on the eve of the meeting, Satyendra Prasad used his influence with the Prime Minister to shut it down. We sat there stunned as he dismissively said: "We don't need Greta Thunberg. We have our own youth climate champions".
While that was true, Thunberg was already a global star whose celebrity could have added lustre to our young Fijian campaigners and Fiji's overall campaign. But Dr Prasad ( the "Dr" is a PhD in sociology) had other ideas and we were forced to go back to Thunberg's people with an apology and the excuse that Frank Bainimarama didn't have time in his busy schedule to meet her. He did but she wasn't important enough for the PM or Dr Prasad.
A lost opportunity that ought to niggle both of them at COP26 now that Greta Thunberg is an even bigger star and bigger than either of them will ever be. But as strangers to shame - and with barely a passing acquaintance with self awareness - don't bet on it.
From Fijileaks Archives
Climate change activist Saint GRETA THUNBERG pronounced the COP26 summit a flop. She said: ‘It is not a secret that COP26 is a failure,’ accusing participants of ‘greenwashing’ and adding that the whole thing
‘has turned into a PR event’.
But young people in Fiji are not allowed to march and show their support for the same thing
"Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum give speeches in Glasgow against climate change. But young people in Fiji are not allowed to march and show their support for the same thing. Saturday was a day of action for young people all over the world to rally and demand climate justice. In hundreds of places, young people turned out in support. But not in Fiji. Why? Because the Police said they needed a permit from the Fiji Roads Authority to march on the footpath!" |
November 7, 2021
Unbelievable hypocrisy
Big talk about climate change overseas, but not for young people at home
The hypocrisy of the Fiji First Government is unbelievable.
Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum give speeches in Glasgow against climate change. But young people in Fiji are not allowed to march and show their support for the same thing.
Saturday was a day of action for young people all over the world to rally and demand climate justice. In hundreds of places, young people turned out in support.
But not in Fiji. Why? Because the Police said they needed a permit from the Fiji Roads Authority to march on the footpath!
Young people are already frustrated with this Government for failing to address their concerns. And now, even when they try to speak up on the same side as the government, they are stopped.
The Fiji authorities’ automatic reaction to anyone wanting to rally or march – unions, political or other activists – is to say no. Now they will not even allow young people to support the government!
As always, our leaders talk big on the international stage about talanoa and climate justice – and do the opposite at home.
They are completely removed from the citizens they are supposed to serve. They fear any expression by the people that they cannot control. For young people, this government is on another planet.
This is why we have to kick them out at the next election. We want a government that listens to the people, not a government that is afraid of them.
Lenora Qereqeretabua
Vice-President
Member of Parliament
Unbelievable hypocrisy
Big talk about climate change overseas, but not for young people at home
The hypocrisy of the Fiji First Government is unbelievable.
Frank Bainimarama and Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum give speeches in Glasgow against climate change. But young people in Fiji are not allowed to march and show their support for the same thing.
Saturday was a day of action for young people all over the world to rally and demand climate justice. In hundreds of places, young people turned out in support.
But not in Fiji. Why? Because the Police said they needed a permit from the Fiji Roads Authority to march on the footpath!
Young people are already frustrated with this Government for failing to address their concerns. And now, even when they try to speak up on the same side as the government, they are stopped.
The Fiji authorities’ automatic reaction to anyone wanting to rally or march – unions, political or other activists – is to say no. Now they will not even allow young people to support the government!
As always, our leaders talk big on the international stage about talanoa and climate justice – and do the opposite at home.
They are completely removed from the citizens they are supposed to serve. They fear any expression by the people that they cannot control. For young people, this government is on another planet.
This is why we have to kick them out at the next election. We want a government that listens to the people, not a government that is afraid of them.
Lenora Qereqeretabua
Vice-President
Member of Parliament
[email protected]
ARCHIVES
September 2020
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
December 2018
November 2018
October 2018
January 2018
December 2017
November 2017
October 2017
September 2017
August 2017
July 2017
June 2017
May 2017
April 2017
March 2017
February 2017
January 2017
December 2016
November 2016
October 2016
September 2016
August 2016
July 2016
June 2016
May 2016
April 2016
March 2016
February 2016
January 2016
December 2015
November 2015
October 2015
September 2015
August 2015
July 2015
June 2015
May 2015
April 2015
March 2015
February 2015
January 2015
December 2014
November 2014
October 2014
September 2014
August 2014
July 2014
June 2014
May 2014
April 2014
March 2014
February 2014
January 2014
December 2013
November 2013
October 2013
September 2013
August 2013
July 2013
June 2013
May 2013
April 2013
March 2013
February 2013
January 2013
December 2012
October 2012
September 2012