REMEMBERING MY MOTHER THIS MOTHER’S DAY
Spending a quiet day at home today, I kept thinking about my mum Bess
So, I spent some time looking through some files to try and find photos of her and family which I could share today in her memory.
Born on November 11th, 1926 in Ba my mum was the oldest child of Bill and Peggy [nee Monro] Sorby. I realized today that my miracle grandson Christian Alexandria Millis Fong was also born on the very same day as my mum, at 11 minutes past 11am on the 11th November 2015.
In the only group picture I could find of all four children…
RESPECT AND COMPASSION VS VINDICTIVENESS AND CONTEMPT
Having watched the funeral procession from Suva to Nausori and his arrival home at Vaunuabalavu Airport and knowing the moment for Lai Qarase’s funeral draws to a close and the opportunity to renege on promises fades, allow me to share some further thoughts directed mainly at those responsible for his persecution and ill-treatment.
I am not sure how many took note of the details in the front-page report of the Fiji Times a few days ago headlined – ‘Qarase’s final wish fulfilled’ and in particular the remarks attributed to the Prime Minister Bainimarama who was quoted as saying…
THANK YOU - VINA DU – DHANYAVAAD - FAIAK SE ’EA – XIEXIE LAISENIA QARASE
The news of former Prime Minister Laisania Qarase's passing really sadden me, so much so that it has been a struggle putting my thoughts together so that I can do justice to the life of someone whom I had known for some time, but only really got to understand, respect and admire over the past 20 years.
I was privileged to have been elected into parliament at the same time that Laisania Qarase served as our Prime Minister from 2001 to December 5th, 2006 and for three of those 6 years I was the Leader of the Opposition and although we started out on opposite sides in Parliament we went from being political opponents to being good friends and this friendship continued to the present day.
To Leba and family and the people of Mavana, I extend on behalf of my family and I our heartfelt sympathies for your loss. Our prayers and thoughts are with you…
REST IN PEACE RATU FINAU
It is with much regret that I join others in acknowledging the untimely passing of Ratu Finau Mara and in doing so I extend the deepest sympathies of my family and myself to Vitinia Buadromo, their children, grandchildren and the Mara family for their sad loss…
REMEMBERING JONE KOROITAMANA
In remembering the late Jone Koroitamana I wish to first extend my heartfelt sympathies to Akanisi Koroitamana and family for their sad loss.
I also fully endorse the sentiments expressed by Norman Yee and reported in the Fiji Sun on April 11th, 2020.
Jone was a humble, unassuming and engaging person, if you did not know Jone, then you would never know he was the CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority if you happened to be having a chat with him. Jone was well liked, respected and highly regarded within and outside the Nadi community. He had a unique laugh….
REMEMBERING OUR DAD TODAY APRIL 13TH HIS BIRTHDAY
Brother Bill and our sisters Edwina, Mona, Helen, Maryanne, Matilda and I take a moment to remember our father Malcolm who was born 94 year ago today April 13th, 2020.
At about 16 or 17 years of age dad joined Fiji’s Naval Contingent…
THE PURPOSE DRIVEN DISCRIMINATION CONTINUES– APRIL 2020
Since 2017 I have surveyed the Board Memberships of all Government Entities to determine the gender balance, Chairmanships and Board memberships. I have posted each of the surveys and commented on them.
The reaction from the Government propaganda machinery has been predictable and I have been accused of being racist for producing the survey, while the appointing Ministers responsible for the appointments have…
GOVERNMENT’S FUNDING PRIORITIES WITH COVID19- THE DEVIL IS STILL IN THE DETAILS
In the COVID response Budget the government has allocated $100 million in Head 50 Expenditure Group 10 line (13).
• Out of this $40 million is allocated to the Ministry of Health and the Minister continually expresses his gratitude for the $40 million and how he will spend it. What I have not heard the Minister mention yet is that the real $$ allocation is only $18.6 million if we factor in the ($21.3) million cut back in the Ministries Budget from $123.9 million to $113.1 million…
MY DECISION TO CONTINUE WITH MY RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 BUDGET MEAURES
…and highlighting some of the inconsistencies in its delivery especially to the people most in need, in the middle of our battle against the Virus and the most recent devastation caused by Cyclone Harold does not in any way mean I do not care about the measures underway or appreciate the effort being made right now [not good enough though I believe it is].
I do care and I do appreciate and am very grateful for the efforts being made right now by the first responders, the Doctors, the nurses, the medical staff generally, as well as our security services.
But having said that, I believe very strongly that just because we face these challenges does not mean we should press ‘pause’ in our efforts to keep the people informed of the facts and in the process help establish the ‘truth’ that are so often overlooked.
COVID 19 – GOVERNMENT SUPPORT MEASURES - MEASURE NO 4: MEDICAL COST SUPPORT
Government will reimburse directly to employers (the cost of?) 21 days of COVID-19 leave for employees who test positive and are certified by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. This will only be applicable to those with less than $30,000 annual income.
Fijians employed in the informal sector and testing positive for COVID-19 as certified by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, will receive Government assistance of $1,000.
Employers who continue to pay their employees under self- quarantine due to a directive from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, are eligible for a 300 percent tax deduction.
Employees will also be required to take paid family care leave. Anyone not compensated during the 14 day self- quarantine period will be paid $100 by Government. This will only be applicable to those with less than $30,000 annual income.
MY OPINION
The total medical costs, including loss of income for all COVID-19 cases, must be paid for by the Government of Fiji. Discriminating between the people involved on the basis of whether they are employed in the formal or informal sectors, or on their level of remuneration, is again in breach of Sec 26 of the Constitution and cannot stand.
GOVERNMENT’S COVID19 ECONOMIC SUPPORT MEASURES - MEASURE: 3 LOCK-DOWN ASSISTANCE
A lump sum assistance of $500 through FNPF will be provided to employees who are affected by the lock-down/travel restriction due to COVID-19. This is only available to employees who are not able to go to work or are not able to work from home (thus not paid by employers). Those who have less than $500 in their General Account, the balance will be subsidized by Government.
But here is the thing, according to Sec 26 (1) of the 2013 constitution every citizen has a Right EQUALITY and FREEDOM from DISCRIMINATION it goes on to state in (3) that: -A person must not be unfairly discriminated against, directly or indirectly…
GOVERNMENT’S COVID19 ECONOMIC SUPPORT MEASURES - MEASURE NO 2: WORKERS’ ASSISTANCE
When I submitted my proposals to the government for the COVID-19 Recovery Budget, the FNPF’s well established Unemployment Allowance fund of $2,000 was already in place so I decided to incorporate it into my suggestions on how we might provide for all those who are and will be unemployed.
Which is why I was surprised to hear the Minister announce a $1,000 provision for workers in the tourism & hospitality Industry through FNPF when the existing amount available was $2,000. I could not understand why the government would think a support package that was 50% less than what was already available would be seen as attractive?
FNPF SLASHES MEMBERS UNEMPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE B Y HALF BECAUSE OF “PROCESSING’
The FIJI NATIONAL PROVIDENT FUND (FNPF) cut by half their Unemployment Allowance to their members desperate for financial relief. This was a heartless act by the FNPF to service its own needs not those of its members who are right now suffering and facing hardship and despair.
But the more I think about what happened, the more I sense that something just does not add up.
WHEN STUPIDITY REIGNS
Today I read through the requirements of the FNPF for COVID-19 assistance and shook my head in disbelief at the level of ‘stupidity’ on display. First, they stop manually submitted applications to comply with health officials ‘instructions’ about distancing…
THE BILLION Dollar COVID-19 RESCUE PACKAGE – ANALYzING THE MEASURES
To keep my usually long posts ‘short’ I decided to comment on each of Governments COVID -19 measures separately. So today its about the First Measure which relates to the reductions in FNPF deductions from Employers & Employees. This morning I was circulated an opinion piece by Peter Hartcher, Political and International Editor for the Sydney Morning Herald. Who wrote: -
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April 2020
- 1 Apr 2020 THE BILLION Dollar COVID-19 RESCUE PACKAGE – ANALYzING THE MEASURES 1 Apr 2020
- 2 Apr 2020 WHEN STUPIDITY REIGNS 2 Apr 2020
- 4 Apr 2020 FNPF SLASHES MEMBERS UNEMPLOYMENT ALLOWANCE B Y HALF BECAUSE OF “PROCESSING’ 4 Apr 2020
- 5 Apr 2020 GOVERNMENT’S COVID19 ECONOMIC SUPPORT MEASURES - MEASURE NO 2: WORKERS’ ASSISTANCE 5 Apr 2020
- 6 Apr 2020 GOVERNMENT’S COVID19 ECONOMIC SUPPORT MEASURES - MEASURE: 3 LOCK-DOWN ASSISTANCE 6 Apr 2020
- 6 Apr 2020 COVID 19 – GOVERNMENT SUPPORT MEASURES - MEASURE NO 4: MEDICAL COST SUPPORT 6 Apr 2020
- 10 Apr 2020 MY DECISION TO CONTINUE WITH MY RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 BUDGET MEAURES 10 Apr 2020
- 11 Apr 2020 GOVERNMENT’S FUNDING PRIORITIES WITH COVID19- THE DEVIL IS STILL IN THE DETAILS 11 Apr 2020
- 12 Apr 2020 THE PURPOSE DRIVEN DISCRIMINATION CONTINUES– APRIL 2020 12 Apr 2020
- 13 Apr 2020 REMEMBERING OUR DAD TODAY APRIL 13TH HIS BIRTHDAY 13 Apr 2020
- 16 Apr 2020 REMEMBERING JONE KOROITAMANA 16 Apr 2020
- 22 Apr 2020 REST IN PEACE RATU FINAU 22 Apr 2020
- 24 Apr 2020 THANK YOU - VINA DU – DHANYAVAAD - FAIAK SE ’EA – XIEXIE LAISENIA QARASE 24 Apr 2020
- 29 Apr 2020 RESPECT AND COMPASSION VS VINDICTIVENESS AND CONTEMPT 29 Apr 2020
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May 2020
- 10 May 2020 REMEMBERING MY MOTHER THIS MOTHER’S DAY 10 May 2020