PARLIAMENT OF FIJI

PARLIAMENTARY DEBATES

THE SENATE

DAILY HANSARD

THURSDAY, 26 AUGUST, 2004

The Senate met at 9.50 a.m. pursuant to adjournment.

MR. PRESIDENT took the Chair and read the Prayer.

PRESENT

All honourable Senators were present except the honourable Senator K. Low, honourable Senator Ratu George Cakobau, honourable Senator Adi K. Nailatikau, honourable Senator J. Koroi and the honourable Senator M.A. Khan.

MINUTES

HON. LEADER OF THE HOUSE.- Mr. President, Sir, I beg to move:

That the Minutes of the sitting of the Senate held on Wednesday, 25th August, 2004 as previously circulated, be taken as read and be confirmed.

HON. SENATOR M. BULANAUCA.- Mr. President, Sir, I beg to second the motion.

Question put.

Motion agreed to.

COMMUNICATION FROM THE CHAIR

MR. PRESIDENT.- Honourable Senators, our Bible reading this morning is taken from the "Book of Psalms" Chapter 133 verse 1 - "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity."

Honourable Senators, I refer to various comments and the manner with which the comments were made in this august House. I have considered it necessary to request honourable Senators to take note of Standing Order 96(10), the contents of which are self-explanatory and important for the orderly proceedings of this august House. I, therefore, urge you, to take more caution when intervening during debate.

Honourable Senators, I have also considered it necessary to remind you to be mindful of the provision of the Standing Order 51. As we all know, we are experiencing a strange phenomena. Strange in the sense that the unexpected is now happening. The weather pattern has changed quite dramatically, behavioural patterns and attitudes appear to be going through changes from cultural and traditional to a more modern way of life that has brought about various rights, which include expression. On the other hand, there are laws that one must adhere to or abide by so that as human beings, with our different cultures, we tend to find ourselves in conflicting situations.

Honourable Senators, how we react or response in these situations, in this august House, must be guided by our Standing Orders.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Mr. President, Sir, I rise to contribute to the Address by His Excellency the President, Ratu Josefa Iloilo.

At the outset, I wish to first pay tribute to the family of the late Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Ro Lady Lala Mara. Sir, they were committed to the values of multi-racialism which is building tolerance, understanding and respect amongst the various multi-cultural, multi-religious communities in Fiji during their many years of outstanding public service.

I believe the best way to honour them in their memory is to follow their footsteps and continue to advocate and encourage these values amongst all our people.

Our leaders have to unite our country. They need to immerse themselves into the difficult task of nation building, by having a common vision for all our people. A vision of goodwill that will help to realise the potentials of all our people irrespective of ethnicity, gender, creed and economic status.

Sir, the passing of the Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Lady Lala Mara is a great loss not only to the family, but also the Vanua ko Burebasaga and indeed, the whole three confederacies with her chiefly blood ties. Despite our sense of loss, there present in our Christian faith, is the virtue of hope and to have hope we need a great deal of courage through faith and hope in God.

Sir, hope is born in the belief that the source of action lies within ourselves, which we can rely in difficult times. My family and I continue to mourn the passing away of the good and loving mother, leader and high chief, who in many respect sacrificed her immediate family for the calling of the vanua, the Government and the nation as a whole.

Youth and Employment: Mr. President, Sir, in His Excellency's Address, the Government's policy on youth shows that it is concentrating on the opportunities for employment, income generation and challenging their enthusiasm in sports and other productive areas of self expression.

Sir, unfortunately, what the Government says as its policy and how it implements them through its programme does not always happen and this is the case here. My concern (and it is a concern of the people in this country) is the increasing number of young people. Approximately 6,000, drop out of the school system on an annual basis and are not included in school safety nets. They cannot find employment and are unable to continue on to high school education.

Sir, the other great concern is about the young people in the streets, who are exposed to the high risk situation of loitering, harassing people and committing other crimes. Mostly these young people do not have the support of the network to provide their needs. We only have to walk our streets in Suva and in urban centres to witness for ourselves the hundreds of young people (both male and females, 24 hours - day and night), looking for something to do. This includes drug abuse and prostitution of our young females.

Sir, what is happening in our towns is a manifestation of major problems that we cannot ignore because of the consequences of our neglect. It will haunt our families, villages, towns and society as a whole. I believe young people need to be aware of the forces that shape their lives and they themselves must share the responsibilities of their own development and participate fully in the process that would enable them to play their part and become productive citizens of this country.

Mr. President, Sir, we cannot afford a lost generation, needless to say, any nation that does not look after its young generation places its future in jeopardy. The number of young people with drug abuse are increasing in our prisons and Saint Giles Hospital.

Mr. President, Sir, the danger signs are already here with our youthful population and we should be doing all we can with great opportunities for them.

Sir, Fiji needs young people with a sense of worth and self-esteem with integrity, honesty, commitment and purpose. It also needs young people with a shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous future, and young people whose lives display love. I wish to quote from Galatians 5:22 which says: "But the Spirit produces love, patience, peace, kindness, faithfulness, humility and self-control."

There is no doubt, that the Ministry of Youth, Employment opportunities and Sports have some programmes in place as follows:

Sir, the other programme is a pilot community based programme for the street kids. This pilot programme was initiated in 1999 which involved three religious organisations, Police, Social Welfare Department and the Ministry of Youth, Employment Opportunities and Sports. The three pilot programmes for the street kids were identified and worked out with the three partner organisations, pooling their resources and different intervention strategies to provide a service that will address the social, spiritual, psychological, physical and economic needs of street children and their families.

The above programmes are not functioning and the reasons are best known only to the Government. Employment opportunities and the above programmes are tied to economic development. If the economy does not grow, it is difficult to create job opportunities for the young people, hence the above programmes will not work.

Sir, the image of young people today is associated with criminal activities, teenage pregnancies, drug and substance abuse, sexual transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS, irresponsible behaviour, no respect for elders and the leaders and the list goes on. The young people of Fiji cannot be developed in isolation from the family and the society at large. I believe the young people are what they are today because we as parents, families, churches, communities and leaders at all level, have not been good role models and not responsible adults. We have not exercised proper leadership, guidance or created a strong enabling environment for the proper development and nurturing of young people.

Sir, the challenge for us all is to change the situation and create a better future. It has to begin at home, you and me - the choices that we make, the values we hold and teach our children, our attitude to ourselves and to other people and our honesty and sense of right and wrong. We must see Fiji transformed into a society where there is no discrimination on the basis of gender, race, religion, colour or creed; that we create a caring society the disadvantaged and the poor are protected and supported, where the security and rights of all are guaranteed and where there is hope and future for the young people.

Mr. President, Sir, the Bible says and I quote from Proverbs 22:6: "Teach your children how they should live, and they will remember it all their lives."

There was an effective strategy initiated by the People's Coalition Government on the establishment of a National Youth Service Scheme which has been implemented in countries like Singapore and the result was successful. Its requirements are used to dedicate periods of service to the community during which they learn skills of employment and also life skills that enhance the development of mature and responsible citizens. There are a number of effective programmes in the said scheme, Sir, but I fail to see any of them being implemented. I really do not know the reasons, and as I said earlier, it can only work if the Government economy is good. We can see a number of street kids or young people increasing day by day in our streets in towns. I believe that this segment of the population called "young people" holds the key to future developments, social stability, peace and prosperity for Fiji.

Blueprint for Indigenous Fijians: Mr. President, Sir, the Blueprint Action Programme for indigenous Fijians and Rotumans has become a development doctrine of faith of the Soqosoqo Duavata ni Lewenivanua (SDL) Coalition Government. This plan has aroused unrealistic expectations amongst ordinary poor Fijians in villages and urban areas as well. They believe that it will now miraculously uplift their standards of living. There are so many grievances from rural areas, especially the indigenous Fijians asking: "Where is the Blueprint; what is the Blueprint?"

Sir, the SDL Coalition Government has encouraged this cargo cult like belief after the 2000 coup, especially during the General Election Campaign in 2001. The Interim Government has distributed free taxpayers' expenses more than $16 million for farming implements, dalo suckers, machinery, boats, computers and other machinery. (The honourable and learned Attorney-General is smiling, a sign of guilty conscience.)

The abuse of taxpayers' fund is detailed in the Auditor-General's Report Parliamentary Paper No. 11 of 2000. Because of the corrupt abuse of public funds, ordinary Fijians and Rotumans now expect more free distribution of goods from the SDL and CAMV Coalition Government under the guise of affirmative action.

Civil servants, like Peniasi Kunatuba, who were merely following the directives of Ministers (I do not know who was the Minister for Agriculture during that time) have been made scapegoats for the illegal spending of these public funds. The real political beneficiaries of this corruption must be brought to justice through the court. I believe, very soon we will see some big sharks brought in as regards this case.

Mr. President, Sir, the collective sense of what is fair and just in a society is seen from how that particular society looks after its disadvantaged members or groups, so the way we look after the disadvantaged members of our community reflects clearly the collective conscience of this particular country.

Sir, if we looked in very racist terms, then it will be reflected in the actions of the Government of the day; if we looked at it in terms of those that are poor, irrespective of race, religion or creed, then what we do will cut across all various communities based on their needs.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Affirmative Actions are those actions specifically designed to ensure that we make all cross sections of the community get equal opportunities and we do that by providing resources from the Government. Sir, that is the benchmark any government in power should achieve because if shared equitably in the resources of the nation, which is controlled largely by the Government, then the argument goes on that we have a stable, peaceful and harmonious society to live in. We must also make differentiation between identifying the groups that we need to help, we can use the "more disadvantaged" and we can use the word "ethnicity" or "race".

The difficulty with using race as raised by most Members of both Houses and, especially the nominees of the Prime Minister, is tied up with the concept of the fact that race is associated with genetic factors, that people become poor ...

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- ... because they have not got the ability to think and as a race, they are disadvantaged, hence genetically, they are inferior traits, this is why it is very dangerous to go along the factor of race.

We merely talk about people who are disadvantaged by circumstances; Fijians are disadvantaged by their history, by their colonisation, so I would like to say to the honourable Senators in this House who are fond of bringing racial issue, that Fijians are disadvantaged by virtue of history and by virtue of certain cultural characteristics.

They are not necessarily disadvantaged because of certain genetic deficiencies. By all means, no research has ever found that there is any genetic deficiency with regards to the Fijian people - never at all. I think I will give you a very good idea here honourable and learned Attorney-General.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- The Fijians can do well like any other race, even better. That is the positive feature to this and that is why we support the disadvantaged. Therefore, we must try and avoid as much as possible the use of the word "race", ...

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- ... but may I also remind honourable Senators who are making ...

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- ... misleading statements that there is no doubt about Fijian paramountcy. Sir, it is entrenched in the Compact. In cases where there is a conflict of interests, the paramountcy of Fijian interests must be secured, that is also translated into the entrenched Constitution. That recognises the paramountcy of Fijian interests but on the other hand also, it says that without depriving the right to share resources with others who live in this nation; that is a kind of very good balancing act.

HON. SENATOR ADI L. CAKOBAU.- We are doing it without the resources. It is a matter of fact.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- On the decisions of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and European Union (EU) to reduce Fiji exports by one-third, Mr. President, Sir, the co-operation between our leaders and all stakeholders is needed more than ever, if we want to keep the sugar industry afloat. The recent WTO's decision that preferential prices for ACP sugar producing countries is illegal and should be discontinued and the European Union's decision to cut sugar import from ACP countries like Fiji by one-third will have a further devastating effect on the incomes and livelihoods of the cane farmers, landowners who derive rents from their tenant farmers, businesses in sugar towns and city like Labasa, Rakiraki, Ba and Lautoka. The business houses are so dependent on sugar that the collapse of the sugar industry could turn them overnight into ghost towns, as business no longer becomes viable with the sweet sugar dollar.

HON. SENATOR ADI L. CAKOBAU.- Sugar in the morning, sugar in the afternoon, sugar at supper time!

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Land issue: Sir, I also have a right to speak on this topic. It is very well setting our noble principle like making all available land by putting optimum productive use for the benefit of the landowners, the tenants and the nation at large. We need action more than mere words at this crucial stage on the development of our nation. There was a thought brought by the People's Coalition Government to back up its commitment towards the Land Use Commission (LUC). The expiring land lease, particularly sugarcane leases, is a problem that needs to be sorted out amicably and promptly by all stakeholders.

Sir, the proposal to establish a LUC had been a subject of speculation by media, some Fijian leaders and the population in general. The proposal has been subject to propaganda and has been twisted and distorted to make it appear anti-landowners and anti- Fijian people. Sir, definitely, that was not the case. Mr. President, Sir, land is a vital and scarce commodity for this country, and it is important that there is an adequate land for all types of development.

The principal purpose of the LUC is to identify available vacant land, whether it is freehold, Crown or otherwise and make them available to those in need. It has functioned in survey land with a view to determine its most productive usage.

The policy will take account of the interests of landowners, tenants and other concerned parties within the framework of the needs for a growing agricultural sector to provide the jobs and income of our rural people, and at the same time, sustain a higher level of economic return.

Sir, the LUC was to be a facilitating vehicle; facilitating the interests of the native landowners, as well as the investors and the economy in general. The Commission will not usurp Fijian ownership of land or take away any of the rights of the Native Land Trust Board or other agencies.

On the LUC working very closely with the landowners, you can see that in the interior of Sabeto and Nadi. There is vacant land but the landowners have no capital to carry out the work and if this had been implemented, then the Fijians would have been better off today. Also, there are some hilly land there. The NLTB, the Lands Department and other established agencies in this respect agreed on mutually accepted arrangements for the productive use of all available land throughout Fiji.

The provision of new agricultural lands will open opportunities for farming families and people in the rural areas for employment and the landowners will reap higher returns from their land irrespective whether they till their own land or have it leased to others. Sir, the Commission will also work closely with the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forests to identify crops to be grown on available land. It will also assist the private sectors to identify farming communities with speacilised primary production lines. Sir, it will also help to provide farms roads, drainage, water supply and electricity to the identified vacant land so that intending farmers are settled with ease and concentrate on crop production from the outset.

Sir, I would like to assure this august House that those who have fear of losing their rights through the setting up of the Land Use Commission, that fear is unfounded because some leaders have poisoned the minds of the grassroot people.

That native land ownerships and the legislations affecting native land, such as the Native Land Act, the Native Land Trust Act and the Agricultural Land and Tenants Act are protected under section 185 of the Constitution. Any Government of the day will ensure that their guaranteed rights over land are protected. Sir, the landowners in rural areas have been crying for assistance for so long for the development of their thousands of acres of undeveloped land.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Sir, with your permission, may I quote from the words of the late Ratu Sir Lala Sukuna at the Great Council of Chiefs meeting in September 1936. He said this and I quote:

"Let us not ignore the fact there is another community settled in our means. I refer to the Indians. They have increased more rapidly than we. They have become producers on our soil. They are continuously striving to better themselves. Although they are of different race; yet we are each a unit in the British Empire. They have shouldered many burdens that we have helped Fiji onward. We have derived much money from them by way of rents. A large proportion of our prosperity is derived from their labour. Today, side by side, we are cultivating sugarcane and such other crops as are referred to in the address of the Director of Agriculture read in this Council. The Pineapple Industry is about to open and we shall again be working together in that field for the prosperity of the Colony and of each one of us.

It is thoroughly understood that the control of lands is in our hands. But the owners of property have an important duty to perform. Bear in mind the story of the talents. Whosoever utilises what is given to him will be given more. He who fails to use what he has will lose all that he hath. This is particularly applicable to the owners of land, for land is the one source of wealth. Without land we cannot live. Without it we can neither secure food nor money."

Mr. President, Sir, I will now touch on the Fiji Police Force. The Force has close to 2,000 established officers, looking after about 800,000 of Fiji's populations. The ratio was 1:400. In fact, it was 1:416 in 1996 and has continued to worsen over the next few years.

Sir, given the continuing prevailing unstablising political economic and social situation the country has faced over the past few years, continuing unemployment, increase in more sophisticated and white-collar crimes, et cetera, the Force will in future, be examining more closely its non-core responsibilities with the view to divesting itself of some non-core activities.

Sir, when Isikia Savua was the Commissioner of Police, the people of Fiji could not feel secure or trust the Fiji Police Force. The Force has been riddled with many chronicle problems. In reality, Sir, the people have lost confidence in this institution that was supposed to protect the rights of all citizens upholding and enforcing the law and order situation in the country.

Sir, everyday, we witness the rise in crime and police are now challenged with the increasing sophisticated frauds, money laundering, blue-collar crime, people smuggling, drugs, et cetera.

To-date, Sir, we have seen the vast improvement of the work of the Fiji Police Force and I salute them and the current Commissioner for a job well done. Now, the people of Fiji have regained their confidence in the Force.

Sir, we now have what the people of Fiji had been praying for, a neutral Police Commissioner and his presence has rekindled trust, confidence for justice and a general feeling of hope, peace and security. We are blessed to have Mr. Andrew Hughes, who is capable, competent and dedicated to his work.

Sir, previous speakers on the other side of the House are attacking the Commissioner of Police. I think, if you do that outside this House, you will face the consequences. I am telling the two honourable Senators to try it out.

HON. SENATOR DR. A. ALI.- Mr. President, Sir, a point of order. He is saying that this side of the House has attacked the Police Commissioner as commissioner. I think that is wrong. We accept the fact that he is carrying out his functions of law and order, we have a right of comment and that right was utilised. My fellow colleague on my right and I, both said that we commended the Commissioner for the work he had done. Please be accurate.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Mr. President, Sir, he goes as far as warning the Commissioner of Police. All these attacks are uncalled for.

MR. PRESIDENT.- Honourable Senator, you have come to the end of your time. Could you come straight to the point.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Kemuni saka na Turaga na i Liuliu ni Bose, au kerea me'u vosa ga vaka-Viti vakalekaleka. E ka bibi veikemuni na turaga digitaki mai ena 14 na Yasana, ena lewe ni Bose Cecere oqo, nida sa donuya tiko oqo e dua na gauna dredre. Na gauna eda sotava tiko kina e vuqa na ka, e basuki tiko kina na lawa. E levu na veivakadiloi, na vosa kei na yavavala, ia sa noqu i tavi kei na noqu vakamamasu ena yalo ni veidokai kei na vakarokoroko me taqomaki na noda vanua o Viti. Na lawa e baleti keda taucoko. Me rokovi na noda lawa se na noda i tovo vaka-Viti, me tudei tiko. Me rokovi na veika kece baleti keda na i taukei. Meda vakarokorokotaka na lawa ka tiko ena Penal Code, o koya e cecere taudua.

Au vakabauta na veika sa yaco tiko oqo ena macala ni veilewai, e dua na vanua ena vakaduavataki keda kina meda vinaka, meda lotu dina baleta na lotu e tukuna vakasavasava kevaka eda lotu va-Karisito dina, ia meda vakarokorokotaka na lawa.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Ena sega ni rawa nida veivosoti tiko ga kevaka e caka eso na lawa lelevu, meda kakua ni kauta mai na noda i tavi vaka-Viti, na veika e dau yaco veikeda na i taukei e liu. Na veivosovosoti ni dua e cakava na ca. Au vakabauta kevaka e vakayacori tiko na veivosovosoti oqori, ia sa na dua na vanua ena yaco kina na noda bula na kawa i Taukei.

Ena levu na ka ena yaco ena veikoro. Veikemudou na tiko e tauni, lako ena nomu koro mo raica na veika e yaco tiko. Na kana marijuana kei na veika kece e caca wale, ni lako mada kina koro, kakua na mai tu wale ga ena loma ni tauni.

Au kerekere tiko vakabibi ka'u vakamamasu tiko meda veilomani, meda duavata, me rawa kina ni toso o Viti.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Kevaka e sa sega ni rawa, ia sa vakaraitaka tu ga na yaloda o keda na i liuliu, ...

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- ... vakabibi tiko vei keda na i Taukei. Na turaga sa lako mai vua na Kalou, ia meda vakaraitaka nida turaga dina. Me da lomani ira kece, sega walega ni Taukei, ia o ira kece na tamata ena dela ni vuravura oqo.

MR. PRESIDENT.- Honourable Senator, you have spoken for more than 40 minutes, please wind up.

HON. SENATOR P. LESAVUA.- Sir, before I conclude, I have just heard the words "sit down", coming from the other side. I request the honourable and learned Attorney-General to please show respect in this House. This is the highest court on the land and the people are looking at us, particularly, at our behaviour. Let us work together and forget our past, we must move forward.

Also I request the honourable Senator Ratu Cakobau to please show respect to the lady Senator. That is not the first time he has done it to her.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- Mr. President, Sir, I wish to thank His Excellency the President for his most gracious speech. I have been taught that this is the protocol and etiquette for replying to His Excellency's speech, when he addresses the Joint Sitting of Parliament on such occasions as on July 26th.

Whilst I sincerely appreciate very much the graciousness and grace of His Excellency the President for delivering his speech, there really was nothing much that could be said about the content of that speech by the Government, which I thought was new or condign. It bore, Mr. President, Sir, the hallmark of this SDL administration of being hackneyed, banal, stereotyped and reeks with platitudinous "say-nothing" remarks and promises.

Mr. President, Sir, His Excellency's Address at the beginning of a new session of Parliament, normally provides a brief outline of the Government's work programmes, their policy objectives and depending on how long a government has been in power, some outstanding successes and achievements that have made a real difference in the past year. Sir, the addresses are usually devoid of details and skeletal in nature, but are nevertheless expected to provide a clear and simple justification for continuing certain policies and programmes and planning new ones for the ensuing year.

His Excellency's Address this year, the fourth during the life of the present Government, is not only bare skeleton, it is far too brief to provide the tax-paying public with any useful guide to assess Government's long-term plans, and any achievements Government might have made in these past years. Only 18 months are left for the tenure of the present Government and this House and the public have been left in no clear position than three years ago with regard to any real and concrete achievements of this Government.

Sir, because of the paucity of time allocated for this reply, I am going to confine and restrain myself to the areas which I felt and feel the need to be highlighted, lest time goes by, and the annals of this House miss the recording of what I intend to say that needs to be said at this time, without fear, unease or trepidation.

Sir, I am especially grateful to His Excellency the President for remembering and panegyrizing the great late Tui Nayau, Sau ni Vanua ko Lau, the Right Honourable Ratu Sir Kamisese Kapaiwai Tuimacilai Mara for his unstinting service, love, untrammeled devotion and dedication; his guidance of this young nation during our formative years of independence and since and beyond which he Ratu Mara was true to, right up to the moment of his betrayal and death. Ratu Mara never swerved from his troth to this nation and its people, his beloved Fiji.

Whilst I think of Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, I cannot help but conjure up beautiful thoughts of his three close beloved blood relatives who had gone before him. Great chiefs in their own rights and chiefs of rare distinctions, all born to greatness by what they did and what they were in their respective roles, before and after we gained independence.

Sir, I speak of the late Turaga Vunivalu, Ratu Sir George Cakobau, the late Ratu Sir Edward Cakobau and the late Tui Cakau, Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau.

Mr. President, Sir, I have had that rare, blessed and God-given privilege of working in close quarters with these four exceptional men from 1962 and three of whom I was fortunate to look after some of their investments. Fiji was blessed in having all of them as founding fathers at the time as this nation came out of the colonial rule into independence.

Sir, the late Turaga Vunivalu, Ratu Sir George Cakobau was and is my model of what a real Fijian chief ought to be and I will always remember him with much love, honour and admiration.

Now, I take special pride as a kai Kadavu and kai Burebasaga in thanking His Excellency the President for offering the nation's condolences to the household of the late Tui Nayau; respecting and alluding to her consistent and constant good leadership and thinking about our highest confederacy chief,

Na Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Lady Lala Mara in her untimely death and great loss to our nation and her people.

Mr. President, Sir, in the "Book of Genesis" Chapter 2 verses 18 and 21 to 24. I would like to read, with your permission from the King James Version Bible, it reads and I quote:

"18. And the LORD God said, It is not good that man should be alone; I will make him a help meet for him.

21. And the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof.

22. And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23. And Adam said; this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

24. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother and cleave unto his wife, and they shall be one flesh."

Mr. President, Sir, if there was ever a woman made for a man, these verses of scripture hold true to Ro Lady Lala and her union to Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara. Ro Lady Lala was made for Ratu Mara and Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara was made for Ro Lady Lala. For those of us who were privileged to walk in close quarters with both of them, know that she was a perfect help mate for Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara.

Ever faithful, Sir, she was the rock of the home and family, quietly sagacious in the background when it came to matters of State and positively strong and supportive and devoted in matters of the family, the home and the vanua.

Sir, Ro Lady Lala was always there for Ratu Mara and the family for over 53 years, since 22nd September, 1950, the day they married and became one flesh.

Sir, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Ro Lady Lala were a beacon of paragon for those in public office and they should be emulated. Unlike some of our present leaders with their various kitchens and paramours, this Government needs not only a corruption code, but a morality code as well, in all echelons of the Government.

Sir, I am told from a reliable source that Ro Lady Lala 's death was untimely, brought on by a trickle down effect of subtle innuendos to her, over a two week period by a close member of the family while she was convalescing that Ratu Epeli Ganilau, Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) was going to be relieved from this position, as his appointment by the SDL Coalition Government to the GCC was not going to be renewed. The final coup de grace was when she heard the news of the sacking and read about it in the press, which she took with great umbrage and anger and as a result, suffered a heart attack from which she never recovered and died.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- I am serious, very serious. I know what I am talking about. I would not be saying things like this if I did not know what I am talking about.

Sir, the sacking was dastard, a cowardly act and unchiefly toward the Mara and Ganilau families, which are the founding families of our nation.

E se bera mada ga ni jili se vakayacori na bogi drau ni Gone Turaga Na Tui Nayau, sa mai leqa tale na Marama Bale Na Roko Tui Dreketi. E dua nai tovo vakamadua, saka.

Sir, I say cowardly, because I am told it took the whole Cabinet to make that decision (I stand to be corrected), to sack the Chairman of the GCC.

HON. SENATOR Q.B. BALE.- Mr. President, Sir, I rise on a point of order. The honourable Senator is making not only a misleading but very inaccurate statement referring to the exit of Ratu Epeli as a sacking.

I challenge him, Sir, to show in this august House that Ratu Epeli was sacked. In reality, his appointment had expired. He was not sacked or removed. I ask that the honourable Senator correct himself.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- Mr. President, Sir, I will take note of what the honourable and learned Attorney-General has just said but my source of information says otherwise, and I stand to be corrected.

Sir, when it needed only the responsible Minister to make it (and even then it is suspect and is being questioned in the court of law), the question I would like to ask the Government is; Could it not wait for the bogi drau to expire before they executed their ire and coup on the Chairman for being chiefly and living up to the ideals of what a true Fijian chief is supposed to be? That is caring for his people, no matter what (and who is?) ia me qaravi ga o ira na vulagi? E dua na gauna vakaloloma ni Matanitu.

Briefly, Sir, it can be said (and the people are already saying it) and I say it with no fear of contradiction, that Ro Lady Lala's death can be attributed directly to the insensitivity of this SDL Coalition Government for heaping more stresses on the poor Lady during her period of mourning the death of her beloved husband.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- Dou lewa ga na ka dou via kaya, au sega ni via vakarogoca na ka dou via kaya mai.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- The cultural sacred period of bogi drau, the 100 nights after burial, had not even lapsed when this Government decided to practise infamy of the rare kind on the families of two illustrious Presidents, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara and Ratu Sir Penaia Ganilau, both founding fathers of this nation. This Government will go down in infamy as a Government which does not give a damn about Fijian customs, traditions, culture and protocol. I hope, Sir, the SDL Party will be able to quell and I say "quell", the seething anger of the people of Burebasaga, Cakaudrove and Lau. The year of the General Election 2006 draweth nigh, and those sitting on the opposite benches of Government are going to duck for cover then. I am certain, Sir.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- Sit down and listen, I have not finished yet, I gave you all the listening that you required and it is now my turn. Sit down and take it like a man. You can give it but you cannot take it.

Mr. President, Sir, this Government lacks the sagacity to capitalise on some of the achievements it has made, albeit from the continuing processes of the work originated from previous administrations and should have highlighted them in His Excellency's Address, but they did not for they lack foresight and wisdom. Never in the history of Fiji since Independence, have we seen a Government so left-footed and left-handed as this Government. It is a Government that is so "storm-centred" because it preaches and practises separation of the major ethnic groups so that the three daily newspapers and speaking facetiously have a field day extolling the demerits of this benighted Government daily.

Just have a look at the papers (I just picked these ones at random from my file), headline after headline and in today's newspapers it says: "Five-fold rise in white-collar crime". Other headlines in previous days' newspapers are:

(b) "Nurses perform Doctors' Work" (We do not even have doctors now, the nurses are going to perform; ill trained but they still perform it);

(d) "Government workers live in poverty" (this is an industry that I championed and started);

(g) "Chiefs, leaders misled Hughes" (This is what they do not like and we have the star, the Attorney-General on the front cover);

(l) "Landless Fijians top squatter list" (Where is the affirmative action going?);

Oh Lord, Steven King ought to come to Fiji and write a story. This speaks of the sick state of the society because of this Government, the way it administers.

Sir, the honourable Senator Apisai Mohammed Tora is renowned for one of his favourite sayings from Shakespeare, which I believe is very pertinent at this time, and I quote: "He or they, whom the Gods wish to destroy they first make mad." For this Government's sake, I hope this saying by one of its illustrious and quotable Senators, is not prophetic and a presage of things to come.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- You were in the SVT! You behave like a vokai, you jumped from pillar to post and you run with the hares and hunt with the hounds!

This Government says it is Christian, but there is nothing Christian about this Government because it does all and more to promote racism by its Blueprint and Affirmative Action Programmes and almost to the exclusion of all other ethnic communities in Fiji. If it does do something for others, it merely does it in a morsel and scrap and tokenism at its best.

SVT Government: Sir, let me remind this nation that the SVT Government began and championed the Affirmative Action Programmes and it applied it fairly, endeavouring to have the spoils of the nation shared sensibly and justly amongst all the communities. It understood and took into consideration that the indigenous Fijians needed to be brought up to speed and it favoured the Indigenous Fijians but not to the exclusion of other communities. It administered fairly and it knew the disadvantaged position the indigenous Fijians were in, Sir. It gave most of it to them, but with the concurrence of the other communities, not like the present Government where there is mayhem right now, maelstrom everyday. I believe, Sir, that this country cannot endure and stand if this Government continues to promote division of the two major races by most of its policies and actions. It cannot stand and it cannot endure. Sir, no group can live in isolation, we need each other.

During the day, this Government practices separation and yet at night, it is regaled, entertained and fed sumptuously by the very Indian business community it seeks to offset and upstage overtly at daylight. This Government, Sir, has become the laughing stock of the Indian Small and Medium Enterprises (SME's) and the Indian community of Fiji. They say that the leadership and the SDL Party are two faced; denigrates them during the day (the Indian community) as grasping to their Fijian constituents and yet they (the Indian community) are acceptable at night and good enough to share the fruits of their labour of delectable Indian cuisine and culinary delights with them at nightfall. Sir, the shocking and amazing thing about the leadership of this Government is, it has no shame and overtly promotes, (and I mean promotes) meaning those that contribute lavishly to the SDL campaign coffers. It is common knowledge in town because we in the business community know precisely what goes on in town. It is unbelievably embarrassing. Sir, nothing in this world is eternal, except eternal life and eternal damnation, surely this Government is not eternal and might be dammed in the next General Elections - who knows?

Mr. President, Sir, on 23rd August, 2004, the Fiji Sun published an article headlined "Bune's Claim Raises Storm". This article was based on the honourable Member's speech delivered on 3rd August, 2004 in this House. Sir, on that day, I was in the precinct of Parliament when I caught the honourable Member in top flight as he was delivering his contribution to His Excellency's Speech. I stood transfixed as he lampooned the Government and brought down allegation after allegation with almost immunity of rebuttal. It appears, Mr. President, Sir, that everything he said was not able to be refuted, especially what he said about the honourable Prime Minister having prior knowledge of the famous march before the coup, the coup and the change of government. I could not believe my ears, Sir, so I made it a point to read his Hansard statement to prove that I was not just hearing things erroneously. I also made it a point to check out the veracity of what the honourable Member for Labasa Open (P.W. Bune) said about what Adi Finau Tabakaucoro revealed. I made it a point to seek out the former Senator Adi Finau and she confirmed what was said.

Sir, as one who has been accused of and whose family was viciously, falsely blamed and attacked for the coups of Rabuka and Speight and who was excoriated mercilessly by innuendoes in the press, although we knew absolutely nothing about the coups, I take special anger against those plotters and cowardly phantoms of the coup who pusillanimously hide behind the secret of anonymity. I wholeheartedly believe that the Commissioner of Police should investigate that accusation as it is now corroborated by Adi Finau Tabakaucoro.

Adi Finau also elaborates further the incident of the meeting held at the office of Fijian Holdings, who were there and what took place. Perhaps, this explains the anger and the vituperative and malicious outbursts of the honourable Senator Mohammed Tora against the Commissioner of Police, Andrew Hughes, the other day, and the Agricultural Scam that took place under him during his watch as Minister for Agriculture during the Caretaker Government's tenure. Sir, the perpetrators and plot thickens and those that hide should be dug out from their holes. The law is for everyone - thank God for that.

Mr. President, Sir, it is indeed a blessing to have someone like Andrew Hughes in Fiji in this period of our development, no matter what the other side of the House says. He is not afraid to do his work and I compliment the Vice President for his remark and his assurance that he has nothing but good remarks about his work. That he should unravel this cancer of coup plotters and bring them to justice.

Sir, my family and I know the extreme pain of being falsely accused for the Rabuka and Speight coups and the aftermath of those accusations against my family and how it took its toll on my poor ailing wife, Lavinia whose dwelling in Auckland was picketed on several occasions in fact, on many occasions, and while she suffered painfully from her kidney disease, she was barraged by hateful, denigrating and obscene telephone calls regularly. We had to defend our honour two times on two different occasions at great cost in the High Court of New Zealand where we received tremendous satisfaction against the New Zealand media which denigrated us. The Auckland Star newspaper that denigrated me and my family for the Rabuka coup went into voluntary liquidation after we were being satisfied by the New Zealand Courts. As for the Speight coup, as part of our satisfaction, Radio New Zealand and TV One were con-jointly ordered to apologise on radio and television to the Ah Koy family for their errant derogatory remarks. Thank God for such courts and judges that are not afraid and not a respecter of positions or stature and who are able to bring down judgements that fit the crime because the law is for everyone. It knows no position, no stature, once you break the law, you are punished by the law.

Mr. President, Sir, when this Government came into office, it set up the Ministry of Reconciliation. Its sole purpose is to reconcile the two major races here after the unsitting of the Chaudhry Government and to bring about a rapprochement that is so badly needed for the peace, progress and ongoing sure economic development of our country. Sir, this rapprochement will always be elusive, like chasing the wind if this Government continues to promote the separation of the two major races with its racist policies. You just have to look at the three daily newspapers each day, Mr. President, Sir, to see the state of our nation in all aspects of societal ills. Murders, incest of the most heinous kind with children just out of babyhood, rape to almost epidemic proportions, burglary and battery of master-minded precision types, drug-related - pushing, farming and most recently manufacturing, juvenile and adult prostitution, homosexuality in all its promiscuous and perverted forms, the catalogue goes on, Sir. All under this administration. Never in the history of Fiji had we encountered such a degrading slide of this nation.

For those of us that wonder in amazement as to why this is happening here without abatement can only believe that the root cause of all this is spiritual. The other day I was just finishing a book titled Two Nations under God, an historical account of how nations are blessed and how nations are cursed from an anthropological and archaeological standpoint and biblical scholarship. This book is most recent and written by a gentile who lived, worked and studied in the area of Israel and Palestine. It was copyrighted last year 2003 and it is written from the latest perspective of the present situation in the Middle-East and Israel and traces back the origin of the Arab, Jewish and Israeli people beginning from Abraham the father of the races right upto now. For those that want to get a better insight into the two branches of the same family: Healing the Broken Family of Abraham by Don McCurry is another enlightening treatise. The author sums it up and attributes the blessings and curses of many nations and their peoples, all to the "Book of Genesis" Chapter 12 versus 1 to 3 and in the "Book of Matthew" Chapter 25 verse 32.

For those who would like to look it up, may I quote from the Holy Scriptures the "Book of Genesis" Chapter 12 and I quote:

"1. Now the Lord said to Abram. Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house, unto a land that I will show thee:

2. And I will make thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth shall be blessed.

4. So Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him; and Lot his nephew went with him; and Abram was seventy and five years old when he departed out of Haran."

Mr. President, Sir, I really believe that our domestic chaotic state as a nation presently, and its unsettling situation can now be attributed directly to our abandonment of our national policy of the consistent and constant support of Israel in the UN. I believe it was Ratu Mara's policy and I know that during the Alliance Government, in Foreign Affairs to always support and vote for matters pertaining to Israel. It was also the Rabuka Government's policy to always support Israel in the UN. I believe we have had cornucopia years of development, peace and prosperity in Fiji during the Mara and Rabuka Governments' tenure because of this policy to always support Israel, in all matters in Palestine and in the UN. So much so that we became (because of the blessings) and were envied as the most developed of the Pacific Island Nations.

Sir, by our vote and support for Israel in the UN, we would always overtly declare to the world and because of our Judaeo-Christian legacy, that we subscribe to and believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob who later became as Israel; His chosen nation and people. We were never to flinch from this declaration since we believe ourselves to be a Christian State and if we are to be blessed continuously and claim the promises of Genesis Chapter 12. Our being in the Middle-East in the first place for peace-keeping was the result of this policy. I believe it was Ambassador Vunibobo who was then our man at the UN, who upon direction of this policy, negotiated our peacekeeping duties in the Middle-East.

Sir, I believe because of the change of this policy and now since the SDL Coalition Government has abandoned the firm policy of unchanging support at the UN of the chosen nation and the chosen people of our chosen God, Jesus Christ, we have brought upon ourselves the curse of the Abrahamic Covenant: "I will bless them that bless thee and curse him that curseth thee".

* During the 57th Session of the UN General Assembly, there were 20 anti-Israel resolutions endorsed. Fiji supported 17, abstained in two and was absent in one.

* During the 58th Session of the UN General Assembly, there were 20 anti-Israel resolutions endorsed. Fiji supported 17, abstained in one and was absent in two.

* In the General Assembly's special Session Voting on "Expression of Concern for Arafat" Fiji abstained.

* In the General Assembly's special Session on asking the International Court of Justice for an advisory on the separation barrier. Fiji supported the General Assembly's resolution on endorsing the International Court of Justice's advisory and was absent during the vote on the Statutes of the Territories.

Mr. President, Sir, only five nations voted with Israel against taking down the barrier wall - Australia, United States of America, Marshall, Micronesia and Palau.

Sir, as a biblical student myself since 1970, I can now see why the United States is and will continue to be a blessed nation and super-power despite September 11th and to me explains Australia's growing power in the region and on the world scene.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- Everyone kills each other in a warfare. It happens everyday. I am speaking from a biblical standpoint.

Sir, speak about curses, one will just have to look at the dailies of our nation to see what I mean. See the newspapers! It has gone beyond temporal understanding. It is a spiritual problem.

Sir, another aspect that we ought to see ourselves in is, we say that we are Christians and it means to be Christ-like and yet we treat the one-half of our nation as abject foreigners. Although they have lived with us over a 100 years, Sir, by our actions the way we treat them, we negate the two great Commandments found in Matthew 22, verses 36 to 40, which state and I quote:

"The young man asked the Master: Master, which is the great Commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great Commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two Commandments hang all the laws and the prophets."

You know these verses very well, Sir. "On these two Commandments hang the laws and the prophets", because they are inter-woven.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- The law of terrorism. When it is your time to speak, then you speak. You are supposed to be a biblical scholar.

Let me remind us (not only them, but us), Sir, the other half of this nation, that the last command that Jesus Christ gave us before He ascended into Heaven is encapsulated, Sir, in Matthew Chapter 28, Versus 19-20 and (I hope the Talatala is listening to this).

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- He is in the wrong place. He should be doing what this command says.

"Go ye therefore and teach all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."

It is amazing, Sir, that before he departed and ascended into Heaven, this is the command He gave us, that we should go out.

Mr. President, Sir, for trying to be a committed Christian and a responsible high chief, and leading by example in following these two tenets of Scripture and behaving like a traditional chief ought to behave towards guests, vulagi (other ethnic groups), Ratu Epeli Ganilau was being relieved from his post as the Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs. This Government ought to be ashamed of its diabolical action.

Sir, I ask our people and this Government, how can we win the other half of our nation to Christ, when we do not show them the practical love of Jesus Christ in our daily interaction with Him? How can we help, as leaders, to convert them to Christianity when we practise division and separateness?

Sir, the growth of Christian denominational churches in Fiji is phenomenal for such a small country as Fiji. But that growth, Sir, is confined mainly to converts from one Christian denomination to another and not from non-Christian believers. This is not a paradox, it is a reality. We convert from left to right, but across the border, no, Sir.

Why? The Indian community in Fiji have been here over 120 to 130 years and would be the largest potential field of harvest to proselytize in, but we have not a show because of our examples and behaviours towards them. We need to show them the love of Christ first, Sir, before they can respond to Him. We need to do that, Sir.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- They want to. It is just our actions and our examples. We do not proclaim.

I believe, Sir, that this Government practises a Pacific form of revised apartheid against the Indian community and should be ashamed of calling itself Christian.

I believe that this nation will be continuously cursed, until the leadership of this Government changes its accursed policy of Pacific Revised Apartheid and of not supporting Israel. The scriptural verses I quoted earlier, Mr. President, Sir, are still very pertinent to us as professing Christians and a professing Christian State. They still apply to us for the Covenants promised to Abraham.

Our recent record of voting in the United Nations on issues pertaining to Israel since this Government came into power is appalling and explains the dire state this nation is in today. Of course, the honourable Senator Dr. Ali would not agree with that, it is too simplistic for him.

Sir, whether we like it or not, our God and Saviour Jesus Christ is a Jew and He chose to be a Jew when he became man and He also chose the Jewish race as his special people and the Nation of Israel as his chosen Nation on earth and who are we to question that choosing? I believe the US and Australia and England to a great-extent are blessed because of their support and loyalty to Israel.

We were blessed, Sir, but we start to lose the plot. Thank God we still have battalions in the Middle East maintaining peace. Thank God Fiji is partially blessed because of our peacekeeping duties in Israel and the surrounding nations and would be fully blessed if we are unswerving in our support of this beleaguered nation of Israel. God, forbid that we continue this down-trend.

Sir, before I sit down, let me just say, no lasting peace, no progress and no prosperity unless and until we reconcile ourselves to the issues I have raised in Genesis 12: verses 1-3 and Matthew 22: verses 36-40. Unless we obey and love our neighbours, Sir, this nation is doomed.

HON. SENATOR DR. A. ALI.- I rise on a point of order. Under Standing Order 51(5)(d), merely more as a correction, Sir, the honourable Senator referred to "gentile" earlier on and I think to separate a group or a particular author "gentile", is unbecoming in the present day.

Turning to the Indian community, five per cent of the Indian community is, in fact, Christians. The other two major religions they are in are Hinduism and Islam and I think the Indians are very satisfied, both with their Hindu faith and Islamic faith. It is part of their legacy as well and we are very happy that the Fijian community has not, in any way, tried to intimidate us into following Christianity and has enabled us to practice that faith. So, please, let us keep it that way because we are happy that way.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- Sir, no one was alluding to intimidation, no one was alluding to enforced proselytisation, nothing at all, Sir. I merely quoted from the last command of Jesus Christ, before he left this earth, Sir, that we ought to go out and convert, lovingly in the Christ-like manner, with no cohesion. He has it all wrong, as usual, Sir.

HON. SENATOR Q.B. BALE.- Mr. President, Sir, I believe that various parts of Standing Order 51 is affected by the comments made by the honourable Senator, relating to a blame for the death of Ro Lady Lala. The honourable Senator is attributing that blame to this Government, in particular to the person (who he knows well) is responsible for the appointment or renewal of any appointment in the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC), the honourable Prime Minister and the Minister of Fijian Affairs.

Sir, Standing Order 51(3), makes it out of order for a Member of this august House to make a reference to a Member of the House of Representatives or to the conduct of such a Member in the execution of a legal process. The matter of appointment is a legal process, provided under the Fijian Affairs Act and the Fijian Affairs (Great Council of Chiefs) Regulations.

Sir, secondly, his comments also offend Standing Order 51(5)(d) which says that you are not allowed to talk like that in this august House, using words which are likely to promote or provoke feelings of ill-will or hostility between different communities in the Fiji Islands.

The different communities that I am referring to is the Matanitu Vanua of Burebasaga. They would not be happy with that kind of comment, if it was true. Therefore, the comments are obviously intended to provoke ill feeling between that Matanitu Vanua and others, particularly amongst the Fijian communities.

Sir, I am mentioning this and I am not going to go into details on it but it is of a substantial nature and it raises a lot of very serious connotations and innuendoes. I will be asking for an opportunity to make a proper ministerial statement to respond to that kind of very serious (and at this point as far as I know), speculative, groundless and irresponsible statement, Sir, by the honourable Senator.

HON. SENATOR J.M. AH KOY.- I am always amazed that the honourable and learned Attorney-General gets up and tries to bamboo us with his knowledge of the law. We are lay people, Sir, we do have certain working knowledge of the law as well.

His reference to what I said is not correct, is not correct itself, Sir, because we all know the process of appointment by Government to the GCC. It would have been absolutely easy for the Government to reappoint Ratu Epeli Ganilau but he was cashiered simply and purely for being the chief that he is, he played the middle ground. He acted like a true Fijian chief, Sir. The chief that I know of, I worked with in closed quarters the four blood related chiefs that brought Fiji out of Colonial rule into Independence. Sir, they were accepted chiefs and Ratu Epeli was behaving like them. Because of that and he had spoken at times against the Government, he was cashiered. We know precisely what the story is, Sir.

HON. SENATOR A.V. TORA.- He is repeating what he has already said. It is a repetition.

HON. SENATOR RATU I. TAKIVEIKATA.- Mr. President, Sir, I rise to contribute to the Address given during the Joint Sitting of Parliament by His Excellency the President on Monday, 26th July, 2004.

Turaga saka na i Liuliu ni Bose, au tucake saka me'u cavuta na noqu vakavinavinaka levu ena vuku ni nodra vosa na Turaga Bale na Tui Vuda, ka Peresitedi ni noda Matanitu, ena nodra dolava na Bose Cokovata ni Palimedi ena siga Moniti nai ka 26 ni Julai.

Ni bera saka talega oya, au via duavata kei ira kece na cavuta tiko na nodra vosa ni veivakacaucautaki vua na Turaga Bale, na Tui Nayau, Tui Lau, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, kei na Gone Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Lady Lala Mara, ena vuku saka ni nodra cau ena vanua lomani o Viti ena gauna balavu ni nodra Veiliutaki. E duavata saka kina na Vanua o Naitasiri ki na Matanitu Veiliutaki ena veivakacaucautaki, ka'u vakabauta ni rau biuta koto mai edua na i vakaraitaki uasivi veikeda eda na tomana tiko na veiliutaki ni noda vanua. Na veiliutaki vakaturaga e vakayavutaki ena loloma kei na dina, na veivosovosoti kei na veiliutaki vakadodonu. E ka dokai kina vei au me'u cavuta na noqu vakavinavinaka levu ena Yasana vakaturaga o Lau kei na Vanua vakaturaga o Burebasaga ena vuku ni veiliutaki balavu erau a vakayacora tu mai na Turaga kei na Marama Bale ena vicasagavulu na yabaki sa oti. Sa masu saka ni vanua o Naitasiri ni na vakalougatataki tiko na vanua vakaturaga, o iratou na turaga lailai kei na marama ka ratou bula tiko mai, meratou muria na we ni yava ni veiliutaki cecere rau sa mai biuta na Turaga Bale Tui Nayau kei na Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi.

Au vinakata saka talega me'u vakaraitaka ena Vale ni Bose ni bera ni'u dewa ena vosa vakaperitania, ni dei saka tiko na Matanitu oqo ena nona rokova na i tutu vakaturaga ena veivanua bale e Viti. E sega saka kina ni veibeci baleta na i tikotiko vakaturaga ni veituraga e Viti, ena tolu na Matanitu Vanua; Kubuna kei na kena i sasavu; Burebasaga kei na kena i sasavu; kei na Matanitu Veiwekani na Tovata. Na Matanitu saka oqo e rokova tiko na i tutu vakaturaga kei na nona wasea vakadodonu na i tutu vakavanua vakaturaga kei na i tutu vakapolitiki.

Au vinakata saka me'u vakaraitaka eke na leqa ni kawa i Taukei nikua veikeda eda veiliutaki, na kena sa mai bosoki vata na bula vakapolitiki kei na bula vakaturaga ka vakaitaukei. Orau oqo erau duidui, e matata tiko vei na Matanitu veiliutaki nikua na duidui ni veiliutaki vakapolitiki, vakacakacaka kei na veiliutaki vakaturaga. E sega ni rawa ni siova na Matanitu oqo na i tutu vakaturaga ni dua na vanua turaga e Viti. Ena rawa saka ga ni vosa ena i tutu ni Matanitu baleta oya saka na galala ni Matanitu veiliutaki edaidai. Au vinakata saka talega me'u vakaraitaka na vakavinaka ni Matanitu oqo na nona vakalewai ni veiliutaki, e sega ni dua na ka vou, e sa i vakarau ni bula ni veiliutaki na vakalewai. Au vinakata me'u vakadeitaka ena Vale ni Bose cecere oqo ni Matanitu ena tudei ena kaukauwa, ena saga na nona i gu taucoko me vakayacora na veiliutaki vinaka taudua me vakayacori ena veigauna ena vanua saka oqo ko Viti.

Mr. President, Sir, His Excellency's Address is very powerful, positive and encouraging. Its energy brings hope, and breath new life into the spirit of all the citizens of Fiji. It cheers our hearts, inspires our souls and improves the mood of the country. It is music to our ears and light at the end of the tunnel. It gives us reason to believe in Fiji. The present social, cultural, political and economic vision of Fiji gives permission to dream together and to work together to build a bright prosperous and peaceful future for all the citizens of this country.

Mr. President, Sir, the most important of all, His Excellency's Address removes the fear and suspicion from the hearts and minds of both the Fijians and Indians in this trying times that our nation is facing. I thank and congratulate His Excellency the President for that beautiful and powerful Address to the nation during the Joint Sitting of Parliament.

Mr. President, Sir, I have no doubt that we all share His Excellency's visions and dreams for Fiji and together, we can all make it happen.

Mr. President, Sir, His Excellency the President touches on many topics during his Address. He talks about enhancing security, law and order, reducing poverty, social justice and good governance. He talks about maintaining macro-economic stability, informing the public sector and promoting rural and outer islands developments. He talks about structural reform, promote competition and efficiency and most important of all, His Excellency the President talks about national reconciliation and unity.

Mr. President, Sir, the theme of my speech today is national reconciliation and unity. In addition, I will explain how the Government's Blueprint and Affirmative Action Programme is the most important part of national reconciliation and unity.

Mr. President, Sir, I note with interest that members of the Fiji Labour Party consistently support the Blueprint and Affirmative Action Programme, when they speak in this august House. However, as soon as they speak to the local and international media, they accuse the Government of using the Blueprint and Affirmative Action Programme to practise racism against the Indian community. They know that it is not true but they disseminate those lies in order to destroy the image of Fiji and the Fijians.

These people work around the clock as far back as I can remember, to hide the unequal distribution of wealth amongst the Indians and the Fijians. They also hide the unequal access of resources between the Fijians and Indians. The Indians have been receiving preferential treatment from all governments since they set foot in Fiji. Today, they control the economy but that is never enough. While they are busy destroying the image of the Fijians in the local and international publications and broadcasting, they are also demanding for national reconciliation.

Sir, that is like burning down a sugarcane farm and demanding to harvest good cane during the harvesting season. In plain English, the Indians are forcing the Fijians to accept and reconcile with commercial and economic inequalities along ethnic lines.

Sir, social injustice along ethnic lines creates a caste system, with the rich at the top and the poor at the bottom. It is immoral, unjust and unacceptable. It ignores the Pacific ways and should not be tolerated in Fiji.

Sir, the Government's Blueprint and Affirmative Action Programmes attempt to solve these problems, even though the entire programmes pours in more cash into Indian pockets and very little into the pockets of the Fijians.

Mr. President, Sir, I believe that the Blueprint and Affirmative Action Programmes should be given the support it deserves from every right thinking citizens of this country. It is not perfect but a step in the right direction. It is not easy to create unity in a multi-ethnic society. The quality in economic and commercial power will enhance security and bring about law and order on a voluntary basis.

Sir, economic and commercial equality will serve as an unwritten goodwill contract by different groups of peaceful co-exist. It is this informal unwritten contract of peace and goodwill amongst the people that hold this country together.

Mr. President, Sir, economic inequality is perceived by the Fijians as injustice and a violation of the principle of reciprocity. It creates a deep sense of insecurity, suspicion and fear amongst the people. It makes many of us afraid that unjust economic system is going to cause us to become slaves in our own country.

Sir, macro-economic stability is not possible where there is social injustice, commercial and economic discrimination against the Fijians insecurity, suspicion and fear.

Mr. President, Sir, the spirit of national reconciliation and unity I believe, will allow all the citizens of Fiji to support and bless the Blueprint and Affirmative Action Programmes for a more equal distribution of economic and commercial power between the Fijians and the Indians.

Sir, this will prevent the urban drift, homelessness, poverty, crime and disease. True equality is not possible without equality, economic and commercial power. The promotion of national reconciliation and unity, in my view, depends on the spirit of mutual respect and reciprocity.

Mr. President, Sir, we have to stop judging each other by their weakness and start enlightening each other with strength and positive qualities. We have to learn to see something good in every human-being, irrespective of his or her ethnic groups, language, culture, customs and traditions.

Mr. President, Sir, the differences between the Fijians and the Indians are many and they are all important. These differences should be well researched and documented so that what is unique an good in each group should be recognised, respected and celebrated.

Mr. President, Sir, we must respect each other if we want reconciliation. The mosque temples are holy and sacred to the Indians whilst the name "Fijian" is sacred and holy to the Fijians. If we want national reconciliation and unity, we must criminalise identity, the use of the word "Indo-Fijian," as we criminalise the destruction of Hindu and Muslim places of worship. We cannot desecrate what is sacred and holy for the other ethnic groups and expect to harvest the fruit of peace, national reconciliation and unity.

Sir, Fiji is a beautiful and powerful nation because we have two ethnic groups with different language, religion, culture and tradition. These ethnic groups have its strengths and weaknesses but both are beautiful because they have much to offer to our country.

Sir, the Fijians and Indians complement each other. We need each other for support, sensitivity, guidance, sharing, caring and goodwill to help keep the family together.

Mr. President, Sir, before I conclude, I appeal to this nation to cooperate in bringing about economic equality, equal commercial power and build bridges of understanding.

Sir, with those few words, I thank you for this opportunity to make this contribution.

MR. PRESIDENT.- Honourable Senators, we will now adjourn for lunch and resume at 2.30 p.m.

MR. PRESIDENT.- Honourable Senators, before we proceed this afternoon, I take this time to welcome the Form Four students and teachers of Sigatoka Valley Junior Secondary School at the public gallery. We take this opportunity to extend to you a most warm welcome and hopefully your visit to Parliament will be very enjoyable and knowledgeable.

HON. SENATOR V. NAVOKA.- Mr. President, Sir, I rise to thank his Excellency for his noble and most gracious Address.

Before I make my observations and submissions on His Excellency's Address, I am sure that we, in this august House, all share with His Excellency his expression of sorrow and message of condolences on the chiefly household of the late Tui Nayau on the passing away of the Marama Bale na Roko Tui Dreketi, Ro Lady Lala Mara, the paramount chief on her own right, the matanitu vanua of Rewa and head of the Burebasaga Confederacy. Together with her noble chiefly husband, the late Tui Nayau, Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara, our former President and founding father of independent Fiji, they were the foundation of hope, progress and direction for a multi-racial Fiji. The late Adi Lady Lala Mara had been a formidable force and influence in the affairs of the State and the Great Council of Chiefs from which her absence has been sadly felt by the chiefs of Fiji. We mourn their passing away and honour them for their dedication and positive leadership, and largely their immense contributions to the establishment and maintenance of multi-racialism in our nation. May their souls rest in peace.

Mr. President, Sir, His Excellency referred to the nation's reconciliation and reconstruction that have been made since the upheaval of 2000 and also to the recovery and progress Fiji has made and continues to make. He has also noted that with economic growth and expansion, average personal incomes have improved, more jobs have been created and investment levels rising.

The Reserve Bank had pointed out the need to encourage more private sector investment, as through investments, there would be creation of new jobs, sustainable incomes including higher wages and salaries and consequently new exports on a continuing basis.

In order to create a strong foundation for continuing economic growth, it is desirable that in addition to increased investment, we should lift and expand on our export earnings.

Fiji is still, and will continue to be an agriculture-based economy, with heavy reliance on a single crop, sugar cane. A significant change in the structure of the economy during the 1980s to the 1990s coincided with a shift in economic policy from import substitution to export promotion. This saw the manufacturing sector share of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grow in the late 1980s, while the share of agriculture, forestry and fisheries contracted. The contribution of the mining and the services sectors, comprising largely of Government activities also increased, relative to GDP. The garment and sugar industries, because of their export volumes, have been the main contributors to growth in the manufacturing sector whilst tourism was the main contributor in the wholesale and retail sectors.

Mr. President, Sir, now the prospects for the sugar industry remain centred on the ability of stakeholders to find solutions to problems relating to the expiry of ALTA land leases, poor quality of cane, mill inefficiencies and inadequate transportation access to mills. The sustainability of this industry is highly dependent on reforms to be undertaken.

Sir, of equal importance is the immediate need to resolve rural land resettlement issues, as a result of the expiry of agricultural land leases and the problem of smaller sugar cane farming units becoming unviable in view of eroding sugar preferences. This will mean a decline in productivity at farm level in the immediate future. Therefore, it is a must, that the structural reforms proposed for the sugar industry must take place for the industry to continue and survive. Even though disparities exist, rural areas will always remain the hidden strength of the economy due to the abundance of traditional food crops in Fiji. Whilst, there is enormous potential, there are also severe constraints, which include the unavailability of arable agriculture land, inaccessibility to well-functioning markets, unavailability of credit and infrastructure, poor dissemination of research and information to farmers and high vulnerability to international competition.

Mr. President, Sir, there is now a challenge on the part of the Government in implementing a comprehensive agriculture sector reform to stimulate agricultural production through infrastructure development and to encourage commercialisation of a range of agricultural commodities for export. The established fact, however, is that, the agriculture sector holds enormous potential in both quantities and capacities for agricultural commodity items that have overseas markets and are exportable.

Mr. President, Sir, non-sugar crops and livestocks contribute eight per cent of GDP. About 11 per cent of agricultural exports and benefits approximately 50 per cent of the population. The crop sector consists of traditional food crops: dalo, cassava, ginger and yaqona. Tropical fruits consist of pineapple, pawpaw, mango vegetables, spices, cocoa and coconut products. Beef, dairy, pork, poultry, sheep, goat and honey make up the livestock sub-sector. The performance of the agriculture sector over the last decade, has been mixed. While production and exports of some commodities such as dalo, cassava and vegetables have gradually increased, others have stagnated or declined. Copra and cocoa have had a poor decade with declining production and exports.

Mr. President, Sir, future potential is with products where Fiji has a competitive advantage such as in high value niche exports and traditional food crop production. Products that give the best returns to labour and land resources include traditional food crops, fresh fruits, processed fruits, processed nuts, cut flowers, vegetables, spices, herbs and medicinal plants, handicraft raw materials and certified organic products.

Mr. President, Sir, my view of the rather stagnant situation of development within the agricultural sector is the absence of a well-developed marketing network for cash crops that is workable and economically viable. There is no established marketing network to provide continuous outlets that would ensure that all cash crops produced, will all be sold and, therefore, fetch income for the rural farmers. Unless there are market outlets continuously in existence to absorb agricultural produce, there will be no incentive to encourage farmers to cultivate their land, and let alone to further expand on the production of their current cash crops.

Mr. President, Sir, I would, therefore, at this point in time, urge Government to include in the next year's budget the setting up of rural market centres in places like the Sigatoka valley in the Western Division, a suitable location in the Central Division and one for the Northern Division.

Sir, the need to create economic opportunities and provide jobs to our people is more pronounced now, in view of our existing high unemployment rate and the situation being aggravated by the 10,000 odd school-leavers leaving school annually looking for employment. While we do welcome the drive to attract foreign investors, who bring with them high capital intensive and developed industries which are basically high skilled into Fiji, we must not ignore the need to develop and establish our local entrepreneurial base, based on our own natural and manpower resources with the existing infrastructural facilities available. We must not lose sight of the need to building up and establishing a solid local entrepreneurial base which is bound to help stimulate the creation and establishment of new industries and businesses which will provide the much needed jobs to the current unemployed labour force. I may mention, Mr. President, Sir, that the approach should be that while large and medium scale industries through foreign investments would be concentrated in major centres, Government, through the National Centre for Small and Micro-Enterprises Development should diversify industrial and commercial activities from the urban centres into the rural areas, including growth centres through the development of small industries/businesses. Through such diversification, Sir, there will be openings for rural dwellers, including villagers to participate in operating small industries/businesses thereby providing jobs at their doorsteps, and therefore helping curb the influx of people from the rural areas to the urban centres. It must be remembered that it is the natural urge to seek livelihoods that compel rural dwellers to drift into towns and cities looking initially for jobs and economic opportunities.

Mr. President, Sir, it is pleasing to note Government's commitment to fully develop the talents and abilities of youths. After all, the youths represent a major portion of our population and will constitute the main part of our labour force. They are the generation in the future that will serve and develop the nation. Among them, there will be leaders who will lead and manage the destiny of this country.

Mr. President, Sir, I would request Government to allocate budgetary provisions, to reviving the network of youth clubs around the country, as well as the employment of a cadre of qualified youth workers to servicing those clubs. The approach of youth training and developing their characters must be based on production of goods and produce that are saleable, in addition to the teaching of necessary skills and know how in the production of goods and farming produce. They will have to be orientated towards the costing of production and pricing of finished products and farm produce to determine their selling prices. They should be taught how to manage the sale proceeds, with that type of arrangement; each youth clubs could become self-sustaining and therefore, off-load a major provision of the budgetary allocation from Government.

Mr. President, Sir, I would like to applaud Government in its programme of providing playing grounds and some sporting facilities throughout the country. This is indeed, a wise move to enhance the development of our youths in sport. Besides the development of youths to be mentally and physically fit and their basic skills in whatever sports they choose, will help develop themselves to become professional sportsmen and sportswomen. The openings and opportunities available in the sporting fields nowadays are numerous. Many sports, including soccer and rugby have been professionalised that the onus is very much with our youths, to prepare themselves fully and develop their sporting skills and capability to the level attractive to bidding sponsors, recruiting clubs and unions overseas. With the sporting fields and facilities to be provided, it would greatly help in the development of sporting talents and attributes of our local youths so that they would be marketable as well as becoming our national sport export which is now big business. Part of or a major portion of their income derived from their sporting contracts could be remitted back to Fiji for which our economy would benefit. Such is the impact of the development of our youths in sport.

Mr. President, Sir, despite Government's continuous effort to combat poverty, the proportion of households living in poverty has continued to escalate, increasing from 15 per cent in 1983 to 25 per cent in 1996. Furthermore, it is estimated that the proportion of households living in poverty has further increased since the political and economic instabilities of May 2000. Visible signs of rising poverty include increased numbers of street people such as beggars, street kids, wheelbarrow boys, prostitutes, and squatters in urban and peri-urban areas.

I have also noted, Mr. President, Sir, that Government's assistance towards poverty alleviation includes upgrading of squatter settlements, farming assistance, remission of school fees, grants to NGOs, Micro Finance Schemes and Safety Net Programmes for the Destitute, as well as the Family Assistance Allowance. It is estimated that Government's expenditure on poverty alleviation is to be more than $90 million annually.

Mr. President, Sir, poverty alleviation efforts are found to be constrained by the lack of job opportunities and inadequate capacity of the poor to take advantage of existing opportunities, which is attributed to the slow growth of the economy and lack of necessary basic skills to take up available opportunities. As a result of the weakening of the traditional support system, more people are seeking welfare assistance, particularly the elderly. International experience shows that merely increasing welfare payments to combat poverty serves to further weaken existing support structures in the community. However, Mr. President, Sir, I would submit with Government to increase its effort in alleviating poverty in addition to the various assistance being provided to include the following:-

(a) increasing Farming Assistance Fund, including the provision of technical farming service;

(b) increase in Micro-Finance Scheme Fund, including provision of training in business operation and management;

(c) holding of training courses to upgrade basic skills and knowledge in various trades and profession to be provided free;

Mr. President, Sir, I am heartened to note that Government will commit substantially increased resources for development in the rural and interior areas of Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, and in the maritime provinces. This is to cover improvement in community facilities, water supplies, housing, electricity, telecommunications, roading, shipping, schools, health care facilities, village beautification and social welfare services. Major projects include the construction of rural market centres, construction of an integrated port at Wairiki in Bua, completion of the timber training centre at Nasinu and the construction of more rural fisheries centres.

Mr. President, Sir, in concluding, I wish to once again thank His Excellency for his noble Address and I look forward to an effective and active Government, and its commitment to continually increase its development programme for Fiji in the years ahead.

HON. SENATOR RATU E. NIUDAMU.- Mr. President, Sir, I rise to contribute briefly to His Excellency's Address on the Joint Sitting of Parliament on Monday, 26th July, 2004. Sir, with your permission, may I speak in the Fijian vernacular.

Ni sa tiko saka na Turaga nai Liuliu ni Bose kei kemuni talega na Mata digitaki mai na Bose Levu Vakaturaga, taumada, au vinakata meu vakaraitaka na noqu vakavinavinaka kina Matanitu, na SDL Coalition ni laurai ni vakadinadinataki ni sa cici vinaka tiko mai na noda Matanitu ena veigauna sa oti yani me yacova saka mai na siga ni kua. Au vakavinavinaka talega vua na Turaga na Prime Minister, ni rawa ni maroroi saka tiko na noda vanua ena gauna dredre eda sokova saka tiko ena gauna oqo. Na draki ni bula voravora e sotava tu na Vanua o Viti, rawa vua na Matanitu me taura tiko vakamalua nai lakolako qo me rawa ni maroroi saka tiko kina na noda vanua ena gauna dredre eda sota kaya tiko.

Turaga na Peresitedi, au vinakata meu na vakavinavinaka ki vua na Matanitu, kau gusu talega ni Vanua o Ra, ena kena vakau yani na veivuke ni waluvu, me vaka na kakana. Au via taura talega na gauna oqo me'u vakavinavinakataka ena vuku ni Yasana o Ra ena vuku ni veivuke ni Matanitu ena kena soli saka yani na kakana vei ira na neimami era tu ena vei vanua ka tarai ira na waluvu. Esa dua na ka vinaka kau mai gusu tale ni Matabose ni Yasana o Ra ena Vale cecere oqo, meu cavuta na vakavinavinaka ni Matabose ni Yasana ni Matanitu. E vaka talega kina na vei gaunisala ena Yasana o Ra ka ra vakacacani ena gauna ni waluvu se qai oti ga oqo. Na gaunisala ena baravi kei Nakorotubu ka muria na baravi kei Nakorotubu me rau mai sota tale kei na tauni o Korovou. Na vei gaunisala talega oqo era vakacacani vakalevu ena gauna ni waluvu ka yacova na gauna oqo, esa tadola tale na veilakoyaki ena tolo ni gaunisala oqo.

E vaka talega kina na gaunisala mai Barotu, me lako cake ki Nailuva (ena loma ni vanua). A mai tarovi tu vakadede ena loma ni macawa sa oti ka sa toso tale na veilakoyaki. E vaka talega kina na Laudawa/Lawaki Road, oqo ena loma ni vanua o Nalawa me lako cake ki na vanua vakaturaga o Nasau, ka semata yani na vanua o Naitasiri, ena tikina o Wailevu ena gauna qo. Me yacova mai qo, esa tadola kece sara na gaunisala ena cakacaka ni veiliutaki ni Matanitu ka cici saka tiko ena gauna oqo, mai na Tabacakacaka ni Matai kei na Engineer, kau taura talega kina na gauna meu vakavinavinaka ena tabana oqo.

Nai karua ni ka au vinakata meu vakaraitaka, Turaga na Peresitedi, na leqa e dau tara vakalevu na vanua vakaturaga o Ra, kau dau vakaraitaka vakalevu ena Matabose cecere qo na leqa ni Tabana ni Bula. E sega ni qai kenai matai. Au tekivu vakaraitaka na leqa `qo ni Tabana ni Bula mai na matai ni gauna au se qai curuma mai kina na Vale ni Bose cecere oqo. Au na taura saka na Valenibula mai Nanukuloa Health Centre. Sa oti oqo e lima na yabaki na kena sa sega tu kina na vuniwai, ka rau veiqaravi tikoga kina ena gauna oqo e rua na nasi.

Na valenibula oqo e qaravi ira na lewenivanua ni tolu na tikina lelevu - Nakorotubu, o ira na tiko ena bati ni baravi, o ira na vanua vaka-Nalawa kei na vanua vaka-Saivou, ka wili talega kina na vanua o Rakiraki. Mai na gauna oya me yacova nikua, esa sega na vuniwai. Kevaka e dua vei keimami, se dua na lewenivanua e vinakata na veivuke ni Tabana ni Bula, ena sauma na nona carrier se lorry ka rauta ni $50 mai Nanukuloa me yaco ki Rakiraki. Eda raica saka eke na nodra vakaloloma na lewenivanua era tu saka mai na taudaku ni koro lelevu ni ra sotava na veidredre vaka oqo. Keimami sa nuitaka ni na raica na Matanitu vakatitobu na vakasama oqo, me keimami na vakacegui kina ena loma saka ni Yasana.

Ena baravi kei Nakorotubu, ena vanua o Namarau, e tiko talega kina e dua na valenibula, ka ra dau vakacegui kina na lewe ni baravi kei Nakorotubu, wili kina e dua na yasa ni vanua o Tailevu, o iratou na wekaqu ka ra vakaitikotiko e Dawasamu. Era sotava tale tuga na dredre ena gauna oqo, ni sega na vuniwai.

Me baleta na valenibula e Nasau, na Nasau Health Centre, era a tara na lewenivanua. Dua na gauna, a vakau yani nai tukutuku vei ira na lewenivanua me nodrai tavi na tara na vale ka nonai tavi na Matanitu mena vakaiyayataka na vale. Sa oti saka na nodrai tavi na lewenivanua, sa tu saka na valenibula. E vakarautaki tu na vanua mena davo kina na tauvimate, vanua ni veicavubati kei na vakasucu. Sa oti oqo e 10 vakacaca na yabaki na kena sega tu na vuniwai. Nai otioti ni vuniwai a tiko mai na valenibula oya o Vuniwai Josua Sivuki, na turaga ni Gau. Nikua esa tiko e Valenibula Levu e Suva, ena nona sa lesi mai. Nai sau ni lori, mai na loma ni vanua oqo me yaco ki Rakiraki ena tiko ena $40 ki na $70. Ni dau yaco na leqa, era leqa ga kina na lewenivanua era tu ena taudaku ni vei koro lelevu, me vaka au vakaraitaka tiko ena yakavi nikua.

Na valenibula talega oqo e sotava tiko e vica na leqa. E levu vei ira na wekaqu era tiko mai na lomani tauni e colo, mai na Tikina o Wailevu ena vanua o Matailobau, era vakacegui ena vanua oqo. O iratou na wekaqu eratou tiko mai Nabuebuco, eratou vakacegui ena valenibula oqo. E dredre na veilakoyaki, ni ra dau siro sobu mai na gaunisala, ni tiko ena loma ni maliwa oqo na valenibula ka sa dau voleka na veitaratara vei ira na lewenivanua, ka vakacegui ira vakalevu na valenibula oqo. Au sa vakanuinui ki na Matanitu ni na raica na tikina oqo, na nodra vakacegui na lewenivanua mai na vei leqa vakaoqo; me rawa ni sotava na nodra leqa, me rawa kina na bula kei na tiko vinaka.

Turaga na Peresitedi, na veika au vakaraitaka tiko qo, e sega ni qai kau ga mai kina na Vale ni Bose cecere oqo. Au kila ni vica na vei bose sa oti, au sa vakaraitaka saka kina. Au dau lako vakalevu ki na veibose ni Tikina, ena vei Tikina au sa cavuta oti. E kau kina bose ni Yasana, ka dua na ulubale e dau tukuni tiko ena bose ni Yasana ni lailai tiko na vuniwai. Ia, kevaka esa lailai na vuniwai, sa ra na qai qaravi vakacava na lewenivanua? Evei na vanua me keimami na tagi kina o keimami na lewenivanua tu mai na veidaku ni koro lelevu? E dredre na veitaratara ni sega na talevoni, livaliva, kau sa vakanuinui tu ki na Matanitu ni na raica e vica na veika oqo me rawa ni keimami na vukei kina.

Turaga na Peresitedi, au kila ni dua na gauna as oti, a vakaraitaki ni na dabe ena Yasana o Ra e dua na market centre, me baleti ira na dauqoli ena baravi o Nakorotubu. Esa vo vakalailai me cava na yabaki qo, ka yacova mai nikua, se bera ni dua na ka se macala tu ena tikina au sa kainaka tiko oqo. Au sa vakanuinui ki na Matanitu ni na raica me ra kakua ni dau vakalolomataki na lewenivanua, ka me kua ni dua na ka me tukuni wale tuga. Ena lai voqa walega na domo ena vei bose ni Yasana ka vakaraitaki ena nanumi ni na vakaraitaki mai eso na ka vakaoqo, ia e qai sega ni vakayacori, ka dau tara na nodra bula mera dau vakalolomataki ni ra dau lasutaki me baleta eso nai tukutuku vakaoqo ni kau yani ena vei loma ni bose ni Yasana, me vakacegui beka ga kina na yalo, ia e tu dina na leqa era gagadre kina na lewenivanua.

Livaliva: Au a kerea saka ena dua na gauna sa oti, Turaga na Peresitedi, me toso na livaliva e tiko mai na Ra Distrcit School ka yaco i Dama. Na vuna, e vica na koronivuli eratou toka e loma oqo, kau sa vakaraitaka oti talega ena Bose, ena vica na auwa sa oti na vakasama qo. E vica na nodra koronivuli na gone ni Idia era tiko qo; na Arya Mardia kei na Muslims.

Kenai karua, e tiko talega eke na Naloa Police Post. Na dredre ni veitaratara mai na loma-ni-vanua e gadrevi kina na Tabana ni Livaliva kei na Tabana ni Talevoni. A basika saraga mai na leqa ni ka oqo ena gauna e yaco kina na waluvu ka se qai oti ga oqo, na gauna a lutu kina na basi ni Sunbeam mai Wainibuka. Eda a raica saka ni a taura e voleka ni rua na siga na nodratou sasaga veitaratara. O iratou na lutu mai na Sunbeam a ratou mai tukutuku, me ratou veitaratara mai na Nalawa Police Post, ka qai tara nai tikotiko ni ovisa mai Rakiraki ni sega saka na gaunisala ni veitaratara, me vaka na talevoni, sega na Radio Telephone (RT) kau nanuma na Matanitu me na raica ne veileqa kece vakaoqo. Qo, saka, na nodra leqa na lewe ni vanua, kau mai vakaraitaka saka eke, baleta ni Vale ni Bose cecere oqo e rawa ni vakacegui kina na nodra tagi kei na domodra na lewenivanua era tu vakaloloma mai na veikoro. Au kerea saka kina na Matabose saka qo, nai tabetabe ni dela ni teveli ni veiliutaki ni Matanitu, ni raica saka e vica na tikina au vakaraitaka tiko ena yakavi nikua.

Ni bera saka niu dabe, au duavata kei iratou na noqui tokani ena kena tokoni na nodrai tukutuku na Gone Turaga na noda Peresitedi.

HON. SENATOR RATU K. VAKAWALETABUA.- Mr. President, Sir, I rise to give a brief contribution to the Address by His Excellency the President of the Fiji Islands, Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda at the Joint Sitting of Parliament on Monday, 26th July, 2004.

Sir, as lamented by His Excellency, I would also like to give my condolences to the family of Na Marama Bale Na Roko Tui Dreketi, the Vanua of Burebasaga, for the untimely passing of Ro Lady Lala Mara. She has left a beacon of light in leadership, the home and the public as a whole, that I am sure many would learn from. May her soul rest in peace.

Firstly, Mr. President, Sir, I would again like to thank the Government for its endeavour in undertaking major projects in the construction of rural market centers, in particular, the construction of the integrated port at Wairiki in Bua. This, I believe, will be a first major project for the province, as many would know that the development in Bua is very little, considering the fact that it provides an abundance of natural resources. I believe that Government should expand its development framework to include other provinces like Bua and others that are equally viable to provide resources and raw materials for production. The development of rural projects to tamper into the untouched natural resources in Fiji would also provide employment opportunities for the rural dwellers. This could also be a solution to the increasing movement to the urban areas in search for work. This has led to the creation of other social problems, such as poverty and other problems that have constituted the informal sector in cities and towns.

Mr. President, Sir, the Presidential Address by His Excellency on 26th July has given hope and a positive outlook to the future, in terms of development. As a developing country, Fiji, like other countries, is struggling to find ways to boost the economy. This can only be positively achieved through proper planning and management. Fiji has to go back to the drawing board and try to learn from the past, to make better what the future holds for the economy.

Talking about the future, Mr. President, Sir, the education of our children is equally important. I thank the Government on its decision to hold a National Educational Summit next year. This, I believe, Sir, will be a positive move in identifying the problems in education and a way of generating new ideas for improving the standard of education in Fiji and for the future development of the youth, who are Fiji's hope in years to come.

Equally important, Mr. President, Sir, is the tourism industry. As a viable sector, the whole of Fiji should work together and support each other in maintaining our country as a favourable tourist destination. Everyone enjoys the tourist dollar and I believe it is everyone's duty to promote Fiji as a good and safe place for our tourists to visit. Despite the number of political upheavals of the past years, we are able to bounce back to where we are now. The whole of Fiji has to be wise and any other political disruption will only be a setback to the current growth of our economy, which will affect everyone in this country.

Furthermore, I would like to congratulate the Police Force in its endeavour to curb crime and criminal activities in both the urban and rural areas, which has started out on the island of Taveuni and I salute the Police Commissioner and his officers for their work. I wish them well in their current operation and any future efforts to eliminate illegal activities and corruption.

Mr. President, Sir, I would also like to echo what my fellow colleagues have voiced before me, that there is a need to amend the 1997 Constitution. I believe that parts of the Constitution have come into conflict with the Fijian traditional way of life. This is with reference to certain aspects of human rights, which have come into effect and thus, have disrupted the context and structure of the Fijian society. Respect, trust and unity that is known to be an integral part of indigenous society is slowly eroding, as a result of the implementation of laws that are foreign to our way of life.

Mr. President, Sir, we have an indigenous society that should be preserved, therefore I believe the Constitution should be amended to accommodate this. I believe the only way forward for the development progress of Fiji is working together, despite differences in belief, race or any other barrier that may have divided us in the past. Racial reconciliation and unity is needed, if the country has to move forward. Everyone needs to work together for the betterment of our country, economy, the future and the future of our children.

MR. PRESIDENT.- Honourable Senators, before moving any further, we acknowledge the presence in the public gallery of Ambassador Satiya Nandan, the Secretary-General of the International Seabed Authority, Fiji and also former Under Secretary-General for the United Nations for the law of the sea and Mrs Nandan. Also, the honourable Member for Suva City Communal (G. Nand) and Mrs. Nand, we welcome you most warmly.

Honourable Senators, we have come to the end of another day, I take this time once again to thank you most sincerely for your support, co-operation and patience.