SHIRLEY PARKGATE: It looks like "done deal syndrome" at play. Meghjis hired consultant Horizon Environment Health Services to carry out EIA is from Fiji government; the meeting proceeded without ToR compliance!

19/3/2016

"It's old bottle filled with fake new wine" - even local media didn't turn up! THE OBJECTORS TO SHIRLEY PARK WALKED OUT OF EIA "MEETING"

A Fijileaks reporting team member informs us that at the meeting, the Meghji hired Government consultant proceeded to continue with the meeting even after objections were made by three objectors that the meeting should be cancelled and rescheduled to another time as he was not complying with the Terms Of Reference from the Department of Environment, which states that the public consultation meeting:
must be held "in the presence of a representative from the
Mineral Resources Department;
Lands Department;
TLTB North Western Region;
Provincial Office;
Lautoka Rural Local Authority;
Fiji Electricity Authority;
Department Water and Sewage;
Water Authority of Fiji;
Department of Environment-West Office"
None of the above authorities was present. There was only one representative from the Lautoka City Council

12 Comments

Dekho

19/3/2016 06:03:56 pm

Look every thinking person in Fiji knows the Shirley Park land grab, euphemistically termed " rezoning", was what one commentator described as " state favours and murky business relationships" between political power holders and big business, who are trying to hide this fact by pretending the deal was all over board and proper. Hence all the phoney " public consultations" and " EIA" to give the crooked " done deal" the veneer of legitimacy and respectability. Both of which are actually conspicuous by their absence in the " Shirley Parkgate" affair.

Rajend Naidu

19/3/2016 06:38:15 pm

Editor,
Take A Stand.
We learn from the ABC 18/03 article ' Fairfax job cuts plan prompt mass walk out as staff " take a stand" ' that the announcement of the shredding of 120 editorial staff jobs led to a protest strike by reporters and other staff in solidarity.
I am not surprised to learn the Objectors to Shirley Park " development" walked out of the "'EIA meeting".
The Objectors " take a stand" against what they regard as wrong.
It is very important for democratic governance for people to do that as Pope Francis notes in his comment that " public pressure has to be exerted in order to bring about decisive political action. Society... Must put pressure on governments to develop more rigorous regulations, procedures and controls. Unless citizens control political power... It will not be possible to control damage to the environment".
( extract from Neil Ormerod's letter to smh 17/03).
The citizens who walked out in the Shirley Park meeting clearly know their duty to protect the environment ( the public park land at Shirley's Park) and are not buying into some bogus meeting designed to serve the agenda of the ruling elite and their business mates.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

Shirley Shirley

19/3/2016 06:52:13 pm

There 2-park deals. Churchill to Tappos and Shirley to Mehghjis. Never in Fiji's history have governments given away popular and well used public parks to private companies in such a secretive anfd corrupt manner. This should be sufficient to put Bai, Kai and Bala in jail for a long long time, accompanied by the Tappoos and Meghji;s directors.

Rajend Naidu

19/3/2016 09:23:51 pm

Editor,
Anyone genuinely concerned about Fiji politics and society should read the article ' Brazil Engulfed by Ruling Class Corruption - and a Dangerous Subversion of Democracy' in The Intercept ( 19 March) by Gleen Greenwald, Andrew Fishman, David Miranda and see the many parallels with what Fiji has gone through and is going through.
An illuminating insight can be obtained on the Fiji situation from the Brazilian case.
Sincerely,
Rajend Naidu

eyes wide open

19/3/2016 11:06:08 pm

The question then is this.
At what point in any "done deal"
between corrupt government ministers and crooked developers, should the public become resigned to the fact, and just let the corrupt get on with their dirty business and phony consultations while we all turn a blind eye?
Until the bricks are put in the ground the corrupt should be outed every step of the way, and further.
As the American politician Bess Myerson once said, "The accomplice to the crime of corruption is frequently our own indifference"

And

20/3/2016 03:26:58 am

Spot on. You put the issue confronting the people of Fiji and their predicament so precisely with the support of that quote by the American politician Myerson. Thinking people should reflect on the point you make.

Welcome Home

20/3/2016 01:23:51 am

This 'wringing of hands' is far too late. The damage is already done. Just as the reported (FBC) 'Outbreak of malnutrition' on the island of Koro. These ills do not come about overnight. They are endemic and they stem from the same cause: indifference and ignorance of what is proper governance and what the outcome is likely to be. The planned hotel at Shirley Park is a 'monstrous carbuncle' and has no business defacing a Public Park and amenity beloved by us all over many years. All concerned should be shamed and ridiculed and brought to account.

Welcome Home

20/3/2016 04:41:12 am

And yet right next door at The Waterfront Crimestoppers held regular meetings throughout the year and Prof Yash Ghai was facilitated to meet with us during the Constitutional Consultations - a public service of high order. What service of high order is contemplated by the developers of the Shirley Parkgate monstrosity and will it add to the sum of Happiness for Fijians in future?

Tomasi

20/3/2016 09:31:33 pm

Thank you Chiku, Rajend and friends. This and hundred other examples could be cited as evidence of a strong and unrelenting conviction by Voreqe, Khai and their business backers that they do not intend to listen to the people or to consult others who may hold different opinions to their own. This is made worse by the public's indifference and lack of organised public action. The current Fijian rulers are dictators and a very cunning and cowardly lot. Their strategy of deception, mind control, fear, intimidation and grandstanding of public service to portray diligent service to all Fijians has indeed fooled and cowed many people. But it will not fool all of us. The more we expose this evil agenda, the better it is for many who are ignorant or too weak to speak or fight against them.

However, as has been pointed out, how much of this dictatorship and injustice must we tolerate? What level or degree of wrong and injustice must we put up with for us to declare it is enough? Can we act lawfully within the confines of the fraudulent constitution to publicly demonstrate our dissent and absolute rejection of the government's actions beyond words? How can we effectively and efficiently put a stop to this arrogant, evil and dictatorial rule?

I think it is time we the general public organise a public protest, inform the President and the world that Voreqe and Khai must step down and face the courts for their actions. That a public inquiry be called so that the two dictators account for all their actions since 2006. That we will take action if Voreqe and Khai refuse to step down.

Friends, enough words. Action must now take place. The govt will not change if we the people do not take action NOW.

Samjha

20/3/2016 11:47:30 pm

I share your view that words alone will not put an end to the corrupt, incompetent, coercive misrule by Bainimarama, Khaiyum and their political puppets.
It is time for action. In fact action is long overdue. But I don't think that will happen because Fiji neither has the leadership capable of mobilising a People's Power revolution nor do the people have the political activism necessary to fight against a corrupt regime.
Fiji is not Brazil...

Action

21/3/2016 03:31:38 am

Peaceful action is possible. But military must vow to keep its hands off internal matters. And police must vow to protect law and order. Both these are not likely because Qiliho and the superstars in military are well-fed by Kai-Bai The greed of military seniors and qiliho is unprecedented. Military is now greedier than Kai and Bai. Once proud military now become the private security guard for Kai and Bai. Gutless men these are in the military who cant stand up and say: enough is enough; we will only do what respected militaries are required to do.

Tomasi

21/3/2016 08:05:54 am

and peaceful leadership I agree that we need the military and police to fulfil their proper roles in order for any positive change towards greater democracy to take place. There is the impression that our military and police support the dictatorship. This impression or assumption is based on the actions of the so called appointed leaders of the two security forces. But I do not believe this is the case. In fact, both Bai and Khai are wondering about this every week and probably everyday. We can only know the truth about the loyalty of our security forces if there is a mass civil action organised.

The fact is that we have never had mass civil protest and the dictators fear that one day, if such an event takes place, we will discover the truth. It is also a fact that all military and police appointments since 2006 have been made to accumulate power and control in the hands of political loyalists. It is also a fact that many key officers of our security forces have either been transferred, sacked or retired because they did not agree with the dictatorship. It is also a fact that the majority of our security forces are good people who love freedom and share common values of respect for the law and for one another. But if and when a public action takes place, we shall know where the security forces stand on the matter of loyalty to Bai and Khai or to protect the lives of all our ordinary people.

So I restate the case for an organised mass civil action against the two dictators. This could be on multiple fronts. A civil case in court. a mass peaceful march with a petition to the president, and either a national meeting of all people in Fiji or a national referendum or petition. This is the appropriate action to take now if we are serious about making changes. Of course, these must be planned well and resources made available, etc. But first, we must all agree that we need to take action now. The secret of getting thngs done is to ACT NOW.

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SHIRLEY PARKGATE: It looks like "done deal syndrome" at play. Meghjis hired consultant Horizon Environment Health Services to carry out EIA is from Fiji government; the meeting proceeded without ToR compliance!

"It's old bottle filled with fake new wine" - even local media didn't turn up! THE OBJECTORS TO SHIRLEY PARK WALKED OUT OF EIA "MEETING"

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