Page 17 - IB April 2018

PACIFIC CONVERSATION WITH SPREP

Elections

What’s plastic footprint May or October Poll? tions based on certain factors, especially
if their popularity is high. While the PM

and is it walking through our ocean? is popular, a recent poll has shown his Fiji
First Party has 32 per cent support. This
shows the PM’ popularity is not translating
into support for FijiFirst and the Attorney
General has indicated that government
Did you know? will table the 2018-2019 Budget in June.
So it remains to be seen whether elections
The planet went from making two million metric tons of plastic in 1950 to 380 million metric tons in 2015. will be held before or after the budget,”
Of the world’s plastics nine percent is recycled, 12 percent is incinerated and 79 percent accumulates in landfills. said Prasad.
The Ministry of Economy has recently
There are at least 51 trillion pieces of micro plastic particles in our ocean, these are small plastic pieces less than 5 mm long. put out public notices to advise Fijians to
take part in the 2018-2019 budget con-
How much of this ends up in our ocean? sultations that end in late May.
Delivering this budget in June may be
FijiFirst government’s biggest priority as
80 percent of the marine debris in the ocean comes from the land – what you do on land impacts our ocean health. they will be able to set out what they will
Of the marine debris in our ocean 60 to 95 percent of this is plastic debris. offer Fijians in the 2018 elections, which
in turn will translate into support for the
Each year eight million tonnes of plastic makes its way into our ocean. FijiFirst has only called for expressions of party.
interest from persons who wish to contest After the June budget, the FijiFirst gov-
Why is this a problem? under their banner. ernment then also has the full government
“SODELPA hopes that the elections machinery behind it to deploy its ministers
50 percent of birds and marine mammal species have eaten plastic. will be called later rather than sooner in to Fijian communities and touch base with
order to have more time to consolidate supporters.
Plastic can choke, starve, or entangle marine animals. By Anish Chand our coverage of the electorates. The Prime “Government holds all the cards. It uses
Research is showing that microplastics are being ingested by fish, fish that are also being ingested by humans. Minister will also wish to call the date at the government machinery to campaign. It
his peak political timing but within the uses the taxpayers’ money to hold talanoa
THE burning question from April 2018 constitutionally correct constraints,” said sessions. It uses the budget consultations
Why should Pacific islanders care? to October 2018 will be: when will Prime SODELPA leader Sitiveni Rabuka. to preach even to school children who are
Minister Frank Bainimarama dissolve The National Federation Party says this not voting. The Prime Minister knows very
As Pacific poet and writer, Epeli Hau’ofa said, . It is at the core of many Pacific island cultures. parliament to pave the way for the 2018 being an election year, they have been well what to consider before deciding the
featured in songs and legends, and our ancestors navigated the ocean to seek new lands. general election? preparing for months. elections. We don’t have to second guess
According to Fiji’s 2013 constitution, “NFP has no preference for any time. those issues,” says Narube.
Our ocean feeds us, national fish consumption in our island region is as high as ten times the global average. parliament can be dissolved anytime Any political party must be ready for “Everyone knows that FijiFirst has
75 percent of the world’s tuna landings come from the Pacific waters. between 3 years 6 months of the last elections within the stipulated legal time- started public campaigns by way of bill-
parliament sitting to the day the first time line and NFP is no exception. We have board advertising all over the country
47 percent of Pacific households list fishing as either a primary or secondary source of income. parliament sat 4 years ago. announced 40 provisional candidates since January. It is clear they want to catch
After the 2014 elections, parliament as part of our state of preparedness. The the opposition parties off-guard. While
What can I do to reduce my plastic footprint? sat for the first time on 6 October 2014, highlights of our manifesto have been a law requiring the PM to inform when
he would call the elections is not neces-
before the people of Fiji since July 2017,”
which gives a window of 6 April 2018 to
6 October 2018, between which time the said leader Dr Biman Prasad. sary in genuine democracies, it may be
Make a personal commitment to say no to plastic: refuse plastic straws or use a reusable bag or box instead of a plastic bag. PM can dissolve parliament. The Unity Fiji Party argues the election required for a democracy like ours where
Take part in national and global campaigns which are easy to sign on to, such as the International Coastal Cleanup initiative, If it is dissolved on 6 April and writ of date should be announced well in advance. the constitution is subservient to decrees,”
the Plastic Free July or the Let’s Do It! World Cleanup campaign. elections issued on the same day, general “The election date should be announced Prasad says.
election will be held 44 days later. at least 4 months prior to the elections to There is another school of thought
Support local businesses that promote green plastic free initiatives. Nominations are to be filed within 14 allow all parties to prepare for it. Govern- which believes Bainimarama will go full
days after the writ and elections to be held ment needs to uphold the principle of term, meaning he will dissolve parliament
after 30 days. fairness. Everyone would be satisfied if the in October to allow him to address the
Likewise, if parliament is dissolved on 6 announcement is made at least 4 months world at the United Nations in September
October, add 44 days after that for Fijians before polling date. This should be made and provide an update on his COP23
to go the polls. obligatory under the relevant laws,” said Presidency and champion climate change
No doubt the 2018 elections will be the party leader Savenaca Narube. issues for a last time before he goes to
mother of all elections. Fiji hasn’t had a specific law to dictate elections at home.
The nation, politicians and the people by when an election date should be an- Bainimarama’s handover of COP23
are now fixed on when the FijiFirst party nounced. Presidency to COP24 is in early December
PO Box 240 A resilient Pacific environment sustaining will start its election preparations, which For example, voters in the United States 2018.
Whatever the political scenario is in play
Apia, Samoa will give a hint as to when the country know their presidential election comes ev- now, Bainimarama now holds the trump
will vote.
ery four years and on the second Saturday
+685 21929 our livelihoods and natural heritage All registered political parties are now of November. card in calling for the next general election.
sprep@sprep.org in full swing of preparations while the “Prime Ministers everywhere call elec- r achandftv@gmail.com
www.sprep.org
Islands Business, April 2018 17