Page 30 - IB Dec 2020

Opinion

When it comes to regional pooling of resources, PIF cannot unity so formed needs to be reflected at all times and at dif-
be proud of its past record in the areas of regional shipping ferent levels including at the multilateral level.
and regional aviation. Even its current record, through the The Forum Secretariat and its operations to effectively and
shenanigans at USP, is nothing to write home about. Better efficiently deliver to the Leaders their annual meetings, espe-
management of its exercise of sovereignty transfers from cially their Retreats, seem to be over scrutinised and anal-
members is called for. Members themselves have got to ysed. The Secretariat really needs to just pick up the gauntlet
impose restraining orders when it comes to exercising their and start putting the fine recommendations that have been
influence on other members and on the conduct of regional proposed in various reports over time. These include measures
organisations, including the Forum Secretariat. This is particu- relating to its meeting processes and strategising for the most
larly pertinent in the consideration of political economy and productive use of Leaders’ time at their annual get-togethers.
geopolitics. Of particular consideration also is the provision of technical
Any work on revitalising Pacific regionalism has to include a assistance to deserving members which is currently lacking.
frank review of its structure. Pacific regionalism is voluntary A contributing event to the conjunction is the appointment
regionalism. Members are not legally bound to the decisions of the new PIFS SG. The underlying problem is the existence
they make. In this day and age, when leaders are increasingly of what is referred to as a ‘gentlemen’s agreement.’ To mark
being called and pressured to be accountable and deliver, the a new departure - a new dawn for Pacific regionalism, such an
PIF system seems antiquated. agreement can be critically reviewed; and, if justified, can be
Apart from that, PIF membership is atypical. The dichotomy documented as future guide.
between the PICs and the developed countries of Australia
and New Zealand has created its own challenges. There may editor@islandsbusiness.com
have been a tendency in the past to over-emphasise their dif-
ferences. Given the collective and the unifying rallying call of The author is a former Fijian Ambassador and Foreign Minis-
the Blue Pacific continent, the regional planners are obligated ter and runs his own consultancy company in Suva, Fiji.
to unite and bridge the dichotomous chasm that exists. The
Fiji

Continued from page 28: Narube in Papua New Guinea, which is a growing market for trade and
investment in the Pacific. Narube says maintaining an embassy
difficult for locals to enter into these lines of businesses.” in Port Moresby would help strengthen the MSG Free Trade
Narube accuses the government of neglecting local re- Agreement that offers opportunities for trade in goods and
source-based industries, while the land remains unproductive. services, and labor mobility between Melanesian countries.
He says it’s government’s job to empower the people Narube is under no illusion that forming the next govern-
with the right instruments to run a business and they should ment is going to be easy.
include access to markets and capital at affordable rates, He knows that Fiji’s current electoral laws mean that the
training, and capacity building. opposition’s best weapon to fight the 2022 election is to come
“Giving forks and spades to start a big agriculture produc- together under one banner.
tion is not going to work. It’s a gimmick! “If we have the number one weapon, and we choose the
“We all know that the wealth of our country is in the number two or number three weapon, why would we do that?
resources we have on land and the sea. We have to develop “It doesn’t make sense because of the urgency to get a new
those industries. We cannot put our eggs in one basket like government and steer this country back to where it should
tourism. be.”
“Tourism is great but it’s a fragile industry.” The other obstacle Narube sees is the divisions within the
Narube is also critical of the scale of cash support given to existing political parties. He has been championing the need
those directly affected by the pandemic, saying the F$150 for a united political movement irrespective of race or reli-
(US$72) million or 15% of the total package announced in the gion, but one built on unity in diversity.
COVID-19 budget is inadequate, and workers should not be Narube says he has the financial knowledge and leadership
asked to deplete their provident fund savings. qualities to bring about the changes the people want.
In July, his Unity Fiji party released an alternative national “I never liked politics even though I’ve worked very closely
budget. It proposed a F$1 billion cash stimulus for workers with politicians, including Prime Ministers of the past.
with an additional $10 million for welfare support and recom- “But I couldn’t just stand there and wait for this to fizzle
mended an extension of price controls to keep living costs out.”
down.
Narube is also concerned about the direction government’s editor@islandsbusiness.com
education policies are taking. He says the closure of 10
Technical Colleges as recently announced by government will Joe Yaya is a freelance journalist whose covered events for
create a void in the trades labour market. the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. He has also worked
He also questions the decision to close Fiji’s foreign mission as a political analyst for a Foreign Mission in Fiji.

30 Islands Business, December 2020