Page 5 - IB March 2021

View From The West

THINGS FALL APART

By Dennis Rounds Apparently, the more I cocoon myself in my Western abode,
hundreds of kilometres away from the toxic influence of
I was only two years old when Nigerian author Chinua decision-makers, the clearer I see things falling apart.
Achebe published his novel, Things Fall Apart, in 1958. Anyone in Fiji on a work permit can now be detained in the
Achebe’s novel focused on the struggles, chaos and be- middle of the night, transported hundreds of kilometres dur-
wilderment which are the consequences of a culture on the ing COVID curfew hours and deported before a court Judge is
verge of change. fully awake, bathed and sufficiently refreshed to begin a new
Sixty three years on and I find myself, like Achebe’s prin- court day.
cipal character, Okonkwo, also grappling with the effects of “Isn’t that akin to a judicial process falling apart?” I ask my-
change. self. I wonder if the Vice Chancellor of the University of the
However, the change confronting me and my fellow Fijians South Pacific, Professor Pal Aluwahlia might be asking himself
is not so much cultural as it is political – imposed through the same question.
political power wielded by a slim but decisive majority under The Bainimarama government has justified its deportation
Fiji’s new parliamentary system. of the Professor and his wife by quoting Section 13 of Fiji’s Im-
Some might argue that what is now happening in Fiji is migration Act 2003 which prohibits foreigners from conducting
simply a continuation of the so-called “Clean-Up Corruption” themselves in a manner prejudicial to the peace, defence,
coup of 2006 (they will also argue that it’s more politically public safety, public order, public morality, public health,
correct to call the events of 2006 a “revolution”). security, or good government of Fiji.
Fifteen years on from that coup, Fiji is now on the verge of Guilt or otherwise notwithstanding, requests for an explana-
having a special Anti-Corruption Division within its court sys- tion of the precise breach of the Immigration Act have fallen
tem presided over by Judges and Magistrates who will “deal on deaf ears. So have questions about the couple’s human
specifically with cases relating to anti-corruption law”. rights.
“By having specialised courts it will give not just the pros- In my old age, I keep reminding myself it’s only one of the
ecutors but those who actually get prosecuted a particular many more changes we, as a country, have to grapple with.
level of certainty and indeed we will further reinforce the Just like the impact of COVID-19 on Fiji’s economy and
rule of law because it will get rid of inconsistency,” was one the March 2020 Billion Dollar COVID Stimulus package which
of the justifications from Fiji’s Attorney General, Mr Aiyaz formed part of the COVID-19 Budget Response.
Sayed-Khaiyum. Our Attorney General, who also happens to be our Minister
Calls from the Fiji Law Society for more robust discussions of Economy, Mr Sayed-Khaiyum assured us all that the budget
on the matter, before endorsement by Parliament, were dis- would “arm doctors and nurses with the tools they need to
missed by Sayed-Khaiyum. Dismissed also, was the argument combat this virus and keep themselves and Fijian families
that Fiji’s current court system is more than well equipped to safe”.
deal with cases of corruption. That it would “grant resilience to all the workers and com-
Similarly, calls for widespread dialogue over the elimination panies who are staples of our economy and way of life, but
of assessors from Fiji’s court system fell by the wayside. who have been cut off from that economy by COVID-19”.
The appointment of assessors in court proceedings has, over “This budget gives businesses the flexibility they need to
the centuries, provided an accused person access to a panel keep their people, invest in new opportunities and prepare for
of his/her peers who provide the human element of rational- the inevitable end to this pandemic,” Sayed-Khaiyum assured
ising judgment to conform to changing community values. us all.
Peer assessment is also a societal safety valve, ensuring Just one year later came the news that the Japanese gov-
decision-making is not just the province of elites (like Judges ernment will provide a $200 million emergency loan to Fiji for
and Magistrates). COVID-19 response.
The Bill legislating the change was passed by Parliament. The emergency loan support will enable the government
“In the modern day world a person’s guilt or innocence to implement its planned activities for the 2020-2021 finan-
should not be determined by assessors who are going to look cial year and direct resources for COVID-19 response such as
at the person on an ethnic basis,” was the response from strengthening health and medical services.
Sayed-Khaiyum to those opposing the change. This leaves me and my fellow “equal citizens” of Fiji
Trying to accept that the “old” must give way to the “new” wondering where things have “fallen apart” in our COVID-
and that some things are bound to fall apart, I keep asking contained paradise!!
myself: “Why change something that works well and is not
broken?” editor@islandsbusiness.com
And in my old age, the response is just as quick and matter-
of-fact: “Because the Fiji government currently has the politi- Dennis Rounds is a former owner of Islands Business, and a
cal power to change things. With or without question.” veteran journalist.

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