Page 29 - IB May 2018 Edition

Book review

training and that training being put, once
or twice, into dramatic effect. There are
also accounts of the enormous frustration
of not being able to respond to relentless
taunting by some of the asylum seekers
who had unlimited access to outlets in
Australia only too willing to believe that
this processing centre with the open gates
was some sort of concentration camp.
I do have a few minor quibbles with
the book. Coates regularly refers to all
Papua New Guineans as being Papuans.
In PNG anybody from what used to be
New Guinea might get annoyed about that.
And apart from two locals whom he
praised when they shimmed up a coconut
tree to stop an asylum seeker hanging
fifty-percent HIV positive, sixty percent TB the locals targeted when they came into himself, Michael seemed to meet very few
… How can we be safe here?” Sure, HIV is the compound?” local people on Manus who, he recalls,
an issue in PNG – but half the population? Another well reported death was of an were not either drunk, lazy, incompetent
Another quote from Wushu: “We Irani- Iranian who died of septicaemia in Bris- or thieves. It is probably the nature of this
ans are educated people, but they are sav- bane after being medevacked from Manus. asylum seeker processing business that
ages! … We do not wish to live amongst He originally had a small cut on his foot. he did not engage with more impressive
or associate with them!” He demanded he be given a wheelchair Manusians - but I can tell you they exist.
Coates writes about how the asylum and a cast. When that was refused, he Overall, however, I believe “Manus
seekers were allowed access to computers ripped off the bandage and regularly Days” is a terrific contribution to educating
and the internet for a certain amount of rubbed dirt into the wound until he be- people about the realities of the process-
time each day. “Whilst the Afghanis and came dreadfully ill. He got his wish to get ing centre on Manus. It deserves a wide
Rohingyas would arrive early and wait to Australia but never survived. readership.
their turn, the Iranians would push their Why did some of these people leave
way to the front of the line and bang on Iran? One of them told Coates: “Many r sean_dorney@hotmail.com
the door demanding to be let in. Rarely if Iranians want to
ever was it their time on the roster.” come to the west
And: “The Afghans and Tamils and because they can
Rohingyas seemed to manage just fine drink and smoke
and were a pleasure to be around. They and fuck whores.
were respectful and cooperative – unlike Back in Iran you REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS
the yelling and abuse that came from their can do this too but Sustainable Pacific Aquaculture Development Project
(RFP18/025)
Iranian neighbours. … I was beginning not as easily. That The Pacific Community (SPC) would like to invite interested enterprises to submit a pro-
to see the Iranians,” Coates writes, “as is the freedom they posal for the Sustainable Pacific Aquaculture Development Project.
middle-class party boys who were unwill- want.” The Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems Division (FAME) of the Pacific Com-
munity (SPC) has launched the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZM-
ing to accept the consequences of their One ex-soldier FAT) funded Sustainable Pacific Aquaculture Development project (PacAqua). In order
actions and expected us to wait on them asked a group of to increase and improve economic and nutritional gain from aquaculture in the Pacific,
aquaculture be developed on a business-like footing, be it private sector or community
hand and foot.” Iranians if they led.
One Iranian, Reza Barati, died in a thought it was fair The Sustainable Pacific Aquaculture Development project aims to increase adoption of
and enhance business acumen among aquaculture operations, and increase uptake and
riot when the resentment the Iranians they were on Ma- adoption of improved aquaculture practices. Under this project, the FAME Division will
had generated amongst the Papua New nus? “NO!” they provide business mentoring and training, capacity development and technology transfer
in feed, seed and broodstock management to selected enterprises and partners.
Guineans exploded. His death was widely all declared em- The Sustainable Pacific Aquaculture Development project will work with existing enter-
reported In Australia which led to candle phatically. “What prises including farmer, grower, processor, exporter associations and NGOs that are in-
light vigils in various Australian State would happen to terested in developing and expanding their business capacity and operation.
The 20 Pacific Island Countries whose members are eligible to apply include: American
capitals. me though,” he Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiri-
That happened before Coates took up went on, “if I tried bati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa,
Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna.
his job on Manus but he quotes one of to enter Iran ille- Copies of the ‘Request for Proposals’ (RFP) and forms can be downloaded from the SPC
the other ex-soldiers who had been at the gally?” website: www.spc.int. For any additional information or clarification on the RFPs, send
centre during that riot as saying: “You would be an e-mail request to procurement@spc.int quoting RFP in the subject line.
Completed proposals should be emailed to procurement@spc.int with the heading
“Barati was a bully. He was a stand- shot on sight or
over man for the Iranians … Would these hanged as a spy!” “RFP 18/025 – Sustainable Pacific Aquaculture Development Project”
Or by courier to:
people have been attending these vigils they replied. Pacific Community (SPC)
if they saw him flashing his cock at the There is a great Procurement Unit – RFP 18/025
Private Mail Bag
local coppers and threatening to kill their deal more detail in Suva – Fiji
families? What about if they had seen the Michael’s book, of All proposals should reach SPC before 4pm Fiji Time, 29th June 2018
way he used to rape the little Burmese course, and quite
guys in the shower block? Do they think detailed descrip- No submission shall be made or communication undertaken directly with SPC staff on
this procurement.
it’s just a coincidence that he was the one tions of riot squad
Islands Business, May 2018 29