Page 4 - IB July 2021

A NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

After more than two months and infinite patience on the part of voters,
Samoa finally has a new Prime Minister, Fiame Naomi Mata’afa. We’re yet to
see what Fiame’s ascendancy will mean for regional politics and cooperation at
a time when it is more important than ever for economic recovery and to keep
Managing Director / Publisher
Samisoni Pareti action on climate change on track. Fiame is a well-respected and well-connect-
ed leader by virtue of her many years as part of Samoa’s government, so we
Managing Editor hope she plays a steadying role at a time when so many of the region’s leaders
Samantha Magick are still new to their positions.

Here in Fiji, the long road to the 2022 elections will be rocky if the past few
months are anything to go by. There’s profound unhappiness and grief over
Designer
the way Fiji’s COVID response has been handled and the escalating infection
Dick Lee
and death rate. Meanwhile a controversial bill to amend how iTaukei land is
administered has stirred deep emotions and strong statements from both sides
Contributors
of parliament and varying legal interpretations.
Ambassador Kaliopate Tavola
Ariela Zibiah Any discussion over land in Fiji is, by definition, complex and fraught, given
Dennis Rounds our political history. But the problem is that, once again, it appears no opposi-
Leila Parina tion will be entertained and there has been no consultation with landowners.
Netani Rika
More than ten politicians and political party staff have been taken in for
Nic Maclellan
questioning by police over their public comments on the bill, some of them just
Rowena Singh
before curfew. This makes it difficult for their families, lawyers, staff and sup-
Sharon Bhagwan-Rolls
porters to monitor their location and well-being, and creates an atmosphere of
uncertainty. Fiji police have said the questioning is not a matter of intimidation,
but “a pro-active means to find the truth” but that’s disingenuous given it’s only
those with viewpoints that oppose government that are being scrutinised. The
Islands Business is published monthly by timing of their arrests can only create a sense of uncertainty, if not fear.
Front Page Pte Limited
Editorial & Advertising Offices Meanwhile while the iTaukei Land Trust Board management says it was con-
GPO Box 12718, Suva, Fiji Islands. sulted over and supports the bill, landowners in their communities have not.
Tel: +679 9719660
They want to know, what’s the rush?
Emails Fiji voters have at least a year before we cast our votes. Our economy is on
Editorial: editor@islandsbusiness.com
Subscriptions: subs@islandsbusiness.com its knees and our unity and cohesiveness as a people can feel incredibly fragile
Advertising: marketing@islandsbusiness.com at a time like this. We can only hope for a little more mutual respect, empathy
and willingness to embrace “talanoa” as a lived practice (as distinct from a
catchphrase) if we are to survive and thrive.
Printing:
PrintHouse, Suva, Fiji.

editor@islandsbusiness.com
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4 Islands Business, July 2021