Issue No: 237; 30 November 2000
The interim regime wants more ethnic Fijians as civil servants in key ministries.
Speaking at the Western Division Development Committee meeting which ended yesterday, the interim Labour Minister told
the meeting that the senior education officer in Lautoka should be an ethnic Fijian. According to one participant,
Momoedonu stated: "I am not a racist, but we need more Fijian senior officer" because they can better understand the
needs of Fijian schools. Currently there are nine senior education officers posted to the divisions of which only one is
an ethnic Indian. It Momoedonu had his `non-racist' way, even one ethnic Indian officer would be replaced by an ethnic
Fijian.
The Development Committee meeting, opened by terrorist supporter and interim regime Agriculture Minister Apisai Tora,
was another occasion for the regime to display its blatant racism.
When questioned why were farmers being evicted before their lease grace periods expired, Tora, who is also the Minister
for ALTA, declined to answer the question, and instead referred the matter to the NLTB. There was no one present from
the NLTB at the meeting.
According to one participant at the meeting, the meeting was one which gave the regime a platform to get its views into
the media while achieving nothing constructive.
Meanwhile, the regime released the report of the Education Commission which was appointed by the People's Coalition
government to review Fiji's education needs. Because of the 19 May terrorist activities, the Commission did not meet to
write its report; instead individual members and consultants views have been collated to make the report. The result is
a report which is highly opinionated. It is also believed that the Education Commission Secretary Joiji Kotobalavu has
had a heavy influence in the final report, and that the recommendation that there be a 20 year development plan for
Fijian and Rotuman education was inserted by Kotobalavu to give support to Qarase's Blueprint for Fijian and Rotuman
Advancement. Kotobalavu is Qarase's Permanent Secretary now.
END 30 November 2000