Sunday ban

Fiji

Economic growth

wins over

Sunday ban

Fiji’s controversial Sunday Observance Decree has been repealed. A government statement said Cabinet reached the decision after careful consideration of the views of the various communities in Fiji.

It said Cabinet considered the views and concerns of the Christian churches also important, and that these are covered by existing laws and by-laws regulating the operation of business premises on Sunday which are adequate to achieve the present level of observance of Sunday as a rest day and worship for others.

The Cabinet decided the situation had improved a great deal since the decree was promulgated in 1988 following the 1987 military coup in response to the national security needs of the time to continue it.

Cabinet also decided that with the repeal of the decree certain legislative measures now in place will have to be enforced with a lot more vigour. These include a tightening of the relevant Suva City by-laws covering the issuance of business licences, to ensure that only those activities permitted in the pre-1987 peri od are to be continued and continued ban on consumption of

liquor in public places.

The decision was given an open arm welcome by everybody except the Methodist Church president, Reverend Manasa Lasaro who said that members of his church would “lay down their lives” and go to prison if need be to have the decision overturned.

Opposition to mass

migration of Chinese

Opposition is growing in Fiji to a plan being considered by the government to accept thousands of immigrants from Hong Kong.

Government backbencher Ratu Inoke Kubuabola has warned against the social and political impact of having large numbers of immigrants moving into Fiji’s rural areas.

Government is considering proposals by two Asian companies for tens of thousands of rich and skilled Chinese and other Asians to resettle in Fiji within the next two to four years.

The one proposal reportedly most attractive to the government is from Hong Kong-based Asian Oceanic Development Company. It suggests that 40,000 people, including spouses and children, of 2250 individuals be resettled in Fiji over two to four years. Each family would contribute US$lOO,OOO to a pool which would be kept in a bank overseas and controlled by the company.

President of the capital, Suva’s Retailer’s Association, Himmat Lodhia, warned that Fiji’s infrastructure could be inadequate, saying the government might be “opening up a whole Pandora’s box of surprises” if it went ahead with the scheme.

Some prominent Fiji Chinese businessmen have also expressed concern about the proposal.

The proposal offer lucrative deals for the indigenous Fijians by way of financial gain. The proposals state that the government would gain USs2lion for its coffers and the Fijian provinces US$5O million for investment purposes.