Issue No: 650; 3 April 2001

Investors, donors and suppliers have all expressed concern at the developments in Fiji since 19 May last year, and at the unwillingness of the regime to heed the laws of the land.

Over the past two weeks, it has been announced that a major multi-million dollar Asian Development Bank loan for water supply projects has not come forth. The reason for this is that the Bank can not deal with a regime which does not have lawful authority.

Today the media reports that a $40m project for the construction of a new campus for the Fiji School of Medicine has been shelved because of problems with funding. The project was to be funded by the European Union. The School's head, Dr. Wame Baravilala is quoted by the Fiji Sun as saying: "The political problems is not making it easy. We need $40m to build the campus and we only make a profit of around $8m".

Earlier another medical project was shelved when investors pulled out. The multi-million dollar regional kidney hospital was to be constructed in Fiji by a consortium of private doctors from US and Australia. The hospital would have made Fiji the specialised regional kidney hospital attracting patients from all over the region as well as from Australia and other metropolitan nations.

Numerous other manufacturing companies who had major projects for Fiji have now decided to keep out from Fiji. One company had a $15m plan for relocating its plant to Fiji.

The continuing loss of confidence in Fiji by investors and donors alike has become a major problem for the nation.