|
|
Issue No: 847; 13 June 2001
The country's ethnic Indian population do not control the economy, says the Daily Post's Publisher and columnist Ranjit Singh. In his column this week, Singh wrote: "At first glance, Indo-Fijians may also appear to own and control most small commercial enterprises, but these are not the real " movers or shakers" of the Fijian economy. By virtue of that ownership they have become very "visible" but the fact remains that they control only the petty cash." "The majority of major enterprises in key industries are either foreign-owned or controlled by indigenous Fijian interests as joint-venture partners, viz; banks, insurance companies, telecommunications, energy, mining, construction, transportation, fishing, timber, airlines, shipping, major newspapers, major legal and financial firms, freight and broking firms, virtually all hotels and tourism ventures, breweries and liquor companies, and all major trading houses, with the exception of a few. These organizations are owned and controlled by Australian, NZ, British, American, Japanese, Asian and European interests." "It may come as a surprise to most that the trade between India and Fiji is less than the latter has with Singapore! Australian and NZ exports to Fiji represent a staggering 65% of their total imports. Despite some 40% of its Indo-Fijian population the trade with Indian is limited. The myth of Indian domination has served them well over the years." "The shadowy foreign businessmen
can get anything done through the Chiefs, and indirectly, control the real
wealth of that nation but, like the British, continue to poison the Fijian mind
about the Indo-Fijians. Some corrupt, unscrupulous Indo-Fijian businessmen have
also sought to capitalise on the misfortune of their own people. Thankfully,
they have also been recently exposed for their greed and impropriety." |
|
People's Coalition Government - Fiji Islands |
