Q1. Could you
give our readers some background information
on the main changes the Ministry for Works
and Energy since Mr. Qarase was elected?
A1. We have to be fair with the government.
We would like to do a lot more in one year
but the economy does not allow that. We do
our work in line with the allocation given
by the National Budget each year. For the
new year 2003, approximately 200 million FJD
have been allocated to this Ministry. Hopefully,
in the coming years, more and more capital
could be able to be allocated for more capital
infrastructure projects. We are a developing
country and in the National Budget we have
observed different infrastructure development
projects. I focus the efforts on two major
considerations: One is purely economic, addressed
to attract more investors, and the second
one is for the development of the country,
a more social aspect. One must be mindful
of our geography in Fiji. We are a nation
composed of 300 islands which makes it more
difficult in terms of developing infrastructure
so we first have to prioritise on where do
we develop. Of course, we have to start with
our two main islands: Viti Levu and Vanua
Levu, and then the smaller islands. The economic
considerations are mostly focused in the two
main islands. The other smaller islands receive
more attention regarding social development.
54% of the population reside in rural areas
and that is a major consideration for us.
We need to develop infrastructure in the urban
areas as well for economic considerations
but also to keep a balance.
Q2. Mr. Draunidalo, Fiji needs to increase
from 11% to 25% of GDP the investments to
have a sustainable development. Good infrastructure
in terms of roads and water, is necessary
for the economic growth. Can you tell us
about the current projects that you are
already undertaking?
A2. I will give you two main examples
in the two major industrial areas in Fiji.
First of all, we need to look at our main
income revenue earner which is the tourism
industry. There is a lot of emphasis given
to the tourist areas in Fiji, the western
side of Fiji, between Nadi and Lautoka. We
are building highways and improving the roads
to all the tourist destinations. By February
2003, the Lautoka-Nadi region will be self
sufficient in terms of water systems, we are
improving this by pulling out the old systems
and putting in new water and sewerage pipes.
The other example regards to the areas where
all the trade is ongoing, this is the Suva-Nausori
corridor. You will find now that the road
improvement is ongoing, including the water
sewerage. The master plan for this project
is being done and it will take place3 from
now until 2005. There are institutions like
the European union, the ADB or the World Bank
involved in these projects, it is a multiple
party effort with the government to ensure
that our infrastructure meets the demands.
Q3. What other major projects can you tell
us about?
A3. My ministry is in the process of looking
at a serious feasibility study concerning
a toll road between Suva and Nadi. The government
is now seriously getting down to it and trying
to get the right sort of people to conduct
a feasibility study for this. The plan we
want to see is a six lane toll between Suva
and Nadi, which will reduce travelling time
by almost half. People will be able to use
the toll road or continue using the existing
road or the plane.
Q4. How are you attracting private investment
to the projects and what is the current
presence of foreign investors in these projects?
A4. The government is now, more than before,
contracting out work with the private sector.
It is more efficient, less costly and better
because it is done in a competitive environment.
It is a main policy for this government who
is encouraging this type of contracts work
with the private sectors, for instance the
Rewa Bridge, a major project that is a two-year
program. We have advertised and tendered out
not only in Fiji but also abroad so the European
Union and the best private sector Company
will do it. Another example regards to the
Natadola Tourist location, that is already
being done by private contractors. They are
doing the roads and the government is providing
the workforce. The water will be done by the
Public Works Department. So all the existing
projects are either being done totally by
the private sector or in combination with
government. |
Q5. The PWD
is not famous for its efficiency. Laxity and
problems surrounded projects like the Rewa
Bridge. In order to restore a good image,
what message would you like to give to the
international business community, to the EU
or the Asian Bank, concerning the new PWD
you are building?
A5. The Public Works Department, without
defending it at all, is a reputable partner
with any overseas company. All our programs
are not done only by the PWD. The projects
are normally conducted between the donor,
the country's organization and the PWD. Only
when it is viable in all aspects it is done.
Our programs like the Queens road or the Rewa
Bridge are good examples of this. When people
say that we are inefficient in some aspect
they should mind that for a developing country
we have not done too badly. Besides, we always
ask for expertise to assist us in the engineering.
We do not have the machinery and the capabilities
in some areas but we are implementing discipline.
This ministry on its own has its sets of discipline
and procedures. The chief accounting officer
is the Permanent Secretary, who looks after
what official can do their work efficiently.
I am interested in discipline and we are always
insisting on that. It is not difficult because
there are already procedures to be followed.
Q6. How do you measure so far the achievements
in terms of policies that you have implemented
in this Ministry?
A6. We are now one year into the job and
I think that we have a progressive policy.
Our Focus, rather than being just on urban
developer, is now more complete. You will
find in our document, our strategy for 2003-2005,
that this government is quite heavy on helping
the indigenous people, our social justice
is heavy. We used to have a lack of regulation
in the past. Now we have implemented policies
so that this can be achieved. Another major
achievement that we have brought in is our
consultation procedures. What we do now is
to talk to all the stakeholders in the country.
One of the major problems we had before was
the access to land for development and most
of the land belongs to the native owners.
We used to have endless quarrels between major
stakeholders and now, to prevent all this,
we do our consultations and prepare all our
documents well before we allocate funds for
a project. Our policy in those areas is to
get all these things out of the way, before
we allocate money to a project we make sure
that we shouldn't be some where else developing
other area.
Q7. What are the advices that you would
give to foreign investors and how could
they help building a new Fiji?
A7. People need to understand very well
what is Fiji's national interest. This may
not be written but Fiji is like Australia,
New Zealand or Spain. Those countries have
national interests and the major one is employment,
this is the best way they can contribute.
By coming here they provide employment, they
contribute to the growth of the economy, they
help uplifting the condition of living in
Fiji. If they come here and they are fully
aware of this national interest it will be
very good. Foreign investors come from a country
where there is also a national interest. If
they understand ours they will have no problems
at all in Fiji. They contribute to this just
like the local investors do. Local investors
do it lawfully, within the law of the country.
They will not find any problems at all in
doing business in this country by following
the law and the procedures. This way, both
foreign and local investors are contributing
to Fiji's national security and stability.
Q8. In five years time from now, how
do you see Fiji?
A8. The government has a vision and this
vision is in our budget for 2003. Our vision
is to get a prosperous and peaceful Fiji,
a Fiji with law and order in place, a country
where people are coming and going freely.
Fiji's economy will have grown and the 25%
of GDP in the investments will be achieved.
There would be employment for people coming
out of the training institutions. I dream
with a Fiji where all these vast areas that
we have not cultivated yet will orderly be
on the way and infrastructure will come in.
Fiji will be soon a more efficient country.
Winne cannot be held responsible for
unedited transcription.
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V.I.P. INTERVIEWS
