The archbishop of Suva says he does not intend to inform Catholics who they should vote for or vote against.

In a posting on the Archdiocese of Suva's Facebook page, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong said the Church's role is to help Catholics form their consciences (mind) in accordance with God's truth.

He said that during the month of October, they will use the Sunday Homilies to help people form their conscience and practise their political responsibility.

The Archbishop reminded people that Catholic social teaching teaches that "A fundamental moral measure of any economy is how the poor and vulnerable are faring."

He noted that poverty remains a significant concern in Fiji, despite the overall level of development and the moderately high average incomes.

Trends indicate that the national incidence of poverty declined from 35% in 2002-2003 to 31% in 2008-2009.

But the reduction in poverty was uneven—urban areas saw a reduction from 28% to 19%, while poverty in rural areas increased from 40% in 2002-2003 to 43% in 2008-2009.

Chong also noted that, in 2006, Fiji introduced a regressive taxation system that makes the poor poorer and the rich richer.

"The current economic trend shows an increase in poverty and how the taxation system will make the poor poorer and the rich richer," he said.

"As Catholics, we are called to work for greater economic justice in the face of persistent poverty and growing income-gaps."

On the Archdiocese's Facebook page Chong provides an ethical framework for economic life as principles for reflection, criteria for judgment, directions for action and criteria for election.

He concluded by noting: "All of economic life should recognize the fact that we all are God's children and members of one human family, called to exercise a clear priority for poor."

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• facebook.com
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He also said "We congratulate Frank Bainimarama for leading us to elections and for his party's election victory."

Archbishop Peter made this statement, as Fiji celebrated the 44th-year of independence last Friday.

Archbishop Peter said that be truly an independent nation, Fiji needs to move beyond patron-client politics.

He defined Patron-client politics as being the manner in which ethnic politics or how politicisation of ethnicity is carried out.

"Patron-client politics neglect national development and its strategies were limited to the short-term gains and interest of patrons and clients and, therefore, national developments could not receive the primary focus and commitment they deserve," Archbishop Peter said.

"It develops a syndrome of dependency as they depend heavily on government assistance for their economic development.

"Patron-client politics stifles the kind of consciousness and competitiveness that are essential ingredients for democracy," he said.

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• Fiji Times
• Image: ABC

The reaction came in the wake of a response by the Prime Minister Rear Admiral (Ret) Voreqe Bainimarama on Wednesday suggesting the letter was causing racial discord and did not unite Fijians.

The letter was written by the Methodist Church's secretary for Christian Citizenship and Social Service, Reverend Iliesa Naivalu, to divisional superintendents.

The general secretary of the Methodist Church, Reverend Tevita Nawadra, says he will be writing to the Prime Minister.

"I will be writing to the Prime Minister to affirm him of our earlier stance that we are willing to work together for the betterment of our beloved Fiji," Nawadra said.

He said the church was optimistic of a good working relationship with the government in spite of the embarrassing issue which had caused a slight rift between the two parties.

Nawadra said the issues raised in the letter were based on resolutions passed in the 2014 conference in which more than 1000 pledgees and lay members representing the 56 divisions of the church deliberated and voted on.

"With the election fast approaching, we wanted our members to be fast aware of the conference resolutions before they make up their own mind on who to vote for.

"As you will see while there are references to past government work and policies, there is no mention of any particular political party.

"My understanding of the situation is that Reverend Naivalu's efforts were well intended."

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• The Fiji Times
• Republika
• Image: FijiOne

The new democratically elected Prime Minister of Fiji Rear Admiral (Ret) Voreqe Bainimarama says he intends to govern for all Fijians.

This was his message to about 4000 party supporters who attended the FijiFirst inter-faith thanksgiving church service at the ANZ Stadium last Sunday.

"While I'm sure supporters of other political parties are disappointed, I want to say to them that this is how parliamentary democracy works."

"I also want to say to them that I intend to govern for all Fijians.

"I will be your Prime Minister too because I passionately believe in one nation, one Fiji and that everyone has a place in it, whoever you are, wherever you come from and whoever you voted for."

Bainimarama said he believed that an overwhelming majority of Fijians have turned their backs on the politics of division and embraced a united future.

"We have chosen the path of fairness and justice. The path of equal opportunity,"he said.

"To the minority who are still caught in the past, I say to you, please come and let's all move forward together - we must have an inclusive Fiji in which no one is left behind.

"I am the Prime Minister of all Fijians, for all Fijians."

A Pacific studies academic Steven Ratuva says Bainimarama's landslide victory in the Fiji election is mainly due to his appeal to all ethnicities.

He says the prime minister's FijiFirst party garnered about 58 percent of the indigenous Fijian vote and about 70% of the Indo-Fijian.

"For the Indo-Fijians, since the 1987 coup and since the 2000 coup they've been looking for something and that is political security."

"For them security can be provided most effectively by an indigenous Fijian who provides them that political space and support."

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• The Fiji Times
• Radio New Zealand
• The New Zealand Herald
• Image: dw.de

The Catholic Church in Fiji has been conducting workshops for Catholic politicians.

Head of Catholic Church, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong says it is the church's role to train politicians to have an informed conscience and mind.

"You must see that our politicians are coming from varying experiences. Not many of them are trained politicians or lawyers. So it's important that we provide them such a platform from the Catholic Church"

The Archbishop says this is and will be an ongoing exercise for the church.

"We want government to do a better job and that's why church has to be prophetic. That's why we have to form our Catholic politicians in terms of the catholic teaching."

Here is Asia-Pacific Journalism's guide to 10 important things to know when casting your vote.

The guide covers the following questions.

1. What is the proportional voting system?
2. What is the Electoral Decree?
3. How many votes can a voter caste?
4. What is an open list system?
5. Do you vote for a constituency?
6. Is there a voting threshold?
7. How many parties are there?
8. How will a government be formed?
9. Who is observing the election?
10. Can you vote if you do not live in Fiji?

See the answers

Thomas Carnegie is a Postgraduate Diploma in Communication Studies student journalist at AUT University. He is reporting on the Asia-Pacific Journalism course and is Fiji elections coverage editor for Pacific Scoop

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• Pacific.scoop
• Fijione.tv
• Image: Screenshot Pacific.scoop

The Reverend Tevita Nawadra Banivanua, believes the church has prepared itself to work in a secular state nation as set out in the Constitution.

Nawadra was elected the church's president on Monday.

He told the Fiji Times,"The secular state is here. The church should prepare itself because it is here already, it is legally binding. The church's mission is to prepare itself to live in it."

"The church should brace itself for this so we won't be caught by surprise. We want to be with the law. If the law says it is a secular state, we will abide by that."

"We have always been a law abiding church and whatever law prevails in our country that we are guided by, we will accept it that way."

After the 2006 coup, Methodist Church activities and meetings were curtailed after the church's strong criticism of the military regime.
Mr Banivanua is married to Jiajiana Bale Banivanua and they have six children.

He holds a Diploma in Theology from Davuilevu Theological College (1977), Bachelor of Divinity from the Pacific Theological College (1980) and gained a Masters of Arts in from Lancaster University's Department of Politics, Philosophy and Religion in the United Kingdom (1997).

He has served as a minister in the Methodist Church of Great Britain and was the General Secretary of the South Pacific Association of Theological Schools for more than a decade.

He became deputy general secretary in 2009, during a difficult time for the church in the midst of Fiji's political crisis.

He began his appointment as General Secretary of the Church in 2013.

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• Radio New Zealand International
• The Fiji Times
• The Fiji Times
• Image: Radio New Zealand International

Speaking in the iTaukei language, Tikoitoga said a lot of trying situations developed over the years but the military managed to pull through.

He said God was leading them all the way and brought them to where they were.

Last week Military Chief of Operations Lt. Col Amani Suliano confirmed that Tikoitoga has started visiting all the military camps in the country

"Last week he visited the Land force command unit, the logistics support unit, the engineers regiment and the Fiji Navy, this week he started yesterday at the Army camp in Nadi and today he is now in Lautoka".

Bainimarama, has stepped down from the post of Military commander so he can launch his political party and contest the elections he has promised for September.Source

• Fiji Times
• Fiji Broadcasting Corporation
• Radio New Zealand International
• Image: Fiji Broadcasting Corporation

Bhagwan said the church would stay neutral and it should not be seen to be favouring anyone.

"But at the same time we are pastorally speaking to our members, encouraging them to pray before each major decision and our prayer is that when election comes God will help us that the right leaders are chosen given the circumstances we have."

Mr Bhagwan said church halls around the country could be used by political parties depending on the agreement between the vanua and respective church leaders in the villages.

"The issue is that in some cases the only place that is available is the church hall and so we would have to look at it on a case-by-case basis. The local church area needs to make those decisions, the church would hope that people exercise good judgement in that area."

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Image: www.electionsfiji.gov.fiji

This resolution comes at the conclusion of the World Association of Christian Communication (WACC) Pacific Communications Rights for Peace symposium held in Suva last week.

The outcomes statement, released ahead of the International Day of Peace also reaffirms the commitment of church leaders to speak with one voice in society and also within the church community, and to speak together for peace as they face the next 12 months leading up to the scheduled September 2014 election.

President of WACC Pacific, Rev Akuila Yabaki, said the release of an outcomes statement reflects how the participants have reaffirmed their communication values grounded in the Christian faith.

One of the participants, Pastor Wame Sausau, of the SDA Church, said it was important for church leaders to work together to define the common vision of moving forward as a Christian community.

"We will need to speak what the government needs to hear, whether government accepts it or not," Sausau said.

He said churches had a lot of things in common even though they were miles apart in terms of doctrine teachings. "But there are so many things that unite us which make us work together."

The resolution agreed to at the end of the symposium last Friday states that the path to democracy must be inclusive and participatory and walked in humility and love.

It affirmed the churches commitment to work with civil society organisations in the walk towards a truly democratic, peaceful and prosperous Fiji.

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• Fiji Sun
• The Fiji Times
• The Fiji Times
• Image: thejournealofaspiritualwonderer

He says the church should not get involved in party politics, but rather communicate through God's values of love, peace and justice.

Chong said the church could help society in a teaching role; helping to form the mind and the attitude of the people so they could participate effectively in politics.

"As Christians, we need to bring in the vision of God and make sure that this things are not eroded from the general policies."

"The church must speak from God's stand." Chong said the Church has an important role to play in ensuring that God's values are part of government's values.

"If they don't have that background, they will only bring their experience and culture.

Chong has pointed out that the church and religion plays an important role times of transition — first during colonialism, then independence and now the coup-culture.

Archbishop Chong has also called upon all people of faith and goodwill to unite and work together for the sake of peace and justice the lead up to the elections in 2014.

He said unity is the lesson to be learned from his ordination, which he said, reached across the diverse ethnic and religious communities in Fiji. "It created a sense of unity that Fiji needs - a multicultural and multi-religious unity,"

"Elaborating Chong said: "The liturgy and especially the Ordination Rites touched the thousands of people that were present. As I went down through the congregation to give my blessing I could hear people sobbing with tears."

He said Fiji had gone through trying times, however religion must be the beacon of hope.

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• The Fiji Times
• Fiji Sun
• Image: FijiLive

Confirming this, church general secretary Reverend Tevita Nawadra said despite their intentions not to participate in the elections, they would still be part of the country's political agenda.

Mr Nawadra said their main aim was to spread the word of God and would focus on that.

"We (church ministers) will not stand for elections," Mr Nawadra said.

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• The Fiji Times
• Image: FijiLive.com

Polynesia's Anglican Archbishop, Winston Halapua, says it is important for all races to unite for what he deems a 'worthy cause' by supporting the Fiji government towards the election process.

"The power of democracy is already set in 2014, we see that the mechanism and various channels are being made to have the election," he said.

"As the leader of the Anglican Church I would like to encourage our people to engage dynamically."

New Zealand Archbishop David Moxon echoed similar sentiments saying the church was praying for the Fiji government and her people.

"A time line for this process has now been offered. We continue to invite prayer for this crucial journey, as the people of Fiji discover, determine and discern for themselves the form of governance that best suits their needs," he said.

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• The Fiji Times
• Image: AnglicanTaonga

However, some religious organisations have told the Fiji government they may not participate in the electronic voter registration.

Commissioner Western Commander Joeli Cawaki said the organisations had refused to register because of their religious beliefs.

Cawaki said these religious bodies had been informed the government wanted everybody to register so they could have a say on who should govern the country.

However on Monday, the Attorney-General and Minister for Elections Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said that registration and voting was not compulsory.

The identity of the groups was not revealed.

Those wish to use the Electronic Voters Registration process can go to a designated Voter Registration Centre where trained clerks will assist them.

They will be asked for one form of valid identification with a photograph. Applicants will be helped to fill out a registration form and have her or his photograph and thumbprint taken. When the process is complete the applicant will be a registered voter and will receive a voter card.

The registration process takes three to five minutes on average. Once the EVR is finished, the data uploads to a central database via internet connection or is encrypted on a flash drive.

4000 people have already registered. The Fijian government's target is to register over 600,000 people in the span of eight weeks. Aiyaz Saiyed Khaiyum, admits the target is going to be hard work. "We have set ourselves a fairly onerous target."

CODE Corporation from Canada has supplied the Biometric Voter Registration System (BVRS) under the Biometric Voter Registration agreement between the corporation and the government of Fiji.

Source

• The Fiji Times
• Link
• Island Business
• Image: The Jet