Yesterday in Parliament, Opposition MPs came out with all kinds of ridiculous responses in questioning why the Indonesians and not others are rebuilding Queen Victoria School.
Roko Tupou Draunidalo said: “How much of these 20 pieces of silver helped to seal your Government’s mouth on the issue of genocide in West Papua; and why has the Government not sought assistance from other Governments like the British government if it required or Commonwealth countries to build a school named after Queen Victoria.”
As Education Minister Mahendra Reddy said all the foreign governments were given opportunities to choose QVS in the Adopt a School programme. Only Indonesia chose QVS.
The issue about West Papua and claims of human rights abuse by the Indonesian military has been around since the 1960s. Since then Indonesia has gone through political reforms and is a thriving democracy. Indonesia today is not the Indonesia of the 1960s. Fiji enjoys diplomatic relations with Indonesia and they are engaged in a number of bilateral technical projects. A Fijian mission headed by Ratu Seremaia Tui Cavuilati is based in Jakarta.
We should be grateful to the Indonesian government for committing more than $8 million towards rebuilding the Cyclone Winston damaged school into a modern complex.
Opposition MP Semesa Karavaki asked why Indonesia was chosen ahead of Australia and New Zealand to rebuild QVS.
Mr Reddy said Australia gave its own list of schools it wanted to adopt, same as New Zealand and Japan.
“We don’t dictate which schools they adopt,” he said.
What is wrong with going with countries which are willing to help us recover quickly from Cyclone Winston?
Why do some people have problems with something new, some brilliant ideas? The Adopt a School and Adopt a Village programmes are excellent ideas.
Some seemed to be programmed to say “no”, “can’t”, “won’t work”, “can’t be done” and “not allowed.”
QVS has needed a facelift for a long time. Cyclone Winston did the school a favour. It helped bring the Indonesians to Matavatucou to do the long overdue refurbishment.
There is no justification for the Opposition to question the Indonesians.
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Originally published at Fijisun.com.fj on June 1, 2016.