<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by MaryHM:
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There would be no reason to voluntarily stop importing from Fiji. CITES is not saying that the collection in Fiji is unsustainable or that the reefs there are in danger. CITES wants legislation in the Fijian government that has the particular wording necessary for countries that participate in CITES. The problem with Fiji is that they had a coup attempt that crippled the government for over a year. They just conducted elections the end of August and the new government has had higher priorities to work on. Frankly, I think CITES should cut them a little slack until they can get the new government established. This is a paperwork thing, not a sustainability thing. And I abhor paperwork
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I would second that. I was in fiji when the new government was "sworn" in. To show you have disfuntional the gov't is, George Speight, the leader of the coup, was elected to parliment and even tried to get a day pass out of jail to attend the meeting.
The fijian gov't is barely getting off their feet. Elections are a big thing down there and basically consume the country. The problem is there are basically 2 parties in the country and the ethnics basically vote along them. There are splinter groups on both sides but as a whole there are 2 groups. There are so many levels to the quagmire found in fijian gov't.
Let's put it this way:
Fire every person in congress and the president. Impose a deadline for legislation to be enacted then proceed to elect a new gov't etc etc. And throw in there some deep rooted hatred for 50% of the population. Ad a pinch of Sept 11th (yes it did have an affect over there) Then throw in a dash of 80% of the police is Fijian and 80% of the military is Indian-Fijian. Mix in a pot and voila you now have fiji
The fijians are lucky to even have a gov't. The Japanese and Australian gov'ts basically funded the election process.
The should and will enact the legislation needed. The gotta take care of some basic duties before that happens like a budget etc etc. Give em another year after the first swearing in of the newly elected gov't.
If I've learned 1 thing in teaching students is sometimes you need to be firm when you have given them every chance to succeded but other times you have to be lax because they have been hindered by forces outside of their control.