Too early to assess the impact of the reinstatement of Fiji's Public Emergency

A report in Fijivillage.com says that it is too early to say what impact the reinstatement of the Public Emergency Regulation will have on the Tourism industry – these are the words of the Interim Tourism Ministry, Bernadette Rounds Ganilau who adds that in this case there are two sides to a story.

The Fiji Visitors Bureau Board Chairman, Patrick Wong had earlier said that although the Public Emergency Regulations was part of politics in the Central Division, there is a possibility that tourism figures may be affected.

Also, the New Zealand and Australian Government Travel Advisories to Fiji have not changed, with the New Zealand Travel Advisory saying there is some risk to one’s travel to Fiji and caution is advised since the reinstatement of the PER.

The advisory adds that although Fiji is calm, a rapid deterioration to the situation, which includes the potential for civil disorder and violence, cannot be ruled out.

The Australian advisory has similar sentiments advising its travellers to take precaution as political tensions could lead to violence.

The New Zealand Foreign Affairs Minister, Winston Peters, had earlier said that the state of emergency will reflect badly on Interim Prime Minister, Commodore Frank Bainimarama, at the Pacific Islands Forum leaders meeting in Tonga next month.

And as reported in the New Zealand Herald, the Australia Foreign Minister, Alexander Downer at the APEC Conference in Sydney, said that Fiji’s military should realise that Commodore Frank Bainimarama’s regime was destroying the country.

The Interim Attorney General, Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum has called on the international community not to condemn the interim government for re-invocating the PER adding that it is just a precautionary measure.

Report by The Mole