Schemers or decision makers?

One would presume that the editor of 'Salient' had a university trained mind, but what university trained mind would print a controversial article without some investigation? Apparently the editor of 'Salient'.

I have only recently read your Feature, "Teacher rip-off festering in Fiji", but the facts as pictured make a sorry distortion of the truth to me living in the line of action in Fiji.

Your leading paragraph states that under the "Scheme of Co-operation", the New Zealanders do the scheming and the locals do the co-operating. II we can replace the insidious word, "scheming", with the word that is true in nature and fact, "decision making", then your printed word is true. But let me add, no one likes decision makers here: such words mean discipline; making order in chaos, and the locals do not like that as it spoils their clumber. Fiji as a whole suffers from the lack of decision makers, and only the New Zealanders are brave enough to call a spade a "spade".

Sure the New Zealanders salary may reach $(F)10,000—$(F)12,000, but why come here to earn less than that which he can earn at home or are the locals always to want a world of philanthropists so they can sit on their "chuff" forever? The same paragraph did not mention that inflation and cost of living is running three times higher in Fiji than in New Zealand. Nor did it mention that most of the "allowances" are absorbed in surtax so that most of the salaries quoted would pay 96c in the dollar above $(F)5000.

To say that professors only get $(F)10,000—$(F)11,000 or even that the Prime Minister's basic salary is $(F)11,000 is really begging the real question: everyone gets what he earns, the law of supply and demand sees to that.

I agree that the average student at USP probably gets only a few facilities, but as is mentioned on the same page, "There is no international salary level", nor may I add, "Are there any international facilities level." Or, do the locals want, "The cake and the ha-penny too"?

Stay out of this Dad! I've got a job to do!

It does not take university level mathematics to calculate who pays the most rent: local staff on $(F)14,000 pay $(F)600 p.a. New Zealanders on $(F)10,000—$(F)10,000 pay $(F)1,000—$(F)1200 p.a. Who is pocketing the difference? Or does that not matter among all the hurricane relief goods rotting around Laucala Bay.

"Better promotion prospects when returning to New Zealand", what a laugh: I have only ever seen it used as a deterrent to promotion on return to New Zealand. Or, do you want an M.A. in "squeezing the tourist" in every country in the world?

The real problems of Fiji are bound up in racialism indolence, poverty of mind, envy and immaturity. The European expatriate is frightened of his own skin to make worth while comments, so the civil service is slowly grinding to a halt. Thank God the New Zealanders can make a "decision" no one else appears capable.