The Indian Weekender, Friday 18 September 2020

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Editorial Harnessing strategic ties with Dhaka Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar has recently written a book on India’s position on the implementation of foreign policy. The book was virtually launched last Thursday in Delhi at a function organised by the Observer Research Foundation. Jaishankar had written the book after retiring as Foreign Secretary. At the time, he had no idea that he would become the Foreign Minister. In a discussion titled, ‘Broad Canvas of Indian Diplomacy during Pandemic’ organised by the Indian Council of World Affairs, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla said unequivocally last Friday that our foreign policy is ‘neighbourhood first’. What he didn’t mention was that at present China and Pakistan are colluding together to test India’s military preparedness and the resolve to deal with what is termed as “two front war.” In Moscow, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh spoke to the Chinese delegates, even tried to understand Moscow’s temperament. In a situation of this sort, China, Sri Lanka, Myanmar require Bangladesh more than ever. Meanwhile, a self-interested group has started to spread the word in both India and Bangladesh that China has already made an offer to Sheikh Hasina’s government that it will hold trials for the Coronavirus vaccine in Dhaka and that Dhaka has agreed to the trials. On the other hand, despite being such a great friend of Bangladesh, India isn’t doing anything! Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla’s recent visit to Dhaka must be understood in this context. And after returning from this tour, the Cabinet of Modi Government called for a meeting and pledged to give the Covid-19 vaccine to Dhaka first. The Cabinet has approved an agreement between the two countries, stating that India will give the vaccine to Bangladesh as soon as it arrives. If Oxford or any other organisation or any other country gives these vaccines to India, India’s Institute of Serology will send them to various neighbouring countries in South Asia. In Dhaka the distribution will be done through various non governmental organisations. As for the reason behind providing the vaccine to Bangladesh on priority, India has called Bangladesh a ‘strategic’ partner. Beximco Pharmaceuticals of Bangladesh has signed an agreement with Serum Institute of India for the Covid vaccine. On the other hand, Dhaka has not yet signed any agreement with China regarding a vaccine, only trials have been approved. It is pertinent to remind readers in Bangladesh that at the behest of Modi and Jaishankar, Shringla went to Dhaka in this Corona situation and held a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina during which a detailed discussion took place about the Covid-19 vaccine. The draft of the bilateral agreement was finalised at this meeting. The agreement reaffirms the triumph of the earlier friendship between these two countries. The journey of the bilateral friendship, which began in 1971 with the birth of an independentsovereign Bangladesh continues even today. Shringla will be visiting Myanmar soon. He had assured Sheikh Hasina in Dhaka that India will keep in mind this strategic relationship in resolving the Rohingya issue. This time around, India will enact an active role in order to solve the problem. India will act as an informal mediator with the Myanmar government and will then raise the issue at the UN General Assembly in September. Shringla went to Dhaka as the Foreign Secretary. He mentioned a special route for the Rohingya from Bangladesh to Myanmar, so that a consensus could be reached . India is particularly active in this regard but does not want to ruin the friendly relations with Myanmar. Friendship with Myanmar is important for India. As for Bangladesh, it wants India’s Foreign Secretary to go to Myanmar but that the Indian Government should make no statement which could hurt Bangladesh’s sovereign interests. The Bangladesh government has seen how the Sri Lankan government fell into a debt trap by borrowing from China. Sri Lanka signed a 99-year-old lease agreement with Merchant Port Holdings Limited in 2016 and for that reason took $ 1.12 billion. But it fell short of the terms of the Exim Bank of China. To get out of the trap of past debt, Sri Lanka had to take further loans. The balance of payments situation in the country is extremely serious. Hence, Bangladesh is putting its trust in India’s longterm friendship without falling into China’s trap. From Dhaka to Delhi to Kolkata, everywhere there have been articles, television talk shows, round table conferences at midnight. We all want democracy to last long in both the countries. Covid-19 has ruined the economy. India is committed to the Sheikh Hasina government. In the age of globalisation, no state can adopt a ‘walk alone’ policy. There is great significance of the India-Bangladesh border. Therefore, by saying that Bangladesh is its strategic partner, India wants to end all misunderstanding. For the same reason Shringla announced that India will resolve all the outstanding issues. Thought of the week “Never underestimate the power of dreams and the influence of the human spirit. We are all the same in this notion: The potential for greatness lives within each of us.” –Wilma Rudolph. 18 September – 24 September 2020 Fri Sat Sun Mon Tues Wed Thu On-and-off rain and drizzle 16° 9° Partly sunny 15° 8° 17° 9° Indian Weekender : Volume 12 Issue 27 Publisher: Kiwi Media Publishing Limited Content Editor: Sandeep Singh | sandeep@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Reporter: Rizwan Mohammad | rizwan@indianweekender.co.nz Chief Technical Officer: Rohan deSouza | rohan@indianweekender.co.nz Sr Graphics and Layout Designer: Mahesh Kumar | mahesh@indianweekender.co.nz Graphic Designer: Yashmin Chand | design@indianweekender.co.nz Accounts and Admin.: 09-2173623 | accounts@indianweekender.co.nz Media Sales Manager.: Leena Pal: 021 952 216 | leena@indianweekender.co.nz Sales and Distribution: 021 952218 | sales@indianweekender.co.nz Editor at Large: Dev Nadkarni | dev@indianweekender.co.nz Views expressed in the publication are not necessarily of the publisher and the publisher is not responsible for advertisers’ claims as appearing in the publication Views expressed in the articles are solely of the authors and do not in any way represent the views of the team at the Indian Weekender Kiwi Media Publishing Limited - 133A, Level 1, Onehunga Mall, Onehunga, Auckland. Printed at Horton Media, Auckland Parlty sunny Clouds and sun 14° 10° A touch o dafr This week in New Zealand’s history 18 September 1937 First state house opened in Miramar 15° 10° Copyright 2017. Kiwi Media Publishing Limited. All Rights Reserved. Sunshine and pactcy clouds 16° 9° A few morning showers Most of the Labour Cabinet helped the first tenants move into 12 Fife Lane in the Wellington suburb of Miramar. Prime Minister Michael Joseph Savage carried a cumbersome dining table through a cheering throng. 19 September 1893 Women win the right to vote When the governor, Lord Glasgow, signed a new Electoral Act into law, New Zealand became the first self-governing country in the world in which women had the right to vote in parliamentary elections. 21 September 1834 Rescue of Harriet survivors begins The family of the whaler Jacky Guard were among a group of Pākehā captured by Māori in May 1834 after the barque Harriet ran aground on the Taranaki coast. 22 September 1906 Domestic workers call for 68-hour week At a meeting in Wellington, Marianne Tasker and supporters established a domestic workers’ union, hoping to use the Liberal government’s Industrial Conciliation and Arbitration Act to force employers to improve pay and conditions. Central to their demands was a 68-hour working week. 22 September 1931 Coalition government formed to combat Depression United Party Prime Minister George Forbes had convened an inter-party conference with the goal of forming a coalition government that would ‘share the responsibility’ of dealing with the Depression. 23 September 1887 Tongariro mountains protected In February 1887 newspapers reported Ngāti Tūwharetoa’s proposal to ‘gift’ the Crown the mountaintops of Tongariro, Ngāuruhoe and Ruapehu as the basis for a national park. What the iwi actually intended was that they and the New Zealand government would take joint responsibility for protecting the sacred maunga. 25 September 1819 New Zealand's first grapevines planted? Missionary Samuel Marsden planted about a hundred grapevines of different varieties he had brought from Sydney at the site he had chosen for a new Church Missionary Society (CMS) station at Kerikeri. 15° 9°
The Indian Weekender Friday, September 18, 2020 FIJI 13 Cardiologists urge Fijians to address chest pain Cardiologists are urging Fijians who may be having chest pain to get screened for heart problems. Interventional Cardiologist at the CWM Hospital in Suva, Dr Shahin Nusair says more young people are presenting symptoms of heart attack. Dr Nusair says many Fijians do not take chest pain seriously. “To be honest it’s a silent killer and unfortunately one of the presentations of heart attack is just sudden death. "And you probably heard so many stories of somebody saying he was fine and healthy, he slept and never woke up. "And when we do a post morterm we find it’s actually a heart attack that claimed his life so that’s what we mean by silent killer.” Dr Nusair says many people continue to ignore the signs of heart attack especially after suffering multiple chest pain. “It is all more to do with culture, probably an iTaukei gentleman might not necessarily address his chest pain and might brush it aside Call for unity on mental health in Fiji amid Covid-19 pandemic A Fijian psychologist is calling on people in Fiji to work together to tackle issues associated with mental health amid the Covid-19 pandemic. Fijian students are now learning from home due to Covid-19. Photo: Supplied/Ignite4Change Addressing a prayer vigil to remember the victims of suicide in Suva, Selina Kuruleca said people must assist one another and reach out to those struggling due to the pandemic. The Health Ministry says about 90 Fijians have died from suicide this year while there have been 82 attempted suicides. Dr Kuruleca, who is the chair of the National Committee on Prevention of Suicide in Fiji. said suicides are responsible for the majority of deaths of younger Fijians. "The highest number of deaths in young people or youths between the ages of 15 to 29 is deaths by suicide. These are preventable deaths. There are more deaths from suicides than there are from road accidents or drowning," Selina Kuruleca said. Kuruleca urged community and church leaders to reach out to their members and help those suffering depression or other mental healthrelated issues. Fiji marked International Suicide Prevention Day last week with September named the country's Mental Health month. Last week's vigil was organised by Lifeline and supported by Psychiatric Survivors Association, Youth Champs for Mental Health and the Fiji Council of Social Services. Speaking at the vigil, Dr Kuruleca said death from suicide was traumatic for all those left behind and it should never be an option. She encouraged those present at the event to support those families that had been impacted by the suicide of a loved one. Dr Kuruleca urged people not to judge but show action that they cared for them. "Make a commitment today to be persistent in your compassion, to be genuine in your advocacy and to be mindful of our realities," she said. "Everyone needs to work together - from Empower Pacific, Lifeline, youth champs for mental health, medical services pacific, women's crisis centre, women's rights movement, the LGBTQI community and of course, our faith-based organisations. "We all have a part to play and we must play it." The theme of the Mental Health Month is Working Together, she said. Fijians who need help can call the 24-hour child helpline on 1325, domestic violence on 1560, Lifeline on 132454 and Empower Pacific on 7765626 if they need counselling or want to talk to a counsellor. Nadi in Top 10 most scenic Airports worldwide Nadi International Airport breathtaking” has been named in the Top Voter said “it has the breathtaking 10 Most Scenic Airports views of the sunrise and the iconic in the world by voters from around the globe. The results were revealed by PrivateFly who carried out the annual Scenic Airports Poll. Fiji Airports Chairman, Geoffrey sleeping giant mountain on the backdrop” Top 10 Scenic Airports 2020 1. Donegal Airport – Ireland 2. Msembe Airstrip – Tanzania Shaw says this global recognition 3. kiathos (Alexandros underscores Fiji’s breathtaking Papadiamantis) Airport - Greece views, natural beauty and tranquillity when landing at Nadi International Airport. He says they can proudly boast having one of the best scenic arrival and departure experiences in the world. Shaw further says the aviation industry is facing massive challenges Most Scenic Airports Worldwide is a reminder of how Fiji’s appeal is embraced by international travellers. Shaw says they can’t wait to welcome back our international visitors when travel resumes. Airport Poll was conducted between February and March this year. Voters said “the views of the Nadi Bay and mountainous regions are amazing when landing” They said “just getting into the 4. Orlando Melbourne International Airport - USA 5. Barra Airport – Scotland 6. Bora Bora (Motu Mute) Airport – French Polynesia 7. St Maarten (Princess Juliana) International Airport - St Maarten 8. Praslin Island Airport - Seychelles in these demanding times with Nadi is ranked 10th in the World’s Nadi International Airport you see 9. Dubai International Airport - tourism and international air travel at Most Scenic Airports and 2nd in the the mountain ranges and the islands, United Arab Emirates a virtual standstill due to COVID-19. Australasia region. just out floating over the Pacific He says being rated in the Top 10 The 2020 PrivateFly Scenic Ocean. Just picture perfect, and 10. Nadi International Airport - Fiji or tough it out which is definitely wrong as supposed to another gentleman whose pain threshold is low and he gets chest pain and he actually visits the doctor.” Another cardiologist Dr Bharat Bali says many Fijians are presenting late to hospitals as they choose herbal treatment over doctors. Covid-19: 152 Days Of No Community Transmission Cases In Fiji It has now been 152 days without any cases of community transmission of COVID-19 in Fiji. This is according to the Minister for Health and Medical Services Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete. And it has been 11 days since the last COVID-19 case of COVID-19 in the border quarantine areas. To date Fiji has recorded 32 cases of COVID-19, of which only four border quarantine cases remain active, 28 have recovered. It was 181 days ago when Patient One was tested positive. Dr Waqainabete said Fiji had managed to contain COVID-19. He urged Fijians to do their part by downloading the careFIJI app. Fruit flies could affect Fiji’s export market The presence of fruit flies in any commodity exported by Fiji to New Zealand can be detrimental. The issue can also possibly affect the bilateral quarantine agreements that are currently in place. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Biosecurity Authority are keeping a close watch to ensure that fruit flies do not leave our shores. Permanent Secretary for Agriculture Ritesh Dass says it is important that all necessary precautions are taken to prevent fruit fly presence in any export commodity. Fiji exports pawpaw, mangoes, breadfruit, and eggplant to NZ. The Fijian fruit fly (Bactrocera passiflorae) and the Pacific fruit fly (Bactrocera xanthodes) if found in these commodities sent to New Zealand, will have severe repercussions. Dass says the treatment is available to ensure that these fruits are fly free before it leaves our shores. He says the Ministry’s Fruit Fly Unit of the Crop Research Division is creating awareness programs on the pest as well as its management during field visits and agriculture shows. Fiji PM: Island nations must stand together We see ourselves as an indicating a remarkable 28 trillion the need for staying united amid the incubator for innovation tonnes of ice had melted from the dual crisis. – incubators for the big Earth’s surface between 1994 and “Now, as we face these dual crises blue and green ideas humanity needs that can be scaled up across the world, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. He made these comments at the opening of the Virtual Island Summit 2020 last week. Mr Bainimarama said COVID-19 was an unfortunate turn of fate for 2017, which is 3.6 million kilograms of ice for every person on Earth. “Without dramatic changes to the way the world’s largest carbon producers operate, the situation only looks to get worse from here. "The rising seas that have followed are proving particularly devastating for island nations like ours. – climate change and contagion – island nations must stand together with a more united voice than ever before. "So during this year’s Virtual Island Summit, I hope that each of you take the time to listen, to learn and, most importantly, to be driven to action.” nations which were already on the "Without " C r i t i c a l The Virtual Island Summit 2020, frontlines of combating other issues dramatic infrastructure and scheduled from September 7 to such as climate change. changes to the way entire communities 13, was an online event aimed at “For years, islanders have been the world’s largest in Fiji have been connecting global islands to share sounding the alarm bells on rising first-hand, watching the land, that swallowed by the seas,” carbon producers operate, relocated to higher common experiences, driving the the situation only looks to sea levels and strengthening storms. was entrusted to us by our ancestors he added. ground as a result.” sustainability and prosperity of get worse from here" We have experienced their wrath and their ancestors before them, be He shared a report He also emphasised Pacific communities.
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The Indian Weekender, Friday 18 September 2020

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