Manila Downunder

~~ FIJI FLOOD DISASTER ~~

Lets take a moment out from the day to day rubbish of self-obsessed, arrogant, threatening and uncaring type people to look at the recent situation in Fiji.
It is when things like this happen, when people suffer so much pain, that you realise how pathetic childish rumours and gossip is.

Those who know me, know of my love for the country and people that is Fiji. It has fast become my favourite country to be in. Despite the obvious poverty that abounds, these are by far the most friendly and caring people in the world, all of whom have a Bula or friendly handshake ready for when you pass.

Watching the devastation in such beautiful locations as Sigatoka, Nadi, Ba, Rakiraki and Tavua has broken my heart.
These are all places that I have been to and have suck great memories of.
But beyond the initial cleanup following these awful rains, what is in store for Fiji?

The sugar industry, Fiji's second largest industry after tourism (which I belief was suffering even prior to this), has taken a huge blow and some are even wondering if it will come out of this.
Mills in Labasa, Rakiraki and Ba all suffered extensive damage and require millions of dollars to repair.
But even if this is forthcoming, a HUGE amount of cane crop had been totally destroyed, while there has been extensive damage to the countries beleaguered sugar railway system which was only recently looking like being treated to upgrading and possible use outside sugar season.
The sugar industry has been on a downward spiral in Fiji, as it has been in other countries, for some years. Investment has been minimal at best on all areas of the operation and now you are left to wonder if they will be able to even attract the sort of financial help they need for an operation that has a cloudy future regardless.

Anyway, for now, people are without food and without money to survive. Many are even without a place to live.
These people don't gossip and betray like so many others - these people are exactly what we all should be like - They don't deserve this.

Help if you can - even a little bit.

FijiLive, Hibiscus Appeal


Below are a couple of photos of the floods!

Ba is where the Rarawai Sugar Mill is located, a major employer of people in Fiji. I have heard reports this mill was under two metres of water. Below is the main street through the shops, to the right of the photographer being the pizza shop where I had lunch with the Colonel.

This large bridge (not all visible in this photo) has been a icon
in Sigatoka for many years.
Originally a road/rail bridge, it now exists mostly for pedestrians, pipes offering services to people on the other side and for the trains
involved in the seasonal cane haul.
In 2006 I had a fun stroll across the bridge, photographed and met a few locals, as well as getting the customary train shot.
Such a wonderful, strong and interesting bridge that
remained an important feature of this community.
Sort of beyond comprehension the sort of force that would be
needed to remove it, but these floods did. I am told only one pier remains
as evidence of its being there.
Can't see it being replaced anytime soon, thus leaving canefarmers up the Sigatoka Valley area without a rail service.

So much help is needed - please make an effort to send these people something - ANYTHING! This is a scene repeated in hundreds of locations around Fiji recently.

The G-Spot Barkada's thoughts go out to the awesome people of Fiji and we all hope you are able to recover from this quickly!