Bringing Economy to Udu

Our interest and work is to improve the economy of the area. We are retired and do not have to make money for our livelihood but we do need to make enough to fund the operation. In coming to understand the culture, we now comprehend some of the reasons for the failures in many aid projects.   Making sure money is handled correctly is our most important task. The Fijian culture is different, responsibility and accountability is not as to them as it is to us, forgiveness is much more important to them than us. They do not want to confront anyone, nor do they want to be confronted. If the people are to progress there have to be changes and change does not come easily for this culture.   We have learned that we must be careful with how much we pay people and what we expect from them. We have to make sure they don't (for instance) use Îworking for Also Island ' as a reason for not attending to other duties and opportunities, there is a real balance to maintain.   We can teach them almost anything but to get them to break some of the cultural habits and thus ensure responsibility and accountability is not easy, even though they know it is right. Achieving success with a project is quite a challenge. Currently I believe that before a project can be left to the local people, supervision will be required for a long while. They are now able to refuse credit on our behalf, hold on to our money and get things done, on'cash only'-Îno credit' basis.   While they want responsibility and accountability, they do not want to confront the other nor do they want to be confronted. To a certain extent they prefer us to do the confronting. An example of this: One day we needed a big crow bar. Knowing that Isei had one, I asked him to bring it, but he said he couldn't. When asked Îwhy not?' he said someone had borrowed and had not returned it. I suggested he go get it. He said he could not do that, it would not be polite. I said ÎWait a minute, he borrowed it? Was he supposed to return it?' ÎYes'. ÎIsn't he being impolite'? ÎWell yes but, I cannot go ask for it back'. Sensing there was something I was not understanding: I then said ÎOK I will go get it' and that was an acceptable solution!   Manoa, the principle of the secondary school has become a good friend of mine and we get together on Sunday afternoons. We were discussing this situation one day and I asked him if he could say "no credit" (called keri keri in Fijian). He said he could refuse everyone except one person; the Chief of his toka toka (clan). Manoa is well educated, quite savvy and critical of some of the lack of responsibility and accountability in the village culture but, his culture is still important and strong with him too!   Here is another example: Isei was the first Chief when we arrived; he and I also became good friends. Once when he was going to Labasa and I wasn't, I asked him to pick up a package for me. I gave him more money than I figured it would take and told him I expected the change back. He agreed. When he returned, and I asked for my change he told me "a Fijian cannot carry change!Ó That was the way it was and that was supposed to be OK with me!   Having watched the communal life and system it is not too hard to understand why this system will not work. There are those who figure out there is little or no consequences for not doing their part, or that they can take advantage of their position and, in so doing, become a burden to the community. The whole community suffers and if the person has no conscience there is little retribution. Everyone knows it is wrong but their cultural mores prohibit them from doing much about it: no one wants to confront the other or be confronted.   Having said this, the local people are learning from us. We expect responsibility and accountability and they are seeing the benefits of these ethics. There are a few people we feel are trustworthy with small amounts of money, who would not lie to us and would be responsible on our behalf. The number is few but as more people are making money though our ventures, and becoming able to provide for their families, we are seeing changes in their attitudes. However, I would readily admit that if we left tomorrow, little, if any of our accomplishments would continue for long. If we can stay long enough for the children to become participating adult members of the community, we might see lasting changes.