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About |
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Bebi (pronounced mbambi with English spelling) Electronics was founded in 2004 at Fawn Harbor, Vanua Levu, by Michael Homsany, Kendra Pinsker, and Joe Prasad. It’s purpose (besides putting food on our table), is to provide employment to the village of Nakobo and its environs without disturbing the traditional way of life within the village. | |
| In respect to the pristine environment, we have chosen production methods that do not produce industrial waste. Being 40km from the nearest power line, most of our production electrical is powered by solar panels. In addition, for our exclusive resin, we utilize (cleaned) used beverage containers for the actual mixing. | ||
| Our latest project (not for export at this time, November 2007), is the Mata Ni Siga, a small solar home lighting system. 17k Fijian households are without mains power, so kerosene is the primary lighting source. Besides the cost of kero being in excess of F$1.00/night (and rising with all other fossil fuel costs), every year there are house fires and personal tragedies from burns. |
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| We are able to fund the 'bits' we need to buy with the hard currency which is earned from our export sales.
We have the local price fixed at F$365 (dollar a day, same as kero), but the system should produce
usable light for 20 years, with a battery replacement every 3-5 years. The price is quite aggressive,
as the Government of Fiji considers some of the components (wire) to be luxury items and carries a 27%
excise duty in addition to the 'normal' other duties and fees!
Joe has lived here his entire life; Michael and Kendra are relative newcomers, having been previously home based in Pago Pago, American Samoa between sailing trips around the Pacific Islands for the past 20 years. |
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If you are out this direction, please visit us. We are also the managers of Waitui Marina. In general, ourselves and our manufacturing are located 30 nm east of the Point Passage light in Savusavu, one of the four authorized Customs check in points in the Fiji Islands. If you enjoy the big city, polluted water and crowds, go straight to Suva Harbor. If you enjoy fresh air, pleasant people and crystal clear water, this is the place! |
| Brian and Jan aboard s/v 'Another Angel', purchased our lights in Australia, and came up to visit our 'factory' in Bagasau and the office in Savusavu! You can too! |
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As well as did Grant and Cynthia, who purchased our Bebi LED lights in Canada, visiting us on their cruising yacht, 'Wolverine'. |  |
| (That's our yacht, 'Shangri-La' in the background, proof that you don't need a big yacht to go cruising on, just a sound yacht). | ||
| And let's not forget David and Julia, aboard S/V Macy! You can see more of how he mounted his Doe lights (it will work just the same with our Rinorino and Kacau clusters) in a locally available material, bamboo, here. (That's one of our local products on the table that they are sampling, a Fiji Bitter Long-Neck). |  |
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Besides buying some lights from us (thanks!) overseas, Jim and Katie, aboard S/v Asylum, had some long email exchanges with us when they were in New Zealand, wondering about the cruising situation in Fiji. After giving them the 'straight scoop', they came up to visit in both Savusavu (where they bought yet more lights, thanks x 2!), as well as our 'factory' in Bagasau. |
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| Aerial View of Fawn Harbour "X" Denotes Day Mark Bagasau is in the Mangroves |
| The below pics are links to 'you are there' animated photos, courtesy of our friends aboard S/V 'NatHape' requiring Adobe Flash 10. They are big, ~4 meg each, but they give you a very stunning look at ourselves and our home. | ||
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| Our 'factory' floor, with Sia hard at work, testing completed lights. Joe, one of the directors and the Production Manager, is watching from the side. | All of our power is generated from this small solar plant. In season, Joe has cassava growing on the slope below the solar panels. | To land on most of Fawn Harbour, you must go up a small mangrove creek. This creek mouth is to Qalaka Settlement; the creek leading to Bagasau takes almost five minutes to go up, twisting and turning in a very 'otherworld' feeling. |
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| The interiour of a typical Fijian home outside of the city. This house belongs to,, the Turaga Ni Vanua of Bagasau Village. Please note that he is NOT the 'village chief', Turaga Ni Koro, or mayor, an elected post within the village. | A typical Fijian home in the 'downtown' section of Fawn Harbour. | Kia Island at low tide. Sitting on this sand islet, having a picnic lunch, listening to no other sound than hearing the surf roar on the reef almost a mile distant, is a dream of most cruising sailors. |
- Our Staff -
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| Lusi | Mini | Tui | Joe | Sia | Kendra (WITH hat!) |
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| Fipe | Bill | 'Other' Tui & Turaga Ni Koro (Mayor) of Bagasau! |
Bobby & Mita Artists & Bilo Bulb Creators |
Michael | Gavin(Chip off the old man!) | |
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| View From Our 'Factory' |
Fawn Harbor Sunset © S/V 'Iluvatar' |
Our Factory Floor (With Kuru the Kibitzer!) |
Our Power Plant |
Savusavu, the Second Largest City in Vanua Levu
(That there are two cities in Vanua Levu is merest happenstance!)
Copyright © 2005-2010 Bebi Electronics, Ltd.
