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NGO distributes 290,000 books
To cater for schools with under-resourced libraries, the Australian NGO Fiji Book Drive, has distributed more than 290,000 books to over 150 schools nationwide. Fiji Book Drive founder and former English teacher Fiona Luth says...
Workers to get COLA payout
One week after the conduct of a secret ballot for strike action, employees of the Nadi Town Council who are members of the National Union of Workers – Fiji (NUW) will receive a cost of living adjustment (Cola) payout on Friday. About 30 workers took the secret ballot to strike on September 21 that was...
Ministers resolve issue | Puna: We’re moving forward with our fisheries
Pacific island leaders have managed to resolve the issue surrounding the allocation of the $60 million economic assistance promised by the United States for Pacific countries. Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) general secretary Henry Puna said this issue was resolved in Papua New Guinea (PNG) through the help of the PNG leadership. Last year, US vice...
Consultation after residents raise issues
Local Government Minister Maciu Nalumisa says public consultations will be conducted today on the construction work on Princes Rd in Tamavua. The Suva City Council issued a stop-work order to the developer on Monday and Mr Nalumisa confirmed visiting the site on Tuesday. “My town and country planning team, what they are going to do...
Bainimarama, Qiliho trail | Case adjourned
The court has adjourned the case of former prime minister Voreqe Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho to October 12. Defence lawyer Devanesh Sharma said he would make a written submission in light of the passing of Acting Director of Public Prosecutions Ratu David Toganivalu. Mr Sharma told the court he was ready with...
Long ‘costly’ rides | Mini-van operators spend $500 weekly, earn only $80 in return
Imagine paying $500 for fuel every week to transport students to school, while only getting $80 in return. This is the reality of mini-van operators who transport students from Nabukelevu Village in the heart of Serua to Ratu Latianara College. Speaking during a talanoa session with Deputy Prime Minister and Trade Minister Manoa Kamikamica in...
Teachers. we appreciate you, says Singh
THE Fiji Teachers Registration Authority (FTRA) has passed on a message of appreciation to all teachers as World Teachers Day is marked today. CEO Sangeeta Singh said the theme for 2023 was The Teachers We Need For The Education We Want: The global imperative to reverse the teacher shortage. Mrs Singh said the theme was...
Singh: We inherited a demoralised workforce
A demoralised workforce was inherited from the former government, says Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Agni Deo Singh. “We had inherited unions struggling to survive due to the lack of recognition, the lack of collective bargaining, the refusal of the most important and the leading employer the Government itself to engage with the...
Dr Kumar: Do better at looking after our own
We have to do better to look after our people, says Fiji Medical Association vice president Dr Ronal Kumar. He said medical professionals including doctors were not being looked after properly hence they are seeking employment elsewhere. “I would like all of us to pledge to look after our own staff,” said Dr Kumar while...
Financial institution’s decision to remain in Fiji welcomed
The Fiji Government has welcomed the recent announcement by the Westpac Group to end the sale process of its Pacific banking businesses and retain Westpac operations in Fiji. In a Government statement, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad said the commercial financial institution had played a critical role in Fiji’s economic...
What’s happening today!
Bula vinaka everyone. Here is another edition of some basic information you may need to know for today. First, here is your weather forecast for today: Weather: Expect southeast winds with speed up to 45km/hr and gusting up to 55km/hr over the land areas of Yasawa group, Kadavu and nearby smaller islands, Beqa and Vatulele,...
4th October
Stakeholders meet to counter HIV
A platform for stakeholder groups to share their perspectives, foster dialogue and seek common ground in the relentless pursuit of progress against HIV was conducted recently. Health Minister Dr Atonio Lalabalavu said the National HIV Stakeholders meeting served as a testament to the unwavering commitment to address one of the most pressing global health challenges....
FHL Tower completion moved to 2024
Disruption caused by global economic and political continues to plague the construction of FHL Tower, with completion now expected in April next year. Described by Fijian Holdings Ltd Group (FHL) as its “single largest investment”, the 17-storey $65 million investment at the corner of Gordon and Gorrie Streets in Suva is currently under construction. “FHL...
People | Helen’s nursing heart
The function of nurses may have somewhat changed slightly over the years. However, the pivotal role they play in health care remains evident – they promote healthy lifestyles, educate the public on health issues and care for patients. That means, without nurses there would be no health care in the world. Meet Helen Bailey, the...
Chief Registrar pleads guilty
Chief Registrar Tomasi Bainivalu yesterday pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol. Bainivalu appeared before Chief Magistrate Waleen George in the Suva Magistrate’s Court. In June this year, Bainivalu drove under the influence of alcohol along Suva’s Brown St. The matter has been adjourned to October 11 for sentencing.
$25bn lawsuit
More than 50 retired and former Republic of the Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) soldiers appeared in the High Court yesterday. They were part of the 2866 soldiers who served in Lebanon between 1978 and 2002 and had filed a lawsuit against the RFMF on June 30 this year. The retired and former personnel of the...
Teacher jailed for four years
A primary schoolteacher charged with three counts of sexual assault on his students nine years ago has been jailed for four years by the High Court in Lautoka. The incidents took place in 2010 and 2011 while the teacher was posted to an island in the Western Division. All the victims were students and aged...
Court refuses bail for attempted murder and arson suspect
The High Court in Lautoka has refused to grant bail to a man charged with attempted murder, arson and damaging property. On May 21 this year at Dreketi Feeder Rd in Lautoka, Munesh Gounder attempted to murder Biu Tuwai, tried to set fire to the dwelling house of Peter O’Brien and destroyed a vehicle belonging...
Sayed-Khaiyum: Report was malicious and incorrect
FijiFirst party secretary and former attorney-general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says a The Fiji Times report published on September 23 about his asset disclosures was malicious and incorrect. The Fiji Times report said Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had not declared the value of shares he owned in two companies as required under the asset declaration forms filed with the...
Standing in solidarity | Trade unionists protest against India’s workers’ rights
Security guards at the Life Insurance Corporation of India building in Butt St, Suva, stopped more than 20 trade unionists protesting India’s alleged mistreatment of workers from delivering a letter to the Indian High Commissioner yesterday. Fiji Trades Union Congress national secretary Felix Anthony said they were standing in solidarity with their Indian colleagues because...
Students and teachers clean town creek
The students and teachers of Xavier College marked the Prophet Mohammed public holiday to clean Elevuka creek which runs through Ba Town. During heavy rain, the creek gets flooded and pushes floodwaters into the town. The students who took part in the clean up are members of the Xavier College Catholic Students Club, and the...
State support to help FSC
The Fiji Sugar Corporation’s board of directors believe that with government support, the corporation will be able to continue operating for at least 12 months from May 31, 2023. According to the FSC’s 2023 annual report which was released last week at its AGM, the corporation has been incurring significant losses in recent years. “During...
NCD burden on Fiji’s economy | $591million bill
The rising NCD burden – estimated to cost the economy up to $591.4 million annually – indicates inadequate prevention and attention to its risk factors, according to Dr Jemesa Tudravu. Dr Tudravu, the Health Ministry’s chief medical advisor, told the Transforming Primary Health Care (PHC) in Fiji workshop in Lami yesterday there was a dire...
Boost for cane farmers | Government will pay one third of the lease premium – Singh
Government will pay one third of the lease premium for cane farmers interested in renewing their leases, says Sugar Minister Charan Jeath Singh. This new program, he said was designed to assist farmers pay high premiums as many had raised concerns over the amount given by the iTaukei Land Trust Board. “So if a farmer...
Acting Director of Public Prosecutions passes on
I’M shocked! These were the words Attorney-General Siromi Turaga uttered upon hearing of the passing of Ratu David George Toganivalu, the acting Director of Public Prosecutions and acting Commissioner of the Fiji Independent Commission against Corruption (FICAC). Ratu David, 49, passed away on Monday evening at his home after suffering a cardiac arrest. Apart from...
‘Reform of health sector vital’ – Deputy PM
The agenda of the Coalition Government for the next four years is to transform the health sector, starting from primary to tertiary healthcare. This was highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad during the opening of the Transforming Primary Health Care (PHC) in Fiji workshop in Lami yesterday. Attended by medical...
NCD burden estimated at $591m
Fiji’s non-communicable diseases burden is estimated to cost the economy up to $591.4 million annually, says Health Ministry’s chief medical advisor Dr Jemesa Tudravu. Dr Tudravu said this indicated inadequate prevention and attention to its risk factors. He told participants at the Transforming Primary Health Care in Fiji workshop in Suva yesterday that up to...
Aiyaz hits back at Times
FijiFirst party secretary Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says a The Fiji Times article published on September 23 about his asset disclosures was malicious and incorrect. The Fiji Times report published on September 23 stated Mr Sayed-Khaiyum had not declared the value of shares he owned in two companies as required under the asset declaration forms filed with...
Ro Teimumu: Ratu David’s passing a tragic loss to family; great loss to Fiji
The head of the Burebasaga confederacy, Marama na Roko Tui Dreketi Ro Teimumu Kepa, has lamented the passing of acting Director of Public Prosecutions Ratu David-George Toganivalu. In a condolence message to Ratu David’s mother Adi Davila Toganivalu – posted on her social media Facebook account from Jerusalem, Ro Teimumu said his passing was a...
South Pacific a region in recovery; challenges not ‘insurmountable’
The South Pacific region is one in recovery in the wake of a global pandemic. It continues to grapple with the impact of the Ukraine-Russia war – a conflict with no visible end in sight – and with repercussions across the world, including through higher food and energy prices. At present, the region continues to...
