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Day honours surveyors globally
IF you have an ambition, you can rise to the top of your chosen profession regardless of your beginning. Fiji’s Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Ashneel Sudhakar made these comments while officiating at the...
Conduct of air traffic controllers labelled an unlawful strike: Minister
THE conduct of the 33 Fiji Airports air traffic management workers has been labelled as an unlawful strike by the Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations Parveen Kumar. Following their meeting this afternoon, Mr Bala released a Government statement calling the worker’s coordinated and continued refusal to attend work as clear indications that a...
Arguments erupt at Fiji Taxi Association meeting in Lautoka
A MEETING between taxi drivers in Lautoka had to be stopped prematurely today after arguments erupted between the opposing parties. Fiji Taxi Union and Lautoka Taxi Association president Raben Singh called for the meeting between officers from LTA, Fiji Police Force and the disputing parties to try and resolve their issues. Mr Singh said the...
EU Commission resists May’s Brexit delay date of June 30: document
BRUSSELS (Reuters) – The European Commission opposes extending British membership of the European Union to June 30 as Prime Minister Theresa May proposed on Wednesday, according to a document seen by Reuters. In a Wednesday note, Commission officials said EU leaders meeting May at a summit on Thursday faced a “binary” choice of a short...
Employment Minister meets Fiji Airports senior management
MINISTER for Employment, Industrial Relations and Productivity Parveen Kumar is meeting Fiji Airports senior management and air traffic controllers this hour. The air traffic controllers will be represented by Fiji Public Service Association general secretary Rajeshwar Singh. Mr Kumar is expected to release a statement on the impasse following the discussions.
Kava co-operative negotiates US deal
NEGOTIATIONS are progressing between the Kadavu Kava Farmers Co-operative Ltd and suitable kava buyers in the United States of America for the establishment of its markets. Kadavu Provincial Council chairman Malakai Masi revealed the company recently held talks with a dealer from Sacramento who approached the company revealing his interests. Mr Masi said the company...
Fiji Airports open to talks
FIJI Airports says it is open to holding dialogue and discussions with air traffic controllers “to hear any issues they have”. In a statement last night, Fiji Airports executive chairman Faiz Khan said he had taken note of an “order by the minister” but would not be making any media comments “at the present time”....
Both airports safe, says CAAF
THE Civil Aviation Authority of Fiji says it has implemented strategies to ensure incidents like Fiji Airports air traffic control staffing issues did not affect safety at the Nadi and Nausori international airports. “Contingency procedures that have been developed for such situations have been activated to ensure the safety of the travelling public is not...
20th March
Call for agro exporters to work with the ministry
AGRO exporters have been urged to co-operate with the Ministry of Agriculture and consider shifting towards incentivising and getting farmers to respond to the demand for production and supply. Minister for Agriculture, Rural and Maritime Development, Waterways and Environment Dr Mahendra Reddy also reminded agro exporters to practise good ethical standards when dealing with farmers...
Minister admits more awareness is needed on issue
MEMBERS of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Council have been assured by the Minister for Employment and Youth and Sports Parveen Kumar that their concerns and complaints will be looked into by his ministry. The TCF held its annual general meeting in Suva yesterday where members raised their concerns on the family care leave that...
19th March
Research confirms smaller liquidity pool
A RESEARCH carried out by one of the major banks operating in Fiji has confirmed that a smaller liquidity pool has pushed up banks’ cost of funds, recommending that banks needed to carry sufficient liquidity to fund loan demand and to meet internal liquidity ratios, so they are aggressively competing for a shrinking pool of...
USP submits major challenges to Standing Committee
A LOW number of academic staff members and shortage of accommodation for students are some of the major challenges identified by the vice-chancellor and president of the University of the South Pacific. VC Professor Pal Ahluwalia said the current student to staff ratio stood at 80:1 however he said despite it the institution was producing...
Partnership to provide affordable housing
THE Fijian Government yesterday signed an agreement with member of the World Bank Group, International Finance Corporation to bring in the private sector to assist in providing affordable and climate resilient homes for low and middle income families. The signing took place after the opening of the World Bank Group South Pacific Hub at the...
Falling liquidity
FALLING liquidity has pushed commercial banks cost of funds higher however so far this has not been passed on to borrowers, with banks absorbing the increase into their margins. This was revealed by a research report carried out by the ANZ Bank and published in its ANZ Pacific Insight, 2019. The report’s authors — Dr...
18th March
World Bank office opens in Suva
THE opening to the new office of the World Bank office demonstrates that Fiji is the hub for the Pacific. Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said this while officiating at the opening of the World Bank office in Suva today. “Fiji as well as other Pacific Island countries now have access to a vast array of global...
Central Transport bus drivers go on strike
THIRTY five bus drivers of Central Transport Limited in Vatuwaqa are currently on strike raising their grievances on their current wages. Sheikh Abudhulla, 58 said he has worked for the company as a bus driver for company over the past 15 years. He claimed the only increment last year was for non-union members while the...
Nadi airport given Level 2 carbon accreditation
NADI International Airport has received Level 2 Airport Carbon Accreditation from Airports Council International (ACI). Fiji Airports’ executive chairman, Faiz Khan said this latest achievement is testament to Nadi International Airport’s positive contribution towards the mitigation of climate change. “Nadi International Airport has received two major ACI recognitions within the space of a month,” he...
Trade deficit in 2018
THE international merchandise trade statistics data released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics shows that the value of goods imported in 2018 stood at $5696.1 million while the value of total exports was $2176.9m. According to the bureau total imports and total exports increased by $732.3m and $141.3m respectively while the 2018 trade deficit amounted...
16th March
Fijians urged to make submissions towards budget consultations
MEMBERS of the public are being urged to make more public submissions towards the 2019/2020 Budget Consultations and to make suggestions and ideas that will help government with budgetary allocations. The Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum made the call during the 2019/2020 National Budget Consultations that was held at De Vos at the Park in Suva today....
Need for day centres for children of working women
THERE are is a need for day centres to be set up specifically children of working women in Fiji. This was highlighted by the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum during the 2019-2019 national budget consultation at De Vos on the Park in Suva this morning. “There is a need for day centre where children of working...
Govt to rope in opportunities to contribute to economic growth
GOVERNMENT will tap into the services sector to rope in opportunities to contribute to economic growth. Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed Khaiyum highlighted this issue while speaking at the 2019-2020 budget consultation at De Vos on the Park in Suva this morning. “There are lot of opportunities in the services sector that can contribute to economic...
Treat for coffee lovers
COFFEE lovers are in for a treat with the opening of a grab and go outlet, which serves award-winning Weta Coffee. Weta Coffee (Fiji) is now open inside Mobil On the Go on Victoria Parade, opposite Kadavu House and is owned and operated by locals Darran and Mue Bentley Fisher through their company Thirty Three...
$9 million tobacco factory
BRITISH American Tobacco is expanding its facilities with the construction of a $9 million tobacco processing factory in Votualevu, Nadi. the groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, BAT general manager Alexander Ivakhov said the project marked a big step for the company and its continuous commitment to Fiji. “We overall have invested $9m into this facility between the...
$203 million in remittances
VODAFONE Fiji received about $230 million in remittances on their mobile wallet platform M-PAiSA last year with more than $1m in inward remittances from Europe. This was confirmed by Vodafone Fiji’s regional CEO Pradeep Lal yesterday who said the company was focusing on developing e-commerce. Mr Lal said their M-PAiSA had made very steady progress...
Let’s heed the IMF’s advice
The assessment of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) of the Fiji economy is the worst that I have ever read. I have been part of these reports when I had worked in the IMF and led many Article IV discussions. I know that the IMF speaks with tact and euphemism. But as I read the...
15th March
NASDAQ collaboration enhances SPSE vision: Narayan
NASDAQ collaborated with the South Pacific Stock Exchange to publish a celebratory message on the Nasdaq Market Site Tower based in Times Square, New York City, USA to mark International Women’s Day. A statement from SPSE said this was after the Exchange celebrated the event by ringing its opening trading bell followed by a panel...
Hope for Fijians to come forth with crucial consumer issues
PERMANENT Secretary for the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Tourism Shaheen Ali hopes Fijians will use today’s platform to bring to the forefront crucial consumer issues and seek changes where needed. Fijians gathered at the University of the South Pacific in Suva today to commemorate World Consumer Rights Day with the theme ‘Trusted Smart Products’....
CEOs and senior business executives attend networking forum
THE Fiji Human Resources Institute is holding a one-day networking forum for business executives at the Radisson Blu Resort Fiji in Nadi. President Kameli Batiweti said 106 CEOs and senior business executives are present at the forum. He said the huge turnout was a good indication that human resources and the important role it played...
Vodafone Fiji rolls out 4G+ and pre 5G network
AN upgrade by Vodafone Fiji of its network to 4G+ and 5G is expected to bridge the digital divide in Fiji including the North. Company regional CEO Pradeep Lal is expected to make the announcement this morning in a press conference The $207million capital upgrade will help the telco company keep up with the demands...
