The Fiji Times

‘We need evidence’ – Tudravu says some people relating brawl incident to drugs

IF there is any evidence that drugs is the cause of the brawls in Nabua, we will investigate it, says Acting Commissioner of Police Rusiate Tudravu. He assured Fijians the Fiji Police Force would not leave any stone unturned to find the root cause of the rift between Mead Rd housing and Sukanaivalu Rd youths....

Food: Kokoda Twists

For most Fijians, kokoda is a ‘raw’ fish dish served in coconut milk. At its most basic level they would be right, however, to me kokoda is so much more. Just like South American ceviche or Japanese sashimi, many types of seafoods and meats can be incorporated into a modern kokoda dish, not just fish....

Discovering Fiji: The birth of Fiji’s airfields

Second World War, from 1939 to 1945, was a life-changing period for Fiji. In readiness for war, there were a few massive infrastructure developments in the colony. Among them were the establishment of our “landing strips” from which we inherited our airports. By July 1939, it had already been confirmed that Nadi was going to...

Showcase of talents

FINDING comfort on a stroke of a paintbrush after many years of confinement in a correction’s facility is like an essence of novelty for many gifted incarcerated artists. With their past experience, confinement was a school of hard knocks for many inmates and art was an avenue to pastime and simply allow creativity to sprout....

Mohseen: Bringing about positive change

Doctor Mohseen Riaz- Ud Dean (PhD) is the head of communication research and ethnographic solutions mapping at the UNDP accelerator lab-Pacific in Fiji and is an anthropologist. Name: Dr. Mohseen Riaz-Ud-Dean (PhD) Occupation: Head of Community Research and Ethnographic Solutions Mapping at UNDP, Pacific Office in Suva Age: 35 What sort of upbringing did you...

From the Crowd: Getting vaxed

As someone who bared her bicep a couple of weeks ago to get the COVID-19 vaccination, I can say that it didn’t hurt a bit, thank you doctor. The Editor and the Prime Minister are quite right, we all need to be brave people and get the jab. My feelings were a little crushed when...

Look Back: Man recovering at Hospital after being stoned

A driver of a light good’s vehicle who was driving home after attending a wedding at Lautoka was hit on the head with a stone. The incident led to the driver having to park his vehicle abruptly to seek help. The Fiji Times reported on Monday, April 18, 1988, that the driver was recovering in...

Behind the News: Peace in fractured places

The world we live in, even if we disregard the ravages of COVID-19, is a badly fractured place. Every single day we see, read and hear news about escalating crime and the prevalence of injustice and human rights abuse. Numbers keep going up. Victims of violence are getting younger by the day and perpetrators are...

Whippy-Knight: Workshop to strengthen designers

THE Fiji Fashion Week two days fashion masterclass workshop aimed at designers participating in FJFW21 ended yesterday. FJFW managing director Ellen Whippy-Knight said the pandemic had forced everyone worldwide to innovate and be creative about how we keep the economy going. She said fashion was one industry that had taken advantage of that development by...

Archbishop: Change the community mindset

SPEAK to the people in the language that can change their heart, says head of the Catholic Church in Fiji Archbishop Peter Loy Chong. He said the Nabua issue could only be resolved by changing the mindset of the people. “I called the police to try and see how we can work together with them,”...

SODELPA saga – Lynda’s attack labelled as a direct attack on democracy

THE continued attacks from SODELPA MP Lynda Tabuya calling on both the party leader and the president to resign is a direct attack on democracy and an insult to the voters who ahad consistently voted for the party since 2014. SODELPA president Ratu Epenisa Cakobau said Ms Tabuya’s utterances were an example of “someone who...

Envoy confirms Chinese vaccines for Fiji

COVID-19 vaccines from China are expected to arrive in the country soon. Chinese ambassador to Fiji, Qian Bo confirmed this while handing over police equipment to the Fiji Police Force earlier this week in Narere, Nasinu. “The government and the people of Fiji have won the fierce fight against COVID-19,” said Mr Qian. “China and...

COVID-19: Iftar programs deferred with immediate effect

All Iftar programs in Mosques/ Marakiz are being deferred for a few days with immediate effect. The Fiji Muslim League highlighted this on its official Facebook page saying this is due to the recent announcement of new COVID case in one of the staff at the quarantine facility by the Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. According...

Vaccine stocks exhausted

THE current COVID-19 vaccine supply has been exhausted, a statement from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services revealed. The ministry stated no sites would be open for vaccination today (yesterday) and that the very little remaining stock left would be used for targeted vaccination activities. It stated that more than 50,000 people in Fiji...

Worrying trend – ‘Two thirds of women have experienced violence’

TWO-thirds of women in this country have experienced violence in some form, says the head of the Catholic Church of Fiji, Archbishop Peter Loy Chong. And as a result, he said, the expectation was that a lot of children would be exposed to violent and disturbing situations. The church will roll out counselling training in...

RFMF senior officers receive their Masters in Military Science degrees

Two senior officers of Republic of Fiji Military Forces (RFMF) recently received their Masters in Military Science degrees from the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Defence Attaché to Fiji, Senior Colonel Yu Ke. Acting Land Force Commander (A/CLF), Lieutenant Colonel (Lt Col) Jofiliti Talemaibau and the Senior Military Liaison Officer (SMLO) at Ministry of Defence,...

Investigators reminded to perform duty to the best of their ability

Participants at the Criminal Investigations Department Symposium were reminded to perform their duties to the best of their abilities with integrity, dignity, and professionalism. Acting Chief Justice Kamal Kumar while delivering his closing remarks at the symposium at Pearl Resort in Deuba yesterday afternoon said investigators played an important role in the Criminal Justice System....

COVID-19: ‘Relaxation of the curfew hours will have to wait’

The relaxation of the curfew hours will have to wait until the latest new border quarantine case that carries a high level of risk does not pose a risk to the public. While announcing the new border quarantine case in a statement this morning Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said they have been exploring the relaxation...

COVID-19: Fiji records four new border quarantine cases

Fiji has recorded four new border quarantine case of COVID-19. The country’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services made the announcement via a Government statement yesterday. “The first two cases are a 38-year-old female and a 15-year-old male, who are family members that travelled to Fiji from Manila, Philippines, arriving in Nadi on flight NZ952...

COVID-19: 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca expected next week

The second batch of vaccines through the COVAX facility is expected within country next week. The Ministry of Health and Medical Services highlighted this in a statement saying the next phase of the vaccine rollout will start soon after these 24,000 doses of AstraZeneca vaccine are received. “If you missed out on getting vaccinated this...

‘No intention to contest 2022 election’

Social Democratic Liberal Party (SODELPA) President, Ratu Epenisa Cakobau has reiterated that he has no intention to contest the 2022 general election. In a statement yesterday Ratu Epenisa said he is new to politics and it comforts him that he does not have political baggage of history of any sort. “My intention is to assist...

What’s happening today!

Bula readers! Here’s a bit of information on some of the happenings around the country today – Sunday, April 18, 2021. But first, to the weather forecast for today until midnight tomorrow: Weather Cloudy periods with few showers over the Lau and Lomaiviti Group and the eastern parts and the interior of the larger islands...

Maharaj: Youths more than capable

DO not underestimate the understanding and abilities of youths. This was the message from chair of the parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights chairman, Alvick Maharaj, to villagers in Vuna, Taveuni, on Wednesday. While conducting consultations on proposed amendments to electoral Bills, Vuna Village district rep Laisiasa Tuimouta asked why the age...

Call to improve communication

THE Fijian Elections Office should improve communication channels with the public, especially on details of the pre-polling period. This was the view expressed by Somosomo villager Pita Degei to the parliamentary Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights during consultations on proposed amendments to electoral Bills in Somosomo Village, Taveuni on Wednesday. He claimed...

PM: NCDs cost Fiji $400m

FIJI loses out on more than $400 million a year in productivity and Fijians lose more than 264,000 years of healthy living because of non-communicable diseases. This was the word from Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama while enlisting Fiji to a new initiative – the Global Diabetes Compact – launched by the World Health Organization this...

State must work with NGOs to identify the vulnerable, says Biman

GOVERNMENT must work with NGOs to identify the most vulnerable and extend immediate help to them. This was the word from the National Federation Party leader Professor Biman Prasad in a statement issued yesterday. He said Government’s much-trumpeted 10-year unprecedented economic boom was meaningless unless the State could provide food on the table for Fijians...

Delay in NZ flight – Foreign objects found in aircraft engine during inspection

A FIJI Airways aircraft scheduled to fly to Auckland, New Zealand, on Thursday morning was grounded after foreign objects were found in its engine. A spokesperson for the airline confirmed the objects were found placed around the exhaust area of an A330 aircraft engine on Thursday morning before its scheduled departure from the Nadi International...

Green productivity

FUTURE Farms Ltd has launched a new green productivity project that sets the foundation for companies to use waste in a sustainable way. The company trading as Rooster Poultry launched the initiative in close collaboration with the National Training Productivity Centre. Rooster Poultry general manager Stanley Raniga said with the economic impact of the COVID-19...

Singh retains his position as FTU general secretary

Fiji Teachers Union general secretary Agni Deo Singh has retained his position for another two years after elections were completed today. This was confirmed by the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) after releasing the provisional results for the FTU national elections this evening. Other provisional results: President – Muniappa Goundar Vice President (3) – Nukul Barman,...

Local News

Vetuku stays strong – First Fijian woman to graduate at the US Army Airborne School