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Asenaca’s strong will – A girl with hearing impairment defies odds
Asenaca Takayawa lost her sense of hearing at the age of 8. But that hearing impairment has not deterred her from pushing the boundaries and pursuing her dreams. Born and raised in Somosomo Village, Taveuni,...
Back in history: Coconut products – Money-earning commodity
The production of edible coconut cream in the late 1980s looked as if it was going to become one of those major money-earning commodities for the country. This, according to a vice president of an external trade organisation (ETO), Rupeni Tuiloma. He said it would be a huge step forward for the country’s export and...
HOTEC is back
For those who aren’t familiar, HOTEC is an Expo organised by the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association for suppliers to the Hospitality Industry to showcase their products and services to the tourism industry. Our last HOTEC event was in 2019 and had been shelved during the lockdown. But this year we are back, bigger and...
Fiji doing well against its global competitors, says Hill
Fiji is doing extremely well against its other global tourism competitors, says Tourism Fiji chief executive Brent Hill. “There have been fantastic amount of businesses from Malamala Beach, South Sea Island to right to Sheraton,” Mr Hill said. “That’s really exciting from our perspective, and that’s why we’re doing what we’re doing. “We’re seeing tourists...
New route to offer cheaper flights, says Viljoen
Around 80,000 Canadian residents who trace their roots to Fiji can now have direct access to the country through Fiji Airways’ new Vancouver flight. Addressing guests after arriving on a promotional flight to Vancouver on Wednesday night, Fiji Airways CEO and managing director Andre Viljoen said the new route beginning on November 25 will offer...
Bank reaffirms its confidence in the local economy
This year BRED Bank Fiji marks its 10th year anniversary with a commitment of further investments in its Fiji operations. BRED Group chief executive officer Olivier Klein, who is in the country, met the bank’s corporate clients, mainly larger company CEOs who provided their views on the economy and their confidence in the economy. Mr...
Successful trade
Pacific Trade Invest Australia Trade and Investment commissioner Caleb Jarvis has heaped praises on Fijian kava exporters saying “Fijians have very successfully added value to traditional agricultural commodities”. He said Fiji kava had very good quality and well packaged. “Fiji is leading the charge in the exports particularly to Australia with the biggest volumes,” Mr...
Motive questioned
What did Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum do to protect the courts in the four months between Richard Naidu’s alleged contemptuous Facebook post and the filing of the contempt of court proceedings against him? This was the question posed by Suva lawyer Jon Apted in the High Court in Suva yesterday at a court hearing in the...
We don’t exist in a vaccum, says Radrodro
We don’t exist in a vacuum, we are subject to all the elements around us and we respond to them. Opposition MP Salote Radrodro said this during the continuation of her trial brought by charges filed by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption (FICAC). FICAC commissioner Rashm Aslam put it to her that she only...
Congo national Lusaka sentenced to life in Fiji for killing Australian wife
Kiala Henri Lusaka, the Congo national who was convicted earlier in the week of killing his Australian wife Jennifer Anne Downes at their rented-Service Street home in July 2019, was sentenced to mandatory life imprisonment by the High Court in Suva today. High Court judge Justice Gihan Kulatunga said Ms Downes was killed on July...
Police seek assistance in identifying man’s body
Police are seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the body of an iTaukei man found in a creek near the junction of Caubati Rd, Nasinu. Police spokeswoman Ana Naisoro said the man was seen walking from the Kinoya traffic lights partially clothed at around 9pm on Wednesday. Ms Naisoro said an eye witness saw the...
$45m for 47,000 landowners ‘a victory for equality’
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the fact that 47,000 iTaukei landowners under the age of 18 years have $45 million in lease money was something to be celebrated and not ridiculed by naysayers. While opening the Macuata Provincial Council meeting at Vunivutu Village, Labasa, yesterday, he said the issue had been raised in Parliament “by...
Block to boost students
Students of Navakasiga District School no longer have to worry about sitting in old classrooms as Government yesterday handed them a new $50,000 block. The school in Bua has a roll of 100 students from the villages of Nasau, Naviqiri and Yaqaga maritime area. Parents said the building was a blessing from above. Samisoni Laukoto...
‘Need to build resilient economy’
We need to build a resilient and sustainable economy as fast as possible and a future for communities to withstand the deteriorating impacts of climate change, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. While opening the Macuata Provincial Council meeting in Vunivutu Village, Labasa on Wednesday, he reminded villagers and chiefs that whenever he presented the nation’s...
FEO: Booklet for visually impaired persons
To ensure the general election is accessible for everyone, the Fijian Elections Office (FEO) will prepare and place an A4-sized voter instruction booklet (VIB) for visually impaired persons at every polling station. This was one of the outcomes of a meeting held between the Supervisor of Elections and the Elections Disability Access Working Group (EDAWG)...
State invests $170m on Macuata
Government has invested about $170 million in the province of Macuata since 2014 for development purposes, says Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama. While opening the Macuata Provincial Council meeting in Vunivutu Village, Labasa on Wednesday, he said out of the $170m, the Government used $42m towards developing a resilient and reliable infrastructure that has connected people...
PM slams the Opposition
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama says the Opposition thinks it is their job to “oppose the Government relentlessly”. While addressing the Macuata Provincial Council meeting at Vunivutu Village, Labasa on Wednesday, he said the Opposition set themselves against the 2022-2023 budget instead of offering any credible alternative policies. The PM said after the announcement of the...
Association receives $15,000
The Fiji Performing Rights Association (FPRA) has received $15,000 in sponsorship for this year’s FPRA music awards, which will be held on October 1 at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. Yesterday Communications Fiji Ltd, Capital Insurance and Software Factory Ltd gave $5000 towards the event. The companies are sponsors of the most popular song,...
Open heart surgery to begin
Open heart surgery services at the Lautoka Hospital are expected to begin this month. A spokesperson from Aspen Medical has confirmed equipment for the lifesaving surgery has been installed at the hospital. “The recent surge in COVID-19 and influenza in Australia and New Zealand has impacted our ability to install and commission the new equipment...
Young designers to showcase talent
Four young designers will showcase a mini capsule collection as a highlight of the United Nations International Youth Day celebrations today at Suva Civic Center. The showcase is a Fiji Fashion Week partnership with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA). In an interesting joint venture, the young designers – Amelia Waqairamasi, Manasa Veiqaravi, Maureen Angelee...
Young people, and an element of responsibility
Celebrating International Youth Day should be more than just about festivities, it should also be about the responsibility and the powerful platform young people have to bring about positive change in society. This was the view expressed by Waste Recyclers Fiji Limited director/CEO and Pacific Recycling Foundation founder Amitesh Deo. He said across the world,...
Learn ‘from past attempts’
Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry has labelled the Tuesday promotional Fiji Airways flight to Vancouver, Canada, led by Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum as “irresponsible”. He also said the promo flight raised a lot of questions. “Firstly, it is irresponsible of him to be organising such junkets to push the national airline’s sagging...
Gavoka queries Vancouver service
The economics of operating flights to Canada must be the driving factor for Fiji, not politics, says Social Democratic Liberal Party leader Viliame Gavoka. He made the comment in the wake of Fiji Airways promotional flight to Vancouver on Tuesday which included Attorney-General and Economy Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, Tourism Fiji CEO Brent Hill, Fiji Airports...
$503m loan
Government will borrow $503 million in the 2022-2023 financial year, the Ministry of Economy’s Annual Borrowing Plan report released on Monday says. The report says Government will receive $118.1 million by September 2022 for its Sustainable and Resilient Recovery Program from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). And between October 2022 and January 2023, Government...
$676.7 million domestic borrowing
Government will borrow $676.7 million from domestic sources in the 2022-2023 financial year. According to the Ministry of Economy’s Annual Borrowing Plan report released on Monday, the domestic borrowing will be through the issuance of Fiji Infrastructure Bonds (FIB), Viti Bonds, and Treasury Bills (T-Bills). Government plans to issue a total amount of $666.7 million...
Fiji PM commends defence forces
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has thanked the Australian Defence Force, New Zealand Defence Force, French Defence Force and the Fiji Military Forces for completing the construction of the $500,000 six-classroom block at Lekutu Secondary School in Bua on Vanua Levu. In officially opening the new building, Mr Bainimarama told parents that Government was not only...
Disaster risk finance opportunities to be discussed at FEMM
Climate and disaster risk finance opportunities in the region, among other things, are to be discussed at the 2022 Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM). Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) secretary general Henry Puna mentioned this while delivering his opening remarks at the PACMA/MAV/PIF FEMM 2022 media workshop in Vanuatu on Wednesday. He said the meeting agenda...
What’s happening today!
Bula vinaka Here’s a quick look at some basic information that may help in planning your day today. First, here is a quick look at the weather forecast from today until midnight. Weather Cloudy period with brief showers over greater Nadi-Ba area Some showers over interior Ba-Nadroga/Navosa and interior Serua-Namosi Occasional showers and isolated thunderstorms...
11th August
New route will open up Canadian market for Fiji
Tourism Fiji has noted uplift in interest from visitors in Vancouver and some major cities across Canada. And chief executive Brent Hill heaped praises for the introduction of the Nadi-Vancouver route saying it would open up the Canadian market. “It’s really good to have another market; this is the perfect time for us to be...
Parental involvement ‘critical part of child’s development
Parents are rarely taking the time to read with their children, says Education Minister Premila Kumar. She said this while speaking at the launch of 10 books on oceans and inclusive climate action which will be available in English, iTaukei and the Fiji Hindi languages. Mrs Kumar said parental involvement was a critical part of...
