Local News
25th April
Boy, 18, missing as car plunges into river
THE early morning disappearance of a vehicle in the Rewa River yesterday remains a mystery for mother Rehana Ali. Ms Ali lost her husband eight months ago and yesterday, disaster struck again when she discovered...
Union call for ministry recruitment to be put on hold
THE Fiji Teachers Union (FTU) is calling on the Education Ministry to put on hold all its staff recruitment. Members of the union in its resolution stated that the ministry must put on hold the recruitment process until the Open Merit Recruitment System (OMRS) was fine tuned to the needs of the ministry and its...
Bainimarama to officially open Lau provincial meeting
THE Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, is expected to officially open the Lau Provincial Council Meeting in the chiefly village of Tubou in Lakeba, Lau. This is the first provincial council meeting on the island in 13 years, and already the island is in a hive of activities. The PM will also have a talanoa session...
Vigil for victims of Sri Lanka bombing
PEOPLE of all nations, irrespective of their religious background or ethnicity deserve to freely practice their faith. These were the words of Maulana Abdul Aleem of the Fiji Muslim League at the Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Suva during the vigil to remember those whose lives were lost during the Sri Lanka bombing on Easter...
Mother hopeful son would return home
THE early morning disappearance of a vehicle believed to be driven by an 18-year-old who recently attained his driver’s license remains a mystery for mother Rehana Ali. Ms Ali lost her husband eight months ago and yesterday disaster struck again when she discovered that her only child was missing from their home in Kasavu. Her...
146 ‘tabua’ from NZ handed over to iTaukei ministry
ONE hundred and forty-six tabua from New Zealand were handed over to the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs on Tuesday. “A total of 146 tabua were handed over to us and this was because of due diligence and hard work of both sides of the conservation effort of the Ministry of Environment in partnership with New...
24th April
Northerners submission on Registration of the Sex Offenders Bill
POSITIVE response and submissions were made at the public consultation over the Registration of the Sex Offenders Bill 2018 in Macuata this afternoon. Alvick Maharaj, chairperson of the Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights on the Registration of the Sex Offenders Bill 2018 thanked the community for making good use of the opportunity...
Skipper Cup: Tailevu confident of a good outing this weekend
DESPITE losing to Suva in the first round of the Skipper Cup competition, Tailevu is confident they can change the game plan when they take on Namosi next weekend. Team manager Lepani Matea said it is crucial for the team to keep the momentum after a lapse of two years away from the competition. “This...
Land bank has certain laws to be followed: Ratumudu
LAND cannot be surveyed if a designate is not given to the Fiji Land Bank by the owners of the land owning unit. This was stressed to landowners from the central, eastern and western division by the Director of the Land Use division Taraivini Ratumudu during the Fiji Land Bank trustees workshop held today. She...
52 roads remain closed to traffic
WITH the trough of low pressure remains slow moving over the Fiji group, 52 roads around the country remained closed. In the Central Division six roads remain closed, 13 roads remain closed in the Western Division, 13 roads remain closed in the Northern Division and a total of 20 roads remain closed in the Eastern Division....
Parents shed tears of joy as son receives baton of honor
PARENTS of Ravinesh Ram were in tears of joy as they watched their son from the sideline collect his baton of honor award. His dad Dip Singh said his son was always hardworking and deserved to be given the award. “We are so happy for him and what he has achieved today. He has really...
Navua evacuation centre closed; evacuees return home
THE evacuation centre at Jokhan Primary School in Navua has been closed. This was confirmed in a Government statement this afternoon clarifying that evacuees at the school have returned home. Meanwhile two families escaped injuries following a landslide at Wainiika village in Cakaudrove yesterday. The families are safe and are now staying with the village...
Sanjeevani medical centre to provide free heart screening
THE safety of our people, particularly our young people is paramount. Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama highlighted this while officiating at the inauguration of the children’s heart screening centre within the Sanjeevani Medical centre in Suva today. “Every parent deserves that same level of assurance when their child falls ill. Because of this new Heart Screening...
Youths flock to the first ‘National Job Fair’
MINISTER for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations and Youth and Sports, Parveen Kumar is hopeful that events such as the National Job Fair can make a positive impact on the number of people trying to secure jobs. Mr Kumar launched the first National Job Fair at the National Gymnasium this morning and said the National...
President Konrote opens Fiji Scouts AGM
SCOUTING plays an important role in every civilized community today. President Jioji Konrote ssaid this while opening the Fiji Scouts Association Annual General meeting at Nand’s Hall in Nabua today. Mr Konrote said the purpose of the Fiji Scouts Association is to contribute to the development of young people. “This development aims at achieving their...
Weather watch: Strong wind warning cancelled for Lomaiviti
A STRONG wind warning remains in force for land areas of southern Lau group but is now cancelled for the Lomaiviti group. The weatherman says a weakening trough of low pressure over the eastern parts of Fiji is moving eastwards away from the group. Meanwhile, a high pressure system to the far southeast of Fiji...
New taxi permit holders receive colour coded plates
NEW taxi permit holders in Lautoka and Nadi were officially given their new number plates today. The colour coded plates distinguishes each zone driver and which they area they are supposed to operate in. Fiji Taxi Association president Raben Singh said the colour coded plates were part of the process of giving new permits to...
Fiji Land Bank of Trustees workshop opens in Sigatoka
“GOOD relationship between a landowner and an occupier based on trust and accountability and commitment is key, without a doubt we should give due thought and consideration to address issues whole heartedly. “If our joint collaboration regarding the management of your land resources are considered to be truly sustainable.” These were the words of the...
Weather watch: Heavy rain warning cancelled for Lau
A HEAVY rain warning is now cancelled for the Lau group. The special weather bulletin for heavy rain issued from the Regional Specialised Meteorological Centre (RSMC) in Nadi this morning says a trough of low pressure with associated cloud and rain has weakened over the Fiji group. The forecast for the group, expect occasional showers...
Weather watch: Roads remain closed due to flooding
SEVERAL roads remain closed across the country following the widespread flooding over the long weekend. The roads that remain closed today according to the Fiji Roads Authority (FRA) are: Roads closed in the Central division: Wairua Settlement Road Toga Crossing in Nausori Delailasakau Road Navunisole Road R.K.S. Road Waima Crossing on Nairukuruku Road, Rewa Nabukelevu...
63 Corrections officers complete 15-week basic recruit training
SIXTY-THREE Corrections Officers were part of the passing out parade at the Naboro Prison complex today after 15 weeks of basic recruitment training. Chief guest and Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs and Defence, Ioane Naivalurua challenged the officers of their roles. He said excellence in service was the key to their success. “It will be...
Obstacles women face in trying to excel in sports
WOMEN participating in sports face negligence, lack of support and discrimination among other obstacles in trying to excel in sports. This was heard during the second day of the Fiji Sports Media Symposium at the Holiday Inn, Suva this morning. The symposium started this morning with a presentation and panel discussion headed by Women In...
Akbar apologises for late pay increment
MINISTER for Education, Heritage and Arts Rosy Akbar has openly apologised to teachers for the late payment of their pay increment. While addressing participants at the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) 85th Annual Delegates Conference in Suva yesterday, Ms Akbar said the ministry was taking its time because it was yet to complete its assessment. She...
FTA raises issue of teacher termination
THE suspension, dismissal and termination of Fijian teachers were raised with Minister for Education, Heritage and Arts Rosy Akbar yesterday. President of the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA) Netani Druavesi raised this issue during the 85th Annual Delegates Conference in Suva yesterday. Mr Druavesi claimed that last year the ministry terminated 33 teachers and this was...
Seniority most important criteria, says minister
TEACHERS have been assured that seniority is going to be the most important criteria used when determining teacher promotions. Education, Heritage and Arts Minister Rosy Akbar said the two teacher unions were working on a matrix where the years of experience, leadership quality and service in the school system would also be taken into account....
Druavesi: Release school leadership stats
THE president of the Fijian Teachers Association (FTA), Netani Druavesi, has challenged Government to release school leadership statistics. Mr Druavesi, in his opening address during the 85th Annual Delegates Conference in Suva yesterday, claimed the outcome of the reforms showed that about 60 per cent of iTaukei teacher leaders had been displaced from leadership positions....
Company faced challenges in sourcing trees
INDICATIONS that Nabou Green Energy Ltd was facing issues in fuel supply were revealed by chairman Filimone Kau at last year’s Blue-Green energy symposium in Nadi. The Fiji Times reported Mr Kau saying the company was facing challenges in sourcing enough trees and plant material to produce a consistent supply of electricity. Nabou Green Energy...
‘Lack of fuel leads to closure’
THE $100 million Nabou Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) power plant had shut down in December last year because it lacked fuel. This, according to Tropik Wood Industries Ltd — the local company which had a 25 per cent stake in the much touted renewable energy factory. Senior manager human resources and risk Tausia Alifereti said...
Uncertainty over halt in plant operations
FOUR months after contractors and landowners claimed it had ceased operations, there has been no word from Nabou Green Energy Ltd (NGEL) on what led to the shutdown — or what happens next. When quizzed last week about the $100 million plant’s closure, Infrastructure Minister Jone Usamate said he was not aware of the shutdown....
Conceived by chance
THE Nabou Green Energy Ltd power plant was conceived at a chance meeting between the chairman of Tropik Wood, Fiji’s ambassador in Korea in 2012, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama and GIMCO representatives at Incheon Airport, Seoul, in 2012. According to a statement from the company, the party agreed to explore the opportunity for an investment...
