Subscribe
Politics
Ratu Rakuita: More collaboration needed
More collaboration is needed between the Fiji Corrections Service (FCS), Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Auditor-General (OAG) to strengthen the FCS’ financial management system. This was highlighted by the chairman of the...
‘FCS utilised about 81% of allocated budget’
The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) utilised about 81 per cent of its allocated budget in the 2017-2018 financial year. Opposition Whip Alvick Maharaj said this during his reply to motion moved in Parliament yesterday to debate the review of the FCS annual report 2017–2018. “It was noted that during the review of the FCS utilised...
Former FCS commissioners acknowledged
The Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) rehabilitation and reintegration programs are working with the number of reoffenders down to 27 in 2017-2018 from 72 in 2016-2017, says Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Siromi Turaga. He acknowledged two former FCS commissioners now turned parliamentarians — Ioane Naivalurua and Ifereimi Vasu — for being instrumental in the decline...
A-G: Officers face more difficulties
Fiji Corrections Service (FCS) officers face more difficulties in performing their role than their counterparts in the police and military forces. Attorney-General and Justice Minister Siromi Turaga said this while speaking on a motion in Parliament by Standing Committee on Justice, Law and Human Rights member Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure to debate the review of the...
274 women die of cancer
Ninety Fijian women die of cervical cancer each year, while 184 succumb to breast cancer. According to the Fiji Country Gender Assessment (FCGA) published in 2020, Fiji recorded 293 breast cancer cases a year while 120 Fijian women develop cervical cancer. The FCGA reported that four in 10 women were not able to make their...
Tabuya: Big blocks remain – Social, cultural norms hold women and girls back
Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Lynda Tabuya says according to the Fiji Country Gender Assessment (FCGA), gender discriminatory social norms and cultural practices remain a significant obstacle to gender equality in Fiji. She made the statement in Parliament on Wednesday. Ms Tabuya said despite notable progress in some areas such as education, critical...
Tarakinikini commissioned as Fiji’s PRUN
Former senior military officer Filipo Tarakinikini was recently commissioned by the President, Ratu Wiliame Katonivere, as Fiji’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations (PRUN). Mr Tarakinikini who served the Republic of Fiji Military Forces for 22 years before retiring at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in 2002 takes over the duties of PRUN from Dr...
Radrodro queries credibility of FNU program
Education Minister Aseri Radrodro has questioned the credibility of the Fiji National University’s (FNU) Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry program in Parliament this week. The story of graduates being unable to secure employment after completing the six-year course as it wasn’t accredited in Fiji, was highlighted in this newspaper this week. While...
Report: No supporting documents for cheques
The Office of the Auditor-General states there are no supporting documents for seven cash cheques totalling more than $12,000 which were issued by the Ministry of Civil Service. In an audit report on the Civil Service Ministry tabled in Parliament this week, the OAG said six of the cheques were cashed at the bank while...
Late special administrator’s salary doubled within one year
Suva City Council special administrator the late Chandu Umaria’s salary almost doubled within one year of his appointment in 2009 from $45,000 to $80,000. Local Government Minister Maciu Katamotu Nalumisa said this in response to a written question that was filed by Assistant Home Affairs Minister Ratu Rakuita Vakalalabure in Parliament this week. Ratu Rakuita...
70pc of reported sexual violence cases involve girls, some boys
More than 70 per cent of all reported sexual violence cases in Fiji involve girls and some boys under the age of 18. This was highlighted by Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Lynda Tabuya while delivering her ministerial statement on the Fiji Country Gender Assessment in Parliament yesterday. She also said violence against...
Khan highest paid
Lautoka City Council chief executive officer Mohammed Anees Khan is the highest paid municipal CEO in Fiji, collecting a salary of $140,000. This, according to data presented to Parliament by Local Government Minister Maciu Katamotu Nalumisa this week. Mr Nalumisa said this in response to a written question from Assistant Minister for Home Affairs Ratu...
Fiji needs $2b for bridges, millions more for upgrades
Fiji will need to find $2 billion to replace bridges in the next decade, spend $800 million in the next five years to keep water systems going, $500m to repair and upgrade the Colonial War Memorial Hospital and $200m to bring sewage systems up to par. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad...
FijiFirst government owes $200m to movie producers, says Biman
The FijiFirst government paid international movie producers $200 million, owes them another $200m, and spent $90m on the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation over the past decade and $60m on Walesi. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Professor Biman Prasad highlighted this in his ministerial statement in Parliament yesterday where he also lamented the previous government’s construction...
‘Borrow, spend was their only solution’
Fiji’s escalating debt projected to hit $10 billion by July this year, rampant wastage, pilferage and mismanagement of funds are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the mounting economic challenges inherited by the people’s Coalition Government from its FijiFirst predecessors. And in his ministerial statement in Parliament yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister...
Where is the money – DPM: We are now paying the price for poor planning
Where is the money? This was the question posed by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Professor Biman Prasad as he shared how his ministry was working frantically to address Fiji’s debt commitments, caused by the FijiFirst government’s “people pleasing” economic choices. Prof Prasad said those choices had put the country in a very...
30th March
Municipal councils under scrutiny
Municipal councils around the country have come under scrutiny from ratepayers and Government alike after a spate of activities and unfinished projects were brought under the spotlight. And while some councils cover a larger area when compared with others – in terms of geography, population size and operations – the issues plaguing the organisations were...
Government on new policy
Government will enforce a new policy that will ensure the removal of people from informal settlements who previously owned properties. This was revealed by Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday while addressing journalists on the Cabinet’s decision to approve the new informal settlement upgrade program (ISUP) lot allocation policy on Tuesday. He said the policy would...
Fiji wants slice of $3.7b Green Climate Fund
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka says Fiji is working towards getting a slice of the Green Climate Fund’s $US1.69 billion ($F3.73 billion) to aid in developing large scale projects in the country. While delivering his ministerial statement on the 8th Our Ocean conference in Panama in Parliament yesterday, he said the Finance Ministry was working towards...
Auditor-General finds $10k missing
The Auditor-General has found $10,340 missing in a case where two staff members of the Ministry of Civil Service prepared a cash cheque of $13,660 without the approval of the permanent secretary or the director major events. The cheque was or the payment of the volunteers’ allowances during the hosting of the 52nd Asian Development...
Data a strong tool for all – Tabuya
Data is a powerful tool for achieving gender equality, Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation Lynda Tabuya said during the official launching of the Fiji Country Gender Assessment (FCGA) report on Monday. Ms Tabuya said the report would now enable all government agencies, along with partnerships with all relevant stakeholders, to track progress, identify...
Opposition will work with Government – Seruiratu
Newly elected Leader of Opposition Inia Seruiratu made two promises in the House yesterday. He said the Opposition would work with the Government for the benefit of every Fijian and he also told the Coalition partners that every move they made would be closely scrutinised. Mr Seruiratu was elected as Leader of Opposition after being...
29th March
$973.4m in circulation
Total currency in circulation as at July 31, 2022 stood at $973.4 million, states the Reserve Bank of Fiji annual report from August 2021–July 2022 that was presented in Parliament on Monday. This compares to $932.7m a year ago. “The value of notes in circulation increased by 4.5 per cent, with the $10, $50 and...
Room for women to take up senior positions in force
Opposition member of Parliament and chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Viliame Naupoto while reviewing the Fiji Police Force (FPF) August 2018-July 2019 annual report, noted there were not enough senior positions held by women in the force. He made the following remarks in Parliament on Monday and said there was...
Talks on land bank
Government had promised it would consult people on whether the land bank would be maintained and “that is exactly what we will do”. Minister for Lands and Mineral Resources Filimoni Vosarogo said this in response to an Opposition question on what the plans for the land bank initiative was. He said as of December 31,...
‘Increase in violence’
There is an increasing prevalence of crimes against women, children and suicide in Fiji society, says Opposition MP and chairperson of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence Viliame Naupoto. He made the following remarks while reviewing the Fiji Police Force (FPF) August 2018 to July 2019 annual report. Mr Naupoto said the committee...
‘Unfair’ advantage over other suppliers
A company that was paid more than $1 million by the Civil Service Ministry to coordinate and manage suppliers, service providers and volunteers for the 52nd Asian Development Bank annual meeting in May 2019, pocketed an additional $47,000 by engaging its own vehicles to provide transport services for the event. In a special investigation report...
Minister responds to Usamate’s question
Lands Minister Filimoni Vosarogo says the fact that the Land Management Use Division spent $18.1 million to earn $11.4m for landowning units begs the question whether it is the ministry’s role to administer land other than State lands which really should be administered by the iTaukei Land Trust Board. He said this in response to...
Seruiratu is the new Opposition Leader
Inia Seruiratu is the new Opposition Leader after being nominated by FijiFirst MP, Alvick Maharaj in Parliament this morning. While delivering his speech after being elected, Mr Seruiratu said he wasn’t expecting to deliver a speech after being elected as the Opposition Leader. “I am indeed honoured and privileged for this opportunity,” Mr Seruiratu said....
82 leases issued
Minister for Lands Filimoni Vosarogo says of December 31, 2022, 82 leases have been issued under the Land Bank that came into effect under the Land Use Act 2010. He said the Land Use Unit was presently administering 66 leases and out of the 82 some have expired and a couple have been re-entered. Mr...
