Subscribe
Local News
2nd June
What’s happening today!
Bula vinaka everyone. Here is another edition of some basic information you may need to know for today. First, here is your weather forecast for today: Weather A trough of low pressure lies just north...
1st June
From streets to farm
After spending most of his life on the streets, Naqelesi Tikolevu decided to call it quits. He realised he needed to change a few things in life if he was ever going to be successful. With a change of heart, he turned his life around. Today, more than anything else, the 62-year-old does not want...
Gonerogo shares musical journey
Like many local artists, Anarieta Sabua Leduaivosaki’s interest in music began in church. But once she caught the secular music bug, there was no stopping her. Today she has hit songs out and a growing legion of fans. Many may know her because of her hit song 2 Bags Waca La recorded and released under...
Back in history | In search of piano
The Dingles left their expensive piano at home in Queensland, Australia when they travelled to Fiji and were in search of a secondhand one for their promising musical daughter to practice at their new home in Suva. Desperate mother Nan Dingle Airs, in an article in The Fiji Times on February 17, 1983, said she...
New gender strategy | Are all gender strategies created equal? Examining the new German, US and UK approaches (Part 1)
Earlier this year, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong announced that the Albanese government would be developing a new international gender equality strategy. The current gender equality and women’s empowerment strategy, developed two years after the merger of AusAID and DFAT in 2013, was ground breaking for Australia in that it covered all areas of foreign...
‘Be fair if bringing back stamp duty’
Nadi lawyer Ashnil Narayan is urging Government to implement a stamp duty that would be fair for all. While making submissions at a National Budget consultation this week, the AK Lawyers legal counsel said the removal of stamp duties by the previous government proved to be a disaster. “We had stamp duties at reasonable and...
Investment on hold | Labour shortage affects $20m worth projects
About $20 million worth of investment has been put on hold by McDonalds Fiji because of a shortage of labour. While making submissions at the public consultation on the National Budget, McDonalds Fiji managing director Marc McElrath said the labour shortage was affecting every sector in the country. “We are very worried,” he said. “With...
New fuel and LPG prices come into effect
The Fijian Competition and Consumer Commission (FCCC) yesterday announced the new regulated fuel and LPG products that will come into effect from today. As per the announcement by the FCCC the new regulated retail fuel prices are: Motor Spirit from $2.74 to $2.80 Premix from $2.58 to $2.62 Kerosene from $1.92 to $1.91 Diesel from...
Access to services
Sugar cane farmers now have an online portal to access services offered by the Sugar Cane Growers Fund. While launching the new mysugarcanegrowers app in Lautoka, Minister for Finance Professor Biman Prasad said the fund had been an integral partner of the industry for many years. “It is fitting to say that we need this...
FJFW welcomes global fashion show producer
Vodafone Fiji Fashion Week welcomes Jarrad Clark — the biggest global fashion show producer on the international scene — who arrived in Fiji yesterday. This being his first visit back since he was a toddler, it was indeed an emotional return for the True Blue-Aussie Creative Producer and Fashion Event Guru. Jarrad — thanks to...
Tarau does her bit to fight cancer | 16-year-old spreads awareness on childhood cancer
While most 16-year-olds’ interests are centred around socialising or social media, Tarau Savou is focusing on spreading awareness on childhood cancer. And not only that, the Year 10 International School Suva student also wants to raise funds for children diagnosed and living with cancer in Fiji. Tarau said on her own initiative, she decided to...
Murder accused to stand trial in 2024
Alleged high seas murder accused Tevita Qaqa Kapawale will stand trial starting May 20, 2024. The matter was called before High Court judge Justice Daniel Goundar in the High Court at Suva yesterday. State prosecutor Eoghn Samisoni asked the court if two weeks could be set aside for the trial. Justice Goundar said the court...
TISI Sangam books meet date
After a hiatus of seven years, the Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam (TISI Sangam Fiji) will hold its annual general meeting on June 11 in Nadi. Police had to intervene and cancel the last AGM on August 28, 2016, after violence broke out amongst members. The aftermath led to a lengthy court battle with the...
Motion to visit victim | Magistrate rejects trio’s request
The Labasa Magistrate’s Court heard that three people, who allegedly assaulted a woman which led to her death, had filed a motion to visit the deceased while she was being kept in the mortuary. The three, Sairusi Maqosa, 39, a fisherman and the victim’s husband, Akuila Matawaqa, 38, also a fisherman and his wife Emaly...
European Film Festival launched
Residents of Lautoka will have a unique opportunity next weekend to experience European art, film and culture following the launch of the second European Film Festival this morning. European films will be screened at Damodar City cinemas, Village 6 in Suva, and Village 4 in Lautoka. More on this story in tomorrow’s The Fiji Times.
High Court to rule on A-G’s application
The High Court is expected to rule on an application by the Attorney-General to strike out an application for leave to apply for judicial review by a dropped provisional candidate from the 2022 General Election. Seremaia Tuiteci filed the application for leave for judicial review after his hopes for candidacy was dashed by the Electoral...
11 PS appointments made
Public Service Commission (PSC) chair Luke Rokovada yesterday announced 11 permanent secretary appointments. He said the appointments were done with the agreement of Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. “With these announcements, all permanent secretaries are Fijian nationals which is a testament to Fiji’s expanding talent pool and the civil service’s success in attracting outstanding applicants,” Mr...
$400k to fix CWMH theatres
Only six of the eight operating theatres at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital (CWMH) are operational and the Health Ministry needs $400,000 to fix the two that are not working. Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong said this at a media conference during World No Tobacco Day celebrations in Suva yesterday. He said a...
Look at issue in context, says A-G
Attorney-General Siromi Turaga says people bemoaning the appointment of women to institutions like the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) need to look at the issue in context. He also said criticism about the lack of women in the judiciary were not reflected in the number of females in the various offices. “First and foremost, GCC...
Ditoka queries $30m facility
IS this the best bank for the buck? Rural and Maritime Development Minister Sakiasi Ditoka asked this of the $30 million Navosa Sub-divisional Hospital in Keyasi built by the FijiFirst government. In an interview on The Fiji Times online news portal The Lens @ 177, he questioned the need for spending taxpayer dollars on the...
Promotions not only linked to higher ranks: Chew
Promotions within the Fiji Police Force are not only linked to higher ranks, but increased levels of accountability. Acting Commissioner of Police, Juki Fong Chew noted this whilst opening the one-month Inspector and Corporal Qualifying courses on Tuesday. “Promotions while it equates to better perks and more take home pay, I do hope that it...
Records on in-shore fisheries space limited
Current records of fish and populations in the in-shore fisheries space are limited to only about 210 of the 410 iqoliqoli (traditional fishing grounds) in Fiji. Ministry of Fisheries and Forestry permanent secretary Atelaite Rokosuka said this while speaking to the media during the launch of the Blue Prosperity Fiji (BPF) expedition at the Royal...
Child rights organisation commend court’s decision
Child rights organisation Save the Children Fiji has called on families, particularly adults, to do better in the protection of their children. The increasing prevalence of child rape in Fiji and noted to be reaching “epidemic proportions” has brought the issue of children’s safety and security to the fore, and strong calls to parents and...
It’s a matter of survival – Ravu
“It is our survival.” This is what Minister for Fisheries Kalaveti Ravu said the work of the Blue Prosperity Fiji scientific expedition was about while sending the expedition crew off at the Royal Suva Yacht Club last Monday. The program is a Government- led initiative which aims to paint a better picture of the health...
What’s happening today!
WHT June 01 Bula vinaka everyone. Here is another edition of some basic information you may need to know for today. First, here is your weather forecast for today: Weather: Cloudy periods with some showers over most places Isolated thunderstorms and heavy falls likely Moderate to fresh easterly winds Moderate to rough seas General information...
31st May
Ana the sea voyager
The vaka (Tongan for sailing canoe) changes you, says Ana Fifita. She is a member of the Uto Ni Yalo crew and had been sailing on contemporary Pacific voyaging vessels since 2011. Originally from the village of Matamaka, on the island of Vava’u in the Kingdom of Tonga, she comes from a boat building family....
Peer-to-peer learning
Pacific adaptation to climate change and resilience building In a ground-breaking initiative aimed at fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange, representatives from several Pacific Island nations embarked on the first Pacific Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Learning Programme for the private sector in climate finance and resilience. This program, organised in collaboration by the Fiji Commerce and Employers Federation...
Back in history | Computers to enhance trainee teachers’ experiences
Despite its remote location, Fiji has always tried to keep abreast with the latest international advancements in technology. An article in The Fiji Times on December 1, 1983, highlighted then Education and Youth Minister Dr Ahmed Ali saying the Lautoka Teachers College would get eight computers. He said this while speaking at the Lautoka-based college’s...
Menstrual health
Menstrual health is essential to gender equality and the wellbeing of women, adolescent girls and all people who menstruate. Yet the menstrual health needs of millions of girls and women continue to go unmet; and those who menstruate face restrictions on their mobility, choices, and participation in school and community life. As Menstrual Hygiene Day...
Back in history | Fiji loses swami
When the head of the Ramakrishna Mission in Fiji, Swami Rudrananda, 84, died at his Nadi Ashram retreat, The Fiji Times reported that students from Shri Vivekananda High School — which Swami Rudrananda established in 1949 — would form a guard of honour for his funeral. An article published on July 1, 1985 stated his...
