Subscribe
Local News
Temo stands by transfer decision
Acting Chief Justice Salesi Temo says his reasons for transferring former Social Democratic Liberal Party MP Simione Rasova’s matter by the Fiji Independent Commission Against Corruption back to the Magistrate’s Court yesterday was based on...
Extradition matter
THE State has been told to withdraw an application to extradite Joshua Rahman, the New Zealander sentenced to 23 years imprisonment for being in possession of 39.5 kilograms of cocaine, if it was not willing to go through with it. Rahman’s lawyer, Devanesh Sharma, said this when the extradition matter, filed by the Director of...
Farmer in remand
A 29-YEAR-OLD farmer who allegedly poured hot water on his 52-year-old father and struck him with a stick has been remanded by the Savusavu Magistrate’s Court until June 19. A police statement highlighted the man was brought in for a case of intent to cause grievous bodily harm after he allegedly attacked his father following...
Come help save lives
FIJI’S leading entertainment outfit Pasifika Prima Voce will perform at a fundraiser for the St John’s Association of Fiji on Saturday June 17 at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva. In a statement, St John Association of Fiji marketing and charity events planning officer Darlene Underwood said St John was a distinguished international order with...
Change in venue for Sugar Festival
THE Sugar Festival is returning this year but for the first time in 62 years, it will not be held at the Churchill Park carnival grounds. The festival, which returns after a lapse of three years, will be held at the Lautoka Club grounds which organisers say is a cheaper option. Sugar Festival Foundation Fiji...
Like a pandemic: Empower Pacific CEO says mental health, psychosocial support services neglected for long
MENTAL health and psychosocial support services have for long been neglected or not taken into account and is becoming like a pandemic now, says Empower Pacific CEO Patrick Morgam. The Lautoka-based NGO says it has requested Government to look at increasing funding allocations in this area when the 2023-2024 National Budget is announced at the...
Standing in solidarity | Students campaign for protecting the environment
There was a huge turnout today as more than hundred students, parents and community members gathered for the Pacific Recycling Foundation’s Roadside campaign at the Koronivia junction in Nausori. Armed with placards, the campaigners sang songs and had special messages for motorists and commuters who were on their way to do their Saturday shopping. Pacific...
Vendor: reduce market fees
MARKET vendor Ambika Nand hopes the 2023-2024 National Budget will address market fee charges which vendors have not been paying since 2020. “If they bring back the stall fees it will not be good for us,” he said. “If they increase it, we will have to increase the prices of the vegetables. “Keep the market...
Gounder: It is now up to the State
RECOMMENDATIONS made by the Fiscal Review Committee were done through consultation and dialogue, and not influenced by the Government or any other entity. This, according to prominent economist Dr Neelesh Gounder, who was also part of the committee. “I think the Government is very serious about consulting experts and stakeholders,” he said in an interview...
‘Debt accumulation faster in past decade’
FIJI’S debt accumulation has been faster in the last decade compared with any other time in the country’s history, claims University of the South Pacific (USP) senior lecturer in economics Dr Neelesh Gounder. During an interview on The Fiji Times online news portal The Lens@177, he also shot down the previous government’s definition of “smart...
FijiFirst party complies with Act
FIJIFIRST party has complied with the Political Parties Act and its suspension has been lifted by the Fijian Elections Office. Acting Registrar of Political Parties Ana Mataiciwa while confirming this on Thursday evening when she received submissions from the party. She said the New Generation Party’s accounts did not meet the requirements of the law...
Worry over women on boards
WOMEN’s participation on state boards and commissions has slightly worsened despite promises by the Coalition Government to strongly promote women’s rights. Fiji Women’s Rights Movement board chair Makereta Waqavonovono made this claim in a statement which said the movement obtained updated data on 27 out of 38 state-owned enterprises that were covered in its 2020...
Fijians under scheme can call families over
FIJIANS working in Australia under the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme on one-four years visas will be allowed to have their dependent family members stay with them. The Australian Government has announced that the Family Accompaniment Pilot Program is scheduled to start with 200 families in September. Under the program, children will be able...
‘Consider political implications’
FIJI Labour Party (FLP) leader Mahendra Chaudhry has urged the Coalition Government to consider the political implications of recommendations made by the Fiscal Review Committee. In response to the recommendations that were released, Mr Chaudhry said FLP rejected the recommendation by the committee for a flat rate which would remove current VAT exemption from basic...
Panel urges inquiry into TELS
THERE must be an inquiry into government funding of tertiary education through the TELS and similar schemes, including its impact on the quality of tertiary education, states the Fiscal Review Committee. The committee says “TELS priorities appear unclear”, adding hundreds of millions of dollars in public funds appears to have been advanced with little or...
Debt reduction unlikely
THE Government is not, and will not in the foreseeable future be, in a position to reduce Fiji’s nominal debt number about $9.5 billion as of January 31, 2023, states Fiscal Review Committee. The committee states in the past years, the Government has consistently spent more money than it collected, resulting in government deficits. “Deficits...
Government seeks $500m
GOVERNMENT must collect an extra $500 million annually from Customs, excise duties and value added tax after compensating measures for low-income households that will set the country on a more certain path for stronger economic growth, states the Fiscal Review Committee in its report. The committee states the Government is, and has for some time,...
Tax ‘giveaways’ cost Government billions
TAX “giveaways” in the past 10 years have deprived Government of $3-4 billion in revenue, the Fiscal Review Committee stated in a report released on Thursday. The committee said for many years the Government did not collect the money to pay for the services it provided. “Tax ‘giveaways’ in the form of VAT, personal income...
Ministry wants $15m
THE Ministry of Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation has requested for an additional $15 million from the Ministry of Finance to fund its six different channels of assistance in the 2022/2023 budget, states the Fiscal Review Committee. The committee said more than 96,000 Fiji citizens were registered with Social Welfare for the 160,000 benefit payments...
Not much has changed
TWO years after The Fiji Times highlighted the risks children of Saliadrau Village in the interior of Namosi faced while crossing the Wainikoroiluva River to attend school, nothing much has changed. Village headman Kusitino Vuate said they had been informed a bridge would be constructed but no one has told them when. In February this...
FijiFirst got $2.2m in gift
FijiFirst received $2.2 million in donations for its financial year ending December 31, 2022. The party spent $3.3m on campaigning for the 2022 General Election. This, according to its annual financial statement submitted to the Fijian Elections Office which stated the party incurred a loss of $1m after its expenses of $4.2m exceeded its total...
Nabua Police investigate woman’s death, security officer in custody
A security officer is in police custody in relation to the death of a woman at Bayview Heights in Suva last night. Nabua Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death at this stage. According to police, the incident occurred at the home of a 52-year-old man, who at the time was inside the house....
From the Editor-in-Chief’s desk: Your June 10 briefing
Bula The big news right now is obviously about the Fijian Drua taking on the might of the Crusaders in the quarter-finals of the Super Rugby Pacific competition in Christchurch, New Zealand. That’s on the wraparound over the front page of The Fiji Times for Saturday, June 10. In news though, the big story is...
9th June
Marine pollution cannot be ignored – Manoni
THE present challenges of marine pollution cannot be ignored, says deputy secretary general of the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat Dr Filimoni Manoni. Speaking at the World Oceans Day in Suva yesterday, Dr Manoni said people needed to take some responsibility and understand better the climate ocean nexus. “We cannot ignore illegal unreported and unregulated fishing,...
101 complaints, watchdog to name scammers
THE Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) has received 101 complaints relating to online platform scams from January to date. CEO Seema Shandil has urged consumers to exercise extreme vigilance when dealing with certain individuals/traders operating via social media platforms. “It is deeply concerning to see that these dodgy dealers are on the rise,” she said....
No case to answer for 10
THE Suva Magistrate’s Court yesterday ruled that 10 individuals who were charged by the Fiji Competition and Consumer Commission for receiving payments in relation to the Lagilagi Housing project had no case to answer. Semeti Qalowasa, Chantelle Khan, Suliana Siwatibau, Samuela Saumatua, Mere Krishna, Vijay Naidu, Akuila Yabaki, late Kevin Barr, Cama Raimuria and Aisake...
Mary Ballantine Memorial Chapel celebrates 100 years
VILLAGERS of Nailaga in Ba celebrated the 100th anniversary of their Methodist Church known as the Mary Ballantine Memorial Chapel. The celebration was officiated by Ba Methodist Church president Reverend Samisoni Mainqoro Daunivala. The church was named after the late Sister Mary Ballantine who dedicated her life to the education of young Fijian girls. Hundreds...
You’ve won, a scam
FIJIANS are urged to stay alert about a scam that is circulating on popular messaging platforms, Viber, and WhatsApp. Consumer Council of Fiji (CCoF) CEO Seema Shandil said scammers were targeting individuals by calling or sending messages, congratulating them on winning a lottery and enticing them to claim a substantial prize amount. “People have come...
Man to proceed with judicial review
THE High Court in Lautoka has allowed a man to proceed with his judicial review case against a decision made by the iTaukei Lands & Fisheries Commission to remove his name from the iTaukei register known as the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB). On September 16, 2021, the chairman of the TLFC removed Nemani Lalabalavu’s...
BACK IN HISTORY: Ace hits top tally
World squash king Jahangir Khan top scored for Just Sports Stumpers with a stylish 28 but could not stop his side going down to RFMF by 16 runs in a 30-over friendly cricket match at Albert Park. An article in The Fiji Times on February 1, 1985, said the squash ace proved he was no...
