Bula vinaka everyone
CASH PRIZES
Remember we are celebrating our 152nd year anniversary and you can get into the draw to win cash prizes. Ten readers won cash prizes in the September draw, and 20 more readers will have a chance to win cash this month of October. All you have to do is cut out the masthead of The Fiji Times newspaper, write your name and address, and a phone contact on it, and place this in a bin provided at a participating store near you. It’s that easy. Turn to Page 13 for details.
HEADLINES
Here are some headlines in The Fiji Times’ edition for Friday, October 15.
PAGE 1
- THE government statistician in Fiji should have political independence or else there will be concerns about the integrity and independence of data and reports released by the Fiji Bureau of Statistics, said two international statistical bodies based in the Netherlands. The International Statistical Institute and the International Association for Official Statistics have written to the Prime Minister raising their concern on the “political” termination of former Fiji Bureau of Statistics head Kemueli Naiqama. This report is continued on Page 3.
PAGE 2
- FIJIANS should be mindful of a third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic even though restrictions have been eased this week, says Unity Fiji Party leader Savenaca Narube. He was responding to Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama on the easing of COVID-19 restrictions and plans to fully reopen by November 11. “This is a sign of great progress for us,” Mr Narube said.
- WE will vaccinate you. This was the clear warning sent out to foreign travellers by Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama after the discovery of an unvaccinated foreign national who managed to enter Fiji’s borders through an Air New Zealand flight. While speaking to frontline workers in Ba on Wednesday, he explained that unvaccinated travellers would be quarantined and subjected to two doses of the vaccine before being allowed to leave the facility.
PAGE 3
- GOVERNMENT should take heed of the damage it has done to the reliability and credibility of Fiji’s statistical data widely used by investors, international rating agencies and the international and regional statistical community, says Fiji Labour Party leader Mahendra Chaudhry. He made this statement in support of the International Statistical Institute’s concerns on the termination of former Fiji Bureau of Statistics chief executive officer Kemueli Naiqama.
PAGE 4
- THE period of movement restriction within the quarantine program is now seven days, says Health Ministry permanent secretary Dr James Fong. He said this change was announced on Sunday as part of the local repatriation protocol from Viti Levu to Vanua Levu. “The option for home quarantine will be made more available,” he said. “This means that we still have a quarantine process in place that needs to be adhered to.
- WHILE many have complained about the AstraZeneca jab, some have found it favourable as it has improved their health condition. Elders in Natewa and Tunuloa districts in Cakaudrove claim they have seen the jab get rid of health conditions they had lived with for many years.
PAGE 7
- FIJI Airports Ltd (FAL) was correct in terminating the employment of an air traffic controller who “played a central role” in a March, 2019, strike over pay and salary demands. Magistrate Indula Ratnayake ruled Paunga Kini had led an unlawful strike. “FAL is a public enterprise declared as an essential service industry” she stated in her October 8 ruling.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR-PAGES 8 AND 9
There are many letters of interest on these pages. Check them out!
PEOPLE
This section is about people. It is about the challenges they faced getting to where they are now. Read about: PROFESSIONAL hairdresser Jonetani Mulase is dedicated to perfecting his craft. Commonly known as Joey by his clients and friends, the young hairstylist is a on a journey to establish himself as a hairdresser. “From a very young age I was always interested in styling people’s hair,” he said. “I would style my sister and my mother’s hair every time we would go somewhere and I think that’s when I really developed a love for it.”
THE SHOPPER
Remember we have The Shopper inside The Fiji Times. newspaper… it’s much more than just about supermarket adverts… check out the tips, advice and personal experiences…
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about rugby union. Read about the management of the Fijian Drua saying they are not going to just make up the numbers when they compete at the Super Rugby Pacific competition in the new season.
