Bula all
Here are some headlines that made The Fiji Times’ edition for Saturday, December 5.
But before that, remember we are celebrating our 152nd anniversary and you can win cash. Scroll down for details.
PAGE 1
Zero FNPF balances
MORE than 58,700 Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF) members have zero balances in their accounts. According to FNPF’s 2021 annual report, the issue was not unique to the fund. FNPF said it was exploring a number of policy changes and operation adjustments to address membership data and reporting. In stark contrast, FNPF also said 227 Fijians had balances in excess of $500,000 in their accounts.
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High FNPF balances
THE number of Fijians with balances in excess of $500,000 in their Fiji National Provident Fund accounts has increased to 227, from the 217 recorded in the 2019 annual report. And the FNPF’s 2021 annual report says of the 227, 107 members were above the age of 55 years, 71 were aged between 50 and 54 years, 31 members between 45 and 49 years, and 18 are between 34 and 44 years.
Omicron variant
IT is still too early to ascertain the severity of the COVID-19 variant, Omicron, says World Health Organization’s technical lead on COVID-19 Maria Van Kerkhove. She said there were a lot of different scenarios being considered.
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National dialogue
OPPOSITION parliamentarian Pio Tikoduadua has called for a national dialogue in relation to the Republic of Fiji Military Forces’ role under Section 131 (2) of the 2013 Constitution. Section 131 (2) says “It shall be the overall responsibility of the Republic of Fiji Military Forces to ensure at all times the security, defence and wellbeing of Fiji and all Fijians”.
‘Opportunistic’ executive
OPPORTUNISTIC is how chief magistrate Usaia Ratuvili described a former senior executive of a prominent publicly listed Fijian company while sentencing him to 14 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, for indecent assault. The Suva Magistrates Court was told that the victim, a flight attendant, was groped by the accused during a flight.
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR/LEADER
Readers have their say on issues they can relate to. Read their views on Pages 8,9,20,21,22,23 and 24.
The leader is on the national 7s rugby side. We discuss the interest raised by that foray at the first round of games at the Dubai 7s last week. Read it on Page 8.
FEATURE AND OPINION
PAGE 12 – The US stands with the Pacific – By TONY GREUBEL
AS a Pacific nation ourselves, the US has deep and long-standing ties to the Pacific Islands, who are not only our neighbors but also our friends. Our countries share an enduring commitment to freedom, democracy, rule of law, human rights, and regional peace and stability. We fought side by side during World War II to secure our collective freedom and we continue to work together to increase our collective security and prosperity. Today, we unite with the Pacific Islands to address an arguably even greater challenge: global climate change, the serious impacts of which are already being felt across this region.
PAGE 28 – Politics and politicians – By AJAY BHAI AMRIT
BULA readers and welcome back to the second and final part of the 20 questions that I have been asked regarding Fiji’s political arena and rest assured I have tried to answer them as best I can regarding aspects of the complex political landscape in our beloved nation of Fiji. 13. What are your aspirations going forward with The People’s Alliance party? ABA – Well for myself I just want to assist The People’s Alliance party in whatever small way I can to win the next elections in 2022. This can be achieved through hard work, dedication and most importantly winning the hearts of the people. It will indeed be a new beginning and a new dawn of inclusive politics. 14. With respect, you are very well-known with your television work, newspaper articles and overall media presence throughout Fiji. Don’t you feel you are taking advantage of this popularity to influence voters?
PAGES 30-31 – It’s the same old boring – By BIMAN PRASAD
WE have just finished a week’s debate following the annual opening of Parliament. The opening of Parliament follows the tradition in Britain when the Queen speaks to her Parliament. The “speech from the throne” is written by the Government. The purpose of the speech is to tell Parliament – and of course the people – what the Government’s plans are for the coming year. The idea is that the President will tell us what laws the Government intends to pass and why. It is a chance for the people to hear the direction the Government is taking us in. Then the members of Parliament debate the statement. You will hear them referring to the “gracious speech” of the President. That is the tradition that is carried over from the UK, where MPs refer to the “gracious speech” of the Queen. But every year I begin my response to the President’s speech in the same way. I note that we should respond to it as a “gracious speech”.
PAGES 32-33 – FT Anniversary – post office celebrates 100 years – By ANA MADIGIBULI
WHAT are the odds of finding extracts of an article on the establishment of Fiji’s postal office on the exact day it was established as a Government-run postal service? This article was written on Thursday (December 2), the exact day and date the postal service was established as a government-run postal service 150 years ago. On Thursday the post office system in Fiji was to celebrate 150 years of its existence, a milestone for an operating company in Fiji. On Thursday December 2 1971, this newspaper covered the post office system celebrating its 100 years which was later published the following day. It was back in December 2 1871 that the Legislative Assembly passed a Postal Act establishing a Government-run postal service, this was just over a year before G.L Griffiths, (the founder of this newspaper) began Fiji’s first organised postal service and issued the famous Fiji Times Express stamps.
PAGE 34 – Double Dubai delight – By SATISH NARAIN
IT was a thrill for rugby fans to see international sevens back on the TV screen after a long spell — well, if you’re talking about the World Sevens Series. The last time we watched sevens was from Vancouver in March 2020 and, more recently, from Tokyo during the Olympic Games. World Rugby took the bold step to go ahead with the World Series with some new stops in the 2021-2022 chapter, but also missing popular stops such as Hong Kong, Sydney, Hamilton and Cape Town. The double delight in Dubai was a perfect way to hit the tunes ringing and get fans ring fence dates and times of games that they wanted to watch — the hunger for international sevens was over, but with the menu trickled down to 12 teams instead of the normal pre-pandemic 16.
PAGE 36 – Tribute to Abhai Sinha – By RASIK SINHA
A FORMER prominent Ba pharmacist, businessman and social activist Abhai Sinha passed away in Sydney on November 2 2 at the age of 92. He was the proprietor of Ba Pharmacy which for four decades from the 1950s to the ’80s stood as one of the town’s main landmark features. Younger brother Rasik Sinha, also a pharmacist, pays tribute to his brother and notes the contribution he made to the people of Ba in his quiet, modest way, much of it unrecognised today. Abhai was one of Ba’s pioneering businessman and leading personalities before he left for Sydney in the early 1970s, leaving the pharmacy in my care and directorship for the next 20 years.
PAGE 38 – Reflections – By RAJNESH LINGAM
AS we head into the festive season, it’s important to reflect on the month of November which gave fans so much to cheer for. After the disruption caused to sports by the pandemic, fans were looking forward to sports, especially rugby. The Autumn Test tour did not let people down as upsets and thrills, caused during the tour, have been so much to look forward to come the new sporting year. It’s my pleasure to take readers through a reflection of the excitement that the month of November had for us, sports fans. The Autumn Test The 2021 Autumn Test was one of the best we had in recent times.
PAGE 40 – No one is safe unless – By SANAKA SAMARASINHA
DURING natural disasters and emergencies, women and girls are more at risk of experiencing violence, exploitation and abuse. Simultaneously, emergencies weaken national systems, including health and legal systems, and community and social support networks. This breakdown of systems can reduce access to health services, including sexual and reproductive health services, and legal services, leading to an environment of impunity in which perpetrators are not held to account.
ENTERTAINMENT
This section is a popular one for weekend readers.
MOTORING
This section is much more than just about vehicles.
SPORTS
The big one on the back page is about rugby union. Former national skipper Jerry Tuwai has married his partner. We wish them the very best.
YOU CAN WIN CASH WITH THE TIMES
Remember we are celebrating our 152nd anniversary and you can win cash with the Times. There were 10 winners in September and 20 winners in October. In November, 30 lucky readers had the chance to win $152 each, and also get into the draw to win the grand prize of $15,200. In this month of December, 40 lucky readers will win cash prizes!
All you have to do to get into the draw is to cut out the masthead of the Fiji Times, write your name and address, and a phone contact on it, and drop this into a bin at a participating store near you. Turn to Page 69 for details!
