Supervision and middle management

Pacific region may not be ready for border opening

THE whole Pacific region may not be ready for the borders to open yet and allow for tourists to travel as some Pacific island countries are yet to prepare for COVID clean business recovery programs. This was one of the key issues highlighted by the Pacific Tourism Organisation CEO Christopher Cocker. He added Fiji was...

Council collects $644,488 in rate arrears

THE decision by the Suva City Council to offer ratepayers a 7 per cent discount in rates for the two months of the year has worked well with the council collecting $644,488 in rates arrears in addition to 74 per cent of total rate invoice generated. In a media release, SCC special administrators chairman Isikeli...

Money management

THERE is a need to encourage more Fijians to manage whatever limited funds they have, especially during this COVID-19 pandemic situation. With this objective in mind, the Reserve Bank of Fiji and ANZ with support from the Pacific Financial Inclusion Programme, a training of trainers workshop kickstarted yesterday to train government and community influencers, who...

Economic recovery

The central bank says domestic economy recovery this year remains contingent on the resumption of international travel and the pick-up in tourism activity locally, along with the level of fiscal support by the Government in the 2021-22 National Budget. In its February economic review released today, the Reserve Bank of Fiji says the International Monetary...

Farmer prefers door to door sales

A GINGER farmer from Nabukaluka in Waimaro, Tailevu says he prefers to sell his produce door to door instead because he makes more money that way. Nemani Tukisavu, 62, plants dalo and ginger on his farm and sells them from house to house or at times from one office to the other in the city....

$10,000 support for rehab programs

A CHEQUE for $10,000 was presented to the Fiji Red Cross Society by the Fiji Public Trustee Corporation (Pte) Ltd (FPTCL) last week. FPTCL chief executive officer Antonio Takala said this was the second payout on behalf of the late Joyce Danraijie Heeraman’s estate. “At FPTCL, we carry out estates administration and when we are...

Training of trainers

A training of trainers workshop will see participants build up on their financial education as part of a wider COVID-19 economic response financial literacy outreach campaign. About 32 participants will go through the ANZ Bank’s MoneyMinded program and upon completion of the program, assist the Reserve Bank of Fiji in raising greater awareness and education...

Slow start to business for Newton

Melania Newton runs a small eatery Mels Kitchen in Vunisea, Kadavu, a business she took over from her mother-in-law. The mother of three moved to the island six years ago with her husband who is a farmer on the island. “I have been here for six years now, I have three kids – two boys...

Four complaints over foreign objects in can

The Consumer Council of Fiji has received four complaints of foreign objects being found in canned goods in the past three years. Council’s CEO Seema Shandil said the number might be low because people were not sure what to do when objects were found. “The council received a total of four complaints in the past...

‘Increase in government’s expenditure’

The Fiji Government’s expenditures for the year 2020 to 2021 increased by around $138.3 million. This, according to the Citizens Budget Guide for Fiji 2020-2021, a document developed by the Fiji Council of Social Services with the support of United Nations Development Programme and Pacific Islands Association of NGOs. The report said the expenditure was...

FCLC elects new trustees

New Fiji Crop and Livestock Council (FCLC) trustees have been elected for the next five-year term of office. The newly-appointed trustees are John Deo – Fiji Coconut Farmers Association, Josua Raitilava – Fiji Ginger Farmers Association, Filimoni Kilawekana – Fiji Dalo Farmers Association, and Simon Cole, Fiji Pig Farmers Association. The new trustees were elected...

Bank shares strategies used during COVID-19

WHILE most businesses struggled to grasp with the challenges brought on by the COVID-19 last year ANZ Fiji had put in place certain strategic policies to serve its customers amid the restrictions. During the Fiji Institute of Accountants seminar on ethics post COVID-19 held earlier this week CEO of ANZ Fiji, Head of Commercial and...

New eatery option

A new restaurant has opened in Carnarvon St, Suva giving people more options to choose from authentic Indian cuisines and has provided employment to 18 people. Rajdhani Multi Cuisine Restaurant specialises in North Indian cuisines from India according to the manager Sanjesh Chand. During its launch on Wednesday he said the restaurant had hired six...

Inflation to increase

PRICES of locally produced fruits and vegetables are projected to rise in the coming months as a result of supply shortages owing to Tropical Cyclone Ana and the associated floods. The Reserve Bank of Fiji yesterday said while the annual inflation rate in January stood at -1.3 per cent, they were expecting an increase. However...

$3m service station opens

TAPPOO subsidiary, On the Go (OTG), have opened their sixth Mobil branded service station in Natokowaqa, Lautoka, to the tune of $3 million. The multimillion dollar complex joins a string of new Mobil service stations along the Queens Rd that have undergone major face lifts by the retail giants. Company executive director Kaushal Tappoo said...

Economy at stake – RBF tells of further crisis if borders remain closed

THE Fijian economy could contract further if borders do not open this year, says Reserve Bank of Fiji (RBF) governor Ariff Ali. He said economic recovery would also depend on the level of fiscal support provided by the Government in the 2021-2022 National Budget. The governor also stressed that the prolonged crisis also meant unemployment...

Trading of Fiji TV shares suspended

Trading of Fiji Television Ltd shares on the e-trading platform has been suspended with immediate effect. In a market announcement issued this morning, South Pacific Stock Exchange (SPX) acting CEO Pretesh Prasad said the suspension was in accordance with Section 71.1 (viii) of the SPX Listing Rules which stipulates as follows: “Circumstances where the SPX...

Rehab program

MORE than 50 per cent of the South Pacific Business Development members in the Northern Division had reported damage to their houses with 78 per cent suffering a loss in their main livelihood. This was according to the SPBD Fiji board director Lorraine Seeto during the launch of the SPBD Tropical Cyclone Yasa Rehab Programme...

Citizens Budget guide to improve people’s perception

A Citizens Budget Guide was launched today aimed at improving people’s perception of budget and to promote accountability and transparency in public financial management. The guide is developed by the Fiji Council of Social Services (FCOSS) with the support of United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Pacific Islands Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (PIANGO). The European...

Organic product receives positive feedback

THE introduction of an organic product for the agriculture sector in the country has resulted in improvements in yields for farmers using the product. Introduced in 2019 by Samisoni Enterprises, Karyon Organic was seen as a product that could help farmers run more profitable farms through increased yields. Hanisi Hodge from Samisoni Enterprises said they...

Keeping busy

MAUI Palms boutique beachfront hotel and the tourism industry on the Coral Coast were deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Christine Badia, the director of Maui Palms, said as the borders closed so did their hotel doors. However Ms Badia said initially there was hope that a bubble may be created as early as July...

$4.07 million to support work done by centre

FIJI has benefited immensely from operations of the Pacific Financial Technical Assistance Center (PFTAC) over the years, says Reserve Bank of Fiji deputy governor Esala Masitabua. He made the comment as the United States Embassy yesterday announced that the US was contributing $US2 million ($F4.07m) to PFTAC. Mr Masitabua said PFTAC had also fostered and...

Operations cease

AT least five garment factories have either completely closed down physically or have been reduced to a virtual operation. This was confirmed by the TCF Council president Michael Towler who added that the companies that had closed down as a result of the impact of the pandemic were members of the council. Mr Towler said...

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